Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that primarily causes inflammation in the spine, leading to chronic pain and stiffness. However, the symptoms of this autoimmune condition extend beyond just back discomfort. It can affect multiple areas of the body, often manifesting in unexpected ways. This is particularly important to recognize if you’re Black, as research suggests racial disparities in diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the early signs of ankylosing spondylitis can help with timely intervention and better management of the condition.
The inflammation from the disease can result in persistent pain in the lower back, hips, and buttocks. The pain may start mildly at first but worsens quickly.
Along with the inflammation, ankylosing spondylitis can cause stiffness in the same area that’s in pain. As a result, you can experience stiffness in the lower back, hips, and buttocks.
If you’re in the early stages of ankylosing spondylitis, you may have neck pain that doesn’t go away because of the constant inflammation.
You may experience pain in the ligaments and tendons that are directly attached to the bones.
One thing you might not expect is that ankylosing spondylitis can make you impossibly tired all the time. It could be caused by inflammation or trouble sleeping from the chronic pain.
Many people report experiencing night sweats with the condition. Usually, it isn’t apparent that it’s being caused by ankylosing spondylitis until after diagnosis though the illness is known to affect younger people.
It’s not unusual for people with an autoimmune disorder to have a mild fever because their immune system isn’t functioning as it should. The same is true for this condition.
Ankylosing spondylitis can disturb your digestive system as well. Some sources have also shown a link between the illness and inflammatory bowel diseases. If you have it, you may experience a loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and unexplained weight loss.
If ankylosing spondylitis affects your rib cage, you may have some trouble breathing or feel pain when you try to take deep breaths.
This is one of the first symptoms that Black people experience. In this case, you may develop a condition known as uveitis, which causes inflammation around the lens, cornea, and the front of the eye. You may also have blurred vision, eye pain, and sensitivity to light.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a rare condition that is estimated to only affect about 0.5 percent of Americans. Of those affected, Black Americans are three times less likely to develop the condition than other ethnicities. However, new studies have shown that their symptoms are usually more severe. This could be because of the higher levels of inflammation markers that tend to be found in their bloodwork.
Additionally, Black people with ankylosing spondylitis usually have diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Their presentation of the disease can also differ. For example, they may have more functional impairments that prevent them from carrying out their daily activities.
It’s important to note that Black people can have trouble getting a diagnosis because most doctors consider the condition to be too rare for them. You may need to see different doctors to get diagnosed.
After confirming your diagnosis through X-rays, genetic testing, and blood tests, your doctor can determine your treatment protocol. The common options for treating ankylosing spondylitis include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for your pain, biologics for inflammation, muscle relaxants, and corticosteroids. Sometimes, doctors recommend surgery to replace the affected joints, remove areas of thickened bone, or place rods in the spine.
Living well with ankylosing spondylitis starts with strictly adhering to your medical regimen. This will be focused on easing your pain while preventing the symptoms from getting worse. Some complications that you should pay attention to are osteoporosis, the curvature of the spine, and bone growth around the spinal column.
There are also a few lifestyle changes you can make to help with your condition. While there’s no set diet for ankylosing spondylitis, it can help to stay away from saturated fat, eat less processed foods, and include more calcium-rich foods in your diet. It’s also good to develop an exercise routine that focuses on building your joints.
Additionally, you should talk to your doctor about using mobility and assistive aids that can help you navigate your daily life.
Though ankylosing spondylitis isn’t known to affect Black people as often as other ethnicities, their symptoms can be much worse. Unfortunately, you can have trouble getting diagnosed even with characteristic signs of the disease. If you have any of the early symptoms, it’s best to keep seeing doctors until they take you seriously.
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