Ankylosing Spondylitis Can Be Confused With Lumbar Hernia and Muscle Spasm

Memorial Health Group held another important meeting on "Current Approaches to Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients" within the scope of "Memorial Scientific Meetings". The meeting, which was held online due to the pandemic, brought together experts in the field. It was noted that ankylosing spondylitis, which can be confused with lumbar hernia and muscle spasm, and its treatment can be delayed, can be controlled with early diagnosis and correct treatment planning, and current approaches are discussed.

Moderated by Memorial Ankara Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Department and Spine Health Center Prof. Dr. Emre Acaroğlu and Assoc. Dr. Onur Yaman's meeting was held online on July 14. At the meeting where ankylosing spondylitis was handled as a multidisciplinary; From Memorial Bahçelievler and Service Hospitals Department of Rheumatology, Uz. Dr. Senem Tekeoğlu "Medical Treatment", from Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Prof. Dr. Ümit Dinçer, “The Importance of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation”, Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Department Prof. Dr. Prof. Mustafa Kürklü “Hip and Knee Surgery” from Memorial Bahçelievler and Hizmet Hospitals Spine Health Center, Assoc. Dr. Salim Şentürk shared important posts on "Spine Surgery".

“It causes permanent disability and reduced quality of life”

Giving information about the meeting, where the participation was intense, Prof. Dr. Emre Acaroğlu said, “Although ankylosing spondylitis is not a very common disease, it is a well-known and highly debated problem both in the public and in the medical community due to the deformities and disabilities it causes. At the meeting, we examined Ankylosing spondylitis with a multidisciplinary approach and shared the innovations in both medical and surgical treatment.

“A comfortable life is possible with regular follow-up”

Stating that ankylosing spondylitis is a rheumatic disease and its treatment is a process that Rheumatology, Physical Therapy, Neurosurgery and Orthopedics physicians should carry out with a multidisciplinary approach, Assoc. Dr. Onur Yaman said, “Especially our rheumatology physicians provide great support to us during the treatment process. However, since it is a chronic disease, it causes disorders especially in the spine, hip, knee and joints, and reduces the range of motion of the joint. After a while, these patients need physical therapy along with medical treatment and surgical interventions in the following periods. As spine surgery, we support these patients, especially in the later periods, for the problem of kyphosis, which is the problem of kyphosis, which develops in their backs as a result of their gradual bending forward, which is their most basic problem.

“It is common in young adults”

Emphasizing that the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are confused with muscle spasm or herniated disc, Uz. Dr. Senem Tekeoğlu stated that Ankylosing spondylitis, which is an inflammatory joint rheumatism, mostly affects the spine, pelvis and hip joints. Stating that the disease is more common in young adult males, Dr. Tekeoğlu said, “Ankylosing spondylitis patients are mostly tried to be treated with the diagnosis of muscle spasm and lumbar hernia. However, it is necessary to investigate in detail in order to diagnose patients whose complaints do not go away despite treatment, who have low back pain that occurs in the morning for more than 3 months or after prolonged inactivity, decreases with movement, and especially in patients with ankylosing spondylitis in their relatives.