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Ankylosing spondylitis, also known as Bechterew’s disease, is a chronic, progressive disorder of the locomotor system of unknown cause, a disease process that primarily affects the sacroiliac joints and the small joints of the spine.
Among the diseases of the rheumatic type, it is the unit most often found after rheumatoid arthritis, i.e. chronic rheumatism.
The effect of the ongoing disease process is limited mobility in the sacroiliac joints and the spine, mainly due to excessive ossification of the ligamentous apparatus. It should be mentioned, however, that in a number of patients, this process also covers other joints, such as the knee and ankle joints.
The disease process usually affects young men aged 20–30 years.
symptoms
Initially, they are uncharacteristic. Patients complain about:
• progressive weakness,
• general malaise,
• lack of appetite,
• non-specific pain in the sacroiliac region, radiating to the buttocks and back of the thighs,
• back pain, especially when moving.
The disease progresses rather slowly, leading to increasing stiffening of the spine, which when prone to decalcification of the vertebrae and calcification of the ligaments takes the radiographic appearance of a bamboo stick.
As a result of changes in the sacroiliac joints, there is a progressive limitation of movements of the lower limbs, and as a result of changes in the intervertebral and rib-vertebral joints – stiffening and restriction of chest movements. Musculoskeletal disorders are very often accompanied by recurrent inflammatory reactions of the iris of the eye.
Prevention
Physical activity and physical therapy procedures prevent the occurrence of permanent stiffness and general disability.
Treatment more unpleasant ailments should be conducted by a rheumatologist. The spa and balneological treatment combined with physical therapy also brings beneficial effects.