Introduction
Imagine struggling with an aching and stiff body every day; every day, you wake up, and joints restrict your movement. Sounds frustrating and painful, right? Well, it is. In fact, such harsh pain is a reality for a lot of individuals and is commonly called seronegative spondyloarthritis. Truth be told, around 0.5% to 2% of the global population struggle with some type of spondyloarthropathy.
Even after this, a lot of people are unaware of the condition, and spondyloarthritis is also often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. Having said that, continue reading to learn more about seronegative spondyloarthropathy, its causes, risk factors, treatment, and much more.
What is Seronegative Spondyloarthropathy?
Seronegative Spondyloarthropathy, or what is also known as SpA, is an autoimmune inflammatory concern affecting both your joints and entheses. What’s worse is that in some cases, such conditions may end up affecting your other body organs. Therefore, it is important to diagnose these on time and get treated accordingly.
These are medically termed seronegative because, typically, these concerns showcase negative results and do not showcase the presence of rheumatoid factor or RF in the blood evaluation, which is a common indicator of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is also one of the factors that make RA and SpA different from each other.
Types of Seronegative Spondyloarthropathy
Seronegative spondylopathy is a broad term that includes a variety of autoimmune concerns. Some of its common types are ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, and so on. Let’s have a look at each of these.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
The primary effect of ankylosing spondylitis is felt on the sacroiliac joints and vertebral column. With the vertebral column being affected, you can feel stiffness, restriction in mobility, and pain. Eventually, it may also affect the spinal area.
- Psoriatic Arthritis
Individuals struggling with psoriasis, a condition where one develops scaly patches, are likely at more risk of psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis can lead to joint stress in the whole body.
- Reactive Arthritis
Reactive arthritis generally occurs as a response to an infection in your body, typically involving your gastrointestinal and gastrointestinal tract areas. With reactive arthritis, you can have sensations of pain in joints, urethra, and more.
- Enteropathic Arthritis
Enteropathic arthritis is another common type of SpA that is commonly associated with IBD or inflammatory bowel disease. Its symptoms might be similar to those of gastrointestinal concerns, and it generally affects the peripheral joints.
- Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy
Undifferentiated spondylopathy includes all such cases of spondylopathy where the symptoms and features of spondylopathy can be detected. However, these are not similar to any of the other classified types of seronegative spondylopathy.
Causes & Risk Factors
Now that you’ve read the basics of seronegative spondylopathy, let’s move forward. Here are some of its causes.
- Genetic factors
One of the commonly associated factors with seronegative spondyloarthritis is the HLA-B27 genes. Individuals with HLA-B27 are at an increased risk of having SpA. However, it is important to note that not all individuals with this gene struggle with spondyloarthritis.
- Environmental Triggers
Certain infections related to gastrointestinal tracts, gastro urinary areas, gut microbiota, and smoking may also trigger the different types of spondyloarthritis.
Symptoms & Early Warning Signs
When it comes to seronegative spondylopathy, here are some warning signs to look out for.
- Joint Pain and Stiffness
You may experience pain in the spine, peripheral joints, and other associated areas.
- Swelling & Redness
You may experience swelling in the fingers or toes.
- Eye Inflammation
A common eye concern called uveitis can also occur in some types of seronegative spondylopathy.
- Digestive & Skin Symptoms
Common symptoms related to IBD can also occur in some cases of SpA.
Diagnosis & Medical Evaluation
The diagnosis of the concern requires a comprehensive approach with several tests to ensure accuracy. Here are some of the diagnostic methods.
- Clinical Symptoms & Physical Examination
One of the first and quite important parts of seronegative spondylopathy diagnosis is the physical examination. Your doctor may physically evaluate you and look for clinical symptoms. This may include an assessment of your joints and spinal mobility, an evaluation of your dactylitis, enthesitis, and more.
- Blood Tests
You might also be asked to run a few blood tests that help understand your overall health and bring more clarity to this specific concern. Additionally, there might be some other laboratory tests as well, including genetic and HLA-B27 testing.
- Imaging & Scans
To understand the inflammation and structural changes in your joints, professionals may suggest imaging and scans. This might include x-rays, MRI, of your spine, joints, and more.
Treatment Options for Seronegative Spondyloarthropathy
To ensure you treat every aspect of spondyloarthritis, including its symptoms, discomfort, and functionality, you need to have a comprehensive approach. This helps you get long-lasting results.
- Medications:
- Your doctor may suggest common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and celecoxib. These have cyclooxygenase enzymes that help by producing prostaglandins. They manage the prostaglandin level, which ultimately helps reduce the pain and discomfort.
- Further, DMARDs work by working on the immune system and are introduced to control the progression of the SpA. These can be added alongside the NSAIDs.
- To target localised pain and inflammation in joints, health professionals may suggest corticosteroid injections that are directly injected into the affected area providing relief.
- Regenerative & Minimally Invasive Therapies:
- In addition to this, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy injections are another popular treatment option. At Regencare, we have a team of the best ortho doctors in Kerala and prp specialists. Plus, our facilities, like our special orthogenic PRP kit, and our dedication to safety and convenience, help us offer the best PRP treatment in Kochi.
- Physical Therapy & Lifestyle Adjustments:
- When it comes to non-invasive treatment options, physical therapy is one of the popular SpA treatment options. Your professionals may suggest suitable exercises that might help you reduce the pain and improve stability. Several stretching exercises can be used to reduce stiffness and enhance your mobility.
- Posture correction & ergonomic chairs can prove helpful in reducing the chances of your spinal deformities and help maintain your overall spinal health.
- Diet & Nutrition:
- An Anti-inflammatory diet with a lot of fruits, vegetables, protein, and omega-3 can help reduce inflammation and pain.
Conclusion
Waking up with pain and stiffness every day can feel quite discomforting. Spondylopathy, or SpA, can take a toll on your daily life and activities. However, with simple steps like timely diagnosis, suitable treatment options, and some help from your healthcare professional, you can reduce this discomfort and improve your daily life. At Regencare, we have a variety of treatment options. Plus, we have the best ortho doctor in Kochi who can help you make your future and symptoms more manageable.
So what are you waiting for? Schedule a consultation today and say goodbye to the unwanted pain and stiffness.
