What is spinal rheumatism? Spinal rheumatism is one of the types of rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that can cause the destruction of the body's joints.... This disease occurs in any joint of the body and mostly occurs in the small joints of the hands and feet.... Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) inflames the sacroiliac joints and the first symptoms are between the pelvic bases... the spine.
The inflammation often spreads to the joints between the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine.. This disease is known as spondylitis.. When rheumatism of the spine affects the joints of the spine, the neck (cervical spine) is much more involved than the back, causing chronic (long-term) inflammation of the spine.. Some people with rheumatism of the spine have pain and Severe and continuous stiffness in the back and hip.. Others have milder symptoms that are transient.. Is spinal rheumatism dangerous?. Naturally, the occurrence of spinal rheumatism in different people has different severity and weakness.... The occurrence of this problem may be minor and transient or severe and the person may face problems such as spinal tumor, spinal cord amputation and bad paralysis or even death... and inform the doctor immediately.... Bowel or bladder dysfunction or changes in the ability to walk or move the arms are dangerous medical signs and you should call emergency medical services immediately.
Lumbar disc difference with spinal rheumatism
There are some important differences between rheumatism of the spine and lumbar disc, which are stated below:
- Spinal rheumatism is a chronic disease, while the nature of the disease or lumbar disc rupture is based on an attack and sudden onset, and usually after a few weeks, this disease can resolve or be accompanied by relapse.
- In spinal rheumatism, the pain has a progressive nature and tends to the upper limbs of the body, usually the affected person has symptoms when he wakes up and feels dryness and cramping in his spine, which is long lasting and lasts at least an hour.
- In spinal rheumatism, the affected person feels better by doing things, but usually he has pain when he starts moving again, and he feels this pain when resting, especially at night, but in patients with lumbar disc, these pains are milder and sometimes less felt.
- The form of pain attacks in lumbar disc disease is different from spinal rheumatism. Pain in spinal rheumatism spreads to the lumbar region and is usually bilateral, while in mild or severe lumbar disc disease, the pain usually starts on one side or the left side and continues from the side or back of the leg or leg.. Symptoms of spinal rheumatism
Symptoms of rheumatism of the spine are generally similar to those of osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative arthritis).. The range of symptoms is wide and can include any combination of the following:
- Pain is the most common symptom of rheumatism of the spine, especially pain at the base of the skull, because rheumatism of the spine affects most of the joints connected to the upper cervical vertebrae.
- Swelling and heat in one or more joints, which may even be called burning.
- Problems in vision.
- feeling of local sensitivity when pressing the joint of the damaged area of the spine
- Loss of joint flexibility in the affected area of the spine
- Feeling discomfort and hearing a joint sound (cracking sensation) when moving the joint (called crepitus), which can be especially noticeable in the neck (although this cracking sensation also occurs in normal joints).
- Headache that is usually related to cervical rheumatism.
- fatigue
- Difficulty in breathing
- Skin rash.
- Decreased appetite and weight loss for no reason.
- A change in the ability to walk, which can indicate increased pressure on the spinal cord of the affected person.
- Tingling or weakness in the arms or legs, or loss of coordination in body movements or the ability to walk, which may be a sign of spinal cord injury.
- Any type of bowel or bladder control problem, such as incontinence or inability to urinate, or inability to control bowels.
Rheumatism of the spine can lead to neck pain, back pain, or pain that reaches the legs or arms.
In advanced cases, joint deterioration in the spine can lead to compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots. Therefore, the affected person should be aware of the symptoms and complications of this disease and immediately inform the doctor about them... Bowel or bladder dysfunction or changes in the ability to walk or move the arms are dangerous medical symptoms and you should immediately contact emergency medical services.
Complications of spinal rheumatism
Is spine cancer fatal? The answer must be negative....Spinal rheumatism may affect more than the spine....This disease may inflame the hip, shoulder, hip and knee joints and between the spine and ribs....People with spinal rheumatism are more prone to spine fractures (vertebral fractures) and can experience the following complications:
- Swelling of vertebrae (ankylosis)
- Kyphosis (curvature of the spine towards the front)
- osteoporosis
- painful eye inflammation (aritis or uveitis) and sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Occurrence of heart diseases including aortitis, arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy
- chest pain that affects breathing
- inflammation of the jaw
- Horse tail syndrome (scar and nerve inflammation)
Diagnosis of spinal rheumatism
There is no test that can definitively diagnose rheumatism of the spine... Therefore, after examining the symptoms and family history of the client, the attending physician will perform a physical examination of the person... It is also possible that the attending physician will prescribe one or more of these tests to help diagnose this disease:
- **Imaging scan:** A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can detect spine problems earlier than traditional X-rays. However, your doctor may order a spine scan to check for arthritis or rule out other problems.
- **Blood test:** A blood test can check the presence of the HLA-B27 gene.... About 8% of people of European descent have this gene, but only a quarter of them develop rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment of spinal rheumatism
Spinal rheumatism is a lifelong disease.... While there is no definitive and permanent cure, the use of treatment methods can prevent long-term complications, reduce joint damage, and reduce the pain caused by the disease. Treatment methods for spinal rheumatism include the following:
- **Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):** Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including ibuprofen (Advil®) and naproxen (Aleve®), reduce pain and inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis of the spine.
- **Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs):** Drugs like sulfasalazine reduce joint pain and swelling.. These drugs also treat lesions from inflammatory bowel disease.. Newer DMARDs, called biologics, help control inflammation by modifying the immune system.. Inhibitors are... (IL-17).
** Corticosteroids: ** Injectable corticosteroids temporarily reduce pain and joint inflammation in rheumatic spine disease.
- **Surgery:** A small number of people with rheumatism of the spine may need surgery....Joint replacement surgery Implants an artificial joint....Kyphoplasty corrects the curvature of the spine.
Diet for rheumatism of the spine
In addition to the usual treatments for rheumatism of the spine, appropriate lifestyle changes and spine surgery after surgery may also help reduce inflammation and pain from rheumatism of the spine. These changes include:
**Adherence to a nutritious diet:** Fried foods, processed meats, and high-fat and sweet foods can have a double inflammatory effect on the affected person.
Anti-inflammatory diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, may help fight the inflammation caused by this disease.
- ** Maintain proper weight:** Obesity and overweight puts a lot of pressure on the joints and bones and aggravates the symptoms of the disease.
- **Limit the consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages:** Drinking too much alcohol can weaken the bones and increase the risk of osteoporosis, so it plays an important role in the stability of the symptoms and complications of the disease.
- **Quit smoking:** Smoking accelerates damage to the spine and aggravates the pain. Therefore, the doctor can help the person to quit smoking.
Suitable exercises for rheumatism of the spine
Regular physical activity can slow or stop the progression of rheumatism in the spine. Many people with rheumatism in the spine experience pain that is worse when they are inactive.
