Sincere and transparent with her fans, the singer Louane is known to speak without taboo about her health problems. She has never hidden it, the artist was diagnosed at the age of 8 of ADHD. In 2023, she also explained that she had suffered from an ovarian cyst, in a podcast. But it was in another podcast that she revealed this September 3 to suffer on a daily basis from an inflammatory disease.
“”I hurt all the time, but I get out of it better and better“”
It is at the microphone of the influencer Alice half, author of Alice Undergroundthat she dropped the word barbarian. An ankylosing spondylitis, which it presents as “A degenerative autoimmune chronic disease” joints.
“It’s simple, we talk to each other, I’m in pain (in the lower back)”, she explained “But I’m used to it. It’s like that, there is no rehabilitation”. A state that she delivers without eyeshadow, but with resilience. “With me, the inflammation is axial. I have in my back, the ankles, the knees, the wrists … so I have a bad time, but I get out of it better.
A difficult daily newspaper that is not suspected by seeing it on stage. However, pain is part of his daily life. “It’s been a long time since I had a real crisis where I can’t walk, at least for a year. The last time it happened to me was on tour at festivals.”
Ankylosing spondylitis: what is this disease that affects young adults?
Ankylosing spondylitis (SA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the spine (spine) and the sacroiliac joints, located at the lower back. It can also reach peripheral joints such as hips, shoulders, or fingers and toes.
It manifests itself by pain and stiffness, especially at night and upon awakening, which are not relieved by rest. In the most severe cases, the disease can lead to a progressive welding of the vertebrae, resulting in a loss of mobility.
Why did the disease appear in Louane? The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis remains unknown. However, certain predisposition factors have been identified. In particular the presence of an antigen named HLA-B27, present in 80 to 90 % of patients. However, its presence does not necessarily mean that the disease will develop.
Contrary to what one can think about it, it is not, however, an age disease. The proof? It most often appears between 20 and 40 years old, and mainly affects young men.
Treatments, not to heal but better support
Even if ankylosing spondylitis is not yet cured, there are many solutions today to regain control over the disease and clearly improve the quality of life:
- Drug treatments : non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and analgesics relieve pain, while, if necessary, background treatments such as anti-TNF or other biotherapies make it possible to better contain inflammation;
- The movement : regular physical activity and physiotherapy are not simple supplements, they are real allies to keep your mobility and slow down the eraid;
- Rehabilitation and technical aid : corsets, soles, rods or crutches can be offered to reduce pain and avoid bad postures;
- Surgery, as a last resort : It may be necessary, for example to replace a severely affected hip.
Treating the mind is also highly recommended: psychological support can help better accept the disease, stay active and continue to lead a fulfilled life despite the constraints.
For her part, Louane said she was no longer taking medication. “It’s a lot of anti-inflammatory drugs or it’s more complicated, like alpha anti-TNF, that’s a bit intense or in some more complicated cases, infiltration, needles that you put in your back or wrist to go to your joints”. A treatment which she prefers to break at the moment, in favor of non -drug methods.