A joint disease of a chronic systemic nature is ankylosing spondylitis. The prognosis for life, photos of this ailment are presented in this article. Also today we will find out how this disease is called differently, what its symptoms are, and also how to stop its progression.
What is it?
Ankylosing spondylitis is the scientific name for ankylosing spondylitis. This is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by damage to the spine and sacral plexus, and sometimes internal organs (heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys, etc.).
This disease has a genetic nature, that is, it can only be transmitted by inheritance. Moreover, the carrier of the gene may not even suspect a possible disease. The inflammatory process begins when an infection enters the body.
Symptomatology
- Pain in the sacrum. It is felt stronger on one side. Unpleasant sensations can give on the thigh and lower back.
- Stiffness and pain in the spine. Often occurs after sleep or a long stay in the same pose. Passes during the day or after performing therapeutic exercises. Unlike osteochondrosis, ankylosing spondylitis is worse at rest and goes away during exercise.
- Pain in the chest. They become stronger during coughing or deep breathing. They remind intercostal neuralgia, people confuse them with pain in the heart.
- Violation of the general condition. Patients may complain to the doctor about increased fatigue, apathy, and depression.
- Reducing the distance between the chest and chin.
In the future, symptoms may intensify. Attacks of suffocation, spinal deformity, disturbance of blood supply to the brain, etc. may appear.
Ankylosing spondylitis: a prognosis for life
In most cases, the scenario for the development of this disease is happy. Even if the patient has complications of the disease, then he is still able to live for quite some time. At the same time, a person can not always be tormented, because the inflammatory process tends to end, and the joints stop whining.
Provocateurs of the development of the disease
The following situations can cause ankylosing spondylitis:
- Stress.
- Intestinal or genitourinary infections.
- Hormonal disorders.
- Injuries to the spine.
Statistics
Many men and women are not aware that ankylosing spondylitis prognosis for life is comforting. In 9 out of 10 cases, people retain the ability to self-service themselves in everyday life. And patients with ankylosing spondylitis, who have severe forms of the disease, although they stop working, they develop in a different direction: they are engaged in some kind of creativity, even social activities. A vivid example of this is the active participation of such people in clubs for disabled or veterans.
Causes of death
On average, from 65 to 70 years - this is how many people with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis can live. The prognosis for life can be disappointing if other problems are connected to this ailment, for example, a fracture of the spine with damage to the spinal cord, a stroke, and cancer of the stomach, which appeared as a result of an ulcer during medical treatment. After all, with spondylitis, patients are prescribed non-steroidal drugs, which have a detrimental effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Ailment Affecting the Strong Half of Humanity
Ankylosing spondylitis in men is more common than in women. Basically, this disease affects the stronger sex under the age of 40 years. By the way, men are much more likely than women to have serious and complex forms of this disease.
In addition to the main signs of an ailment, a strong half of humanity has secondary symptoms, such as:
- Kyphosis of the spine.
- Secondary sciatica.
- Conjunctivitis, iritis.
- Severe urethritis.
- Pain in the sacrum.
- Systematic overstrain of the back muscles.
A feature of the manifestation of the disease in men is the progression of spondylitis, and this leads to a complete loss of mobility and flexibility of the spine.
A problem affecting the beautiful half of humanity
Ankylosing spondylitis in men is slightly different from the disease that women can get. In general, this problem is less common in the beautiful half of humanity and most often occurs in a mild form. In women with this disease, the spine, hip and shoulder joints are primarily affected. Also, in the weaker sex, the disease lasts longer, while periods of exacerbations and remissions are clearly traced.
On a note! A distinctive feature of female spondylitis from male is that in the fair half, not the entire spine is ossified, but only the lumbar and sacral parts, while in the stronger sex, numbness is much more serious with a problem such as ankylosing spondylitis.
The prognosis for life in women is more favorable. After all, this ailment does not immobilize the fair sex so much. And even in the last stages of the disease, women retain at least some kind of mobility. And the spine of the fair sex is less deformed.
Comparative characteristics of the course of spondylitis in both sexes
As it became clear, women and men develop ankylosing spondylitis in different ways. The prognosis for the life of both sexes can be analyzed based on the comparative table below. Here you can see which of the patients suffer most from spondylitis.
| Data | Men | Women |
| The onset of the disease | Explicit, acute forms with severe symptoms | Signs are weak, the disease develops slowly |
| Duration between relapses | Without proper therapy, the duration of remissions is short. | May be several years |
| The time he started the disease before the onset of acute symptoms | From 4 to 5 years | 10 to 20 years old |
| Localization of destructive processes in the spine | All departments | Mostly lumbar and sacral |
| Damage to internal organs: liver, kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, heart | Characteristically | Extremely rare |
As can be seen from the table, men suffer more from such an ailment as ankylosing spondylitis. The prognosis may be more comforting for women, and for men, if doctors prescribe the right therapy so that the disease does not progress.
Treatment of the disease in the stronger sex
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is the basis for the treatment of such an ailment as Ankylosing spondylitis. How to treat this problem in men? Experts say that the sooner you start therapy, the higher the chances of an effective result. In situations where the problem worsens, patients need to take anti-inflammatory drugs at the maximum dosage. These may be such drugs as Indomethacin, Butadion, Diclofenac, Ketoprofen.
If in Russia spondyloarthritis is treated with medication, then in other countries, such as China, healers use acupuncture, as well as therapy with leeches. Manual therapy and massage are also used. With their help, the flexibility and elasticity of the spinal column increases, blood supply to the main organs, bone and muscle tissue increases.
Equally important for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in men is wellness gymnastics with physiotherapy exercises. But if the exercises bring discomfort, then you need to stop their implementation.
Important! All patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis are subject to follow-up at a rheumatologist. At least 1 time per year, they should be examined by a specialist.
Treatment of spondylitis in women
In order to prevent the progression of the disease, it is necessary to start therapy on time. This also applies to women. For the treatment of spondylitis in the beautiful half of humanity, anti-inflammatory drugs are used in courses. Also, women are prescribed immunosuppressants. Gymnastics is also an important step in the treatment of spondylitis. For women, the key to successful therapy is the readiness of patients for daily training aimed at strengthening the muscles of the spine, for exercises that increase the flexibility of the joints. Experts also advise the weaker sex to abandon the soft mattress, replacing it with a hard one.
The consequences of improper treatment
With inadequate therapy for ankylosing spondylitis, the patient may experience the following complications:
- Renal, pulmonary, or heart failure.
- Blindness.
- Infectious diseases of the lungs.
- Complete immobility in diseased joints.
People ratings
Many patients on the forums advise other forum users on how to treat ankylosing spondylitis correctly and where to do it better. Some write that you need to go to Germany, others claim that many men and women are successfully undergoing therapy in Israel. Those people who treated the disease in Russia note that doctors advised them to adhere to such rules:
- Reception of anti-inflammatory drugs. Patients write that the effect of the medication is temporary and, if nothing else is done, the pain may intensify.
- Visiting special resorts, where patients have the opportunity to undergo special physiotherapy, mud and bath.
- A lifelong diet is a prerequisite for preventing the progression of spondylitis.
- Sports, therapeutic exercises, exercises. Patients who regularly engage in physical education maintain a functional state for a long time, they are able to work, despite the progression of the disease.
In addition to these basic rules, patients write that the main thing is to come to terms with what you have. It is then that life will become easier, and the disease will not bother. And you need to be treated without fanaticism, without tearing, calmly, so that the therapy remains only useful.
People also point out that effective treatment is largely connected with faith. If a person believes that he can overcome the disease, then it will be so. Otherwise, any attempts will be unsuccessful.
Preventive measures
So that ankylosing spondylitis does not appear or does not begin to progress, it is necessary:
- Go in for sports - it strengthens the muscles of the back and improves coordination.
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Avoid triggering factors.
- Protect yourself from infections.
Frequently asked Questions
People who have been diagnosed with spondylitis are interested in specialists' answers to the following questions:
- Is a disability group assigned in this case? Doctors note that with persistent disruption of the spine, the patient is actually set to the 3rd group of disability, regardless of the working conditions in which he works.
- With this disease can be taken into the army? Specialists are unequivocal in this matter and say that a man does not serve with this disease.
- Can I work out in the gym? Rheumatologists say that it is possible, with the emphasis on doing exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back. Specialists advise patients to do gymnastics in water or swimming.
Conclusion
In this article, the reader got acquainted with such a serious genetic problem as Ankylosing spondylitis. The prognosis for life, patient reviews of the treatment indicated that it is impossible to get rid of the disease, but it is really possible to prevent its progression. During therapy, it is important to observe the following rules: diet, exercise and systematic examination by a rheumatologist to assess the state of health.