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.
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.”
“Occasionally steroid medications such as prednisone, which are potent anti-inflammatories, are used for severe flares not responding to more conservative measures.” NSAIDs are considered first-line therapy for people with ankylosing spondylitis; biologic drugs are typically recommended after people don't get relief ...
While AS flares can vary from person to person and the symptoms and their severity can change from one flare to another, they typically cause increased back pain and fatigue and can last from a few days to a few weeks, according to the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA).
Some foods can trigger ankylosing spondylitis, so it's important to avoid certain foods to prevent inflammation. These include foods that are high in fat, salt, and sugar; processed foods, dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and others.
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.
Joint stiffness with ankylosing spondylitis typically worsens with lack of movement, especially upon waking in the morning. This article will discuss how ankylosing spondylitis causes morning stiffness and ways to treat your symptoms.
People with Ankylosing Spondylitis often describe an ongoing, dull pain that feels like it's coming from deep within their lower back or buttocks, along with morning stiffness. It is not unusual for symptoms to worsen, get better or stop completely at regular intervals.
Advanced Ankylosing Spondylitis
If you have more advanced AS, your doctor may tell you that your spine has fused. That happens when new bone grows between some of the small bones that form your spine, joining them together. The more this happens, the less movement you have in your spine.
Drinking enough water is important for anyone, but it's crucial if you have an inflammatory disease, such as AS. Water keeps joints and bones healthy and lessens inflammation, which along with a healthy lifestyle could improve symptoms.
Sleep on your back to ease ankylosing spondylitis symptoms
Many people find relief from their ankylosing spondylitis symptoms by sleeping on their back. I tell my patients that the key to sleeping in this position is to maintain the natural curvature of their spine.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) — are the medicines health care providers most commonly use to treat axial spondyloarthritis and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
Don't do movements that cause pain
Carefully consider high-impact exercises, such as running, or jarring and twisting sports, such as tennis, squash, and racquetball. These could increase pain in the spine, hips, and knees.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the axial spine that can manifest with various clinical signs and symptoms. Chronic back pain and progressive spinal stiffness are the most common features of the disease.
For those who can safely exercise, Dr. Tehrani recommends low-impact activities like walking. Joint deformities, fused joints, misinformation, and fear of getting hurt can discourage some people from exercising, Tehrani says, but walking is a great way to ease into physical activity.
Ankylosing spondylitis is caused by Klebsiella.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can make your back stiff and achy. And it can feel even worse if you sit for a long time. Lower the seat of your desk chair so your thighs are at a right angle when you sit. It's best if you can plant your feet firmly on the floor.
Best Exercises for Ankylosing Spondylitis. When it comes to exercising with AS, the “no pain, no gain” philosophy is the wrong approach. Rather, pain-free low- or no-impact activities, such as yoga, tai chi, swimming, walking, or cycling are best for people with joint pain, according to Mayo Clinic.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a type of progressive arthritis that leads to chronic inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints. It can also affect other joints and organs in the body, such as the eyes, lungs, kidneys, shoulders, knees, hips, heart, and ankles.
Ankylosing spondylitis may affect more than the spine. The disease may inflame joints in the pelvis, shoulders, hips and knees, and between the spine and ribs.