Homeopathy treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is characterised by a chronic inflammatory arthritis predominantly affecting the sacroiliac joints and spine, which can progress to bony fusion of the spine.

OVERVIEW

The onset is typically between the ages of 20 and 30, with a male preponderance of about 3 : 1.
In Europe, more than 90% of those affected are HLA B27 positive.
The overall prevalence is less than 0.5% in most populations.
Over 75% of patients are able to remain in employment and enjoy a good quality of life.
Even if severe ankylosis develops, functional limitation may not be marked as long as the spine is fused in an erect posture.
This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched-forward posture.
If ribs are affected, it can be difficult to breathe deeply.

CAUSES

Several things make AS more likely:

Age:

It tends to start between your teens and 30s.

Gender:

Men are two to three times more likely to get the disease than women.

Genetics:

You can inherit it from your parents.
One gene, called HLA-B27, is common in people with AS.

Ethnicity:

AS appears more often among native tribes in the U.S. and Canada, especially Alaskan Eskimos.

Family history and HLA-B27 gene

Age.

About 80 percent Trusted Source of people first develop ankylosing spondylitis symptoms under age 30.

Sex.

Ankylosing spondylitis tends to develop about twice as often in men than in women.

Ethnicity.

The prevalence of the HLA-B27 gene seems to vary between ethnic groups. According to one studyTrusted Source, its incidence rate was 7.5 percent in non-Hispanic whites, 4.6 percent among Mexican-Americans, and 1.1 percent among non-Hispanic blacks.

TYPES

Nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). This is the less severe form of spondyloarthritis. “Nonradiographic” means that something is not easily visible on an X-ray. .

Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. This is the first phase of ankylosing spondylitis. It happens when nr-axSpA gradually gets worse and affects the sacroiliac joints and the bones of the spine.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Pain and stiffness:

You may have constant pain and stiffness in the low back, buttocks, and hips that continues for more than 3 months.
Ankylosing spondylitis often starts around the sacroiliac joints, where the sacrum (the lowest major part of the spine) joins the ilium bone of the pelvis in the lower back region.
It might hurt more at night and get better when you wake up.
You might also feel pain in other joints such as your knees, shoulders, and jaw.
Fusion Of Bones
Bony fusion:

Ankylosing spondylitis can cause an overgrowth of the bones, which may lead to abnormal joining of bones, called “bony fusion.”
Fusion affecting bones of the neck, back, or hips may affect your ability to perform everyday things.
Fusion of the ribs to the spine or breastbone may limit your ability to expand your chest when taking a deep breath.

Pain in ligaments and tendons:

Spondylitis also may affect some of the ligaments and tendons that attach to bones.
Tendinitis (inflammation of the tendon) may cause pain and stiffness in the area behind or beneath the heel, such as the Achilles tendon
Bent Posture

Bent posture:

If AS has gone undiagnosed and untreated, you might have a stooped posture from changes to your vertebrae.

Breathing problems:

Changes in posture can lead to changes in your lungs that make it hard to breath.

Heart trouble:

The inflammation can also affect your heart.

Eye problem:

AS is linked to uveitis, a condition that causes inflammation in your eyes.
Symptoms include pain, light sensitivity, and blurry vision.

Inflammatory bowel disease:

The inflammation can also affect your digestive system.
You might notice diarrhea, belly pain and cramps, bloody poop, less appetite, and weight loss without trying.

About 10% of people with AS have this immune system disease that causes scaly, itchy red patches on their skin.

Fatigue:

You could feel run down because of lack of sleep due to pain or as a part of the disease process itself.

Dactylitis:

You may get swollen toes or fingers.

Person might have a mild fever

Over many years, AS can cause new bone to grow on your spine, fusing the vertebrae and making it harder to move.

Generally, This can cause severe stiffness.

About half the people who have AS get either osteoporosis, or brittle bones.

Appearance of the Patient

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis usually appear normal.

Vital Signs

Vital signs are within normal limits in patients with AS.

Cervical spine

Forward stooping of the thoracic and cervical spine.
The degree of flexion deformity is measured by asking the patient to stand erect with heels and buttocks against a wall and to extend the neck while keeping the mandible in the horizontal position and ask the patient to touch the wall.
The degree of flexion deformity is measured by the distance between the occiput and the wall.

