Medical Questions » Back Problems Questions » Question No. 122
| Question: | Please tell me all you know about spondylitis. |
| Answer: | All that I know about spondylitis may not be very much, but it would take more than the 200 words I allow for each of these answers!
Spondylitis is strictly speaking an inflammation of the spine, or a painful spine. There are many different types of spondylitis, the most common ones being rheumatoid spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis and arthritic spondylitis.
The rheumatoid form usually affects the small joints of the hands and feet as well as causing acute pain in certain areas of the backbone. It is caused by a rejection reaction of the body to the tissue lining the small joints of the back.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a stiffening and hardening of the vertebral column so that the patient becomes steadily more bent over with a spine that cannot straighten and aches generally along much of its length.
The arthritic form also can be subdivided, but is generally a wear and tear injury to a part of the spine in heavy manual workers or those who have participated in rugged sports.
The treatments of all forms of spondylitis will involve a combination of anti-inflammatory medications, pain-killers, physiotherapy (most important), surgery and some exotic drugs (particularly for the rheumatic form).
There is no permanent cure for most forms of spondylitis, and continuing care is normally required. |
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