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Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment

Ankylosing spondylitis is a somewhat rare form of spinal arthritis that is characterized by stiffness and pain due to inflammation of the bones and soft tissue in the spinal and hip joints. In the most advanced cases, it can also cause vertebrae and other bones to fuse together, as well as symptoms in other parts of the body. Ankylosing spondylitis treatment focuses on mitigating the symptoms, as the disease has no cure.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) falls into a category of arthritis called spondyloarthropathies – another word for spinal (spondylo-) arthritis. As with all forms of spondylitis, AS is characterized by stiffness, pain, and loss of mobility in the lower back and hip joints due to inflammation inside the joint. As the disease progresses, this inflammation can lead to the fusion of ligaments and bone, as well as the ossification (transformation of soft tissue into bone) of the tissues within the joint and the fusion of the bones. Ankylosing spondylitis treatment seeks to prevent this, as the result can be the total fusion of the vertebrae and complete loss of spinal flexibility and the onset of serious spinal deformity.

Additionally, ankylosing spondylitis can cause similar inflammatory symptoms, as well as bone fusion, in other joints – particularly the sacroiliac joints (where the spine and hipbones meet). The disease may lead to:

• Iritis or uveitis – inflammations of the eyes
• Kyphosis – an exaggerated stooping forward of the spine
• Fatigue
• Other inflammatory symptoms

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Treatment

Ankylosing spondylitis treatment aims to mitigate symptoms and prevent deformity due to bone fusion. Thus, pain medication, anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy are the hallmarks of such treatment. The focus of any physical therapy is likely to be on the prevention of spinal fusion by way of exercises that keep the spinal joints as limber as possible.

In the most advanced cases of ankylosing spondylitis, spine surgery may be necessary in order to correct kyphosis and to provide some measure of spinal mobility.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.