Bekhterev's disease (in international practice -ankylosing spondylitis) is a rheumatic affection of cartilage, bones, ligaments with the development of ankylosis afterwards. Changes in the pathological nature are most often affected by the spine, iliac bones, and the sacrum.
Bechterew's disease symptoms at firstcauses nonspecific, so it is often diagnosed late, already in neglected form, in which any treatment is ineffective. The disease is more susceptible to men up to the age of thirty-five, but also women are not immune from the disease. When pronounced changes in the motor apparatus have already occurred, Bekhterev's symptoms also manifest themselves externally: the shoulders fall, the back bends, the thorax cracks, and the legs slightly bend at the knees. The reasons for the development of such a condition have not been identified so far. The genetic nature of the pathology is noted, since the overwhelming number of patients have the same antigen, which in humans is not so common. It also generates an increased sensitivity of the organism to infectious agents, which can excite inflammation in the connective and cartilaginous tissues.
Severe symptomatology
Bechterew's disease symptoms are the following: arthritis, back pain and sacrum, radiating to the posterior region of the thigh. Sometimes the only initial sign of the pathological process, especially in young girls and boys, is pain in the calcaneus or Achilles tendon. In some cases, Bekhterev's disease manifests symptoms in the form of inflammation of the eyes. In general, the ailment has a similarity in symptoms with osteochondrosis. But there are two significant differences. With osteochondrosis, you can effortlessly make the body slopes to the sides without detaching the feet from the floor. In the case of ankylosing spondylitis, you will not be able to do this. Another difference - after taking NSAIDs in the first hours the pain disappears. These very simple diagnostic techniques will allow you to suspect even before the appearance of severe signs of Bekhterev's disease.
Diagnosis of the disease
It is based on the presence of such symptoms:
In women, the course of the disease has certainfeatures. Usually, at first the joints of the shoulders, hands and feet suffer, polyarthritis develops. Large joints are asymmetric, inflammation has moderate or even low activity, pain syndrome is characterized by moderation. Pathological changes in most cases occur in the thoracic spine, complete ankylosis occurs very rarely.
Treatment
Therapy is carried out for life by taking NSAIDs, exercising physiotherapy, and massage. If the Bekhterev's disease is diagnosed in the advanced stage, disability is almost inevitable.
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