Ankylosing spondylitis: women, men, symptoms, treatment, photos, videos

What is ankylosing spondylitis? Is ankylosing spondylitis, pathology, in which the inflammatory process leads to ossification of the spine. The back of the patient turns in a solid bone structure and bent. As a result, the patient loses the ability to move in the spine. Due to stiffness has problems with internal organs – kidneys, lungs, heart.

How to cure ankylosing spondylitis? Because cartilage person is not restored, so changes in ankylosing spondylitis are irreversible. Treatment of spondylitis is symptomatic – it is necessary to help the patient deal with pain and inflammation. And to slow down the process of replacing the cartilage of the spine bone tissues.

The causes of the disease

Medical science at this stage of development is not identified with accuracy, why the disease develops Bekhterev, and the reasons can be determined only approximately. Definitely there is a connection with the gene HLAB 27. But this relationship is not necessary. So, nine out of ten cases had the gene. However, not all people with this gene and eventually get sick. And obviously, you can get sick, not having the gene HLAB 27. Until now, these features of the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis remains unclear.

Another probable factor in the development of infectious diseases, viruses, hypothermia, inflammatory processes. All these factors can be the starting impetus for the emergence of such diseases as ankylosing spondylitis. At least they are able to accelerate disease processes if they were running.

In recent decades, psychologists have developed the theory according to which ankylosing spondylitis in women and men is of the nature of psychosomatic medicine. Working with a large number of patients with ankylosing spondylitis, researchers found that many patients with ankylosing spondylitis develop symptoms because of the containment of negative emotions. Usually this aggression, feeling of guilt, the severity of the circumstances.

The spine of the patient is bent as if under the yoke of internal and external negativity. And the patient feeling sorry for himself, experiencing the sensations of the victim.

The gene HLAB27

The most plausible theory involves ankylosing spondylitis in the classification of autoimmune diseases. Ankylosing spondylitis, or so-called Bechterew's disease develops because the body directs its immune system against its own tissues. The most typical mechanism of development:

• The patient from birth has a genetic chain, HLAB, It is present in the cartilaginous tissue of the intervertebral discs and facet joints of the spine. Gene is completely immune to any infection;
• When the infectious pathogen reaches the vertebral tissue of the patient, the gene is in contact, the "get acquainted" with the infection;
• Then for some reason the immune system begins to attack its own cartilage of the spine. Possibly due to gene cartilage cells are disguised as infection after contact with her;
• Due to the massive loss of white blood cells and destroyed cells of the cartilage inflamed;
• Destroyed from the inside intervertebral discs and facet joints;
• To win inflammation, and not to violate the shape of the damaged spine, the body builds up in the place of the lost cartilage bone tissue.

Thus, the disease most often begins to develop after infection. If you were able to know that you are a carrier HLAB27, take maximum preventive measures against colds. Not exposed to cold and drafts, don't come in contact with patients with colds and flu. Also I should add that for reasons unknown ankylosing spondylitis in women develops ten times less frequently than men.

The clinical picture of the disease

Ankylosing spondylitis in men and women first, puts the inflammatory process, the joints of the sacral region. Then the signs of ankylosing spondylitis affect the lower back, then chest, and finally neck. If the disease will spread further, the disease to be subjected to and other joint connections that will lead to a particularly severe degree of disability. To become inflamed and can then ossify the cartilage of the fingers and the hip joint. In many cases, if the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis came later, inflammation of the ligaments of the lower leg, knee, feet.Observed swelling, pain in the area of the toe – often it even becomes a "first sign", after which the patient learns what is Bechterew's disease.

If inflammation and pain overtook the patient at a young age, to thirty – without fail should pass medical examination. This can help not only to detect the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. Doctors will be able at an early stage to find signs of arthritis, and other pathological processes.

However, the signs of the inflammatory process in ankylosing spondylitis is not so pronounced, as in arthritis. Pain and inflammation is easily dealt with by using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The main problem is not that, but the fact that ankylosing spondylitis in women and men leads to the ossification of the cartilaginous tissues of the spine.

Intervertebral discs and facet joints in ankylosing spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis destroyed. But cartilage does not regenerate, and to maintain the shape of the spine, able to move and live, the body parasivam gaps in the cartilage with bone tissue. The body of the vertebrae spliced between the bone cells. The spine turns into a monolithic, fixed structure. The patient loses the ability to bend and turn around in the housing. Complete ossification of the cartilaginous joints of the spine takes place several years from the onset of symptoms. To avoid this, as soon as possible to detect if the ankylosing spondylitis symptoms and prescribe treatment. May not happens in the end to avoid a full ossification of the spine, but there is a chance to seriously slow down the disease.

Symptoms

In nine out of ten cases, the pain initially strike the lumbosacral spine, and then go above the line of the spine. Of course, when pain and inflammation have begun to deform the thorax, these symptoms and continue to torment the lumbar Department, and so on. In the case of some patients the first symptom is getting shooting pain in the cervical region and spasms of the neck muscles.

At first the clinical picture and symptoms of the disease are very similar to the typical, the familiar degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. Lower back hurts a little, it becomes easier, if to relax and unwind. Pain syndrome the climate depends on weather changes, humidity and temperature. After heating, for example in the bath or on the beach in the warm sand, the pain syndrome disappears or significantly weakens.

