Beware that back pain
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the spinal joints, writes Kasmiah Mustapha
EVERY day is a struggle for Tong Yen Yee, who suffers from ankylosing spondylitis. Her condition makes it difficult for her to move and Tong would sometimes be in the same position for hours.
“It is a struggle to do even the simplest things. The pain is worst at dawn. I cannot get out of bed because the stiffness holds me back.
“Even after struggling to finally get out of bed, I wouldn’t be able to take a shower because I can’t reach the shower head,” says the 32-year old.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the spinal joints. This inflammation leads to irreversible structural damage that significantly reduces patients’ mobility and quality of life.
Patients with AS may experience varied severity of symptoms, ranging from mild stiffness to a fused spine, where the bones grow together. Some may also show signs of fever, fatigue, loss of appetite and eye inflammation (redness and pain), and in rare cases, lung and heart problems.
Tong says she often finds it hard to sleep at night as the pain keeps her up. It also makes her depressed and lethargic throughout the day.
Another patient, Shaiful Irwan, says his family members help him go to the washroom as the stiffness and pain makes it hard for him to stand.
“However, a work, I am usually required to lift heavy items, which I cannot do.
I have to take leave for days just to cope with the pain.”
Shaiful, 27, says it is also difficult to explain to people about his condition, especially relatives who think that he is lazy and just wants to avoid working.
“That is a problem as many people are unaware of the disease and what it does to people,” he says.
The disease is hereditary, and Tong says her brother has started showing some of the symptoms. Unfortunately, he has refused to acknowledge that he is suffering from it as he worries about the cost of treatment, says Tong.
“AS is not a disease that just comes and goes. It is with us till the end of our lives, so it is important to quickly get yourself diagnosed if you’re experiencing the symptoms before the condition gets worse,” she says.
FREQUENT PAIN
Consultant rheumatologist Associate Professor Dr Sargunan Sockalingam says the first signs of AS usually occur when patients are in their late teens or early 20s with most tending to brush the pain off as sports injury or sleeping in a wrong position.
“The back pain can be misleading and it should not be taken lightly. An important thing to note is that AS pain occurs when one i estful state, for example when one is sleeping or sitting for long hours.”
Dr Sargunan, who is the president of the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia, says as the disease progresses, the pain can become more frequent, causing patients to take off from school or work, constrain their movement, making them hunch and confining them to their beds. There is no cure for AS at the moment, but biologic treatments are effective and help patients lead a near normal life.
“Not only do biologic treatments help with the symptoms of AS, but they are proven to prevent structural progression and can help avoid spine damage and maintain the spine’s functionality. However, these biologics are priced at at least RM2,000 per treatment and patients are more likely to be on this treatment for the rest of their lives,” he says.
Arthritis Foundation Malaysia launched the Will You Back Me Up? campaign in conjunction with World AS Day on May 5, to raise funds for young patients who need access to biologic treatments.