CONDITIONS

Spondylitis

Spondylitis is one of the most common causes of back and neck pain and is essentially the result of an inflammation of the vertebral joints. The problem with detecting the condition is that it develops silently and comes to prominence once the condition has fully developed. Pain in spondylitis is usually concentrated around the cervical region of the neck, shoulder and lower spine with the instances and stings of pain flowing further downwards.

There are three main types of spondylitis:

• Cervical spondylitis – which affects the cervical spine, causing the pain to spread towards the back of the neck
• Lumbar spondylitis – which causes the pain in the lumbar region
• Ankylosing spondylitis – which is primarily a disease that affects the sacroiliac joints, causing stiffness in the lower back, hips, knees and chest

Causes

Spondylitis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that pain and inflammation are a result of the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues. No one knows yet exactly what causes spondylitis to develop in some people, but it is now believed that genetics play a significant role.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of spondylitis include joint pain and stiffness — especially in the spine, hips, and neck. Inflammation can also cause uveitis (eye pain), bowel or bladder problems, and skin rash. People with severe spondylitis can experience fusion of the vertebrae in the spine leading to kyphosis — rounding of the upper back — along with range of motion limitations and difficulty walking or swallowing. General symptoms common in those with spondylitis include fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

Diagnosis

There is no one conclusive test for diagnosing spondylitis. Spondylitis is typically diagnosed by a rheumatologist with a combination of a thorough physical exam, personal and family medical history, scans such as X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and blood tests for certain inflammatory markers and genetic factors