HOMEOPATHY FOR ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that causes lower back pain. Symptoms, including hip pain and a stiff back may come and go. Overtime, vertebrae in the spinal column may fuse and become rigid.

AS is a chronic progressive immune mediated inflammatory disorder of unknown cause that primarily affects the spine. The name is derived from Greek words ‘Ankylos’ means fusion, and ‘Spondylos’ means vertebra, ‘itis’ means inflammation. Hence the name described as inflammation of vertebral column.

AS inflames the sacroiliac joints located between the base of the spine and pelvis. This inflammation, called sacroiliitis, is one of the signs of AS. Inflammation often spreads to joints between vertebrae, the bones that make up the spinal column. This condition is known as spondylitis.

Some people with AS experience severe, persistent back and hip pain and stiffness. Others have milder symptoms that come and go. Overtime, new bone formations may fuse vertebrae sections together, making the spine rigid. This condition is called ankylosis.

Causes

Ankylosing spondylitis has no known specific cause, though genetic factors seem to be involved. In particular, people who have a gene called HLA-B27 are at a greatly increased risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis. Bacterias like Klebsiella pneumae and some other enterobacterias may cause ankylosing spondylitis.

Symptoms

Symptoms typically appear between the ages of 17 and 45 develop in younger children or older adults. Some people have persistent pain, while experience milder symptoms. Symptoms may flare up and improve off and on. Symptoms include:

·       Lower back pain and stiffness

·       Hip pain

·       Joint pain

·       Neck pain

·       Difficulty breathing

·       Fatigue

·       Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss

·       Abdominal pain and diarrhea

·       Skin rash

·       Vision problems

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a growing system and is being practiced all over the world. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness as it takes a holistic approach towards the sick individual through promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical levels. When Ankylosing spondylitis   is concerned there are many effective medicines are available in Homoeopathy, but the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering the mental and physical symptoms.

AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM

Severe dull backache in lumbo-sacral articulation; more or less constant; affecting sacrum and hips. Back ‘gives out’, during pregnancy, prolapsus, leucorrhea; worse when walking or stooping; must sit or lie down. Sensation of heaviness and lameness in back. Paralytic feeling in arms, legs and spine.

AGARICUS MUSCARIUS

Pain, with sensitiveness of spine to touch, worse in dorsal spine. Lumbago, worse in open air. Crick in back. Twitching of cervical muscles.

BUTYRIC ACID

Tired feeling and dull pain in small of back, worse walking. Pain ankles and up back of legs. Pain low down in back and extremities. Worse fast walking, and going upstairs. Ankylosing spondylitis. Morbus coxae senilis.

CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA

Spine very sensitive, especially upper part. Stiffness and contraction in neck and back. Intercostal rheumatism. Rheumatic pains in muscles of back and neck. Pain in lumbar and sacral region, down thighs, and through hips. Crick in back.

COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE

Aching in lumbar and lumbo-sacral region. Dull pain across loins. Backache better from rest and pressure.

DICHAPETALUM

Pain between the shoulders. Pain in the right shoulder, spreading towards the neck. Dorsal pain and stiffness like ankylosis. Severe pain and stiffness in the lumbar region, when seated or walking. Pain in the lumbar region with drawing pains around the thighs. Drawing pains in the sacrum, better by urinating or expelling wind, worse when standing. Cellulitis of the nape of the neck.

KALMIA LATIFOLIA

Pain from neck down arm, brachialgia. Pain down back, as if it would break in localized regions of spine, through shoulders. Lumbar pain of nervous origin with heat and burning.

NATRUM MURIATICUM

Painful stiffness of neck. Pain in back with desire for firm support. Bruised backache, early morning, worse coughing after sex, better lying on back, on something hard or pressure. Can stoop readily, but hurts to straighten.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON

Stiff neck with painful tension, when moving. Back strain or injury. Pains from overlifting or overuse. Pain between shoulders on swallowing. Pain and stiffness in small of back, better motion or lying on something hard, worse while sitting. Contractive or breaking backache better hard pressure, lying on something hard, walking about or bending backwards. Lumbago. Coccyx aches into thighs.

RUTA GRAVEOLENS

Pain in nape, back and loins. Backache better pressure and lying on back. Lumbago worse morning before rising. Spine and limbs feel bruised. Small of back and loins pain.

VISCUM ALBUM

Feeling of burning coal under the right shoulder. Lumbago from a chill, wants someone to press against the back. Stiffness and muscular pains in the nape of the neck, thoracic cage, and back. Torticollis.