Top Signs of Ankylosing Spondylitis 

One of the most common medical complaints across the world today is none other than back pain. The ailment is also one of the major reasons why many people miss work and try to get rest. There are different reasons why you may suffer from back pain. Most probably, the real reason is a mechanical one. Now, that means that the cause of a back pain is a trauma due to your spine getting strained all of a sudden. However, you should also note that your back pain may be also due to a more severe condition which is medically termed as ankylosing spondylitis.

Contrary to other types of back pain, the cause of AS, or ankylosing spondylitis, is not a sudden trauma in your spine. In fact, this is a chronic ailment that is experienced when your spine’s bones or vertebrae have inflammation in them. To put it simply, AS is actually a type of spinal arthritis.

Though AS usually affect young men, it can also experienced by young girls. The early symptoms are usually seen in late teens and also in young adults in some cases. It is essentially a hereditary ailment. However, it is not necessary that all who have the genes may develop this disease. Researchers have still not come out with clear findings on why some people do not ail from as while others suffer from it.

Here are some of the most common signs that you are ailing from AS:

Sign 1: There is a family history of members ailing from AS

As on date, AS cannot be detected through a single test. In order to diagnose it, your doctor needs to do your physical examination and go through your detailed family history. You may be also advised by your doctor to go through tests like X-ray, MRU or magnetic resonance imaging and CT or computed tomography tests. According to some experts, when the patient is ailing through the early stages of AS, an MRI is used for diagnosing the disease. This is for when it is in the early stages, even before it can be even detected through an X-ray.

Sign 2: The pain in your lower back pops up without any explanation

If you are ailing from a usual back pain, resting for a while often helps you to feel much better. But in case you are ailing from AS, the scenario is just the reverse. You experience more stiffness and pain when you wake up. Though exercise may worsen your usual back pain, you may feel better after exercising when you are you ailing from AS. It is not usual for young people to experience in pain in their lower backs. When young adults or teens complain that they have pain or stiffness in their hips or lower backs, a doctor should examine for AS.

Sign 3: Though you are young, you experience a sudden pain in your chest, joint or the heels

Some people who are ailing from AS may suffer from stiffness or pain in their joints, pain in heel, ankles or even in other joints rather than suffering from back pain.

If you would like medical advice and treatment for your back pain, come into our friendly medical clinics. We can help assess your condition and let you know if it is a form of arthritis or other type of inflammation. Locate the walk-in clinic closest to you, and we look forward to helping you with your medical needs.

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