Thoracic spine

The degree of chest expansion is measured by the range of motion of the costovertebral joints and is measured at the level of the xiphoid process.
The physician must ask the patient to raise their arms beyond their heads and then ask the patient to maximal forced expiration how much they can and that is followed by a maximal inspiration.
In normal individuals the expansion is usually >2 cm.
In normal individuals it is greater than 10 cm.

Lateral spinal flexion

Physician must ask the patient with AS to standing erect with heel and back against a wall and knees and hands extended and measure the distance between the tip of the middle finger and the floor.
Then ask the patient to bend sideways without bending the knees.

Schober test

In patients with AS Schober test is used to measure forward flexion of the lumbar spine.
Physician must ask the patient to stands erect then a point is placed at the middle of a line joining the posterior superior iliac spines, another mark is made above 10 cm in the midline then ask the patient to bends forward how much they can without bending the knees and measure the distance.
In normal individuals should exceed 2 cm.

Sacroiliac joint tenderness

In AS patients to bring out sacroiliac pain apply direct pressure over the sacroiliac joint.
Sacroiliac joint tenderness is also elicit by the following
- Ask the patient to be supine position, then apply direct pressure on the anterior superior iliac spine and, at the same time physician must apply force on iliac spine laterally.
- Ask the patient to be on the side, then physician must apply pressure to compress the pelvis.
- Ask the patient to be supine position, physician must ask the patient to flex one of the knees and then to abduct as well as externally rotate the corresponding hip, then apply pressure on the knee which is flexed and this elicit pain on the sacroiliac joint.

Hip joint

When a patient with AS is exhibiting abnormal gait hip involvement should be suspected.
In AS patients hip involvement lead to flexion deformities and can be assessed by internal and external rotation of the hip.

Dactylitis

Dactylitis also called as sausage digits. In AS patients the fingers looks like in appearance.

Lungs

Restrictive lung disease
Upper lobe fibrosis

Cardiovascular

Patients with AS present with following cardiovascular features
- Valvular heart disease
- Aortitis
- Conduction disturbance

Blood tests

If your GP suspects AS, they may arrange blood tests to check for signs of inflammation in your body. Inflammation in your spine and joints is a main symptom of the condition.

If your results suggest you do have inflammation, you’ll be referred to a rheumatologist for further tests. A rheumatologist is a specialist in conditions that affect muscles and joints.

Further tests

Your rheumatologist will carry out imaging tests to examine the appearance of your spine and pelvis, as well as further blood tests.

These may include:

an X-ray
a MRI scan
an ultrasound scan

Genetic testing

A genetic blood test may sometimes be carried out to see if you carry the HLA-B27 gene, which is found in most people with AS.

This can contribute towards a diagnosis of AS, but it’s not entirely reliable as not everyone with the condition has this gene and some people have the gene without ever developing AS.

In established AS, radiographs of the sacroiliac joint show irregularity and loss of cortical margins, widening of the joint space and subsequently sclerosis, joint space narrowing and fusion.
Lateral thoracolumbar spine X rays may show anterior ‘squaring’ of vertebrae due to erosion and sclerosis of the anterior corners and periostitis of the waist.
Bridging syndesmophytes may also be seen.
Basically, these are areas of calcification that follow the outermost fibres of the annulus.
In advanced disease, ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament and facet joint fusion may also be visible.
The combination of these features may result in the typical ‘bamboo’ spine.
Erosive changes may be seen in the symphysis pubis, the ischial tuberosities and peripheral joints.
Osteoporosis and atlantoaxial dislocation can occur as late features.
Patients with early disease can have normal X Rays, but if clinical suspicion is high, MRI should be performed.
This is much more sensitive for detection of early sacroiliitis than X ray and can also detect inflammatory changes in the lumbar spine.

Diagnosis criteria for Ankylosing Spondylitis :

Imaging e.g.

