Does ankylosing spondylitis hurt?

Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Ankylosing spondylitis primarily targets the axial joints, manifesting as a chronic autoimmune disease. The most common clinical symptoms include stiffness in the neck and pain in the lumbar and back regions, areas particularly associated with axial joint involvement, predominantly affecting the spine. Additionally, symptoms can also appear in areas outside of the joints, such as pain in the peripheral joints, heels, wrists, and shoulders. Moreover, some individuals may experience eye inflammation, including recurrent uveitis and corneal ulcers. While spinal pain, neck stiffness, and lumbar or back pain are the most commonly observed clinical manifestations, hip joint pain is also frequently noted.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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What department should I go to for ankylosing spondylitis?

Ankylosing spondylitis is an idiopathic systemic disease primarily characterized by chronic inflammation of the axial joints, mainly involving the sacroiliac joint. The typical onset age ranges from 10 to 14 years, and it is more common in males. It is not hereditary, but there is a familial predisposition. If there is a family history, and localized pain or discomfort is present, especially if there is difficulty turning over at night, stiffness after waking or after prolonged sitting or standing, which eases with activity, it is important to be alert. This condition falls under rheumatic immune diseases, therefore, it should be managed by a rheumatology immunology department, not orthopedics.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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What injections are used for ankylosing spondylitis?

Firstly, ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease primarily characterized by the destruction of axial joints, a chronic condition that can also manifest peripheral joint lesions. Currently, there are no definitive cures, meaning long-term medication is necessary to alleviate symptoms, control disease progression, delay joint deformity, reduce disability, and improve quality of life. This constitutes the overall goal of treatment. The preferred treatments are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and biologic agents. However, before using biologic agents, it is essential to complete routine blood tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, screenings for infectious diseases, and tuberculosis. After excluding infections, tuberculosis, and tumors, biologic agents can be administered. During the use of biologic agents, there is a risk of reduced immunity, making it easy to contract infections. Therefore, it is important to avoid getting cold, overwork, and to regularly recheck routine blood parameters, liver, and kidney functions.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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How to exercise with ankylosing spondylitis?

Once diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, after ruling out contraindications such as hepatitis B infection and tuberculosis, it is necessary to administer standard medications to improve rheumatic conditions. At the same time, it is necessary to develop good living habits, such as abstaining from alcohol, quitting smoking, and avoiding carbonated drinks and coffee, as these can exacerbate osteoporosis. Secondly, it is important to exercise regularly; one can walk slowly, run, or swim. Swimming is the best form of exercise for patients with ankylosing spondylitis as it can enhance the coordination of limb muscles while also delaying joint wear. Thirdly, it is important to maintain good posture and sleep on a hard bed.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis

The main symptom of ankylosing spondylitis is pain, characterized by pain in the lower back and lumbar region. The pain occurs during rest and diminishes with activity; it is especially severe at night, often waking the sufferer, who then finds mild activity alleviates the pain enough to return to sleep. As the disease progresses, chest pain and restricted rib cage movement begin, due to the disease spreading to the thoracic vertebrae and eventually reaching the cervical vertebrae in later stages, resulting in difficulty moving the neck. Early physical signs include tenderness in the sacroiliac joints and paraspinal muscles. X-rays can reveal that the sacroiliac joints are often the first to be affected, usually showing sacroiliitis. Additionally, there is a particularly high positivity rate for HLA-B27, the human leukocyte antigen B27, which can reach up to 90%, whereas it is typically around 4%-9% in the general population.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Does ankylosing spondylitis cause buttock pain?

Ankylosing spondylitis may cause buttock pain. It primarily affects the axial joints, and can be accompanied by extrarticular manifestations. This condition leads to stiffening and deformity of the spine, and it cannot be cured, only managed with medication to slow the progression of the disease, delay joint deformity, improve quality of life, and reduce disability rates. Its clinical manifestations vary widely, and its onset is often insidious. Men are more commonly affected and tend to experience more severe symptoms. The most common symptoms include stiffness in the neck or pain in the lumbar and back areas. However, some people may experience pain in the lower back, accompanied by morning stiffness, or alternating pain in the buttocks, or radiating pain from the groin to the lower limbs. This pain is often worse at night or after prolonged sitting, but symptoms can lessen after activity.