Spondyloarthritis: What Is It?

Monitoringclub.org – Spondyloarthritis (also called spondyloarthropathy and rheumatic spondylosis pelvis) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints of the vertebrae and the joint between the spine and the pelvis.

This autoimmune disease, of slow evolution and which does not put life at stake, can be at the origin of handicap. Fortunately, treatments exist to relieve his symptoms and prevent its complications.

What is spondyloarthritis?

Spondyloarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the entheses, that is to say the attachment points of the muscles or ligaments on the bones.

The vertebrae and the joints between the spine and the pelvis are most commonly affected. We then speak of an axial shape. But there are also spondyloarthritis that affect the limbs. This disease affects rather young people and is not life-threatening, but it can be the cause of disability.

It is an inflammatory disease that has nothing to do with the osteoarthritis or degenerative rheumatism (due to cartilage wear) in the elderly: the pain occurs at night and awakens in the early morning.

Moving and walking relieves it, unlike the pain associated with a lumbago or a torticollis. Getting up is painful, due to a “strengthening” that can last more than a quarter of an hour.

Heel pain (talalgia) is characteristic of spondyloarthritis: inability to walk as the pain in the heel is disabled. Finally, the tendonitis (Achilles tendon, tennis elbow) are common.

Others inflammatory rheumatism
The other great inflammatory rheumatism is rheumatoid arthritis, which is most often peripheral and rather inflames the joints of the limbs. Psoriatic arthritis (rheumatism related to psoriasis, autoimmune skin disease) has long been considered the “third” inflammatory arthritis , but it is now classified with spondylathritis of which it would be a variant. Finally, there are reactive arthritis, inflammation of a joint caused by an infection at a distance from the joint), or arthritis associated with other inflammatory diseases (Crohn’s disease , ulcerative colitis, sarcoidosis , systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.).

Others inflammatory rheumatism

The other great inflammatory rheumatism is rheumatoid arthritis, which is most often peripheral and rather inflames the joints of the limbs.

Psoriatic arthritis (rheumatism related to psoriasis, autoimmune skin disease) has long been considered the “third” inflammatory arthritis , but it is now classified with spondylathritis of which it would be a variant.

Finally, there are reactive arthritis, inflammation of a joint caused by an infection at a distance from the joint), or arthritis associated with other inflammatory diseases (Crohn’s disease , ulcerative colitis, sarcoidosis , systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.).