What is Ankylosing Spondylitis? Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is one of the Autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the spine . This spinal arthritis disease causes primary affections to the axial selection such as skull bones, spine vertebrae and the rib cage among others which constitute 80 different type of bones. The joints in patients with AS become stiff and turn immobile due to the fusion of bones. It is an inflammatory type of arthritis causing swelling and pain.
What causes Ankylosing spondylitis?
AS is considered to be an autoimmune disease of inflammatory nature. Autoimmune mechanism is the faulty reaction of immune system in which the body acts against its own cells. No other exact cause is found to be behind the development of AS in otherwise active people.
Who are the prone to AS condition?
Ankylosing spondylitis is very characteristically found to be present in Young adults who are in their 20’s and 30’s . And, It is found in 3:1 ratio in male and female prevalence.
What changes happen due to AS?
Because of the faulty reaction of the immune system, autoimmunity which is called, the outer annular fibres are eroded. These eroded annular fibres are then replaced by bone tissue ultimately bridging the vertebral bodies.This process ascends upwards in the spine leading to the “bamboo spine.” Therefore, due to autoimmunity , the faulty mechanism of bone tissue replacing annular fibres is the hallmark of the changes due to Ankylosing spondylitis.
Also it is noticed that the patients with AS has diffuse osteoporosis (the bones become weak and brittle )
What are the characteristics of Ankylosing spondylitis?
The signs and symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitis varies from individual to individual but AS is a progressive disease. The symptoms range from mild stiffness to total stiff spine and from a normal x-ray to severe changes in the radiographs.
The variations in the progress of AS can be put as follows ;
- Dull pain is felt in the lower gluteal region or lumbar region. Pain develops gradually.
- Morning stiffness for upto few hours in the low back region. It improves with activity and again returns when inactive.
- The pain later becomes constant and on both the sides.
- Pain is more during nights forcing the patient to wake up and move around as activity relieves it.
- There will also be severe hip joint pain or a bony chest pain with which the patient visits the Doctor.
- Limitation of spine mobility particularly the lumbar spine and chest expansion is also limited.
- Pain expressed on direct pressure on the joints.
Why is AS considered a serious disease?
Ankylosing spondylitis if not treated or wrongly treated could lead to fracture of the spine even with minor trauma or fracture can also be a possibility because of hard, osteoporotic spine. Most often, the fracture of lower neck spine is involved. The fracture can cause spinal cord injury.
The effect of autoimmune mechanism in AS can be on the annular fibres of eyes as is evident by the fact that ,upto 40% of patients complain of eye affections, in the form of uveitis, causing pain, sensitivity to light and lachrymation(watering from the eyes).
The other complications of AS could be kyphosis, heart disease(Aortic regurgitation).
What is the best treatment for Ankylosing spondylitis?
As is understood that AS is an autoimmune disease affecting parts other than bones of the axial skeleton. Any autoimmune mechanism is a faulty response seein in selected or minority of the population. The reasons for autoimmunity and the triggering factors for the faulty mechanism have to be ascertained in order treat AS. Since, the individual patients susceptibility and pronation to the the autoimmunity is to be considered, it is called as constitution method of treatment.
Homeopathy Treatment For Ankylosing Spondylitis – Dr T Kiran Kumar
Homeopathy is a medical science which completely establishes itself in the constitutional mode of treatment in all the chronic diseases including AS. Positive Homeopathy doctors are experienced in deriving the constitution of the patients with AS for an effective and permanent cure. A constitution is a sum total of physical make-up of the patient, previous history, life-span investigations, the diet, the mind, etc. Since homeopathic medicines are proven on human beings and not on animals, the constitution of the those on whom proving is done is also notified in the homeopathic pharmacopoeia.
Positive Homeopathy Clinics have the reputation of providing best Homeopathy Treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis and other autoimmune diseases and also diseases of joints, spine and bones.
