All conditions
Bone & joint
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
Also known as: DISH, Forestier disease
A condition where ligaments along the spine turn into bone, causing stiffness, usually in people over 50.
Video lesson
What it is
In DISH, calcium deposits harden the ligaments that run along the front of the spine, most often in the mid-back. It is not an inflammatory disease. It is more common in men and in people with diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure.
Symptoms
Many people have no symptoms. Others notice back stiffness, especially in the morning, reduced flexibility, and sometimes tendon or heel pain. Rarely, large bone growths in the neck cause difficulty swallowing.
How it’s diagnosed
X-rays show flowing bone along at least four connected vertebrae, with the discs and sacroiliac joints spared. That pattern distinguishes DISH from ankylosing spondylitis.
Treatment
Treatment focuses on comfort and mobility with exercise, physical therapy and pain relief. Surgery is rarely needed, mainly for swallowing problems or nerve compression.
Living with it
Managing weight, blood sugar and blood pressure is good for overall health. A stiff spine fractures more easily, so take even minor falls seriously.
At a glance
Category
Bone & joint
Also known as
DISH, Forestier disease
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
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