Complications of AS
There are several complications that can be caused by AS, Not all people with severe AS will experience every possible complication. More common complications are the ones that are directly related to the spine. The immune response that targets the spine in AS can also harm other parts of the body. There are certain symptoms associated with AS that can affect organs of the body like the heart, lungs, eyes, and digestive system. Some of these complications include:
Increase in Pain and Bamboo Spine
There’s usually an immense level of pain that comes with AS. Is severe AS, when the spine is no longer flexible, pain tends to be greater. This is because your spine is lacking the strength to support the rest of your body as it typically would, which makes the pressure on the joints greater. People with bamboo spine [2] may feel more pain in their shoulders and hips as their body tries to adjust for spinal changes.
Your spine is made up of several bones called the vertebrae. Naturally the vertebrae can support a wide range of movement. In severe AS, the joints connecting the vertebrae are damaged. As they try to heal from the inflammation, extra bone starts to grow. This vertebrae causes the bone to fuse together, therefore making the spine stuff, unable to move, bend, and twist as it typically does.
X-rays show that a spine damaged by AS looks like a stalk of bamboo, which is where the term “bamboo spine” comes from. For this condition your doctor would recommend physical therapy and also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications [3].