Psoriatic Spondylitis is a type of psoriatic arthritis that affects the spine and joints of the pelvis. The symptoms can occur anywhere in between the pelvis and neck. Psoriatic arthritis usually affects the larger joints in the legs and hand.
Psoriatic Spondylitis affects mainly the spine and sacroiliac joints causing pain, stiffness, and inflammation at any part of the spine. Psoriatic Spondylitis is also known as axial arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis is one of the most common in people who are suffering from psoriasis or anyone who has a family history of psoriasis. Researchers say that around 30% of the people who have psoriasis will tend to suffer from psoriatic arthritis.
When psoriatic arthritis affects the spine, it is also called axial arthritis. Researchers say that around 50% of psoriatic patients will end up having axial arthritis.
Symptoms of Psoriatic Spondylitis
When psoriatic arthritis affects the spine, it causes inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the affected part. When a person suffers from Psoriatic Spondylitis, he or she may experience the following symptoms
- Inflammatory Back pain
- Inflammation where ligaments and tendons insert into bones.
- Inflammation of an entire finger or toe
- Disturbed Sleep due to pain
- Pain increases during the resting period and gets better with activities or exercise
- Pitting and lifting of nails from the nailed.
- Pain in the hip/buttock
- Eye inflammation
- Swelling in the joints
- General fatigue
- Itching and scaly plaques
- Morning stiffness in the joints
- The stiffness of joints after prolonged rest
The symptoms may range from mild to severe.
Ayurvedic treatment for Psoriatic Spondylitis
When the joints get involved along with the skin in psoriasis, it indicates that the morbid dosas are getting seated in deeper dhatus’s or tissues. When the vitiation of the deeper tissues occurs, it produces the symptoms of particular to the dhatus. When bone and joints get involved, it creates symptoms like pain in joints, swelling, stiffness, etc.…
The ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Psoriatic Spondylitis will be done step by step. As Psoriatic Spondylitis is a comorbidity of psoriasis and the treatment is aimed to stop the progression of the disease and reverse the disease.
As the first step one has to avoid all the triggering factors which are responsible for disease production and progression. This will help to create a healing environment in the body will help to fasten the results.
Then the diet has to be changed according to the state and stage of the disease. Suitable food habits and activities are advised to support treatment protocols.
The elimination of morbid dosas which are accumulated inside the tissues will help to create a healthy environment in the body. When the body is free from toxins medicines will act much better compared to the medications administered without purification.
Internal medications are advised to break the pathogenesis and help to correct the doshic balance. Remedies are selected depending on various factors like disease stage, the strength of the person, digestive capacity, etc…Internal medication is also continued with rejuvenating medications to prevent the reoccurrence of the disease.
External Applications are also used in treating Psoriatic Spondylitis entirely depending on the disease condition. Medicated applications like herbal paste, oil, ghee, decoctions are used as external applications. The external applications will help in reducing the flaking, swelling stiffness, and pain.
Lifestyle changes that can help in Psoriatic Spondylitis
A change in lifestyle such as increasing physical activity, exercise, stretches, physical therapies will be also beneficial in improving flexibility and mobility. It is found that cardiovascular exercise is much helpful in psoriatic arthritis. One can consider, walking, swimming, cycling or any sports which they are comfortable with, to begin with. One should also be careful and consult the physician before shifting to moderate to heavy physical activities.
Complications of Psoriatic Arthritis
If a person does not take timely treatment Psoriatic arthritis can cause permanent joint damage by changing the shape of the joints (anatomical changes). Appropriate treatment can help in preventing the progression of the disease and help to reverse the condition.
Psoriatic arthritis can increase the risk of developing other conditions like
- Heart disease
- Eye problems such as conjunctivitis and uveitis
- Inflammatory bowel disses
Pro Tip
Simple stretching exercise for Psoriatic Spondylitis
Sit in a chair keeping your spine straight and feet on the floor. Lift both hands to the extent that it makes 90 degrees angle.
Now keeping your hands stretched twist to the left side and hold it for 10 seconds. Then release and do it again to the other side.
Doing this twisting daily once or twice will help to relax your spine and improve its flexibility of the spine.
Home remedy for the stiffened spine in Psoriatic Spondylitis
Take crystal salt and heat it on a frying pan.
Once the salt becomes hot put it in a cloth to make a poultice.
Apply this all over the spine till mild sweat appears.
One should be careful doing this because keeping it in one place for a prolonged period may burn the skin, so the application has to be gently done with a quick movement.
In Ayurveda, the same procedure is done using various medicated powders like kottamchukkadi powder, Nagaradi choorna, Grahadhoomadi Choorna, Kulatha choorna, etc.… This procedure is called kizhi or panda Sweda in Ayurveda.
Conclusion
Psoriatic Spondylitis is a type of psoriatic arthritis, and there is no cure yet. However effective treatments will help in preventing the progression of the disease and possibly reverse the condition to a certain extent.
Treatment varies depending on the state and stage of the disease
Suitable exercises and physical therapies can be adopted by consulting the doctor and physical therapist.
Receiving early treatment can prevent joint damage in the spine and other parts of the body.
Also, read about Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis, Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis