Forester disease: symptoms and treatment

Forestier's disease, or ankylosing hyperostosis, is a disease caused not by parasites, viruses or bacteria, but by a malfunction of the body's functions. The disease occurs when excessive formation of bone tissue in the ligaments and tendons. The deposition of calcium salts between the vertebral discs reduces the mobility of the spine, beginning with the cervical and thoracic region and gradually spreading to other areas.

Forestier's disease: what is it?

First, where the ligaments and tendons adjoin the vertebral discs, a cartilaginous tissue is formed, which gradually converts to bone. As a result, with the advanced stage of the disease, calcium salts create around the spinal column a thickness of up to 1.5 cm. Until recently it was thought that Forestia's disease affects only the spine, but after careful research it was discovered that diseases are susceptible to other parts of the musculoskeletal system.

For the first time such a disease as ankylosing hyperostosis was discovered by the Frenchman Forestier, engaged in research in the field of neurology, at the end of the 20th century. There are few cases of such a disease, and most of the cases are men aged 40 years. Although among the sick there are still women and young men.

Origin of the name of the disease

Hyperostosis (translated from Greek as "increase" and "bone") is characterized by excessive formation of bone substance. Ankylosis (translated from Greek as "stiffness") means immobility and congestion of any part of the musculoskeletal system. Hyperostosis ankylosing - stiffness of the musculoskeletal system in the joints of tendons and ligaments.

Symptoms of the disease

Forestier's disease, the symptoms of which are easily confused with the symptoms of other diseases of the musculoskeletal system, begins to manifest itself from the cervical or other part of the spine. It is in these places that the first signs of hyperostosis are noticed, which manifest themselves in the stiffness of movements and a sharp decrease in the flexibility of the affected areas. Less often, the sick complain of mild pain, but short-term pain may appear in the elbow, heel, pelvic and other bones.

The most common symptoms occur in the morning or evening hours. Such time intervals are explained by the fact that since the morning the spine is inactive due to the prolonged finding in one posture during sleep, and in the evening the musculoskeletal system loses its flexibility due to overwork during the working day. In what other cases shows the disease Forestier? Symptoms appear after excessive stress on the joints or prolonged stay in one position.

Sometimes this disease to the last stages proceeds without any visible manifestations. And it happens on the contrary: the signs appear ten years before the changes can be noticed on the x-ray.

Forestier disease of the cervical region is characterized by the appearance of neoarthrosis with spike-like outgrowths of bone tissue. Because of this, a person who has a pathology in this part of the spine faces discomfort when swallowing food. If the disease affects the thoracic region, then there is a deformation of the wall of the stomach, which interferes with the passage of food, causing perspiration in the throat and bad breath. When bone formation is squashed by the back of the brain, neurological disorders occur, although such manifestations of the disease are extremely rare.

In places where excess bone tissue is formed, inflammation may occur.

Symptoms that should be addressed to a doctor with a suspicion of Forestier disease

• Lack of mobility of affected areas.
• A sharp decrease in the flexibility of the spine at the beginning and end of the day.
• Rare pains in the elbow and heel joints and in the hip bones.
• Noticeable convexity of the spine inwards.
• Discomfort when ingestion of food.
• Problems with the stomach in the absence of an ulcer or gastritis.
• Pain in the joints of ligaments and tendons with bones.

Causes of the disease

Due to the fact that hyperkistosis ankylosing is a rare disease, the reasons for its occurrence have been little studied. It is known that people more than 40 years old are most often affected by this disease. Some doctors believe that this defect arises from the natural aging of tissues and bones, which eventually start to function improperly.

Others consider the disease the result of a prolonged presence in the body of an inflamed focus of infection. It is believed that diseases that can trigger a hyperostosis are tuberculosis, purulent otitis, sinusitis and other infectious ailments.

This trend is known: people who are obese or have a well-developed muscular system, often acquire the disease Forestier. Death directly from this disease can not come.

Diagnosis of the disease using an X-ray

In order to detect Forestier's disease, X-rays are most often used. Doctors who deal with treatment of deviations of this type are orthopaedists and traumatologists. After examining the spine with the help of an X-ray and identifying the stiff areas, the doctor makes conclusions about the presence of the disease. Despite the fact that Forestier's disease, an MRI study that significantly increases the chances of detecting it in the early stages, usually significantly changes the structure of the spine, yet sometimes this deviation can not be detected by the most modern methods for decades.

At the first stages of hyperostosis, ankylosing on X-rays is practically no different from spondylosis. Confidently talk about the disease Forestier can only be found in the ossified areas in several departments of the musculoskeletal system. But in this case it is easily confused with Bekhterev's disease.

The main differences between Bechterew's disease from Forestier

For Forestier's disease is typical:

• The formation of bone tissue in the region of vertebral discs.
• And in the first and the last stages there is no osteoporosis, no change in the blood test, no damage to the joints in the sacrum.
• All patients are in old age.

