Ankylosing spondylitis test,what if HLA-B27 test is Positive ?

 Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis test,what if HLA-B27 test is Positive ?

Ankylosing Spondylitis is an inflammatory joint disease in which the joints of the body start sticking and stiffness goes on increasing. This is a rare type of arthritis and is more common in Men than in women. Getting its lab test shows that this disease is present in  body, the name of the test is HLAB27.

The centers for Disease control and prevention's NHANES ( National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) study now estimates that at least 1.7 millions adults in the U.S. have  ankylosing spondylitis, while 3.2 million have a form of axial Spondyloarthritis.

SYMPTOMS and Sign:

1. There is stiffness and pain in whole body after waking up in morning ( Morning Stiffness)

2. Ankylosing spondylitis mostly affect the spine, damages spinal column specially sacrum joint, costocondral joint, neck pain and sometimes tiredness.

3. If we talk about the investigation, then after getting X-ray done, the spine looks like  Bamboo spine and in pathology test if  HLAB27 is positive, it is clear that you have ankylosing Spondylitis.

4. If there is swelling along with pain, don't ignore it and start your physical therapy treatment as soon as possible.

5. Posture becomes stiff day by day and small routine tasks such as getting out of bed, climbing stairs, sitting down, toilet sitting all cause pain and discomfort.

Related article - how do you know when you need physical therapy ?

TREATMENT:

Physical therapy is the most important treatment in Ankylosing spondylitis. The sooner you start, the more effective it will be. Your therapist will prepare a treatment plan which includes

1. Stretching Exercises

2. Breathing Exercises

3. Range of Motion Exercises

4. Strengthening Exercises

5. Manual Techniques

6. Electrotherapy Modalities

You yourself will feel the difference in your body after doing physical therapy. You can take the help of Painkillers  to reduce the pain, but don't take too much otherwise it will spoil your metabolism.

 Other Names of This Condition

* Marie-Stuempell  disease

* Spondyloarthritis

* Bechterew disease

* Spondylarthritis ankylopoietica

* Axial spondylarthritis

Here are some exercises shown in the video by physical therapist so you can do it at home.

 

Important note about Ankylosing spondylitis:

There are some important points about Ankylosing spondylitis in which you never get this important thing in any book or syllabus, these are some practical points which can only be experienced by a physical therapist. According to work experience and knowledge of physical therapist states that

➤ Sour food item such as pickle can worsen your condition of Ankylosing  spondylitis making your body more hard and painful if you eat it on regular basis.

➤ To suppress the symptoms of Ankylosing spondylitis it is important to do regular  exercises, but you cannot do it just after getting out  from bed in morning. As morning Stiffness is a classical symptom of Ankylosing spondylitis so it is very difficult and painful to do exercises just after getting out from bed.

➤ In winter season the inflammation of spondylitis rapidly increases so it is very important to take care of your health specially in the winter season as compared to any other seasons.

➤ Coming to the age of 40 it is important to build the strength of muscles and bones in your body, so try to include some weight lifting exercises 5 days a week. This will certainly decrease the inflammatory process of Ankylosing spondylitis.

➤ Keeping one self physically active and paying attention to your posture can greatly help you minimize the long term effects of this condition. Keep that thing in mind that too much rest will increase the stiffening in your spine.

➤ Try to do exercises in a systematic manner for example, hot shower or hot water fomentation followed by stretching exercises will ease your body and makes it more flexible rather than doing exercise without warm up.

➤ Deep breathing exercises are helpful in chest expansion and proper lung function in person with Ankylosing spondylitis. 

➤ Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise because it uses lots of muscles and joints without affecting them. And the water supports the weight of your body. Swimming provides a great overall workout that improve your flexibility stamina and strength. 

➤ If your sleep is disturbed by spondylitis then just take a warm bath before bed so that it helps in getting a good sound sleep and also ease the body pain. Your head and neck should stay in line with the rest of your body when you are in bed, also a medium firm bed will be more comfortable for you to sleep.

Conclusion:

You cannot cure Ankylosing Spondylitis from the root but regular physical therapy session can completely stop it. After completing the whole physical therapy session some stretching and breathing exercises along with hot water fomentation are taught by the therapist so you can do it at home and feel better,

I hope you like this article informative and helpful, please let me know in the comment section.