CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS TO ESTABLISH THE NIDANPANCHAK ON THE BASIS OF AYURVEDIC CONCEPT

Ankylosing Spondylitis is characterised by chronic inflammatory arthritis predominantly affecting the sacroiliac joint & axial Skeleton. The usual age of onset is 25 years, and onset beyond 40 years of age is extremely uncommon, with a male pre-ponderance of about 3:1. The HLA B27 gene is known to have a strong connection with the disease. The frequency of HLA B27 is directly correlated with the occurrence of Ankylosing Spondylitis in a given community. In the population of northern India, the frequency of HLA B27 is 6%. About 85% of cases of chronic low back pain are associated with stiffness in the morning. Ankylosing spondylitis is linked to dactylitis, hip and buttock pain, impaired spinal movement, and postural problems. Extra skeletal symptoms such as IBS (50%), psoriasis (10%) and acute anterior uveitis (25–35%). The two main symptoms are stiffness in the morning that spreads to the buttocks or back thighs, and low back pain. Movement relieves symptoms and inactivity exacerbates them. The illness usually progresses gradually, eventually affecting the entire spine, though certain spots exhibit the cervical or thoracic spine. The vertebrae may merge in severe cases of this. When the vertebrae merge, the spine may become hard and inflexible. One common complaint is fatigue. Pain is the cause of persistent sleep disruption.