Back pain has long since become a widespread disease in Germany. Anyone who sits in the car or in the office every day knows back problems all too well. But there can be other causes behind chronic back pain. A special form of inflammatory rheumatism, Morbus Bechterew, is noticeable through a special type of back pain. Here we reveal what Bechterew’s disease is all about and what signs point to the rheumatic disease.
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What is Bechterew’s disease?
According to the German Society for Rheumatology eV, around 1.5 million adults in Germany suffer from inflammatory rheumatic diseases. A special form of inflammatory rheumatism is Morbus Bechterew. The spine is particularly affected by rheumatic inflammation. In most cases, the disease causes inflammation in the lumbar region of the spine and in the sacroiliac joints on the pelvic bone. Bechterew’s disease is one of the most common rheumatic diseases and affects around 350,000 people.
Since recurring and regular back pain is not automatically associated with rheumatism by those who suffer, many Bechterew’s diseases remain undiagnosed for a long time. If the spinal disease is not treated, changes in posture and restricted movement can occur. Although Bechterew’s disease cannot be cured, it can be recognized in good time, but treated well with medication and exercise therapy. While rheumatic diseases usually appear after the age of 50, Bechterew’s disease begins in many cases between the ages of 20 and 40.
These are the typical signs of Bechterew’s disease
1. Persistent back pain
The main sign of Bechterew’s disease is long-lasting back pain. Those affected perceive the pain as deep-seated and last for several months. The lumbar region is particularly affected, radiating to the hips and buttocks, with the buttock pain alternating between the left and right side. The shoulder and neck areas are also affected. Joint stiffness and nocturnal pain go hand in hand with back pain, which often occurs intermittently. Those affected then find it difficult to get restful sleep , they are kept awake by pain and sometimes have great difficulty getting out of bed in the morning because their back and hips have stiffened considerably overnight.
2. Posture change and hunched back
Morbus Bechterew is a rheumatic inflammatory disease of the spine. The lumbar spine area is particularly affected by inflammation. If the disease remains undetected and untreated for a long time, typical postural changes occur depending on the severity of the course. The lumbar spine flattens noticeably after a few years of the disease, while the upper thoracic spine curves. What initially looks like a hunchback can even develop into a hump if left untreated and without physical therapy. This changed posture in turn causes increased pain in the neck and shoulder area and can also cause headaches.
3. Eye inflammation
Bechterew’s disease is a rheumatic disease caused by inflammation. In many cases, the focus of inflammation in the body is not limited to the spine. Inflammatory reactions often occur in the eyes of those affected. Inflammation of the iris of the eye then occurs particularly frequently. Such an inflammation is also called iritis and is recognizable by reddened eyes, blurred vision, headaches and severe photosensitivity of the eyes. Anyone who regularly suffers from inflammatory eye diseases and other seemingly unrelated complaints such as back pain and morning joint stiffness should consult their family doctor. In this way, possible unrecognized rheumatic diseases can be examined as the cause.
4. Joint and tendon inflammation
Ankylosing spondylitis can also make itself felt through other and further foci of inflammation in the body. The rheumatic disease can sometimes spread to other joints. Those affected then complain of arthritic joint inflammation in fingers and toes. Inflammation of tendons can also occur in Bechterew patients. The Achilles tendon or the elbow tendon are often affected by painful inflammation. The latter leads to a classic tennis elbow, in which the joint is severely irritated.
