Bechterew's disease: causes, symptoms, treatment methods

Ankylosing spondylitis, or Bechterew's disease, is an inflammatory disease that is chronic and affects the joint and ligamentous apparatus of the spine, the sacroiliac joints, the shoulder joints, and the hip joints.

Bechterew's disease: causes

Bechterew's disease develops more often in people with hereditary predisposition and some genetic characteristics. It is proved that people with HLA-B27 gene suffer from this disease more often. Despite this, people who are not its carriers, can also get sick of it, simply with less probability. But not all carriers of this gene necessarily fall ill.

The role in the development of ankylosing spondylitis is played by hidden infections, and traumas, and colds, and hypothermia, and viral infections. Also, scientists have found that this disease is largely psychosomatic, so that the origin of the disease can trigger the features of the nervous system and psyche, prolonged or severe stress.

Bechterew's disease: the main symptoms

Bechterew's disease often begins with cervical or lumbar radiculitis - there is a sharp lumbago from the waist in the leg or from the neck to the arm. First, the symptoms may resemble the usual osteochondrosis. The patient complains of moderate back pain, which increases after rest and rest or when weather changes. And after warming up and light physical exercises, unpleasant sensations decrease.

Back pain at first is easily eliminated by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and most doctors say: "osteochondrosis." Doubts begin when, after several months of treatment, painful sensations do not simply not decrease, but increase. In this case, the pain intensifies usually at 3-5 o'clock in the morning, and in the afternoon slightly subside.

In addition to the rhythm of pain, the diagnosis is indicated by strong morning stiffness in the lower back, usually disappearing for dinner, and the young age of the patient - usually elderly patients with osteochondrosis, and young people of 20-27 years with Bekhterev's disease. In addition, half of all patients at the onset of the disease have eye inflammation, weight loss and fever.

A typical symptom of the disease is the growing stiffness in the region of the spine, as well as a significant decrease in the mobility of the chest. The appearance of the patient is also characteristic. At the beginning of the disease, the normal bending of the spine disappears, and the waist becomes straight and flat. Later, the thoracic region freezes, stooped, there is a so-called. "Pose of the petitioner". When walking, the legs of the sick person remain always kneeled.

Bechterew's disease and its treatment

The main components of the treatment of this disease are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are recommended to take continuously long courses, 1-5 years.

In case of exacerbation of the disease, they should be taken in the maximum admissible doses, and if the exacerbation is on a decline, 1 / 3-1 / 4 of the permissible dose specified in the annotation is sufficient. Of these drugs, the maximum effect is given by diclofenac, butadione, indomethacin, ketoprofen, as well as their derivatives. Many people are well helped by the enzyme drug wobenzym. It has a mild immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effect. And with Bekhterev's disease it helps to increase the mobility of the spine.

Assign local effects and injections into the joint cavity of corticosteroid hormones and compresses with dimexide. A back massage is also useful. It is beneficial not only to the spine, but also to the whole organism. But it needs to be done only in periods of relative well-being, in the absence of signs of obvious inflammation. In this period, also successfully apply therapeutic mud.

Painful disease Bekhterev recommended and sanatorium treatment. An important place in the fight against ossification of the spine and increasing stiffness is therapeutic gymnastics. It should be held daily, at least half an hour.

Bechterew's disease: possible complications

Ankylosing spondylitis is dangerous not only because it immobilizes the entire spine with time, but also complications. Of these, the greatest danger is represented by lesions of the aorta and heart. In 1/3 of patients, renal degeneration develops, which leads to renal failure. Reducing the mobility of the chest can lead to tuberculosis and lung diseases.

To prevent the occurrence of such complications, it is necessary to diagnose and treat the disease in the early periods.