Ankylosing spondylitis
Rheumatology Specialist Dr. Dr. Hakan ASLAN Informs;
Ankylosing Spondylitis, which is a rheumatic disease, may have a hunchback in some patients in the last stage. When diagnosed early, the disease can be brought under control. Private Eskişehir Anadolu Hospital Rheumatology Department Specialist. Dr. Hakan Aslan, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is treated as a medical team.
AS is more common in young men. The severity of pain varies from person to person. In very advanced cases, spinal movement may be completely limited. It can also be seen only in the form of low back pain or stiffness in the back when waking up in the morning. Although it is mild, it is a progressive disease. Genetic predisposition is very important in the disease. The disease is 10 times more common in first-degree relatives of patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. It should not be confused with calcification and aging. When the inflammation in the vertebrae begins to heal, new bone formations begin on both sides of the vertebral bones and combine both. Pain is caused by this ossification. It is necessary to distinguish this disease from calcification. Calcification occurs as a result of the wear of the spine and is a disease of the elderly. AS, on the other hand, is seen in young people and is a disorder related to the fusion of bones.
AS can be confused with an ordinary low back pain. Pain may be felt in the hips, calves and lower back. These complaints may occur after exercise or movement. It then appears in the neck, vertebrae, and hips or calves. In some rare cases, especially in children, the first complaint may not be in the waist, but in the hip, knee or leg, for example, in the form of swelling of the knee. If there is a low back pain that lasts for more than 3 months, starts gradually, not suddenly, makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, does not go away with rest, increases after lying down for a long time, and decreases with movement, a specialist should be consulted. In some patients, temporary pain may persist for months and may not cause much distress to the patient. However, when AS enters the active phase, the severity of the complaints increases. Posture disorders, weight loss and fatigue can be seen due to pain. As a result of protrusion in the bones, there may be a feeling of pain when moving and problems in walking as a result of pain in the lumbar region. Although the disease progresses mildly, other organs may rarely be affected.
He stated that in the last stage of the disease, hunching can be seen in some patients. When diagnosed early, the disease can be controlled. Thus, it is possible for patients to continue their lives without pain and without limitation of movement. The course of the disease varies according to each patient. Some patients live with minor pains for life and no limitations develop, while some patients experience loss of function in the early period. For this reason, the treatment of each patient should be planned specifically for that patient by an experienced physician.