Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), also known as rheumatoid spondylitis or Marie-Strümpell disease, is a systemic disorder that consists of inflammation of the joints of the spine.
It is the main disease of a whole group of conditions known as seronegative sponduoarthropathy.
Is a autoimmune diseaselike most forms of arthritis. By definition, other joints, in addition to the spine, such as shoulders, hips, knees and feet. Eye tissues may also be affected.
As a form of arthritis, spondylitis is characterized by chronic inflammation, which causes pain and stiffness in the back that radiates to the chest and neck. Sometimes the entire back becomes curved and stiff if the bones fuse together, known as a «bamboo back.»
Other associated conditions are reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease spondylitis, and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy.
It can affect different organs:
• Eyes (causes inflammation of the iris or iritis).
• Heart (causes aortic valve disease).
• Lungs.
• Skin (causes a picture of skin desquamation or psoriasis).
• Gastrointestinal tract (causes inflammation of the small intestine, called ileitis, or inflammation of the large intestine, called colitis).
Less than 1% of the population suffers from this disease; however, 20% of patients have a relative affected by this disorder.
Genetics, in the form of a gene called HLA-B27, may play a role in the disease, but the precise cause remains unknown. According to the available information, HLA-B27 is a perfectly normal gene found in 8% of the general population. No more than 2% of people born with this gene will suffer from spondylitis.
The gene itself does not cause spondylitis, but people with HLA-B27 are more susceptible to the disease. To date, 15 HLA-B27 subtypes have been identified. How HLA-B27 interacts with some proteins seems to be very important for the cause of the disease, but more research needs to be done.
According to recently published information, the possibility that a type of infection may be the trigger for ankylosing spondylitis is being investigated. The symptoms are:
• Pain and stiffness in the lower back and hip.
• Duration of symptoms greater than three months.
• Difficulty expanding the chest.
• Morning stiffness that improves with a warm shower or light exercise.
• Pain in the neck, shoulders, knees and ankles.
• Fever.
• Fatigue.
• Weightloss.
The disease occurs most often in men between the ages of 16 and 35. The initial symptoms are rare after the age of 30, although the diagnosis cannot be established until after this age.
Some naturopathic healers link the cause of the disease to its autoimmune origin in food allergies and abnormal bowel function, sometimes called leaky gut syndrome. According to this theory, food allergies combine with a leaking gut and, according to a recent article, “…result in increased circulation of gut-derived antigens to other areas of the body.
The body produces antigen-antibody complexes (immune complexes) characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis to fight these gut-derived foreign antigens; but it is believed that these antigen-antibody complexes also cross-react with antigens in joint tissues.
In other words, the antibodies formed to attack the microbes (water-losing gut) also cross-react and attack joint collagen.”
Doctors often diagnose the disease simply because the patient reports pain and stiffness. They also review spinal and pelvic radiographs, since involvement of the hip and pelvic joints is common and may be the first abnormality seen on radiographs.
The doctor should also order a skin test to determine the presence of the HLA-B27 antigen if the x-rays have not clearly determined the diagnosis. If the gene exists, it can facilitate the accuracy of the diagnosis. When the diagnosis is made, patients are usually referred to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating rheumatic diseases. Patients may also be referred to an orthopedic surgeon, a doctor who can surgically correct joint or bone disorders.
Below are several ankylosing spondylitis remedies that aim to relieve the pain caused by this ailment.
folk remedies
Remedy for ankylosing spondylitis # 1: Boil 1 cup of water and when it reaches a boiling point, remove from the heat and pour in 1 tablespoon of bark willow white, previously washed and chopped. Then cover and let cool. Strain and drink 2 cups a day.
Remedy for ankylosing spondylitis # 2: Boil 1 tablespoon of yarrow leaves in a cup of water for 5 minutes. Cover and let cool. Strain and drink 2 cups a day.
Remedy for ankylosing spondylitis #3: Boil 2 tablespoons of lobelia leaves in half a liter of water for 10 minutes. Cover and let cool. Filter and drink throughout the day.
Remedy for ankylosing spondylitis # 4: Pour 2 tablespoons of root devil’s claw, previously washed and chopped, in half a liter. Boil for 10 minutes. Cover and let cool. Strain and drink throughout the day.
Remedy for ankylosing spondylitis # 5: Go to an acupuncture session, performed by an experienced professional, as it has helped many patients to relieve their pain.
Remedy for ankylosing spondylitis # 6: Use homeopathic remedies such as walnut and poison ivy for pain relief.
Remedy for ankylosing spondylitis # 7: Go for massage therapy. The benefits described are a decrease in pain, an increase in circulation, an improvement in lymphatic flow and an increase in movement. The main benefit of this treatment is that it provides subsequent motivation for a regular exercise program, which is considered the most beneficial of all ankylosing spondylitis treatments.
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recommendations
Eliminate some problem foods from the diet In order to relieve symptoms such as wheat, corn, milk and other dairy products, beef, tomatoes, potatoes and peppers.
Avoid smokingsince it aggravates the picture.
Adopt a diet rich in fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables -except those mentioned above- and low in sugar, meat, refined carbohydrates and animal fats to reduce pain and inflammation.
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