Prolonged dull lumbar pain, beware of ankylosing spondylitis

SKĐS - Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by progressive pain and stiffness of the spine.

This is the most common disease in the group of spinal diseases. The disease usually begins in adolescence. Men have a 2-3 times higher incidence of the disease than women.

If ankylosing spondylitis is not treated early and properly, it will progress to inflammation and adhesion of the spinal and peripheral joints, causing hunchback, loss of function and disability.

Causes of ankylosing spondylitis

The cause of ankylosing spondylitis is still unclear, however studies show that the disease may be related to genetic factors. It is found that in identical twins, the prevalence rate is 63%, in fraternal twins, the prevalence rate is 13%. If a family member (parent, sibling, child) has the disease, the likelihood of having ankylosing spondylitis increases 6-16 times.

Studies have found many genes related to ankylosing spondylitis, in which HLA-B27, a gene that regulates human leukocyte antigen, has been shown to be related to the pathogenesis of the disease when 90% of ankylosing spondylitis patients have the presence of HLA-B27.

Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is not a rare disease, with an incidence of about 1-1.4% of the population.

The earliest and characteristic symptom of this disease is pain in the lower back or back area, inflammatory type of lumbar, which may be accompanied by stiffness of the spine in the morning. Unlike the usual mechanical back pain, inflammatory type of back pain due to ankylosing spondylitis often:

• Lasts at least 3 months
  
• Can start very early, usually between the ages of 17 and 45.
  
• Intensity at onset is insidious and increases over time
  
• Does not improve with rest but improves with light exercise.

Ankylosing spondylitis can cause disability if not properly intervened and treated.

However, disease diagnosis is easily missed or diagnosed late due to many subjective and objective reasons such as:

• Patients do not go to the doctor, try to endure or buy painkillers to take themselves.
  
• Doctors misdiagnosed with other common spinal diseases such as herniated disc, lumbar spine degeneration.
  
• Symptoms are nonspecific, making diagnosis difficult.
  

Early diagnosis and treatment will help patients avoid the risk of disability, becoming a burden for themselves, their families and society. Thus, in order not to miss the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis, clinicians and patients need to pay attention to the following symptoms:

- Chronic back pain lasting more than 3 months, starting in young people, especially men. Symptoms of back pain often have the following characteristics: pain when resting, reduced when moving, often pain at night or early morning.

- Some cases may present with isolated peripheral arthritis: pain and swelling of one or several large joints such as the hip, knee, and ankle joints that lasts for a long time in young people and no other diagnosis can be found. In that case, ankylosing spondylitis should also be considered.

Therefore, when having the above symptoms, the patient should be referred to an Internal Medicine specialist for definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Complications of ankylosing spondylitis

Without timely treatment intervention, ankylosing spondylitis will progress and become more severe, leading to stiffening of the spine and loss of mobility.

The disease not only affects the spine, but even the chest can be affected, causing limitations in lung capacity and function. In addition to bone and joint problems, patients may experience the following complications:

• Uveitis: This is one of the most common complications. Symptoms can flare up suddenly, causing eye pain, increased sensitivity to light, and blurred vision.
• Compression injuries: Some patients may be at risk for osteoporosis, which weakens the spine and makes it more likely to fracture. This condition worsens the patient’s forward bending posture. In addition, spinal injuries can put pressure on and damage the spinal cord, as well as the nerves that originate from the spine.
• Cardiovascular problems: Ankylosing spondylitis can lead to inflammation of the aorta, which can deform the aortic valve and affect the heart's function and activity.
  

Ankylosing spondylitis is a genetic disease and can cause disability if not properly intervened and treated. Therefore, when diagnosed with this disease, patients need to comply with the treatment methods from the doctor.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/dau-vung-that-lung-am-i-keo-dai-coi-chung-viemcotsongdinhkhop-169251203200219618.htm