Spondylosis-Spondyloarthritis – Ankylosing Spondylitis
Spondylosis – Spondyloarthritis – Ankylosing Spondylitis
What it is
Spondyloarthritis, or otherwise spondylosis, is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the spine and specifically the joints between the vertebrae. It is characterized by pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
If not treated in time, its worsening may cause compression of the neural elements and neurological symptoms.
Spondyloarthritis – Spondylitis
Causes
The causes of the condition are not known, and there is no explanation as to why the immune system turns against healthy joint cells.
Genetic factors seem to play a role, with the presence of a specific gene that increases the likelihood of developing a certain type of inflammatory arthritis – ankylosing spondylitis.
Also, some studies suggest that the inflammation is triggered by various bacteria and some infectious agents that circulate in the body and find refuge in the degenerated vertebrae.
Spondyloarthritis – Spondylitis
Symptoms
1.
Unexplained pain and stiffness in the lower back with relief after mobilization/exercise
2.
Pain and stiffness in the sacroiliac joint, i.e., the point where the pelvis joins the spine
3.
Unexplained pain in the heel or chest (with or without shortness of breath)
Spondyloarthritis – Spondylitis
Diagnosis
Due to the gradual worsening of the disease, diagnosis must be timely in order for a therapeutic plan to be set up as early as possible and treatment to be given.
To determine the condition, the doctor will take your medical history and investigate the symptoms you report.
If the pain and stiffness in specific areas persist for many months and you need time to recover from the discomfort upon waking, then further investigation of the condition is required with diagnostic tests such as blood tests (HLA-B27 antigen) and X-rays.
Spondyloarthritis – Spondylitis
Treatment
1.
Sacroiliac joint infiltration
When the pain originates from the sacroiliac joints, the orthopedic surgeon may choose denervation or fusion of the sacroiliac joints using various techniques. One of them is sacroiliac joint infiltration.
2.
Epidural perineural injections
This technique involves the administration of medications via injection, selectively into the spine, in order to identify the exact point of pain. These injections therefore have both a diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.
They are performed in an operating room environment, without general anesthesia, under fluoroscopic guidance, and the procedure duration does not exceed 10 minutes.3.
Facet joint injections
This is a method guided by a fluoroscopic device, in which anesthetics and corticosteroids are injected into the facet joints.