Bilateral sacroiliitis on X-ray, even if changes are mild
Unilateral sacroiliitis on X-ray if changes are definite

History

Back pain > 3 months improved by exercise also not relieved by rest

Clinical Examination such as,

Limitation of lumbar spine movement in sagittal and frontal planes,
Chest expansion reduced

Investigations such as,

HLA-B27-positive
Elevated CRP
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (in other words ESR)
Complete Blood Count (CBC)

The features include i.e.:

Pain that does not improve with rest.
Pain that causes sleep disturbance.
Back pain that starts gradually, before the age of 40 years, and is not caused by injury.
Symptoms that persist for over 3 months.
Spinal stiffness in the mornings, which improves with exercise and motion.

Some of the symptoms or conditions that mimic ankylosing spondylitis include:

Chronic Lower Back Pain
Reactive Arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Psoriatic Arthritis
Enteropathic Arthritis
DISH

You may not be able to prevent cervical spondylosis, but these steps may reduce your risk:

Stay physically active.
Use good posture.
Prevent neck injuries by always using the right equipment and the right form when exercising or playing sports.
Avoid trauma to your neck.

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis.

WHAT TO EAT

For Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), eat an anti-inflammatory diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. Include fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), nuts (walnuts, almonds), and seeds (flaxseeds, chia seeds) to reduce inflammation. Load up on fruits and vegetables like berries, spinach, kale, broccoli, and carrots for antioxidants. Consume whole grains (quinoa, brown rice, oats) and lean proteins (lentils, beans, skinless poultry) for muscle support. Add fermented foods like yogurt and kefir for gut health. Avoid processed foods, sugar, gluten, and dairy if they trigger symptoms. Limit red meat, alcohol, and excessive caffeine. Stay hydrated with herbal teas and water. Include turmeric and ginger for their anti-inflammatory properties. Maintain a balanced lifestyle with regular exercise, stretching, and stress management to support mobility and joint health.

DIET AND REGIEMEN

Exercises Of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Back Against a Wall i.e.:

Firstly, Stand against a wall, with your heels and buttocks touching the wall.
Secondly, Squeeze your shoulder blades together.
Then, Hold for 5 seconds, then relax.
At last, Repeat.

Prone Lying i.e.:

Lie on your stomach.
Slowly prop yourself up on your elbows so that your chest is off the ground.
If you’re able, straighten your arms.
Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, then return to start position.
Repeat.

Seated Thoracic Extension i.e.:

Sit upright in a chair, with your feet flat on the floor.
Place your hands behind your head for support, with your elbows out to the sides.
Keeping your head still, slowly roll the top of your spine over the back of the chair.
Hold for 5 to 10 seconds, then return to start position.
Repeat.

Quadricep Stretch i.e.:

Lie on your stomach.
Loop a strap, belt, or sheet around the top of one foot.
Gently pull the strap over your shoulder until you feel a stretch through the muscle.
Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, then return to start position.
Repeat on the other side.

Seated Figure Four Stretch i.e.:

Firstly, Sit upright in a chair, with your feet flat on the floor.
Secondly, Lift your right leg and place your right foot on top of your left thigh, just above your knee.
After that, Keeping your spine as straight as possible, slowly hinge forward.
For a deeper stretch, apply gentle pressure on the right thigh.
Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, then return to start position.
Similarly, repeat on the other side.

Plank i.e.:

Lie on your stomach with your forearms on the floor also elbows directly below your shoulders.
Tighten your stomach muscles additionally, lift your hips off the floor.
Squeeze your buttock muscles, also left your knees off the floor.
Keep your body straight, but without letting your pelvis sag toward the floor.
Hold for 10 to 20 seconds, then return to start position.
Repeat.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

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FAQ

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis ?

Ankylosing spondylitis (in other words, AS) is characterised by a chronic inflammatory arthritis predominantly affecting the sacroiliac joints and spine, which can progress to bony fusion of the spine.

Homeopathic Medicines used by Homeopathic Doctors in treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis ?

Aesculus Hippocastanum
Kalmia Latifolia
Rhus Toxicodendron
Colocynthis
Bryonia Alba
Agaricus Muscarius
Kali Carbonicum

What are the symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis ?

Pain and stiffness
Bony fusion
Pain in ligaments and tendons
Bent posture
Breathing problems
Heart trouble

Give name of the exercise for Ankylosing Spondylitis ?

Back Against a Wall
Prone Lying
Seated Thoracic Extension
Quadricep Stretch
Seated Figure Four Stretch
Plank

REFFERNCE