Ankylosing Spondylitis Center - Knoxville, TN
Knoxville Rheumatologist Doctors for Ankylosing SpondylitisType of Physician: Rheumatologist What is a Rheumatologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. The rheumatologist diagnoses and treats arthritis, back pain, muscle strains, common athletic injuries, etc. The rheumatologist may work closely with other specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists. Specialty: Rheumatology Common Name: Rheumatologist Doctors in Knoxville * Thomas C Namey MD FACP  Gary L Klipple MD  Gary L Klipple MD  Rheumatology Consultants PLLC  Rheumatology Consultants PLLC  Rheumatology Consultants PLLC  Rheumatology Consultants PLLC  Rheumatology Consultants PLLC  Rheumatology Consultants PLLC  Rheumatology Associates of E Tennessee  William M Bell MD  Rheumatology Associates of E Tennessee  Rheumatology Associates of E Tennessee  East Tennessee Medical Group  East Tennessee Medical Group  East Tennessee Medical Group  HealthStar Physicians PC  HealthStar Physicians PC  Sivalingam Kanagasegar MD Knoxville, TennesseeUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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Ankylosing SpondylitisRead the Ankylosing Spondylitis article » What is ankylosing spondylitis?Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are located in the low back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the upper buttocks). Chronic inflammation in these areas causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic inflammation of the spine (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process referred to as ankylosis. Ankylosis leads to loss of mobility of the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis is also a systemic disease, meaning it can affect other tissues throughout the body. Accordingly, it can cause inflammation in or injury to other joints away from the spine, as well as to other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Ankylosing spondylitis shares many features with several other arthritis conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and arthritis associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Each of these arthritic conditions can cause disease and inflammation in the spine, other joints, eyes, skin, mouth, and various organs. In view of their similarities and tendency to cause inflammation of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as "spondyloarthropathies." Ankylosing spondylitis is considered one of the many rheumatic diseases because it can cause symptoms involving muscles and joints. Ankylosing spondylitis is two to three times more common in males than in females. In women, joints away from the spine are more frequently affected than in men. Ankylosing spondylitis affects all age groups, including children. The most common age of onset of symptoms is in the second and third decades of life.
What causes ankylosing spondylitis?The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is bel... Recommended Reading Related to Ankylosing SpondylitisWhat is reactive arthritis?Reactive arthritis is a chronic form of arthritis featuring the following three conditions: (1) inflamed joints, (2) inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis), and (3) inflammation of the genital, urinary, or gastrointestinal systems. This form of joint inflammation is called "reactive arthritis" because it is felt to involve an immune system that is "reacting" to the presence of bacterial infections in the genital, urinary, or gastrointestinal systems. Accordingly, certain people's immune systems are genetically primed to react aberrantly when these areas are exposed to certain bacteria. The aberrant reaction of the immune system leads to spontaneous inflammation in the joints and eyes. This can be confounding to the patient and the doctor when the infection has long passed at the time of presentation with arthritis or eye inflammation. Reactive arthritis has, in the past, been referred to as Reiter syndr... Other Related Ankylosing Spondylitis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Knoxville
Nearby Knoxville Hospitals *Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Baptist Riverside Outpatient Testing Select Specialty Hospital East Tennessee Children's Hospital St Marys Health System University of Tennessee Medical Center Lakeshore Mental Health Institute Peninsula Hospital Parkwest Medical Center Baptist Hospital for Women Blount Memorial Hospital Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital & Center Fort Loudoun Medical Center Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center St Mary's Jefferson Memorial Hospital St Mary's Medical Center of Campbell County Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Ankylosing Spondylitis by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Lower Back Pain
- There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
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Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are common symptoms.
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Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
- Sacroiliac joint (SI) dysfunction is a general term to reflect pain in the SI joints. Causes of SI joint pain include osteoarthritis, abnormal walking pattern, and disorders that can cause SI joint inflammation including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment includes oral medications, cortisone injections, and surgery.
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Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
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Arthritis
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Ankle Pain
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Neck Pain
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Bone Spurs
- Bone spurs are pointy outgrowths of bone that develop in areas of inflammation or injury. They commonly occur on the heel and spine and may be the result of reactive arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. Symptoms include pain, numbness, and tenderness. Treatment focuses on decreasing inflammation and avoiding re-injury.
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Psoriatic Arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis is a disease that causes skin and joint inflammation. Symptoms include painful, stiff, and swollen joints, tendinitis, and organ inflammation. Treatment involves antiinflammatory medications and exercise.
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Costochondritis and Tietze Syndrome
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Juvenile Arthritis (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis)
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Kyphosis
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Reactive Arthritis
- Reactive arthritis is a chronic, systemic rheumatic disease characterized by three conditions, including conjunctivitis, joint inflammation, and genital, urinary or gastrointestinal system inflammation. Inflammation leads to pain, swelling, warmth, redness, and stiffness of the affected joints. Non-joint areas may experience irritation and pain. Treatment for reactive arthritis depends on which area of the body is affected. Joint inflammation is treated with antiinflammatory medications.
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Iritis
- Iritis is inflammation of the iris, the colored portion of the eye. Symptoms include a red, painful eye, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Treatment usually involves cortisone eyedrops.
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Scleritis
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Lower Back Pain
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