Ankylosing Spondylitis is a rheumatic disease that causes degeneration in the
spine and sacroiliac joints. During the autoimmune response the body believes it
is attacking foreign cells between the vertebrae causing inflammation, swelling,
pain and loss of mobility. The disease can also cause inflammation to the eyes,
lungs and heart valves.
Ankylosing Spondylitis can vary from an intermittent episodic condition that
causes back pain throughout life to a severe chronic disease that attacks the
spine, peripheral joints and other body organs.
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a member of spondylarthropathies, a group of arthritic
conditions with similar patterns. The cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis isn�t
known but the group of spondylarthropathies share a common genetic marker,
HLA-B27. In some cases Ankylosing Spondylitis will occur after the predisposed
person has had a bowel or urinary tract infection, potentially triggering the
autoimmune response.
Ankylosing Spondylitis affects approximately 130 out of 100,000 people in the
United States. These are typically young adolescents and young adult males.
There is a cultural link as it is most prevalent in Native Americans.
The first symptoms are usually a dramatic loss of flexibility in the lumbar
spine. Doctors also may find arthritis present in the shoulders, hips and feet.
Delay of the initial diagnosis is common because the symptoms often mimic those
of other more common back problems. In other more severe cases people show up at
the doctor�s office with progression to the inflammation of the eye, fever,
fatigue, weight loss or anemia.
With early diagnosis and treatment people are able to decrease the amount of
functional loss and pain caused by Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Two strong developments in the diagnosis and treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis
have been discovered through research. Earlier diagnosis is possible that will
prevent the structural damage that results in less loss of function. Both
developments are available at most hospitals.
The first is the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to visualize the
inflammatory changes in the sacroiliac joint. The MRI gives a much better view
of the earlier changes that happen in the sacroiliac joint early in the
progression of Ankylosing Spondylitis. This gives physicians a better chance to
begin therapies and treatments to slow the loss of function and mobility.
The second new breakthrough is the use of tumor necrosis factor blockers. These
treatments, usually reserved for patients with tumors, show a high effectiveness
in reducing the spinal inflammation and slowing the progression of the disease
as shown in x-ray. Unfortunately research has also shown that once the treatment
has stopped most patient�s relapse. The study used this treatment over four
years with little problems with toxicity for patients.
Patients and physicians have found that the simplest treatments for Ankylosing
Spondylitis, such as exercise and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapies
still give good relief from the degenerative response. The non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory medications used are often Indomethacin and sulfasalazine.
Patients with problems in their peripheral joints, arms and legs, may respond
well to methotrexate.
Even with optimal therapy patients may develop a stiff back but if fusion
happens in the upright position they are more functional for the remainder of
their life. The goals of therapy are to increase joint flexibility and enhance
lung capacity.
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a lifelong problem. Unfortunately there are those who
fail to continue therapies and experience permanent posture and mobility loss.
Although it can be debilitating and painful with early diagnosis and treatment
patients are able to delay onset of loss of function and can continue to enjoy
the activities they have always enjoyed.
__________________ "Don't regret growing older, it's a privilege denied to many"
Since it is an autoimmune disease, I wonder if it would respond to:
Quote:
Over recent years there has been a growing recognition that autoimmune diseases result from immunodeficiency, specifically a disturbance of the ability of the immune system to distinguish its "self" from "non-self".
The experiences of individuals with autoimmune diseases who have begun a regime of low dose treatment with naltrexone have been remarkable. Patients with diagnoses as diverse HIV, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson�s disease, Alzheimer�s disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) and Crohn's disease have all benefited.
In addition, people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome have had marked improvement using low dose naltrexone, suggesting that these conditions also have an autoimmune issue as well.
The only two treatments that I am aware of concerning Ankylosing Spondylitis are Low Dose Naltrexoen, which I use for Crohn's, and frequency treatments.
There was one small experiment monitored by a medical college in Germany using specific frequencies from what is commonly referred to as a Rife machine.
The students measured the range of motion as these treatments were done, over time, and the range of motion increased considerably as the treatment went on.
The students were somewhat perplexed as in their mind, this was not possible, but at the same time, they could not argue with the results.
It appears that the specific frequencies used broke up the calcified deposits in the spine, giving more flexibility to the patients.
This small experiment is in a book I have on the subject of frequency treatments. It is also located at the link below.
Use the find feature under edit on you tool bar, and enter Ankylosing Spondylitis to go right to it. Or read all of the other anecdotes. They are pretty interesting.
...Another disease that has no known cause, therefore, the immune system must be attacking itself.
That is another typical medical blunder, added to the list of many, and growing.
This disease, as well as most mentioned above, are caused by fungus. More specifically, from the toxins excreeted by these one-celled organisms. Why don't doctors know this?
Fungus is being ignored by medicine and by science as being responsible for most if not all these so-called autoimmune disorders.
Science is starting to catch up, but most doctors are still totally in the dark.
As far as HIV/AIDS is concerned, there has been some "back-tracking" lately, even by the AIDS pioneers:
The only two treatments that I am aware of concerning Ankylosing Spondylitis are Low Dose Naltrexoen, which I use for Crohn's, and frequency treatments.
Dan
I have heard reports that serrapeptase is quite helpful. Probably eats up all those deposits that cause pain around the nerves.
__________________
"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." Marcus Aurelius
Have a few people used Serrapeptase with some success? There are precious few options for those that have this, and I certainly could get it if I am real unlucky. No sign of it so far.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
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