Eating Too Much Sugar May Contribute to Flares “Sugar disrupts insulin levels, which are connected to the hormone activity that affects flares in people with ankylosing spondylitis,” Mir says. “Processed and canned foods contribute to our overall inflammation levels as well.”
The pain typically worsens during periods of rest or inactivity, which may cause some people to experience more pain during the middle of the night or after prolonged sitting. Usually, moving and exercise can help improve pain. Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis vary from person to person.
Whether it's through physical therapy or on your own, dedicating time to stretching is key. “We recommend making sure that you maintain your flexibility,” says Dr. Elghawy. “And so doing with physical therapy or flexibility exercises on your own for your low back can provide a lot of relief.”
To treat an AS flare-up, a person can try medication, gentle exercise, and heat or cold therapy. They can also use a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine. A person living with AS may experience frequent flare-ups throughout their life.
Drugs used to treat ankylosing spondylitis — whether they're over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, or prescription therapies like TNF inhibitors — all have the effect of reducing chronic inflammation in the body.
Joint stiffness with ankylosing spondylitis typically worsens with lack of movement, especially upon waking in the morning.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the axial spine. Chronic back pain and progressive spinal stiffness are the most common features of this disease.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of reactive arthritis following Klebsiella infection, usually occurring in an HLA-B27-positive individual.
"B27 disease" is a new autoimmune disease that afflicts millions of people throughout the world. "B27 disease" occurs in individuals who have ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or preankylosing spondylitis and/or uveitis and are also positive for HLA-B27.
Ankylosing spondylitis has no known specific cause, though genetic factors seem to be involved. In particular, people who have a gene called HLA-B27 are at a greatly increased risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis. However, only some people with the gene develop the condition.
Several studies highlighted that vitamin D deficiency is more frequent in patients with AS than in healthy controls (Table 1). In a study from Israel, vitamin D levels were shown to be lower in patients with AS than in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can make your back stiff and achy. And it can feel even worse if you sit for a long time.
Inflammation Uncontrolled systemic (body-wide) inflammation is the factor that best predicts fatigue in AS. Cell messengers called cytokines that are part of the inflammatory process may cause the sensation of fatigue, and inflammation can also cause anemia (inadequate red blood cells), which also causes fatigue.
Some people who have early AS go on to have more severe disease. The bones of the spine can fuse together, a process called “ankylosis.” Doctors call this advanced phase “bamboo spine.” You can feel a lot of pain in your back, stiffness, and soreness, which could limit your flexibility and movements.
They rarely coexist, and they differ significantly in symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
Back pain and stiffness are usually the main symptoms of AS. You may find: the pain gets better with exercise, but does not improve or gets worse with rest. the pain and stiffness is worse in the morning and at night – you may wake up regularly during the night because of the pain.
U.S. FDA Approves Pfizer's XELJANZ® (tofacitinib) for the Treatment of Active Ankylosing Spondylitis.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, the best choices for the biggest health benefits include walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, chia seeds, and ground flaxseeds. If you don't like snacking on nuts and seeds, try adding them to dishes that you do like, says Groppo, such as a salad or a main dish like salmon.