What is ankylosing spondylitis?
In ankylosing spondylitis, the inflamed joints and the spine. Spondylitis is a form of rheumatism.
Many people with this condition:
- have pain in the lower back;
- his morning stiffness;
- are very tired.
Probably hereditary factors play a role. Spondylitis is more common in men than in women. The disease usually begins between the 15th and the 35th year of life. In women, the infection is often slightly milder than in men.
Spondylitis is not curable. Medications and physical therapy, the symptoms can often be reduced.
Spondylitis is the name of the doctor who first described the disease. Another name for the condition is ankylosing spondylitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms
Ankylosing spondylitis usually starts with pain and stiffness in the lower back and around the buttocks. The pain is usually on one side. Sometimes you feel pain left, then right again. The symptoms can appear at the beginning of a hernia, with radiating pain in the leg.
Sometimes the pain is just beginning in the large joints, such as the hips or the shoulders.
Sits or lies to you in the same position, then aggravate the pain and stiffness. In the morning, the pain and stiffness are often the worst. By moving the symptoms are less accurate. You can also have periods where you have absolutely no complaints.
Eventually the spine stiffen. The pain is or less, because the inflammation is over.
Some people go through the stiff spine really stooped walk. They can no longer keep their right hull. Other people are just strikingly upright walking.
Other symptoms may include:
- Inflammation of the sternum. This causes shortness of breath and pain.
- Inflammation in the joints of the arms or legs. The joints can therefore swell and hurt.
- Achilles tendinitis.
- Ophthalmia. About one third of people with ankylosing spondylitis have here sometimes suffer from. The inflammation damages the eye usually does not, but it can come back several times.
- Inflammatory diseases of the intestines, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis causes
How ankylosing spondylitis occurs is not known exactly. A possible cause is heredity. People from families in which spondylitis occurs, are twenty times more likely to also develop the disease.
Also, infections in the body (in particular of urinary tract and intestines) might play a role. During an infection, the body produces antibodies to. Sometimes remain active when the infection is over. They "fall" than the joints of the back.
How the doctor finds ankylosing spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is often difficult to determine. The doctor will examine you and ask about your medical history. On X-rays in the beginning mostly nothing.
During the examination, the doctor can find abnormalities, such rigidity when bends or pain in the lower back.
The doctor asks you:
- when the symptoms began;
- when you are the most affected;
- or spondylitis occurs in your family.
The doctor may have to make an MRI scan to see if there are inflammations in the spine. The stiffening of the spine is visible only after a few years on radiographs.
Treatment for ankylosing spondylitis
Proper treatment can slow ankylosing spondylitis, but unfortunately no cure.
Probably go to the rheumatologist for treatment. GP care is sometimes possible.
Spondylitis help counter medications that reduce inflammation and pain. These may be:
- TNF blockers. TNF blockers are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. You get them as a tablet or as an injection into a joint.
- NSAIDs.
- Corticosteroids.
It is also important that you are moving enough. For example, under the guidance of a physiotherapist or Cesar therapist.