FAQs
There are more than 100 types of arthritis. Spondyloarthritis is common name for group of arthritis. Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, IBD related arthritis is included under Spondyloarthritis group.
Spondyloarthritis can occur at any age, mostly between 20 to 40 years of age. It is common among males. Approximately 50 lakh people suffer from Spondyloarthritis in India.
The cause for Spondyloarthritis is unclear.
Yes. This disease can be hereditary. Sometimes it is seen in different severity among family members.
- The disease affects spine joints in most of the patients initially. Back, neck or chest pain and stiffness is reported many patients. Intensity of pain and stiffness varies from time to times and also from patient to patient.
- Gradually it may proceed to stiffness of whole spine and forward bending. It can cause difficulty in bending, twisting and turning. This arthritis can also affect joints of arm and legs. It can also affect eye, intestine or skin.
Diagnosis is made by symptoms and physical examination by a trained doctor. Rheumatologist may consider blood investigations, X-ray, MRI, CT scan etc to confirm the diagnosis as needed.
No. Diagnosis is based on correlation between symptoms, physical examination and investigations.
Blood counts, liver function test, kidney function test are done regularly to monitor therapy. Even other imaging study may be utilized to evaluate involvement of other organs by disease process.
- Before starting treatment investigations are done to see that blood counts, liver and kidney are normal.
- HLA B27 testing can help in confirming diagnosis.
HLA B27 is a gene. It is positive in 5 to 6 % of normal population. HLA B27 positive person is more likely to get Spondyloarthritis.
Patient is advised to use not too soft or too hard mattress. Sleeping in prone position is advised. Patients are advised to do movements or walk intermittently while working in same position for long time.
Food
- There is no direct relationship of food with any arthritis except Gout.
- Patients with gouty arthritis can take all vegiterian food including pulses. They should avoid non veg diet.
- There is no relation of these diseases with sour food.
- Sour food does not increase arthritis pain. The diseases does not improve after stopping sour food.
- Arthritis patients should take healthy and easy to digest food according to their need.
- Patients with involvement of joints of legs should avoid gaining weight.
Side Effects of Drugs
- Side effects do not occur in most (90%) patients taking medicines used for arthritis.
- Medicines are prescibed after considering patients age,weight, type/ seriousness of disease, associated other diseases etc.
- It is taken care that minimum drugs in smallest doses are prescibed to the each patient.
- Each and every complain occurring to the patients is not necessarily due to medicines.
- Stop medicines if you suspect side effects.
- Consult your family doctor immediately.
- Later inform your rheumatologist or request your family doctor to speak to your rheumatologist.