5 Signs you’re suffering from Ankylosing Spondylitis

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5 Signs youre suffering from Ankylosing
Spondylitis

• By The Spine Institute

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• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic
  condition that results from an inflammation in
  the vertebrae. It is a form of spinal arthritis.
  This disease also affects your eyes and
  intestines, as well as other joints. A leading
  Los Angeles Spine surgeon suggests that if youre
  experiencing one or more of the following five
  symptoms, you may be suffering from AS.

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1. Unexpected lower backache
Normally, a little bit of rest can help relieve
back pain. In case of AS, its quite the
opposite. Backache is at its worse upon waking
up. Similarly, exercising can make normal
backache worse. But in the case of AS, exercises
help relieve back pain.
Lower back pain, without any clear reason, is
uncommon in young people. Teenagers and young
adults who often experience pain or stiffness in
their lower back or hips may consult their
doctors at their earliest.
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Unexplained Chest, Joint or Heel Pain
Instead of regular backache, some AS patients may
experience sudden and unexplained pain in their
chest or heels or in the joints of their ankles
or wrists. Some people experience excruciating
pain in their rib bones, while others experience
the same in their spine. In young adults, AS is
not common. However, adults who experience
tightness in their chest and breathing
difficulties should consult their physicians.
Persistent joint pain may be the early stages of
AS.
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3. Hereditary

• The truth is that there is no single test for
  AS. Diagnosing this disease often involves a
  physical exam and a detailed patient history.
  Doctors prescribe a range of tests, such as CT
  scans, X-Rays and MRIs. Some medical experts
  believe that MRI can easily detect AS in its
  early stages, before it shows up on the X-Ray.
• Some AS patients are genetically positioned to
  be so. Though there isnt enough research to back
  this claim, but many experts believe that AS can
  be genetically passed on from parents to
  children. If you have relatives with AS or any
  arthritis-related issues, you may have inherited
  certain genes that can make you susceptible to
  AS.

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4. Pain Gets Worse

• Unlike other spine diseases, AS is chronic and
  progressive in nature. Exercises and pain
  medications can help reduce the pain, but these
  measures are temporary. As the disease worsens,
  backaches may also become frequent, persistent
  and more severe.
• AS symptoms come and go, but never truly stop.
  Often, these symptoms can be felt across the
  lower regions of your spine. If AS remains
  untreated, your vertebrae may fuse together and
  cause your spine to curve.

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5. NSAIDs Help

• During the initial stages of AS, patients may
  get symptomatic relief from anti-inflammatory
  drugs. These drugs are known as NSAIDs. They
  relieve the pain, but do not alter the course of
  AS progression. They are not effective in curing
  this disease.
• If your physicians believe that you have AS,
  they may prescribe you advanced medicines. These
  drugs can target specific parts of your immune
  system and can hamper the progression of AS. In
  any case, you will have to consult your
  physicians at your earliest and diagnose AS in
  its initial stages.

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The Spine Institute Contact Details
Website www.laspine.com Phone [phone]
888-774-6376

• Address
• 2811 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Santa Monica CA
  90403
• 444 South San Vicente, Suite 901, Los Angeles CA
  90048
• 2001 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 760 Santa Monica CA
  90404
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