Causes, symptoms and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (spondylarthrosis) is a long-identified illness. Her first documentary description made R. Colombo, when he studied an Egyptian tomb. This disease is called ankylosing spondylitis, because this scientist is most fully described the disease.

What is spondylitis?

Called Ankylosing spondylitis inflammatory processes in the spine, while it begin to knit bones, and this leads to the fact that the spine becomes immobile and Kostanay. This form of fused vertebrae is called ankylosis. Most often, the disease begins to show with the fact that the person feels strong pain in his back.

But for other diseases too typical back pain. In General, the spondylitis is very difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Besides the pain quickly disappears. Pain again emerge and become more tangible. While previously the patient was resting, the pain disappeared, now lower back hurts constantly. If not treated at this stage, the pain will not improve even when using pain medication. Start to appear restrictions in the movements. At this stage need treatment, otherwise appear accompanying diseases and complications that are very severe.

Cause of disease

Although the disease has long been investigated, ankylosing spondylitis is the least studied of the disease. Even at the present stage of development of medicine no doctor can tell the exact cause of the disease. Now it is proven: when spondylitis causes malfunctioning of the immune system that leads to the damage of body's own cells. Immune defense of human rights begins to work against any bacteria, viruses, fungi and harmful substances, as against healthy cells of the human body. First fall under the influence of the bone structure and joints. Because of this skeletal system of man is subject to deformations. In addition, while spondylitis can be problems with heart, kidneys, eyes and other organs and systems.

Many people are interested in the question: if the immune system attacks bones, why the vertebrae are not destroyed, but fused? The answer is related to the peculiarities of functioning of human body. The reasons lie in the following. When malicious cells begin to accumulate around the bones, they envelop a kind of cocoon. After this they produce a special enzyme that eats away at cells in the bone and joints. After that, the body detects that it is not enough bone cells. Now he directs all his activity to repair it. Now begins to form scar tissue. It gradually grows on all sites bones and joints that have been affected. This leads to the unification of several bone structures.

Symptoms of disease

When spondylarthrosis almost all the symptoms, especially in the early stages, is invisible. This is dangerous to humans.

There are symptoms that you need to pay attention, and after detecting at least some of them need to go to the doctor.

Only he can carry out a complete diagnosis and to detect progression of the disease.

first, people can in the morning to feel some stiffness in the lower back. Of course, during the day, this problem disappears. Secondly, pain can occur not only in the waist and in the buttocks. This can be a signal that in the sacroiliac joint begin to develop inflammation. This phenomenon is called sacroiliitis. This symptom is one of the main signs of spondylarthrosis. Then pain will spread to the entire spine, and they will not subside even during rest and sleep.

In the next phase the pain is passed on to the hip joints. Ended the primary stage of spondylitis. People experiencing difficulties with inclined movements of the trunk. It is very difficult or nearly impossible to lean forward. This is the symptom the easiest way to determine the stiffness of the spine, which was caused by its ossification. People will feel like something in the spine is alien and prevent to do the tilting.

After that scar tissue continues to spread and moves on to the cervical spine. Now the patient can no longer bend her head. In the joints appear inflammation redness, swelling, pain.

Then begin breathing problems. This is because spondylarthrosis goes to the joints that connect the ribs. Now the rib cage cannot expand with inspiration. To breathe the patientit will be very difficult. Need treatment, otherwise the inflammation will spread to the lungs. The same goes for the eye: vision problems. At the last stage the pain decreases or subsides, but the flexibility is restored.

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis

Treatment spondylitis around several principles. The main thing is a healthy lifestyle. Be sure to eat right and exercise. People should observe the correct position of the body during walking and in a sitting position. This will not only help to get rid of the disease, but also is the prevention of spondylarthrosis. However, the nutrition and physical activity can help only in the initial stages, then require medication.

It is Very important to take drugs which belong to the biological type. In other words, these medications help to block the inflammatory processes in the body develop in a chain reaction. These drugs include Infliximab.

In addition, it is necessary to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Examples of such funds are Delagil and Sulfasalazine.

Helpful are massage, manual therapy and physiotherapeutic procedures.

Now has developed new methods involving the use of stem cells, because they can restore joints and bones without the formation of scar tissue that begins to grow.

Currently there is no specific treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, but there are many types of therapy for each person, allowing to control symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients.

The Main objectives of treatment are to reduce pain and maintain mobility of the spine. It is necessary to ensure the correct position of the spine as possible.