Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnkylosing Spondylitis & Bamboo SpineRisksTreatment and Management
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ankylosing Spondylitis & Bamboo Spine
Risks
Treatment and Management
Ankylosing spondylitis(AS) is a chronic form of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine, causing back pain and stiffness. In later stages of the disease, AS can cause the bones of the spine to fuse together into one long, rigid bone. This is known as “bamboo spine.”
Read on to learn more about the connection between ankylosing spondylitis and bamboo spine, including risk factors and treatments.
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Connection Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Bamboo Spine
Commonsymptoms of ASinclude:
Inadvanced AS,chronic inflammation can lead to new bone formation in the spine, calledankylosis. This can ultimately cause the spinalvertebraeto fuse in a fixed, rigid position. AS-related bone fusion typically begins at the sacroiliac joints and progresses up the spine, from the lumbar spine (lower back) to the cervical spine (neck). This is referred to as bamboo spine because the spine resembles a bamboo stem on imaging scans.
Advanced ankylosing spondylitis and bamboo spine are also associated with the following:
The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis is not yet fully understood. About 90% of people with AS have the HLA-B27 gene, but many people with the gene do not develop the disease.This suggests that a combination of genetic and environmental factors increases the risk of AS.
AS is associated with chronic inflammation in the spine, which causes the spinal joints and surrounding soft tissues—includingintervertebral discs,ligaments, andtendons—to calcify and harden over time.Bamboo spine develops due to thiscalcification.
Not everyone with AS will develop bamboo spine. Gettingdiagnosedand following your treatment regimen can help manage the pain and inflammation to reduce the risk of bamboo spine.
Treatment and Management of Ankylosing Spondylitis With Bamboo Spine
There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, buttreatmentscan reduce symptoms and help slow the progression of the disease. Ankylosing spondylitis is most often treated with a combination of physical therapy and medications. Healthy lifestyle choices are also recommended, including a nutritious diet, regularexercise, practicinggood posture, and not smoking.
Ankylosing spondylitis medicationsare designed to reduce pain and inflammation and reduce the risk of spinal fusion. Common AS medications include:
Surgery may be considered if ankylosing spondylitis has progressed and the spinal vertebrae have fused together. Surgery for people with AS is rare and is generally only recommended for people with severe pain and spinal deformity.
Surgical procedures to treat bamboo spine include:
The type of surgery your healthcare provider recommends will depend on your symptoms, spinal deformity severity, and overall health.
Summary
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints. Over time, long-term inflammation of the spine may cause the vertebrae to fuse together into a long, rigid bone that resembles a stalk of bamboo. This is known as bamboo spine.
Not everyone who has AS will develop bamboo spine. Early diagnosis and proper treatment with medications, lifestyle changes, and regular exercise can help slow AS progression.
A Word From Verywell
There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but early diagnosis and following your treatment regimen can reduce symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, and help prevent bamboo spine. Living with bamboo spine can certainly impact your day-to-day life, but with support from your loved ones and the right treatment, you can still enjoy a full life.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Spondylitis Association of America.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis.Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8Tang C, Moser FG, Reveille J, et al.Cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis: challenges in diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis.J Rheumatol. 2019;46(12):1582-1588. doi:10.3899/jrheum.181259MedlinePlus.Ankylosing spondylitis.Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112Veritas Health.Ankylosing spondylitis surgery.UpToDate.Patient education: axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis (beyond the basics).
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Spondylitis Association of America.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis.Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8Tang C, Moser FG, Reveille J, et al.Cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis: challenges in diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis.J Rheumatol. 2019;46(12):1582-1588. doi:10.3899/jrheum.181259MedlinePlus.Ankylosing spondylitis.Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112Veritas Health.Ankylosing spondylitis surgery.UpToDate.Patient education: axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis (beyond the basics).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Spondylitis Association of America.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis.Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8Tang C, Moser FG, Reveille J, et al.Cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis: challenges in diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis.J Rheumatol. 2019;46(12):1582-1588. doi:10.3899/jrheum.181259MedlinePlus.Ankylosing spondylitis.Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112Veritas Health.Ankylosing spondylitis surgery.UpToDate.Patient education: axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis (beyond the basics).
Spondylitis Association of America.Ankylosing spondylitis overview.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Ankylosing spondylitis.
Zhu W, He X, Cheng K, et al.Ankylosing spondylitis: etiology, pathogenesis, and treatments.Bone Res. 2019;7:22. doi:10.1038/s41413-019-0057-8
Tang C, Moser FG, Reveille J, et al.Cauda equina syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis: challenges in diagnosis, management, and pathogenesis.J Rheumatol. 2019;46(12):1582-1588. doi:10.3899/jrheum.181259
MedlinePlus.Ankylosing spondylitis.
Talotta R, Rucci F, Scaglione F.Calcium physiology, metabolism and supplementation: a glance at patients with ankylosing spondylitis.Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):297-311. doi:10.5114/reum.2020.100112
Veritas Health.Ankylosing spondylitis surgery.
UpToDate.Patient education: axial spondyloarthritis, including ankylosing spondylitis (beyond the basics).
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