Can Spondylitis be treated?

Dr.Aashish Chaudhry, 4 mins read

What is spondylitis?

Spondylitis refers to a group of specific types of inflammatory diseases that cause inflammation in joints or arthritis. 

There are many types of spondylitis and they cause symptoms in various parts of the body and can affect the back, skin, eyes, joints, digestive system, and heart. 

Spondylitis may well contribute to the development of other health complications.

Most inflammatory diseases are thought to be hereditary and even the best doctors for spondylitis will not be able to suggest any means of preventing the disease. 

Spondyloarthritis can be classified as either axial or peripheral. The axial form affects mostly the pelvic joints and spine. The peripheral form affects the limbs. The condition may also cause inflammation in the eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and areas where ligaments and tendons attach to your bones.

All spondylitis types have a few things in common and here’s what you should know. 

Common spondylitis symptoms 

All cases of spondylitis are painful and cause swelling along with redness. While the most prominent symptom is lower back pain, other symptoms will depend on the type of spondylitis a person has. Other common symptoms of spondylitis include fatigue, muscle pain, joint aches, eye inflammation, back pain, and swelling in the arms and legs

Types of spondylitis

Traditionally, there were 6 types of different spondylitis but there are 2 more according to a new system. 

The six traditional forms of spondylitis are:

1. Ankylosing spondylitis

This is the most common type and mainly affects the spine, hip, and lower back. Lower backaches, stiffness, pain in the hip joint along with swelling. 

2. Enteropathic arthritis (EnA)

This form of spondylitis causes pain and inflammation in the intestines along with back and joint pain, stomachaches, weight loss, diarrhea, and blood in bowel movements. 

3. Reactive arthritis/Reiter’s syndrome (ReA)

This usually occurs after a bacterial infection, which may happen through sexually transmitted diseases or a gastrointestinal infection. 

People may experience pain and inflammation in peripheral joints such as the knees, ankles, spine, and sacroiliac joint. Other symptoms include skin rashes, joint pain and swelling, eye inflammation, bladder, and genital pain. 

4. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)

This type of spondylitis comes with back pain and stiffness and usually causes pain and swelling in the smaller joints like the fingers and toes and the hands and feet. 

Skin rashes also occur as a result of a psoriasis flare-up

5. Juvenile spondylitis (Jspa)

This occurs in children and teenagers, usually affecting the leg joints. 

It has symptoms similar to other types of spondylitis like pain and inflammation around the joints and in the spine.

6. Undifferentiated spondylitis

This spondylitis is called undifferentiated as it doesn’t meet the criteria for being diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis or other related diseases. 

Those who have undifferentiated spondylitis, will most likely not experience common symptoms like backaches, skin rashes, or problems with digestion. Instead, they may  have inflammatory back pain, fatigue, eye inflammation, pain in the buttocks and heel, 

A novel method of classifying the types of spondylitis is determined by where it occurs. This system, This system has two main types of spondylitis and treatment is available at the best spondylitis treatment hospitals in Delhi. 

7. Peripheral spondylitis

This spondylitis causes symptoms in the arms, legs, ankles, hands, wrists, knees, elbows, shoulders, and feet. 

Psoriatic arthritis, enteropathic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and undifferentiated arthritis

fall under this category

8. Axial spondylitis

This is a group of spondylitis that causes symptoms in the back, hip, and groin, it can also cause bone and joint changes. 

ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, enteropathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and undifferentiated spondylitis fall under this category. 

Spondylitis treatment

There’s no particular cure for spondylitis, therefore treatment aims to primarily reduce pain, improve mobility, and reduce further risk of complications.

Spondylitis treatment exercises and the constant movement can go a long way in managing pain and discomfort.  

We tailor individual care plans for all our patients but most of them include low-impact exercise, physical therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antirheumatic drugs, and alpha-blockers. 

Antibiotics may be required for treating the bacterial infection that may develop with reactive arthritis. Severe cases of spondylitis need surgery for treating cartilage damage and bone damage. 

Prevention

Smoking is a cause of inflammation and smokers should consider quitting. 

Some foods also cause inflammation and can be reduced- sugars, fried food, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, trans fats, alcohol, and aspartame. 

Instead go for anti-inflammatory foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fiber, lean protein, and fish. 

Spondylitis can also cause bone thinning and osteoporosis so make sure to get in ample calcium in your diet as well, dairy products are good but if you’re lactose intolerant then green vegetables and legumes are a good option. 

Also Read:  Ankle Sprains  Everything you need to know