Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disease that causes the spine to become inflamed. This disease can also make the vertebrae fused so that the patient is difficult to move and becomes a hunchback. If ankylosing spondylitis to invade the ribs, the sufferer will have difficulty breathing.
The fact revealed that ankylosing spondylitis is more common in men than women, three to one. This disease can occur in all ages, but generally begins to develop in adolescence or early adulthood (around the age of 20 years).
The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis develop for months or years. Sometimes, the symptoms also come and go, improve and worsen, and appear in a certain time span. To avoid complications, the disease should be treated with the appropriate treatment method.
The Symptoms Of Ankylosing Spondylitis
The emergence of ankylosing spondylitis is usually characterized by pain or stiffness in the neck, lower back, the cartilage between the breast bone and ribs, as well as pain in the pelvis. This condition is generally felt at the time of waking up or after a dwell in a position for such a time.
Ankylosing spondylitis can also be accompanied by symptoms or other conditions, such as:
- Fatigue. Ankylosing spondylitis patients will feel tired easily and such as loss of energy for the day.
- Enthesis. Inflammation that occurs in place, attach ligaments and tendons to bone.
- Arthritis. In ankylosing spondylitis can also occur inflammation of the joints in other parts of the body, such as in the joints of the pelvis and the knee.
The Cause Of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Not known for sure what causes ankylosing spondylitis. The HLA-B27 gene suspected to have a role, because ninety% of sufferers have the gene. However, most of the people who have this gene are not experiencing ankylosing spondylitis.
Analysis of Ankylosing Spondylitis
early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis is made based on symptoms and physical examination results. To establish prognosis, further examinations may be required such as:
- Examination of the blood. Done to check for signs of inflammation that occurs in certain parts of the body. If the results of the examination indicate the presence of inflammation, the patient is recommended to consult with a orthopedic doctor (bone specialist and joints).
- Scanning. Done to check the condition of the spine and the pelvic bone of the patient. Scanning is performed with x-rays, MRI, or ULTRASOUND.
- Genetic examination. Performed to check whether the patient has the HLA-B27 gene, or have genetic abnormalities.
Treatment Of Ankylosing Spondylitis
There is no special handling to treat ankylosing spondylitis. Handling and treatment given aims to reduce pain, improve abnormalities in body posture, prevent disability, and enable the patient to return the property on a regular basis. Form handling, among others with:
- Sports. Done to help reduce stiff muscles and strengthen muscles around the joints. Exercise also helps to reduce the risk of disability. The best sports for people with this disease is swimming.
- Physiotherapy. Done to restore the function of the body is ordinary and reduce the risk of permanent disability due to the disease ankylosing spondylitis.
- Drugs. To relieve the pain and stiffness of the joints. Drugs that can be used include:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs nonsteroidal (NSAIDS) for the initial stage, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
- Drugs antirheumatic modifications of the disease (DMARD) such as methotrexate, when treatment with NSAIDS alone is not enough.
- Antidepressant medication duloxetine to cope with back pain that is chronic.
- Corticosteroid injections in the joints or tendons is problematic.
- Operation. Done as a last resort if a patient has joint damage is severe enough. Surgery aims to replace the damaged joints with joints artificial in certain parts of the body, such as the pelvis and the knee.
Complications Of Ankylosing Spondylitis
In the case of ankylosing spondylitis is severe, the formation of new bone as part of the healing process due to inflammation, causing the vertebrae to be mutually fused, rigid, and not flexible anymore. If this happens on the ribs, the development of the lung and respiratory function will be impaired. Some other complications that may be posed is:
- Broken (fractures) of the spine. This causes your spine is getting weaker, pembungkukan that occurs the more severe, as well as disorders on the spinal cord and the nerves.
- Inflammation of the eyes. This condition causes the eyes to be a pain, blurry vision, and extremely sensitive to light. With this condition, sufferers will certainly difficulty to do the activity everyday.
- Disorders of the heart. Usually in the form of inflammation or other disorders on the part of the aorta. Aortic inflammation can spread and lead the work of the heart becomes impaired.
- The activity is interrupted. Patients could not perform the daily activities as in a healthy condition. In addition, the pattern of their lives will be changed, for example are forced to work part-time from home.
- Amyloidosis. Is a condition in which amyloid protein that should be produced in the spinal cord is actually growing in several other organs, such as the heart, liver, and kidneys.
- Syndrome cauda seri kembangan / balakong, Occurs when the nerves at the base of the spine depressed. These conditions cause pain in the buttocks and pelvis, the limbs felt weak, difficulty walking, and disorders of the urinary system.
Minimize The Severity Of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Some of the following ways can be applied by patients with ankylosing spondylitis so that the symptoms become increasingly severe, including:
- Quit smoking and do not chew tobacco.
- Sleep without a pillow or avoid using pillows that are too thick. Use a pillow that is too thick can cause damage to the spine the more severe.
- Avoid bending. Use them chair, table, and other furniture that is high so that the body does not bend.
- Reduce strenuous exercise so that the patient is spared from injury.
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