Experiencing persistent back pain due to Ankylosing Spondylitis? Discover effective treatments and helpful tips for management here.
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, causing inflammation and pain. This condition can lead to persistent low back pain and stiffness, especially in the lower back, that worsens after periods of inactivity and is often worse in the morning or after rest.
Understanding AS Symptoms
AS can cause pain in various parts of the body, including the shoulders, hips, rib cage, buttocks, and thighs. The stiffness can last from 30 minutes up to several hours after waking. Over time, AS may cause fusion and reduced flexibility of the spine, leading to a stooped posture and chronic spinal immobility. Additional symptoms may include difficulty taking deep breaths due to rib involvement, joint swelling, fatigue, and extra-articular symptoms like eye inflammation (uveitis), psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Treating AS Back Pain and Stiffness
Treatments for AS back pain and stiffness typically start with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation and pain. Physical therapy is crucial to maintain spinal mobility, posture, and strength. Newer biologic medications targeting immune pathways may significantly control disease activity for some patients. Treatment goals focus on symptom relief, preserving spine function, and preventing deformities.
Managing AS Back Pain
Regular, low-impact exercise is essential for managing AS back pain. Exercises should focus on gentle stretching, strengthening, and controlled movements, avoiding high-impact or strenuous activities that might worsen symptoms. Maintaining good posture and engaging in physical therapy exercises are also important methods to preserve spinal function and reduce discomfort.
Lifestyle Tips for Managing AS
- Sleep hygiene practices, such as avoiding caffeine later in the day, following a relaxing bedtime routine, and keeping a regular sleep-wake schedule, can help improve sleep with AS.
- The Spondylitis Association of America (SAA) suggests selecting a comfortable, supportive mattress that evenly distributes weight and does not cause the spine to contort for better sleep with AS. A person with AS should find a spine-friendly sleeping position, such as flat on the back with a thin or no pillow.
- When AS affects the ribs, it can cause pain when breathing in. Using heat, such as from a heat pad, shower, or bath, can help ease AS pain before sleep.
- To avoid symptoms getting worse, people can follow their doctor's treatment plan, stay active but avoid over-exercising, use a supportive mattress at night, reduce or manage their stress levels, and maintain good posture at all times.
Complementary Therapies and Cautions
The SAA recommends speaking with a doctor before trying complementary therapies for AS. Acupuncture may help with AS back pain for some people, but it can be a pain trigger for others. Gentle massage from a therapist with knowledge of AS may provide temporary pain relief for some people, but it's essential to be cautious as it can exacerbate symptoms for others. Doctors do not recommend chiropractic treatment for AS due to the risk of spinal breaks, especially in people with spinal fusion.
Medical Interventions for Severe AS
If a person has severe AS, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints. Corticosteroid injections can help decrease inflammation and ease the pain of AS. Biological medications or Janus kinase inhibitors may be able to reduce or stop the inflammation that causes AS pain.
Early Detection and Management
Anyone who suspects they may have AS should speak with a doctor as soon as possible, even if the pain is only mild. It is especially important to do this if a person has a family history of AS or symptoms affecting other parts of the body. There is no cure for AS, but it can be managed with a combination of medication and physical therapy.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis primarily affects the spine, causing inflammation and pain, leading to persistent low back pain and stiffness.
- This condition can cause pain in various parts of the body, such as the shoulders, hips, rib cage, buttocks, and thighs.
- Stiffness from AS can last from 30 minutes up to several hours after waking.
- Over time, AS may cause fusion and reduced flexibility of the spine, leading to a stooped posture and chronic spinal immobility.
- Additional symptoms may include difficulty taking deep breaths due to rib involvement, joint swelling, fatigue, and extra-articular symptoms like eye inflammation, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Treatments for AS back pain and stiffness typically start with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Physical therapy is crucial to maintain spinal mobility, posture, and strength.
- Newer biologic medications targeting immune pathways may significantly control disease activity for some patients.
- Treatment goals focus on symptom relief, preserving spine function, and preventing deformities.
- Regular, low-impact exercise is essential for managing AS back pain.
- Exercises should focus on gentle stretching, strengthening, and controlled movements, avoiding high-impact or strenuous activities.
- Maintaining good posture and engaging in physical therapy exercises are important methods to preserve spinal function and reduce discomfort.
- Sleep hygiene practices can help improve sleep with AS, such as avoiding caffeine later in the day, following a relaxing bedtime routine, and keeping a regular sleep-wake schedule.
- A comfortable, supportive mattress that evenly distributes weight and does not cause the spine to contort is recommended for better sleep with AS.
- When AS affects the ribs, heating methods like a heat pad, shower, or bath can help ease AS pain before sleep.
- To avoid symptoms getting worse, people should follow their doctor's treatment plan, stay active but avoid over-exercising, use a supportive mattress at night, reduce or manage their stress levels, and maintain good posture at all times.
- Acupuncture may help with AS back pain for some people, but it can be a pain trigger for others.
- Gentle massage from a therapist with knowledge of AS may provide temporary pain relief for some people, but it's essential to be cautious as it can exacerbate symptoms for others.
- Doctors do not recommend chiropractic treatment for AS due to the risk of spinal breaks, especially in people with spinal fusion.
- If a person has severe AS, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints.
- Corticosteroid injections can help decrease inflammation and ease the pain of AS.
- Biological medications or Janus kinase inhibitors may be able to reduce or stop the inflammation that causes AS pain.
- Anyone who suspects they may have AS should speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
- It is especially important to do this if a person has a family history of AS or symptoms affecting other parts of the body.
- There is no cure for AS, but it can be managed with a combination of medication and physical therapy.
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