Publish 23 June 2022
By Kevin RR Williams
Stiffening Up
Without trauma, your back begins hurting. Friends joke that you’re getting old. You are. Everyone is! But within the age range of 30–45, this still doesn’t explain the increasing pain and immobility of your spine.
Though not the only cause, a rare neurological disease called ankylosing spondylitis might be the reason. The major causative factor for this disease is genetic. Human leucocyte antigen (HLA-B27) is the susceptibility gene responsible for the disease.
This inflammatory arthritis causes joint and bone fusions. So you feel stiff and immobile. Simple tasks like putting on shoes, kneeling on the floor, or rising out of bed can require audible grunts and creative maneuvering. There may be some temporary remission. But your unwanted acute painful episodes return frequently.
Get Your Life Back
Popular Medications
- NSAIDs
- Corticosteroids
- IL 12/23 Inhibitor
- Sulfasalazine
- TNF Inhibitors
- Methotrexate
- IL-17 Inhibitor
Common treatments include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physiotherapy, stretching, and exercises. Spinal epidurals can provide long-term relief. Promising new drugs include tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. These suppress the body’s response to TNF, a chemical that causes inflammation.
If you are unable to perform regular daily tasks, consult with orthopedics specialists or neurology professionals. Rule out this troubling inflammatory disease and get treatment to remain mobile.
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