Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints (SIJ) that is located where the spine connects to the pelvis. If it isn't treated in time, the inflammation can make the small bones of your spine stiffen and fuse together. This puts many people in a forward-bent posture with a spine that just won't bend the way it should.
AS typically presents in young adults, and is more common in men than in women. If left unchecked, it's not always contained in the rear. It can spread to your shoulders, hips and even to the joints of your ribcage.
Dr. Rajeev Keloth Nambiar (BAMS, MD) with more than 26 years of experience in treating spine and joint disorders, provides Ayurvedic treatment for ankylosing spondylitis based on the root cause rather than the pain at Dr. Nambiar's Advanced Ayurveda in Pune. This article is for those who are looking for ankylosing spondylitis treatment in Pune and will guide you through what to expect and how to manage the condition.
Symptoms
AS doesn't make a lot of noise. It sneaks up on you slowly, and the initial symptoms are mistaken for the usual tiredness, or a lousy mattress. Watch out for:
- Pain in the lower back and/or hip that is worse in the morning or after sitting quietly for a while, and improves with movement
- Early morning stiffness that is often more than 30 minutes long
- Tiredness that doesn't go away with rest, caused by ongoing inflammation in the body
- Aches in other joints, such as: shoulders, knees or ankles
- If the rib joints become involved, it may be difficult to take a deep breath and cause tightness in the chest.
- Heel pain (as the tendons around the heel can get inflamed as well),
When back pain and stiffness persist for over three months and worsens with rest, and not movement, it's time to get it checked.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
Doctors haven't pinned down one single cause of AS, but a few things clearly raise your risk:
- The HLA-B27 gene: Most people with AS carry this gene, though not everyone with the gene develops the disease.
- History in the family: If there is a family history of AS, your risk is increased.
- Age and gender: It typically manifests before age 40, and more frequently in males.
- Immune system reaction: System of immunity attacks healthy tissues around the spine and joints leading to inflammation.
- Other health problems: Individuals with bowel disease such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be more likely to develop AS.
Prevention
Although it is not possible to always prevent the development of AS in a carrier, they can reduce the chance of it worsening:
- Keep doing light stretching and mobility exercises!
- Sit and stand well for the whole day
- Don't smoke as this makes stiffness and breathing difficulties worse
- Follow a basic anti-inflammatory diet, avoiding excess in processed foods.
- Don't take early onset of pain and stiffness for granted, check it out early!
About Dr. Rajeev Keloth Nambiar
Here, Ayurveda will come to the rescue. Treatment in Dr. Nambiar's Advanced Ayurveda in Pune aims at correcting the internal imbalance in the body's Asthi and Majja dhatu (bone and marrow tissue), not just at relieving the symptoms. Combination of diet and lifestyle changes with certain ayurvedic therapies is used to reduce inflammation, restore flexibility and minimize reliance on painkillers and steroids. In the first week of therapy, many patients will notice a significant improvement in their movement and posture.
Dr. Rajeev Keloth Nambiar, BAMS, MD is the lead clinician for this treatment with more than 26 years of clinical experience treating spine, joint, autoimmune diseases. If you have been suffering with AS for years and could not find any permanent solution to the problem even with the conventional medicine, this clinic that offers ankylosing spondylitis treatment in Pune is a trusted one.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's):
There is no cure, but most people are able to control their symptoms and remain active for many years with the appropriate ayurvedic treatment.
It occurs for the first time in the late teens to early 40s and seldom first occurs later in life.
Yes. Along with the diet and lifestyle changes, Ayurvedic treatment is based on the principles of reducing inflammation naturally and correcting the underlying imbalance.
It can contribute to the diagnosis, but doctors also examine your symptoms, other tests and imaging as a whole.
Yes, Regular and gentle movement is recommended. It maintains the flexibility of your spine and relieves stiffness.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment Images:
