Ankylosis or anchyloses is the stiffness of the joint due to abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of the joint. Immobility and consolidation of the joint may be due to surgical procedure, injury or a disease.

The rigidity may be complete or partial and may and may be due to inflammation of the tendinous or muscular structures outside on the tissue of the joint itself.

Ankylosis can take forms of the maxilla and mandible, especially among children impairing their ability to speak and eat. Ankylosis may be caused by destruction of the membranes that line the joint or by faulty bone structure.

It is most often a result of chronic rheumatoid arthritis, in which the affected joint tens to assume the least painful position and may become more or less permanently fixed in it. Arthritis literally means “joint inflammation”. It consists of more than 100 different conditions. The common symptoms for all these conditions are joint and musculoskeletal pain.

Symptoms of Ankylosis

The symptoms of ankylosis vary from one person to another and many include fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Eye inflammation (redness and pain) occurs in some people with spondylitis. In rare cases, lung and heart problems also may develop. The warning signs that inflammation presents are redness, swelling, heat and pain. When a joint becomes inflamed it can prevent the normal use of the joint and therefore it can cause the loss of function.

Conventional Treatment

The goals of treatment for akylosis are to reduce pain and stiffness, maintain a good posture, prevent deformity, and preserving the ability to perform normal activities. Certain drugs help provide relief from pain and stiffness, and allow patients to perform their exercises with minimal discomfort.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are the most commonly used drugs for spondylitis treatment. In moderate to severe cases, other drugs may be added to the treatment regimen.

Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate, can be used when NSAIDs alone are not enough to reduce the inflammation, stiffness, and pain surgery. Artificial joint replacement surgery may be a treatment option for some people with advanced joint disease affecting the hips or knees. Artificial ankylosis (arthrodesis), fusion of a joint by surgical operation, is sometimes done to ameliorate the pain experienced in a severe joint condition.

Benefits of Cannabis for Ankylosis

These multitudes of drugs prescribed to patients are more harmful to other organs like the liver and kidneys than helpful. Along with them comes a wide range of side effects like insomnia, addiction and dizziness. Marijuana won’t cure, but it gives a better quality of life with minimal side effects.

Sativex (CBM) is a marijuana-based drug that was developed by GW Pharmaceuticals in 2005 as a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. Sativex has however been shown to have beneficial effects in rheumatoid arthritis. Tests of Sativex on arthritis patients showed it helped reduce pain, and improve quality of sleep. Sativex is not psychoactive and comes in the form of a mouth spray composed mainly of two cannabinoids found naturally in marijuana, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

One of marijuana’s oldest recorded uses is relieving swelling, pain and inflammation. Currently, modern scientists are exploring a network of cannabinoid receptor sites located throughout the body. This new understanding of cannabinoid research clearly supports the historical references on treating inflammation with marijuana.

Different cannabinoids found naturally in marijuana have different benefits for arthritis sufferers. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is beneficial as a pain reliever. Cannabichromene (CBC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) have been shown in clinical studies to have valuable anti-inflammatory properties.

Conclusion

When properly treated, people with ankylosis may live fairly normal lives. Strong anecdotal evidence exists for the support of medical marijuana in treating pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. Therefore, for a sufferer of ankylosis, it is a good idea to discuss marijuana with your doctor or specialist.

Source: Medical Marijuana Blog
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