Bechterew's disease, or ankylosing spondylitis: symptoms, causes, treatment
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory process in the joints of the spine, characterized by a chronic progressive course.The disease is characterized by a prolonged course, which results in immobility of the joints - the spine becomes practically immobile.
Ankylosing spondylitis is called in medicine and Bekhterev's disease, named after a Russian neurologist who first described the disease.According to statistics, Bekhterev's disease is most often diagnosed in men aged 30-40 years, but the onset of the inflammatory process in the joints of the spine is at late school age( 15 years).
Classification of Bechterew's disease
This disease in medicine is classified as a pathology that occurs in different forms. Four specific forms of Bechterew's disease were investigated and identified:
- Central form - the spinal column joints and its entire ligamentous apparatus are involved in the inflammatory process.Over time, the inflammation spreads and seizes the lumbosacral joints, which automatically leads to inflammation of the sacroiliac joint.
- Rizomyelic form - inflammation is common on the joints of the spine.But together with them the joints of knees, ankle, shoulders and hip apparatus are amazed.
- Peripheral - it is characterized by the defeat of large joints of the upper and lower extremities, with the spinal column practically not involved in the inflammatory process.
- Scandinavian - affects the joints of the spine and upper / lower extremities.A distinctive feature of the Scandinavian form of ankylosing spondylitis is the involvement of small joints( eg, fingers) in the pathological process.
Causes of the development of Bechterew's disease
Even for modern medicine, with advanced laboratory capabilities, the causes of ankylosing spondylitis remain a mystery.Doctors and scientists only suggest why the pathological process under consideration begins to develop. These include :
- Genetic predisposition.We are talking about heredity, according to statistics in 89% of cases, Bekhterev's disease is inherited from father to son.
- Urogenital infections.Of course, not all the mentioned infections cause the development of ankylosing spondylitis, but if they proceed in chronic form, the patient ignores the need for competent treatment, the result of such carelessness may well be progressive inflammatory processes in the joints.
- Disturbances in the immune system.It can happen for completely different reasons, but the essence does not change - the immune system begins to attack its own organism.
This disease always begins with an inflammation of the joint of the sacrum with the iliac region.And only after a few years the pathology extends to all large and small joints of the body.
Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
The primary symptom of the pathological process under consideration is lower back pain that occurs after physical exertion or too long a period of activity.But this painful syndrome quickly recedes - it is enough to rest a little, change a kind of activity or simply accept a lying position.This is the danger - at the very beginning of its development ankylosing spondylitis( Bekhterev's disease) has the same symptoms as the osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine.Doctors prescribe patients a treatment that not only does not bring relief, but also often exacerbates the situation.
It is noteworthy that the disease proceeds in undulating mode - the pain in the lower back then increases, then decreases until the disappearance.At the same time the inflammatory process progresses and with time there are problems with mobility in the lumbar spine.The patient begins to appear pain of pressing, constant and dull character with localization in the chest.
Note: even pains in the chest are of short duration - when the position changes or a full / long rest in the prone position the syndrome practically disappears.But the disease progresses and further - the patient notes the difficulty of breathing and the appearance of dyspnea.
The mobility of the spine is limited gradually and everything starts from the most stricken places - the thoracic, lumbar and / or cervicothoracic parts of the spine are bent.Ankylosing spondylitis proceeds very slowly and despite a progressive inflammatory process, the symptoms become more intense after years.
Important: is a characteristic feature of Bechterew's disease is the patient's specific posture-the curvature of the spine and the immobility of the vertebral column joints, causes the patient's body to lean forward, and it is impossible to accept an absolutely even posture.
Patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis do not become disabled - they can maintain their ability to work until old age.The only point is that if the joints of the joints of not only the vertebral column but also the upper / lower extremities have occurred, their immobility has come, then the patient becomes an invalid.
Diagnostic measures
If the patient has consulted a doctor at an early stage of ankylosing spondylitis, then only symptoms can not be used in diagnosis.The doctor should not only collect data on the appearance of symptoms characteristic of the disease in question, but also send the patient to an X-ray examination - so will the inflammation of the sacroiliac department.
A laboratory blood test is also used - with progressive Bechterew's disease, a specific antigen W-27 will be found in the biological material.
Methods for treating Bechterew's disease
It is impossible to completely get rid of the considered disease - ankylosing spondylitis refers to irreversible pathological processes.But using certain therapeutic methods can significantly reduce the rate of progression of the disease and facilitate the life of the patient.
