Back pain is easy to put down to a bad chair, a long day at work or sleeping in an awkward position. But sometimes the back is only one part of the story.
You might notice that your lower back has been stiff for months. Then your heel starts hurting when you first stand up. Later, one eye becomes painful and unusually sensitive to light. None of these symptoms may seem connected at first.
For some people, however, a combination like this can be relevant when considering a group of inflammatory conditions known as spondyloarthritis.
The Back Pain May Have a Particular Pattern
Spondyloarthritis can cause pain and stiffness around the spine and pelvis. The discomfort may develop gradually and can be particularly troublesome after periods of rest. A person may feel stiff after getting out of bed or after sitting for a long time. Getting up and moving around may make the back feel easier.
That pattern is different from the back pain that appears only after lifting something or overdoing a physical activity. It does not prove spondyloarthritis, but it can be a reason to look beyond ordinary mechanical back pain.
Then There Is the Heel
The heel can seem completely unrelated to a back problem. But inflammation can occur where tendons or ligaments attach to bone, a problem known as enthesitis. The area around the heel is one place where this can happen.
Someone might describe it simply as pain when taking the first few steps after getting out of bed. Without knowing about the rest of the symptoms, it may be easy to treat it as an isolated foot problem.
The connection becomes more interesting when heel pain occurs alongside persistent inflammatory-type back symptoms.
Buttock Pain Can Be Another Piece
Pain around the buttocks can also occur when the sacroiliac joints—the joints connecting the lower spine with the pelvis—are involved.
The discomfort may sometimes shift from one side to the other. Again, this does not automatically point to spondyloarthritis. But when buttock pain, prolonged stiffness and recurring back symptoms occur together, they provide more information than any one symptom considered alone.
Some Symptoms May Seem Completely Unrelated
Spondyloarthritis can involve more than bones and joints.
Some people develop inflammation in the eye, particularly acute anterior uveitis. This can cause a painful red eye, light sensitivity and changes in vision and needs prompt medical attention.
Other associated problems can include skin conditions such as psoriasis or inflammatory bowel disease. Not everyone with spondyloarthritis experiences these problems. Their absence does not rule the condition out, and their presence does not establish the diagnosis by itself.
Putting the Clues Together
This is where the history of the problem becomes important.
A person may have spent months treating their back, heel or joint symptoms as separate issues without realising that the timing and combination could be worth mentioning to a rheumatologist.
Dr. Sajal Ajmani is a rheumatology doctor who deals with musculoskeletal and inflammatory conditions. Information about where symptoms occur, when they started and what happens during periods of rest or activity can help shape the medical assessment.
Further examination, blood tests or imaging may be considered when appropriate.
Treatment Depends on the Type and Activity of Disease
Spondyloarthritis is not managed in exactly the same way for every person. Treatment can involve medicines to control inflammation, along with exercise and physical activity aimed at maintaining movement and function.
The particular approach can depend on the form of spondyloarthritis, the areas involved and how active the condition is.
Long-term management may also change as symptoms and disease activity change.
Questions Worth Asking
Can heel pain be related to spondyloarthritis?
Yes. Inflammation where tendons or ligaments attach to bone, known as enthesitis, can occur in spondyloarthritis and may affect the heel.
Can spondyloarthritis cause eye problems?
Some people can develop acute anterior uveitis, which may cause a painful red eye and light sensitivity. Such symptoms need prompt medical attention.
Does every person with spondyloarthritis have back pain?
No. Spondyloarthritis can have different presentations and may involve peripheral joints, entheses or other areas as well as the spine.
CTA
Persistent back pain, recurring stiffness or symptoms affecting other parts of the body can leave you unsure about what is actually causing the problem. If you are looking for Spondyloarthritis In Uttam Nagar, book a consultation with Dr. Sajal Ajmani to have your concerns assessed and the appropriate course of care considered.
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