Joint Health

Recently Answered

• QWhat is ankylosing spondylitis?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease in which the immune system attacks joints and ligaments. Normally, the immune system army attacks germs, but in ankylosing spondylitis, the army gets confused and attacks joints and ligaments mainly in the lower spine and sacroiliac joints. Ankylosing spondylitis can also affect other joints and the eyes too. The main problems are pain and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks, which is worse in the mornings and improves with exercise. X-rays and MRI scans can show what’s happening inside the joints and bones. The best treatments are exercise along with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help pain and joint movement. In severe ankylosing spondylitis, stronger medicine like biologics might be needed.

• QWhy can it be difficult to live with ankylosing spondylitis?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  Living with ankylosing spondylitis can be difficult because sometimes pain and stiffness stops people who have it from doing the things they like to do. If the pain is bad at night, they might not sleep so well, so they may be tired during the day.

• QIs there an ankylosing spondylitis gene?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  Most people with ankylosing spondylitis have a gene called HLA-B27, but so do some healthy people. So, if a person has this gene, it doesn’t mean he or she will definitely get ankylosing spondylitis.

• QWhat causes ankylosing spondylitis?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  Nobody knows for sure what causes ankylosing spondylitis. However, it is known that sometimes ankylosing spondylitis runs in families. If someone in the family has it, a person has around a 10 percent chance of having it too. Some people think that an infection or something in the environment might be important. Doctors and scientists are working hard investigating the causes of ankylosing spondylitis.

• QCan people with ankylosing spondylitis still lead normal lives?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  People with ankylosing spondylitis can lead pretty normal lives, although at the moment there isn’t a cure for ankylosing spondylitis. While symptoms can come and go, with exercise and pain medicines, people with ankylosing spondylitis can work and play sports just like everyone else. It’s also really important not to smoke, as it will worsen the ankylosing spondylitis.

• QWhat are the side effects of medications that treat ankylosing spondylitis?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  Some of the side effects of medications that treat ankylosing spondylitis include upset stomach. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs for short, can upset the stomach. If this side effect occurs, doctors will switch to another type of NSAID or they will prescribe a medicine to protect the stomach. Biologics, another medication for ankylosing spondylitis, can sometimes cause skin soreness around the injection site. They can also make infections more likely.

• QCan biologics cure ankylosing spondylitis?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  Biologics cannot cure ankylosing spondylitis. Biologics block the messages sent telling the immune system to attack in people with ankylosing spondylitis. Biologics usually make people feel a lot better, but not always. 

• QWhich medications are used to treat ankylosing spondylitis?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  The following medications may be used to treat ankylosing spondylitis:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs for short, are a type of pain medicine that can help with ankylosing spondylitis. NSAIDs work quickly to stop joints from hurting so much. NSAIDs improve joint movement, but they often aren’t enough on their own to keep the symptoms under control.
  • If NSAIDs don’t work well enough, biologics might be needed. Biologics are strong medicines that are used in severe ankylosing spondylitis and when NSAIDs haven’t helped.
  • If joints still hurt a lot after NSAID treatment, the doctors may prescribe steroids. Steroids can be injected straight into joints and ligaments. They help reduce the pain and swelling. 
  • For ankylosing spondylitis that affects the eyes, eye drops can be used to treat the anterior uveitis or iritis. It’s important to go to a doctor straight away if there are any eye problems.
  • Sometimes joint operations are needed, but not for most people.
• QHow is ankylosing spondylitis treated?

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  A Jumo Health answered

  The most important thing in treating ankylosing spondylitis is to start treatment early. Ankylosing spondylitis is first treated with exercise. A physiotherapist helps with stretches. These need to be done every morning to keep the joints moving and to help stop the stiffness. Being fit and active also helps muscles work better. Pain relievers can ease the pain, which will make moving about and exercising easier.