Ankylosing spondylitis: symptoms, cause and treatment

Anyone who receives a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis initially swallows empty. After all, the treatment methods are not really promising and many patients are convinced that they have to live with the pain due to the lack of improvement. Ankylosing spondylitis patients often resort to medication, but this is not suitable for long-term pain relief. The only glimmer of hope: sustainable therapy methods that make the persistent and very pronounced pain at least bearable.

What is ankylosing spondylitis and who diagnoses the autoimmune disease?

Ankylosing spondylitis, also known as ankylosing spondylitis, is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects the spine. This disease leads to inflammation in the joints and the areas where tendons and ligaments attach to the bones, particularly in the spine and pelvis. The progressive inflammation can lead to stiffening of the affected joints, which can significantly restrict mobility. Typical symptoms are deep-seated back pain, especially at night and in the morning, stiffness of the spine and limited mobility.

Ankylosing spondylitis is usually diagnosed by a rheumatologist, a specialist in autoimmune and joint diseases. The diagnosis includes a thorough medical history, physical examinations and imaging procedures such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans to detect inflammatory changes in the joints. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to slow down the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life of those affected.

How can ankylosing spondylitis be recognised?

This rheumatic autoimmune disease often begins insidiously and is characterised by chronic, deep-seated back pain and stiffness in the lower back and pelvic area. These symptoms occur particularly at night and in the early hours of the morning and improve with exercise. Those affected often experience morning stiffness that lasts for at least 30 minutes. The first symptoms usually appear in young adulthood between the ages of 20 and 40 and can be accompanied by inflammation at the tendon insertions, pain in the buttocks and hips and general fatigue. As the symptoms are non-specific and appear gradually, the disease is often only diagnosed years later.

Is ankylosing spondylitis curable and what is important after diagnosis?

There is currently no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but the symptoms can be effectively managed and alleviated using various treatment approaches. Once diagnosed, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive treatment plan to control the disease and improve quality of life.

Two sustainable treatment methods for ankylosing spondylitis patients: Deep heat and exercise

The sooner patients find the right treatment method, the more mobile their spine will remain. Those who rely solely on medication not only quickly become dependent, but unfortunately cannot achieve much apart from short-term pain relief. It is better for ankylosing spondylitis patients to concentrate on therapy methods that have a lasting and effective effect. Therapeutic deep heat and regular exercise are very popular. At Calopad®, ankylosing spondylitis patients receive both forms of therapy from a single source.

Therapeutic deep heat for ankylosing spondylitis: why it has a lasting effect against chronic pain

The fact that heat is beneficial for various types of pain is due to the fact that the blood vessels expand as a result of the heat. This improves the blood flow to the areas of pain. The result: the tense muscles relax and at the same time the nutrient supply and cell renewal improve. But beware: not every heat therapy product can trigger this process. For example, chemical heat patches only have a superficial effect and simulate heat by irritating the skin. In order to keep the spine mobile for as long as possible and provide lasting pain relief, ankylosing spondylitis patients should therefore opt for a form of therapy that achieves a therapeutic deep heat of 42°C. If you opt for the Calopad® deep heat device, you get deep heat, lasting pain relief and customised trigger point therapy all in one device.

Preventing ankylosing spondylitis flare-ups - with the Calopad® app

The be-all and end-all for ankylosing spondylitis patients is daily movement and targeted exercises. This keeps the spine mobile, slows down the stiffening of the spine, promotes chest breathing and thus relieves pain. However, daily stretching often fails due to the lack of motivation and time that patients have to spend searching for and performing suitable exercises.

This is where the Calopad® app offers the perfect support. It creates suitable, video-based exercises based on the individual pain region, provides daily motivation with reminders and keeps a constant record of personal therapy progress. Find out more about the Calopad® deep heat device and how you can use it in combination with the Calopad® app to optimally treat your pain.