Homeopathic treatment
Before delving into homeopathic treatment let us first discuss the conventional or allopathic treatment available.
Treatment of anlylosing spondylitis in allopathy
No cure is known for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), although treatments and medications
are available to reduce symptoms and pain.
There are three types of medications used in the management of ankylosing spondylitis
which includes:
- Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, indometacin
and so on which work by reducing pain and inflammation. These are vital in the management
and are usually very effective. Larger doses than normal are often required along
with their side effects on body as damage or irritation of the stomach lining (peptic
ulcers).
- Corticosteroids such as prednisone may suppress inflammation and slow joint damage
in severe cases.
- TNF alpha blockers.
Severe disability and deformity are unusual but in cases where pain is extreme and
deformaties are disabling, surgery is the last option left and may be appropriate.
Homeopathy for ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a lifelong problem, and people who fail to continue
treatment risk permanent loss of posture and mobility. Homeopathic treatment can
be a great boon to the patient especially if intervention is well in time. If treatment
is started in the initial stages when not too much of the elastic tissue is lost,
the prognosis is good and in most cases, the condition can be reversed. At a later
stage where extensive bone formation has replaced elastic tissue, homeopathic medicines
may not be able to reverse the situation but can still help in easing many symptoms.
The treatment works in 2 ways:
- Control underlying disease process.
- Significant relief in pain and stiffness.
Ankylosing spondylitis being a constitutional disorder calls for a constitutional
approach to its treatment. Homeopathic approach incorporates detailed study of the
cases inclusive of the genetic trend of the patients. The remedy prescribed after
such detailed evaluation offers effective pain control as well as helps in controlling
the progress of this condition.
Success with homeopathy, being ankylosing spondylitis an autoimmune entity
Success with patients with autoimmune disease is remarkable if we have favorable
therapeutic conditions, meaning that the homeopathic doctor finds the right remedy
and the patient is compliant and has a lifestyle favorable to recovery.
Recovery means that the inflammatory process stops and there is certain amount of
tissue repair, but within the limits of the organism's capacity to heal.
Certain tissues may be permanently destroyed and will not return even under the
best care. It is observed that what is within the capacity of the body to heal will
be restored under good treatment. So, this means that in the best of circumstances,
the disease process of all patients with autoimmune disease should improve under homeopathy.
Success will be reduced when the skills of the practitioner are not adequate, when
the patient's lifestyle is not conducive to good health, when the stressors in the
patient's life keep overwhelming the capacity of the organism to recover health.
For example, someone with an inconsolable grief, or when the patient is not compliant
or cannot readily describe his or her symptoms, which may be due to allopathic medications
masking or altering the symptoms.
Homeopathic remedies are considered safe and unlikely to cause side effects. Also,
medicines are not known to interfere with conventional drugs.
However, conventional anti-inflammatory drugs are notorious for side effects such
as ulcers and low immune function - problems that can be avoided using homeopathy.
It reduces inflammation and facilitates healing quickly and gently according to the
age-old principle : Like Remedies Cure Like Diseases.
There are 17 medicines which give great relief. However, the correct choice and
the resulting relief is a matter of experience and right judgment on the part of
the doctor. The treatment is decided after thorough case taking of the patient.
Thus homeopathic remedies of ankylosing spondylitis are tailor made unlike allopathy
in which all patients receive the same drugs although trade name may be different.
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What is ankylosing spondylitis
If you regularly wake up feeling stiff with pain in your lower back which becomes
better or reduces during the day with excercise or as you ease into your routine,
and this has persisted for more than 3 months, there are chances that it could be
more than just simple bodily wear and tear. You could be suffering from ankylosing
spondylitis.
It is a member of a group of rheumatic diseases that affect the spinal column known
as 'spondyloarthropathies'. It is a chronic, inflmammatory rheumatic disease that
causes arthritis of the spine and sacroiliac joint (the joint at the base of the
spine where the spinal column joins the pelvis). The chronic inflammation and irritation
of the spinal joints (vertebrae) can eventually cause the vertebrae to fuse together,
a condition known as 'ankylosis'.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a debilitating condition that eventually can cause loss
of spinal mobility and function and, therefore, severely impact a person's quality
of life. However, it may also cause inflammation and pain in other parts of the
body:
- where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones.
- joints between your ribs and spine.
- joints in your hips, shoulders, knees and feet.
- your eyes, heart, lungs and kidneys.
Approximately 350,000 Americans suffer from ankylosis spondylitis. The sex ration
is 3:1 for Men : Women. Symptoms usually begins between ages of 20 to 30 although
the disease can also affect children, adolescents or adults over 40 years of age.
