Doctor's Notes on Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Neurologic Perspective
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic illness disease that affects the joints near the center of the body, particularly the spine and sacroiliac joints that are located at the lowest end of the spine where the sacrum meets the iliac bone in the pelvis, and can lead to eventual fusion of the spine.
Neurologic symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are low back pain and stiffness that gradually increases over three or more months. The pain is usually described as worse in the morning and improving during the day, better with activity and worse with inactivity, a gradual ascending pattern from the lumbar region (lower back) to the thoracic spine (mid-spine) and then the cervical spine (neck), and improves in response to anti-inflammatory medications. Some people with AS experience proximal joint (hips, knees) involvement and rarely, small joint (ankles, toes) involvement. Symptoms may also include pain and stiffness of the rib cage, breathlessness on exertion, and fibrosis (scarring) in the upper lobes of the lungs.
Ankylosing Spondylitis : Symptoms & Treatment Quiz
QuestionAnkylosing spondylitis is a type of __________ that affects the __________.
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Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Medications
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that affects the spine, sacroiliac joints and leg joints. Symptoms include: low back pain; eye pain; pain and tenderness of the joints, including; ribs, shoulder blades, hips, thighs, and bony points of the spine. Because ankylosing spondylitis is incurable, treatment focuses on lessening pain and keeping mobility with exercise, heat and cold, and the use of various medications. -
Colitis
Colitis is an inflammation of the colon. There are many cause of colitis, infectious colitis (bacterial or viral), ischemic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), microscopic colitis (lymphocytic and collagenous), and chemical colitis. Symptoms of colitis are generally diarrhea (may be bloody) and abdominal pain and/or cramping. Treatment of colitis depends upon the cause. -
Costochondritis
Costochondritis is inflammation of the ribs' junctions to the breastbone or sternum that causes chest pain. Costochondritis symptoms include chest pain and tenderness. Treatment incorporates ice and heat application, anti-inflammatory medications, and avoiding activities that worsen symptoms. -
Crohn's Disease (Crohn)
Crohn's disease (Crohn disease) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and is a chronic long-term inflammation of the digestive tract. The cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. Symptoms of Crohn's disease include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, bloating, and infections of the urinary tract and vagina. Treatment for Crohn's disease includes lifestyle changes in diet, medication, and surgery. -
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
Rheumatoid arthritis, often called RA, is a chronic (long-standing) disease that damages and eventually destroys the joints of the body. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), or juvenile arthritis, is not a single disease but a group of diseases. Symptoms and signs include fever and joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Treatment focuses on relieving pain, improving function, and preventing joint damage. -
Knee Joint Replacement
The procedure of knee joint replacement is called a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This surgery involves replacing your knee joint with a manmade one. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis commonly cause loss of knee function that necessitates a knee joint replacement. -
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement
Minimally invasive hip replacement is surgery performed with smaller incisions, which reduces the trauma to the tissue, reduces pain, and shortens recovery time. Risks include nerve injury, blood clots, fracture, blood loss, infection after surgery, and improper placement of the components. -
Minimally Invasive Knee Replacement
Minimally invasive knee replacement is surgery performed with smaller incisions, which reduces the trauma to the tissue, reduces pain, and shortens recovery time. Risks include nerve injury, blood clots, fracture, blood loss, infection after surgery, and improper placement of the components. -
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a specific autoimmune condition in which a person has both psoriasis and arthritis. Some psoriatic arthritis symptoms and signs include scaly red skin on certain areas of the body, nail changes, eye inflammation, iritis, and inflammation of the muscles and tendons where they connect to the bone. There are a variety of psoriatic arthritis types. The goal of psoriatic arthritis treatment medications and lifestyle changes is to control inflammation. -
Total Hip Replacement
Total hip replacement (THR) is an excellent treatment option for people with late-stage degenerative hip disease. THR is one of the most successful and common surgical procedures in orthopedic surgery.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.