Forestier's disease
It is a rheumatic disease that causes calcification (small bone deposits) on the ligaments in front of the vertebrae in the middle of the back.
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Synonyms for Forestier's disease
- DISH in English « (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) »
- Bamboo spine
What is Forestier's disease?
It is a rheumatic disease that causes calcification (small bone deposits) on the ligaments in front of the vertebrae in the middle of the back.
What are the risk factors for developing Forestier's disease?
- Men are affected twice as often as women
- Being significantly overweight
- Having diabetes or high cholesterol
- Suffering from gout
What are the symptoms of Forestier's disease?
« It's important to understand that Forestier's disease doesn't always cause symptoms. It's possible to have the disease without any pain. People usually develop symptoms of this disease around the age of sixty. « Common symptoms include:
- Mild to moderate pain in the mid or lower back
- Stiffness of the spine
Some people may also experience other symptoms such as:
- Pain in several other joints at the same time for no apparent reason (for example, pain in the Achilles tendons)
- The pain can sometimes be in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
What are the serious symptoms of Forestier's disease to watch out for?
The presence of certain signs and symptoms should prompt you to seek immediate medical attention at the emergency room or from a doctor. These include:
- Severe weakness or paralysis of one or both legs
- Significant or even complete loss of sensation in one or both legs
- Recent loss of balance when walking
- Significant and new incoordination
- New difficulties with bladder or bowel control
- Loss of sensation in the genital area or when wiping after a bowel movement
Serious symptoms are only present in less than 1% of cases of lower back pain. Most of the time, although the pain can be very unpleasant, the condition improves.
What are the causes of Forestier's disease?
The exact cause of the disease is unknown. There appears to be a genetic influence.
How is Forestier's disease diagnosed?
The diagnosis can be made based on a history of symptoms, a clinical examination, certain medical imaging tests, and blood tests.
It's important to know that medical imaging (X-rays, MRIs, etc.) isn't relevant in 99% of back pain cases.
When to consult a physiotherapist for Forestier's disease?
You should consult a physiotherapist if you have one or more of the symptoms described above or if your doctor has ruled out any other causes that may be responsible for your symptoms.
You do not need to see a doctor before consulting a physiotherapist. If your condition requires you to see a doctor, your physiotherapist will be able to tell you.
What are the physiotherapy treatments for Forestier's disease?
Your physiotherapist will perform an assessment to determine your limitations by evaluating the following elements:
- The mobility of your spine
- The gliding of your nerves
- Your postural habits
- The quality of your movements
- Your strength and stability
Based on the assessment results, your physiotherapist will:
- Will mobilize the joints in your back and your nerves to reduce pain and improve movement.
- Will give you specific exercises to do at home to address the cause of the problem and reduce pain.
- Teach you how to properly manage your daily activities and hobbies to optimize healing
- Will give you advice for your postural habits and movements.
« It is important to understand that Forestier's disease cannot be cured, but treatments can eliminate the symptoms. It is therefore possible to have the disease without any symptoms ».
What to do at home for Forestier's disease?
Avoid staying completely still for long periods, as this will cause increased stiffness and pain afterwards.
« The best thing to do is to be active. If you are sedentary, start by taking regular walks and doing mobility exercises for your back, respecting the pain each day. If you are already active, continue your activities that do not cause too much pain.»
If you do not see any improvement, you should consult a physiotherapist.
To learn more...
You can listen to the podcast "Parle-moi de santé" produced by one of our physiotherapists, Alexis Gougeon. Episode #7 discusses the topic of lower back pain.
Episode #7 Lower back pain
Find the episode on YouTube :
Click below to listen to episodes on podcast platforms:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Ymcb0gWLyns48Kb6vJ5J8?si=092c6516549b47d7
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Sources
- Alexander CE, Varacallo M. Lumbosacral Radiculopathy. InStatPearls [Internet] 2019 Mar 23. StatPearls Publishing.
- Kreiner DS, Shaffer WO, Baisden JL, Gilbert TJ, Summers JT, Toton JF, Hwang SW, Mendel RC, Reitman CA. An evidence-based clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (update). The Spine Journal. 2013 Jul 1;13(7):734-43.
- Wu L, Cruz R. Lumbar spinal stenosis.StatPearls [Internet]. 2020 Sep 3.
- Lurie J, Tomkins-Lane C. Management of lumbar spinal stenosis. Bmj. 2016 Jan 4;352.
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