| Arthritis of the spine is a natural part of aging for most | | | | the sacroiliac joints at the base of the spine, where it |
| people. It is a condition that develops slowly, and the | | | | joins the pelvis. |
| symptoms can be a mild inconvenience at first. Arthritis | | | | Arthritis of the spine is a common musculoskeletal |
| of the spine is basically what happens when the | | | | condition that is more common in the over 55s and |
| cartilage in the joints have worn down, leaving the | | | | with women more than men. It can be triggered by an |
| bone exposed and free to rub and cause pain. It is | | | | accident, injury or from a weakened immune system. |
| generally known by the medical term ankylosing | | | | People who have a family history of this disorder are |
| spondylitis. The spine is one of the more painful places | | | | more likely to develop the condition themselves. It is |
| to develop arthritis. | | | | known as a degenerative disc disease (DDD) and is |
| Ankylosing spondylitis, is a chronic and systemic | | | | one of the common causes of low back pain. Surgical |
| inflammatory rheumatic disease which belongs to the | | | | treatment is usually only offered if significant narrowing |
| group of conditions known as spondyloarthopathies. | | | | of the spine or pressure on nerves is occurring. |
| There are more than 100 rheumatic diseases and | | | | Arthritis of the spine is the most common cause of |
| conditions that are types of arthritis, some more well | | | | acquired spinal cord dysfunction and can manifest in |
| known than others such as osteoarthritis, a disease in | | | | subtle symptoms, such as diminished balance and |
| which the cartilage that cushions the ends of the | | | | dexterity, or profound symptoms, such as paralysis |
| bones at the joints wears away. The symptoms of | | | | and incontinence. It is sometimes the diagnosed reason |
| ankylosing spondylitis are varied and typically progress | | | | for back pain. Severe arthritis of the spine is common |
| over time, which makes it difficult to diagnose. The | | | | in those with poor posture. |
| tell-tale symptom of this disease is the inflammation of | | | | |