Facts you should know about ankylosing spondylitis Picture of areas of inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis inflammation Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis featuring chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints (sacroiliitis). Ankylosing spondylitis belongs to a group of arthritis conditions that tend to cause chronic inflammation of the spine (spondyloarthropathies). Ankylosing spondylitis...
Pain management for ankylosing spondylitis requires identifying the triggers that aggravate your symptoms. Here are those possible causes of AS. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) occurs when the body’s immune system attacks its own joints for reasons that are not yet well understood. Joints between the bones in the spine and/or between the spine and pelvis are...
Psoriatic arthritis is not life-threatening, but it can reduce a patient’s life expectancy by three years. Here is how to properly manage the disease. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic (long-standing), inflammatory disease, affecting up to one percent of the adult population. About 40 percent of patients with psoriasis are also affected by this type...
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine and large joints. The best diet for ankylosing spondylitis includes the Mediterranean diet or a diet rich in lean protein, vegetables and fruit that eliminates refined flour, sugar, alcohol and processed foods. The anti-inflammatory and low starch, gluten and sugar free diet is proving...
Rheumatoid arthritis does qualify for long-term disability benefits as long as it meets SSA’s eligibility requirements. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers rheumatoid arthritis (RA) a qualifying disability, provided it is advanced enough to meet their eligibility requirements. There may come a time when your RA is so severe that it becomes debilitating and you...
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine and large joints. Surgery can help people with ankylosing spondylitis if they are in severe pain, experience severely limited mobility or have significantly reduced quality of life. Most people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) manage well on medications and physiotherapy. The surgical intervention is only...
7 Types of Food and Alcohol To Avoid with RA While researchers have yet to find a specific diet for rheumatoid arthritis, evidence suggests that certain foods can trigger your RA symptoms and make them worse. Here are the foods to cut from your diet if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a...
How is osteoarthritis diagnosed? Treatment for Osteoarthritis (OA) varies from person to person, and can include exercise, medication, surgery, and supplements. Osteoarthritis (OA) is diagnosed primarily on X-Ray. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done later to check for the extent of bone erosion and other injuries to the joint structure. For diagnosing OA, doctors...
What is tocilizumab, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Tocilizumab is an injectable synthetic (man-made) protein that binds to interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the body and blocks the effects of IL-6 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation is the body's reaction to injury and is a necessary process for the repair of injury. IL-6...
What is rheumatology? Rheumatology is the field of medicine that is concerned with the evaluation and treatment of people with autoimmune conditions and joint diseases, including arthritis. Branches of rheumatology include basic research and clinical research, as well as clinical diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of patients with these illnesses. What is a rheumatologist? A...