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Ankylosing Spondylitis is an inflammatory rheumatic disease of unknown cause, which is chronic, painful, progressive, affecting especially the spine, and is not limited to the musculoskeletal system, but also sometimes affects important organs such as skin, eyes, intestines and cardiovascular systems. It is a disease.
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Ankylosis; fusion of the vertebrae, spondylitis; It means inflammation of the spine.
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Patients may present with pain in the neck, back, rib cage and sometimes non-vertebral joints, especially in the waist and hip area.
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Pain, which is intense after rest and in the morning, decreases with exercise and activity. Spinal stiffness and stiffness felt when getting out of bed in the morning usually lasts for more than 30 minutes.
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In young patients, it begins insidiously in the mentioned parts of the body, increases in bed at night, restricts turning left and right in bed, and develops in the morning. Increasing lower back pain and shifting hip pain are typical. These features help distinguish the pain in ankylosing spondylitis from other non-inflammatory low back pains, especially herniated disc pain.
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Patients generally describe pain that lasts for more than 3 months, sometimes for years. They complain. They may express that they have difficulty bending forward and putting on their shoes and socks. These complaints are due to the loss of flexibility and mobility of the joints between the vertebrae.
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Sometimes, it causes an inflammatory reaction in the areas where the muscle tendons attach to the bone. This condition, called enthesitis, is reflected clinically as pain in the heel and many other areas.
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Signs such as weakness, fatigue, fever, and weight loss may accompany pain during the active disease period.
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The disease is 2-3 times more common in men and usually begins between the ages of 20-30.
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Physical examination and radiological imaging are important in diagnosis. Blood tests have a limited place in diagnosis.
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Ankylosing Spondylitis; It can cause uveitis in the eye, inflammation in the intestines, conduction disorders in the heart, heart valve pathologies, and inflammation in the main artery called the aorta. It can affect the lungs and also affects the rib cage joints. As the joints lose their flexibility over time, lung volume may decrease and recurrent aphthous ulcers may develop in the mouth.
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It is not a disease that is passed from mother or father to children. The human HLAB27 tissue antigen, which is blamed for the development of the disease, is present in 90% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The risk of developing this disease in the child of an ankylosing spondylitis patient with HLA B27 detected is 20%.
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Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis begins with patient education. It is necessary to explain to the patient and his family that the disease is a lifelong inflammatory disease. The aim of drug treatment is; The aim is to relieve pain, stop or at least slow down the progression of the disease, and protect the patient against undesirable conditions such as osteoporosis caused by medications and the disease.
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Treatment may vary depending on the severity of the disease and the response to medications. Biological drugs are used in patients who do not respond to traditional antirheumatic drugs. These are highly effective but costly drugs with significant side effects.
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Complementary treatment options such as Acupuncture, Neuraltherapy, Phytotherapy, Plates make a positive contribution to the patients' current clinic.
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Regular neck, back, waist and joint exercises, posture and breathing exercises are important for the quality of daily life. Swimming and lying flat on your back or stomach for 20 minutes a day are other suggestions that will be beneficial for posture.
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