Why Is Spondylitis Often Misunderstood As Back Pain? Know Ways To Distinguish And Treat The Symptoms

why is spondylitis often misunderstood as back pain? know ways to distinguish and treat the symptoms

Ankylosing spondylitis is a kind of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. According to experts, this condition also affects peripheral joints like your knees, ankles, and hips. However, AS often gets misunderstood as back pain.

Doctors say it is hard to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis based only on back pain because it is a common condition. Even though many people persist in looking for answers for their chronic back pain, others may dismiss it, not realizing it may be a sign of a more serious condition.

A few ways to get mistaken for simple backache are:

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The initial signs of ankylosing spondylitis like pain and stiffness in the lower back and hips, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity, closely mirror those of more common and less severe back problems. “This similarity can make it difficult for individuals and sometimes even healthcare professionals to recognize AS in its early stages,” Dr. Randhir Kenjale Ruby Hall Clinic, told Times Now.

Gradual Onset

AS develops gradually over months or even years and its slow onset means that you can even attribute the symptoms to minor injuries, strains, or part of a natural aging process, rather than an underlying systemic condition.

Lack of awareness

According to Dr. Kenjale, there is a general lack of awareness about AS among the public and sometimes within the primary healthcare setting. “If healthcare providers don’t consider AS as a potential diagnosis, they might treat patients for more common back issues without further investigation,” he said.

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The severity and pattern of symptoms can vary greatly among individuals with AS. “Many people may experience mild discomfort while others suffer from intense pain and significant mobility restrictions, which leads to under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis,” he added.

Normal Initial Imaging Tests

In the early stages of AS, X-rays may not necessarily show characteristic changes in the spine and sacroiliac joints. Advanced imaging techniques like MRI are more sensitive in detecting early signs of the condition but might not be used initially in patients presenting with common back pain symptoms.

Age of onset

Since AS often begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, symptoms might initially be attributed to posture issues, sports injuries, or even musculoskeletal strains common in younger individuals.

Signs and symptoms of AS

Those with the condition experience a unique combination of symptoms, a few of the painful ones are:

• Hip pain
• Neck pain
• Stomachache
• Stiffness or trouble moving your hips and lower back
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Breathlessness
• Losing your appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Skin rashes
• Vision problems

Ways to treat AS

According to Dr. Kenjale, the initial stages of the treatment should focus on maintaining flexibility and mobility of the spine. “Rest and putting restrictions on patients worsens the condition. yoga and swimming and daily exercises help, apart from anti-inflammatory drugs,” he added.

A few other ways include:

• Regular exercise
• Biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
• Corticosteroids
• Surgery

You should start feeling better soon after starting treatment. Your symptoms might not completely go away, but they should improve as you find treatments that work for you.