Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammation that causes arthritis in the spine. It can cause swelling between the vertebrae. Though it cannot be cured, treatments can still improve the symptoms.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints (arthritis), which can cause swelling between the vertebrae and cause some parts of the spine to fuse together. As a result, the spine will become painful, less flexible and stiff. It often results in a hunchback. Like many other arthritis forms, it is an autoimmune disease.
Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system attacks its own body parts. The exact cause of this in turn is not well known. However, it is believed that genes and the environment may have an impact. The gene known as HLA-B27 is thought to be associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis. People with the gene HLA-B27 are more likely to have the problem, but by far not all people with the gene will get ankylosing spondylitis. People with ankylosing spondylitis often experience symptoms such as stiffness and pain of the lower back. This especially occurs in the morning and at rest. In some cases it may even result in a hunchback. The start of the disease is mostly in puberty or in early adolescence. The most commonly affected areas include the joint between the base of the spine and pelvis (sacroiliac joint), the lower vertebrae, the places of insertion where the tendons and ligaments attach to bones, the cartilage between the breastbone and ribs, and joints of the hip and shoulder.
Ankylosing spondylitis cannot be cured, but treatment can clearly reduce the symptoms. Medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve the pain, stiffness and inflammation. Recent medications, which prevent autoimmune inflammations, such as Etanercept and Adalimumab can be used in more severe cases. Additionally, a doctor may refer the patient to a physical therapist. Physical therapy can help patients with pain relief and even the improvement of physical strength and flexibility. In some cases, surgery may be considered to improve the symptoms.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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