Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a fairly common, second-ranked disease in osteoarthritis, after rheumatoid arthritis. This is a chronic disease that causes damage in the spinal joints, pelvic and other places leading to joint and stiffness, many in older people.

A patient with ankylosing spondylitis (Photo: VNE)

The lumbar spine joints are usually the earliest to damage, or start with signs of lumbar, buttocks, sometimes pain along the thighs. At first pain on one side, after pain on both sides. More pain at night and near morning. There is a feeling of stiff spine in the morning; It is difficult to bend when holding your legs straight. Pain when typing on the spine behind the spine and when stretching the joint with the pelvis.

In the whole development stage, many spinal sections are damaged, making it difficult to bend, turn . Increased pain with strong breathing, limited breathing, dilatation of the chest due to damage to the lumbar vertebrae. Pain in the shoulder of the neck; no rotation, no head bowing due to damage to the neck vertebrae. Peripheral joints are also more severe: swelling, pain, limiting movement, sometimes even muscle atrophy. There are slight fever episodes in each phase and external injuries such as: eye inflammation, aortic valve opening, stretching of the aortic shoulder straps; and possibly: skin atrophy, pulmonary fibrosis . (but less common).

The disease progresses several times in a few years. When the spinal column is completely attached to a straight back patient, the head is stunned, only taking short steps, not even sitting.

When the test showed that the blood formula did not change, the rate of blood sedimentation increased, blood fiber increased, protein electrophoresis: 1.2 globulin increased .

X-ray of the spine can be seen as a "bone bridge" image . The entire spine may have bone bridges on both sides that look like "bamboo stems". There may be images of inflammation and stenosis. Matching the pot, the images can be seen on X-ray films: blur, narrow joints, lumpy joints, partial or complete joint.

Although there are clinical signs and special joints as described, ankylosing spondylitis must be distinguished from various diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, joint tuberculosis, osteoarthritis. .

In addition to x-ray surgery, the doctor must also do some other blood tests and clinical examination.

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis mainly by medical methods.

The first is anti-joint measures. As the disease progresses, it hurts too much to lie on your back on a hard, flat, flat leg. However, it is necessary to mobilize early when the level of pain decreases, mobilize as soon as possible. Exercise in all positions, everywhere, every time because it is the best anti-stick measure. Appropriate exercises are needed to prevent spinal curvature, maintain respiration, restore joint activity. Swimming practice sometimes results in a lot of exercise, so massage, do regular exercise .

Anti-inflammatory analgesics: Drugs with steroids are less effective so they are not indicated for treatment. Currently there are many good non-steroidal effective drugs that are widely prescribed at advanced stage. However, caution should be taken with the adverse effects.

Physical bath measures, physical candles bring many positive results.

Surgical treatment is indicated to restore motor function when the joint sticks in a bad position but is very cautious and difficult.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a common disease of osteoarthritis, need to be detected in time and properly treated to be effective.

Dr. Nguyen Huy Chinh