Similar effects have exercise, therapeutic physical training, swimming and moderate physical activity.

That's just symptoms like "pain" and not think of leaving, it only gets worse with time. At first, they are easily dealt with by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. And then it requires more powerful tools. For degenerative disc disease this pattern is atypical, because of pain in degenerative processes usually develop exacerbations, and the rest of the time weakly felt.

It is possible to distinguish ankylosing spondylitis from the disease, if you pay attention to the fact that pain in this disease, like ankylosing spondylitis, most strongly manifests itself at night. After waking up while hurts the low mobility of the back, and secured feeling. Usually this disappears after some time, when the patient moves or purposefully stretch my legs. And here we have to differentiate the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis from the arthritis.

One of the key moments becomes the age. Ankylosing spondylitis usually develops at a young age, unlike osteoarthritis or osteoarthritis of the spine. Symptoms in women in General do not differ from the male, only girls are less likely to suffer disease.

The majority of patients at the beginnings of the process much lose weight, feel heat. Often there are problems and inflammation of the eyeballs. More than half of the patients suffer from inflammation of not only the spine but also the joints of the legs, shoulders.

Ossification

Ankylosing spondylitis, spondylitis, what is it? First and foremost is a slowly progressive immobility of the spine. In addition, because of the absolute stiffness of the spine is hard to move the sternum. The result is a slight hard to gain and push out the air, symptoms of congestive process. Symptoms of respiratory problems are shortness of breath, heavy, labored breathing. To bring these effects can lead to chronic bronchitis or pneumonia.

• See also: is it possible for pneumonia to the back pain

The spine is ossified, the cartilage is completely replaced by bone. There is no possibility to move the spine to bend and stretch, turn. All these movements can only be performed using other, non-vertebral joints.

Varies the appearance of the patient. At first, it disappears the bend back at the waist, pojasnichno-sacral region straightens. And then strongly bent thoracic and cervical spine. A so-called"begging pose". In order to move the legs, you have to bend the lower limb in the knee joint.

Complications

Over time, if treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in men and women has not been adequately, complications can occur. Given a list of them:

• Disorders of the cardiovascular system;
• Pain in the chest area;
• Failure and inflammation of the kidneys;
• Tuberculosis;
• Pneumonia;
• Problems with the eyes are striking in a third of patients.

To avoid complications, you need to consult with the attending physician, to inform him about all the symptoms. If there are symptoms consistent of ankylosing spondylitis, treatment should be appointed as early as possible.

The treatment of the disease

Curable if ankylosing spondylitis? Cartilage does not regenerate, and the changes that have already happened with the spine, do not get reversed. But heal can pain and inflammation characteristic of the disease. In addition, let the cure of ankylosing spondylitis and it is impossible, there is always the possibility to slow down the process of ossification of the spine.

For this you need to suppress the inflammation, work on mobility and joints, to keep to a special diet, treated by a neurologist. After the diagnosis is set in accordance with the symptoms, and treatment assigned, observe all doctor's instructions to slow the course of disease.

Medicines

How to treat ankylosing spondylitis? To escape the pain in the acute phase, you need to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the largest possible dose. The problem is that they do not affect the state of the digestive system. But her work is so complicated with spondylitis. And similar medicines will not make the patient to be cured.

To win a temporary victory over the infection will help a tool such as sulfasalazine. Should long rates and the impact is not immediately noticeable, but the drug works in seven of ten cases.

Medication Wobenzym is well absorbed, has a powerful effect on inflammatory lesions and swelling, stabilizes the immune system of the patient. Indirectly, the drug will improve the flexibility of the spine at the time.

Corticosteroids and pierce directly into the articular space of the joints, belong to the steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Work well in combination with Dimexidum compresses.

Liquid nitrogen is used to treat cold the patient's back. The pain goes away immediately, your back becomes more flexible. However, such treatments of ankylosing spondylitis are applicable only in the conditions of private medical clinics. Public hospitals rarely have the necessary technical equipment.

Diet

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis is not without changes in diet. To bone has not changed the spine of the patient, it is necessary to minimize the access of calcium in the body.

Why exclude animal fats, milk and milk products, eggs. Minimize the use of salt. Red meat is almost completely excluded. The patient receives protein mostly from seafood, nuts, white chicken meat, sea fish. It is useful to consume nuts, seeds, greens. All fat best to replace the olive oil.

Note the Mediterranean diet in ankylosing spondylitis it is ideal.

Forecast

Outlook on the lifetime of the patient and its quality depends on several points:

• How early began zakostenet the spine;
• What articular connections have become inflammation;
• Zakstraat whether, if the inflamed joints of the limbs;
• Accompanied by if ankylosing spondylitis other diseases;
• If there are complications work pelvic;
• Is it difficult for the patient to breathe;
• You will live in pain in the individual case of the patient non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The patient survives, if as a result of ankylosing spondylitis has not been incompatible with the life of disorders of the kidneys or heart. Disappointing forecast shall be made in cases when begin to ossify all joints of the body.

Please read: treatment of Bechterew's disease folk remedies

If the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis was started on time most likely the patient will maintain life and health.