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Ankylosing Spondylitis Center - Southaven, MS

Southaven Rheumatologist Doctors for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Type 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:

Southaven, Mississippi

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Ankylosing Spondylitis

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 Spondylitis

Reactive Arthritis »

What 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...

Emergency Contact for Southaven

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Southaven Hospitals *

Baptist Memorial Hospital Desoto
7601 Southcrest Pkwy
Southaven, MS 38671
(662)772-4000

Methodist Healthcare South Hospital
1300 Wesley Dr
Memphis, TN 38116
(901)516-3700

Delta Medical Center
3000 Getwell Rd
Memphis, TN 38118
(901)369-8100

Parkwood Behavioral Health System
8135 Goodman Rd
Olive Branch, MS 38654
(662)895-4900

HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital
1282 Union Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
(901)722-2000

Methodist University Hospital
1265 Union Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
(901)516-7000

LeBonheur Children's Medical Center
50 N Dunlap St
Memphis, TN 38103
(901)287-5437

Memphis Mental Health Institute
951 Court Ave
Memphis, TN 38103
(901)577-1434

Memphis VA Medical Center
1030 Jefferson Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
(901)523-8990

Regional Medical Center at Memphis
877 Jefferson Ave
Memphis, TN 38103
(901)545-7100

Saint Francis Hospital
5959 Park Ave
Memphis, TN 38119
(901)765-1000

Select Specialty Hospital Memphis
5959 Park Ave
Memphis, TN 38119
(901)765-1245

St Jude Children's Research Hospital
332 N Lauderdale St
Memphis, TN 38105
(901)495-3300

Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis
6019 Walnut Grove Rd
Memphis, TN 38120
(901)226-5000

Baptist Memorial Restorative Care Hospital
6019 Walnut Grove Rd
Memphis, TN 38120
(901)226-1400

Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women
6225 Humphreys Blvd
Memphis, TN 38120
(901)227-9000

Methodist LeBonheur Germantown
7691 Poplar Ave
Germantown, TN 38138
(901)516-6418

Baptist Rehabilitation Hospital Germantown
2100 Exeter Rd
Germantown, TN 38138
(901)757-1350

Crittenden Regional Hospital
200 Tyler Ave
West Memphis, AR 72301
(870)735-1500

Baptist Memorial Hospital Collierville
1500 W Poplar Ave
Collierville, TN 38017
(901)861-9000

Methodist Healthcare North Hospital
3960 New Covington Pike
Memphis, TN 38128
(901)516-5200

Saint Francis Hospital Bartlett
2986 Kate Bond Rd
Memphis, TN 38133
(901)820-7000

Lakeside Behavioral Health System
2911 Brunswick Rd
Memphis, TN 38133
(901)377-4700

North Oak Regional Medical Center
401 Getwell Dr
Senatobia, MS 38668
(662)562-3100

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