Orlando Ankylosing Spondylitis Specialists
If you’re dealing with the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, chronic pain can be a daily battle. Fortunately, there are ways to manage this condition and reduce your discomfort. At Advanced Neurospine Associates, we specialize in delivering precision treatments for ankylosing spondylitis which can provide real results and long-term relief from musculoskeletal pain. Our medical team is dedicated to improving and preserving health through advanced diagnostic techniques, and state-of-the-art interventional procedures, as well as educating our patients about staying healthy throughout their journeys with ankylosing spondylitis.
What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)?
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints in the lower back. While this autoimmune disease is classified as a type of arthritis, it differs from other forms of arthritis in terms of severity and treatment options. Symptoms typically begin in early adulthood, usually before age 45, with common signs such as stiffness, pain, and decreased mobility in the hips, lower back, neck, shoulders, and upper back. Diagnosis often requires imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI scans to check for abnormal changes in joint structure and compare results over time. Treatment may include lifestyle modifications such as physical therapy, exercise, hot/cold therapy, and yoga; medications designed to reduce inflammation or suppress the immune system; or non-medication therapies like spinal manipulation or injections with cortisone. With appropriate diagnosis and management strategies, people with AS can still lead full lives despite occasional flares-ups in their symptoms.
Symptoms of AS
Symptoms that are commonly associated with ankylosing spondylitis include chronic lower back pain, upper back pain, stiffness of the spine and surrounding muscles, fatigue, low-grade fever, enthesitis (inflammation of tendons or ligaments), redness or warmth of affected areas, difficulty breathing due to chest involvement, as well as eye problems such as uveitis. If you are experiencing any symptoms similar to these, it’s important to speak with your doctor immediately to determine if ankylosing spondylitis is the cause of your discomfort.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for managing AS symptoms vary from person to person and may include lifestyle modifications and drug therapies. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, exercise, physical therapy, interventional procedures, and other treatments should be discussed with a healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate treatment regimen. For those who wish to supplement their medical care with alternative/natural therapies, acupuncture or yoga have been known to provide some relief from symptoms related to ankylosing spondylitis. With these potential treatment options, people living with this condition can work towards finding an approach that helps them gain control over their rheumatologic symptom management.
How Our Arthritis Pain Specialists Can Help
Our ankylosing spondylitis pain specialists offer advanced pain management services tailored to suit the needs of each suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Our specialists are highly-skilled in performing sacroiliac joint injections and medial branch blocks, delivering fast pain relief with minimal discomfort. For persistent cases that don’t respond to more conservative treatment plans, our team offers more rigorous options in the form of nerve ablation treatments such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or ketamine infusions. Our goal is to provide every patient with an effective plan for pain relief and we take into consideration all available treatments when making care recommendations.
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that can cause pain and stiffness in the spine. There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but there are treatments available to help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. Our team of ankylosing spondylitis specialists can work with you to develop a treatment plan that fits your needs. If you’re living with ankylosing spondylitis pain, don’t suffer in silence, reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.