For Bekhterev's disease is characterized by:

• Vertebrae change their shape, taking the form of a rectangle with sharp corners.
• Through the vertebrae narrow jumper from bone tissue is laid.
• Osteoporosis is present.
• The pathology of the joints in the sacrum.
• Blood tests are worse.
• Most patients first encounter this problem at a young age.

Lateral radiography

If you suspect a disease, Forestier must hold a lateral radiograph. It allows to reveal excessive deposition of calcium salts not only in intervertebral discs (as, for example, in osteochondrosis), but also directly in the bodies of the vertebrae. It is important to study the disease with the help of X-ray in dynamics, since during spondylosis excessive formation of bone substance occurs once and shortly stops. In Forestier, on the contrary, calcification occurs over a long time. In the late stages of the disease, X-ray photographs reveal strata up to 1.5 cm thick.

Laboratory research

For accurate detection of pathology, some tests are also performed, the results of which make it possible to verify the correctness of the diagnosis. With Forestier's disease, blood tests do not show any inflammatory processes. There may be a slight increase in the amount of glucose. C-reactive proteins and rheumatoid factors are absent.

Treatment with medication

Until now, there is no reason why Forestier's disease occurs. Treatment for this reason is symptomatic. With the help of medications, they try to eliminate discomfort during movement. With severe pain, patients are prescribed glucocorticoid drugs and analgesics. Anti-inflammatory ointments ("Indomethacin", "Ibuprofen", "Diclofenac", "Voltaren", etc.) are also used.

Treatment without medicamental method

The disease occurs due to improper metabolism, so in the infection sites the calcium content is excessive, and in other bones of the body there is a deficiency. Doctors recommend food, where foods rich in calcium predominate.

If you were struck by Forestier's disease, disability is a very real outcome in untimely treatment.

Of the methods associated with physical impact, the most effective are the following:

• Therapeutic gymnastics, which should be given every day for at least half an hour, is recommended for all patients diagnosed with "Foresty's disease" (photo of some exercises and the order of implementation are presented in the next section).
• Therapeutic massage with a professional masseur.
• Reflexology.
• Magnetotherapy.
• Laser therapy.
• Ultraphonophoresis.

There are folk methods of fighting hyperostosis ankylosing. Here are some of them:

• At strongly expressed pains it is recommended to rub a tincture on alcohol and birch kidneys. For its preparation, take 1 liter of vodka or alcohol and 1 cup of birch buds, mix and put to infuse for a week in a dark place.
• To improve your condition, it is worth to drink a glass of natural birch sap per day.
• It is also useful to use drugs that increase immunity, so that the body has the strength to fight the disease. 20 grams of powder kvass mixed with a glass of birch juice, 5 grams of grated horseradish and three grams of yeast, leave the mixture until the abundant foam appears, add a tablespoon of honey. Drink three meals a day before meals for 1 tablespoon.
• In places where foci of infection are identified, before going to bed rub the mixture of fox fat and vegetable oil in a ratio of 1: 1.
• Take 2 grams of propolis every day.

Approximate complex of therapeutic gymnastics

• Sitting on the rug, do 3 breaths and 3 exhalations, inhale gently raising your hands, on exhalation - dropping.
• Sit on your knees, hands clasped to your body and leaning against the floor. Make ten inclines, trying to touch the forehead of the knees.
• Staying in the same position, bend as much back as possible, and then lean as low as possible forward, as if making a torso wave. Repeat the exercise 10 times, at the end hold, arching back for 30 seconds.
• Stand on your knees and place your hands behind your toes so that your fingers touch your toes. Do not tear off your legs, start to arch your back. Try to stretch your navel as much as possible, and shoulders - as far as possible, staying in this position for 10 seconds. Repeat the exercise 10 times. Last time stay in this position for as long as possible.
• Stand on all fours. Bending your back, slowly sit on your knees, without taking your hands off the floor. Slowly return to the starting position, also without lifting your palms. Round your back and begin to slowly bend it until you completely fall on the floor. Remember that you can not tear the palms off the floor. Repeat the exercise 10 times.
• Lie on the floor on your stomach, put your hands bent at the elbows, perpendicular to the floor. Do not tear your palms off the floor, straighten your arms until the palms are left on the floor. In this position, bend the back as much as possible. Hold in this position for a minute.

• Lie on your stomach, while lifting your arms, legs and chest. Ideally, only the stomach should remain on the floor. Hold in position 30 seconds. Lie on your stomach, stretching your legs and arms. Rest in this position for 30 seconds. Repeat the exercise. Alternating exercise and rest, repeat this paragraph 5 times.
• Stand on all fours and straighten both your legs and arms, your body should look like a triangle. Hold in this position for 30 seconds.
• Sit on the floor, stretch out your arms and bend over, trying to touch the forehead with your legs. Hold in position for as long as possible.

These exercises to treat Forestier's disease are enough to do three times a week.