Treatment of Bechterew's disease should only be comprehensive and carried out in stages.
Inpatient treatment
The purpose of placing a patient with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis is to develop the mobility of the spine and reduce the pain syndrome.When treating in a hospital, a doctor can prescribe a course of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids.If the course of the disease is very severe, then it is appropriate to appoint immunosuppressants to patients.
Sanatorium treatment
As a rule, a trip to a sanatorium for a patient is appointed immediately after treatment with medication.Effective will be manual therapy, massages and exercise therapy.Develop mobility of the thoracic spine can and should be special breathing exercises.The expected effect is also exercised by swimming.
Note: to select physical exercises and determine the appropriateness of each type of sanatorium treatment should be the attending physician.This is done taking into account the presence of other somatic diseases and the severity of the course of the disease.
Outpatient observation
After the patient has been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, the doctor takes this patient into account.The patient himself should periodically undergo preventive examinations at a rheumatologist - this will help in a timely manner to identify the deterioration of the condition and take measures to stop the development of the inflammatory process.The result will be the preservation for a long time of the patient's vital activity.
The general course of treatment, which includes a hospital and a sanatorium, lasts at least 6 months.Since ankylosing spondylitis refers to chronic pathologies, the patient should regularly undergo treatment with medicines and visit specialized sanatoriums.
It is recommended for Bekhterev's disease to avoid acute respiratory diseases, to regularly strengthen the immune system, exercise( load level should be chosen by the attending physician!).
Traditional medicine in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis
Important: in no case should people perceive traditional medicine as a panacea for ankylosing spondylitis!
When stating such a diagnosis of treatment with medicines in the hospital can not be avoided - this will help to stop the progression of the inflammatory process.But recipes from the category of "folk medicine" will help "delay" the invalidization of the patient, prolong his vital activity and reduce the intensity of the pain syndrome during an exacerbation.
Treatment with oils
200 g of tamus vulgaris( crushed) mixed with 2 tablespoons of any vegetable oil( preference is best given to olive).Infuse the remedy for at least 14 days in a warm, but protected from light, place.
Take 1 tablespoon of dry St. John's wort, hemlock, burdock root, wormwood, marigold and bitter / chilli pepper, add 500 ml of calamus oil and 2 tablespoons of aconite tincture to the mixture.Infuse 3 days in a cool place.
These two cooking recipes will help you cope with even intense pain during ankylosing spondylitis exacerbation.Rub the oil in the affected spine until it is completely absorbed no more than once a day during an exacerbation and 2 times a week with a stable remission.
You can also prepare a healing ointment from aconite - you need to take the roots of this plant( 50 g), crush it thoroughly and mix it with 10 tablespoons of smalt( heated pork fat).The ointment is applied to the affected area of the spine once a day, it can also be used for the severe form of the disease in question - it is rubbed into the joints of the upper / lower extremities.
Treatment with baths
In principle, with diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis, doctors strongly recommend taking relaxing baths.
Therefore, this procedure can be carried out with any filler:
- a decoction of camomile and sage chamomile;
- infusion of yarrow and St. John's wort;
- broth of thyme.
The onset of another period of exacerbation of the pathological process under consideration can be triggered by stress, so coniferous baths, with the addition of milk and honey, will have a calming effect.
Unusual folk methods of treatment
Some healers in the treatment of Bechterew's disease use fresh nettles.Brooms from this plant whip the patient with an emphasis on the affected parts of the spinal column and peripheral joints.Each procedure "beat" should last at least 10 minutes, the duration of such treatment is 30 days, a day can only take one session of such a specific treatment.It is recommended for the summer( when the nettle is green and in the juice itself) to conduct two such treatments with a break for 30 days.
The treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with bee stings is also very effective.But this method can be used only after consultation with the doctor in charge!
Please note: use of recipes from the category of "traditional medicine" is associated with the use of various medicinal plants - they can cause a severe allergic reaction, which will automatically worsen the patient's well-being.Before using any of the listed methods of treatment, it is necessary to exclude hypersensitivity or individual intolerance of each of the used components in the patient.
Bechterew's disease, or ankylosing spondylitis, is a very unpleasant disease that still does not lend itself to complete cure.But with a competent approach to the problem, you can solve the problem of disability - the patient will be able to continue to lead an active life for many years with periodic treatment in the hospital and sanatoriums.
The reasons, symptoms, methods of diagnostics and treatment of Bekhterov's disease are described in detail in this video review:
Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical reviewer, therapist of the highest qualification category
