Ankylosing Spondylitis Center - Pittsfield, MA
Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield * Contemporary Rheumatology Specialists PC  Berkshire Rheumatology Associates  Northampton Internal Medicine  Northampton Internal Medicine  Arthritis Treatment Center  Arthritis Treatment Center  Arthritis Treatment Center  Arthritis Treatment Center  RiverBend Medical Group Chicopee Office  Arthritis Treatment Center  Arthritis Treatment Center  Springfield Medical Associates  Springfield Medical Associates  Springfield Medical Associates  Hampden County Physician Associates LLC  Palmer Medical Center  James Figueroa MD Pittsfield, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-06-10
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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 Pittsfield
Nearby Pittsfield Hospitals *Berkshire Medical Center BMC Hillcrest Campus Austen Riggs Center Fairview Hospital North Adams Regional Hospital Samaritan Hospital Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Albany Memorial Hospital St Mary's Hospital Troy Northampton VA Medical Center Stratton VA Medical Center at Albany Albany Medical Center Albany Medical Center South Clinical Campus Capital District Psychiatric Center Columbia Memorial Hospital St Peter's Hospital Cooley Dickinson Hospital  Noble Hospital 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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Crohn's Disease
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- 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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Reactive Arthritis
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