The number of women with ankylosis spondylitis is underdiagnosed, as women tend
to manifest symptoms in their neck / shoulders / upper chest and peripheral joints
instead of their lower spinal area (lumbar, sacrum, hips, pelvis), where the first
symptoms appear in male patients.
Symptoms
Your symptoms may change over time (symptoms may be intermittent), with symptoms
getting worse, improving or completely stopping at any point. Early signs and symptoms
may include pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips which is often worse
in the morning, at night and after periods of inactivity. Over time, the pain and
stiffness may progress up your spine and to other joints, such as those in your
hips, shoulders, knees and feet.
Hence your symptoms may be summarized as:
- Lower back pain.
- Stiffness in the back.
- Loss of flexibility of the affected part of the spine.
- Pain radiating from lower back upwards.
- Diffuse radiating pain down one or both the legs.
- Chest expansion reduced in thoracic involvement.
- Pain and limitation of movement of shoulders and hip joints.
- Joint deformities.
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Weight loss.
- Anemia.
- Eye inflammation (iritis).
Complications
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) does not follow a set course. The severity of symptoms
and development of complications vary widely among individuals:
- Difficulty walking or standing : Typically, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) begins with
soreness in your lower back. As the disease progresses, the affected bones may fuse
together, rendering your joints immobile and causing a stiff, inflexible spine (Bamboo
spine). This can make walking or standing difficult. Your joints may fuse even if
you undergo proper treatment - and once joints fuse, additional treatments would
not help restore mobility. However, if fusion occurs with your spine in an upright
position, you can remain more able to perform activities of daily living.
- Difficulty breathing : Inflammation can also spread up your spine and cause the
bones in your rib cage to fuse. This results in breathing problems. When your ribs
can not move when you breathe, it is difficult to fully inflate your lungs.
- Heart problems : If the inflammation reaches your heart, you can develop valve problems,
such as inflammation of the body's largest artery (aorta), also known as aortitis.
- Lung infections : In some people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), cavitary lesions
develop in the upper portion of the lungs.
- Inflammatory bowel disease.
How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed
Early diagnosis is important if fusion of the joints and permanent stiffening of
the spine are to be avoided. It can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages
as symptoms may be attributed to more common causes of back pain.
A doctor will evaluate the following :
- A detailed medical history, including any family history of ankylosing spondylitits
(AS). Detailed current symptoms including a history of back pain.
- The age of the patient when the pain started.
- Physical assessment.
- X-rays - which may show signs of inflammation of the joints in the spine.
- Blood tests - which may show the presense of the HLA-B27 and a raised ESR and C-reactive
protein which indicates inflammation.
Life style management tips
There is no known way to prevent ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It can only be managed
with medications and some do's and dont's.
- Posture: Maintaining correct posture is vital for people with ankylosing spondylitis.
Keeping the spine straight plays an important role in preventing complications.
- Get a suitable chair : The ideal chair at home or at work has a firm seat and an
upright, firm back, preferably extending to the head. The chair should be of a height
which will allow you to keep a right angle with the knee and hip joints. Whatever
you do, avoid low, soft chairs and sofas as they will encourage bad posture and
increase pain.
- Lie flat on your back or your front for 20 minutes a day. Try to use as few pillows
as possible, preferable only one. A feather pillow can be moulded to suit any position
and still give your neck good support.
- Watch how you sit : Try to move your spine regularly, straighten it out and stretch
it by sitting tall and putting your shoulders back. Try not to sit for too long.
Stand up, walk about and limber up.
- Take care with your bed, mattress and pillow : The ideal bed should be firm, without
sag, but not too hard. Try to use as few pillows as possible, preferably only one.
A feather pilow can be moulded to suit any position and still give your neck good
support.
- Do some form of daily exercise. Swimming is especially good.
- Deep breathing for several minutes each day will help to keep the joints between
your spine and ribs mobile.
- Try heat or cold: Various forms of heat will help to relieve pain and stiffness.
Hot bath / or shower first thing in the morning and / or before bed reduces pain
and stiffness, especially if some stretching exercises are done at the same time.
Hot weater bottles or electric blanckets are quite useful in bed. For a particularly
inflammed area, an ice-pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a damp tea towel may
help.
- Do not wear a corset or a brace : These often make matters worse, as they hold the
spine rigid. And with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), not moving leads to not being
able to move.
- Eat well: Eat a good nourishing diet with plenty of proteins. Eat fruit and veggies
and also drink milk. However, avoid becoming overweight.
- Quit smoking.
- Physiotherapy: This greatly influences the outcome of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Learn an exercise routine for daily use from a physiotherapist. You will also learn
how to increase the range of movement of certain joints, especially shoulders and
hips.