Guys in their mid-twenties with backaches and elbow tenderness.
What does this sound like?
Deadlift day at the gym? Uni exam period?
These are actually common symptoms of someone with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a type of inflammatory arthritis.
At BJC Health, my case load apart from ankle sprains, neck pain, and a range of restricted and painful body parts, also includes psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy and ankylosing spondylitis.
2% of the arthritis population have AS, and it is usually not diagnosed until years after its onset due to common misdiagnosis as chronic low back pain, and/or other tendon injuries like Achilles tendinopathy.
My role as a physiotherapist to AS patients is to regularly monitor their symptoms and mobility with intermittent metrology measurements. I work with our Rheumatologists to help these patients achieve their movement and function goals while their condition becomes better controlled with medications.
From experience, a case of “I have what?!” is a common theme with most of our newly diagnosed AS, spondyloathropathy, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients. And it’s my job as a physiotherapist at BJC Health to help answer that question for you.