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Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is suitable for what kind of exercise?
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis during the quiescent phase of the disease, which is when the patients do not feel any pain, can consider appropriate functional exercises. These exercises can include forward bending, back extending, lateral bending to the left and right, and appropriate rotational movements of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Additionally, patients can choose activities like jogging or swimming to prevent spinal stiffness and premature fusion. However, patients with ankylosing spondylitis should avoid intense physical activities during the active phase of the disease, as this can potentially worsen joint damage in the spine.
Can people with ankylosing spondylitis drink alcohol?
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are advised not to drink alcohol. This is because alcohol consumption often harms the stomach, and patients with ankylosing spondylitis, due to the needs of their condition and the long-term pain they suffer, need to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief over a long period. NSAIDs can also damage the gastric mucosa, causing mild erosions or even severe complications such as gastric ulcers and bleeding. Therefore, if patients with ankylosing spondylitis drink alcohol while also taking NSAIDs, they are very likely to develop gastric lesions. Thus, it is not recommended for those with ankylosing spondylitis to consume alcohol. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Complications of ankylosing spondylitis
Firstly, ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily damages the axial joints, and currently, there is no specific cure for it. This means that the disease cannot be completely cured but can only be managed with medications to alleviate symptoms, delay complications, improve quality of life, and reduce disability rates. If this disease is not treated properly, it can lead to joint deformities, muscle rigidity, and spinal stiffness. Once the spine becomes stiff, functional impairments occur, at which point the quality of life decreases, and surgery may need to be considered. If there is a subluxation of the joint, joint fusion surgery must be considered. Changes can also occur in the peripheral joints, in which case joint replacement might be considered.
Is moxibustion useful for ankylosing spondylitis?
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are not recommended to receive moxibustion treatment because it can easily cause skin burns and local soft tissue infections. Moreover, moxibustion does not address the root cause of ankylosing spondylitis. It is recommended to continue with regular oral medication treatments. The medications used to treat ankylosing spondylitis mainly include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium. Commonly used medications to control the condition include sulfasalazine and thalidomide. Currently, the most effective treatment for ankylosing spondylitis involves biologic agents, commonly tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)
What department should I go to for ankylosing spondylitis?
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis should visit the Rheumatology and Immunology department. After visiting, they need further screening for the HLA-B27 gene, and tests for inflammation markers such as ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) and CRP (C-reactive Protein). A CT scan of the sacroiliac joint is also necessary. These tests help confirm the presence of ankylosing spondylitis. Once diagnosed, anti-inflammatory pain medications are required. Commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include Diclofenac Sodium Sustained Release Tablets, along with disease-controlling medications such as Sulfasalazine and Thalidomide. If the patient's financial situation allows and there are no conditions like hepatitis, tuberculosis, or cancer present, biologic therapies can also be considered. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can ankylosing spondylitis cause red eyes?
Firstly, ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the axial joints. Its most common clinical manifestations are a stiffness in the neck or pain in the lumbar and back areas. This pain often occurs after sitting for a long time or at night, and symptoms are relieved after standing up and moving around; these are the main joint symptoms. In addition to these, there can also be extra-articular manifestations, with the most common being uveitis or iritis, which occur repeatedly. Some individuals may even develop corneal ulcers, also known in layman's terms as experiencing "red eye." These are extra-articular symptoms. Once recurrent uveitis or iritis occurs, aside from considering eye-related issues, systemic diseases must also be considered. Following the onset of this type of uveitis, the first choice of treatment is biologics.
Early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
The initial symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis mainly manifest as morning stiffness in the back. Then, there appears to be pain in the back and hip joints. The pain is generally more noticeable at night, and patients often wake up at night due to back pain. Pain can be significantly relieved after light activity. Early ankylosing spondylitis generally does not have characteristic clinical manifestations. A definitive diagnosis requires physical examinations, imaging studies, and blood tests. After confirming the diagnosis, timely and standard treatment is needed. Treatment can control the inflammation and pain of the synovium, prevent the further development of the disease, and prevent deformities of the spine and joints.
How to relieve ankylosing spondylitis
Methods to alleviate ankylosing spondylitis are as follows: First, in terms of lifestyle: during the remission phase of ankylosing spondylitis, it is necessary to persist in long-term functional exercises to keep the spine from adhering and becoming rigid. The second and most important aspect is the long-term use of medication. The medications used to treat ankylosing spondylitis mainly include the following categories: The first category is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly used ones include diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, celecoxib capsules, etc.; the second category includes disease-controlling medications such as sulfasalazine, thalidomide, methotrexate, and even leflunomide. Currently, the most effective medications for treating ankylosing spondylitis are biologics. However, before using biologics, it is essential to strictly rule out diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and tumors. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on specific conditions.)
What medicine is used for ankylosing spondylitis?
The medication for ankylosing spondylitis mainly involves three aspects. The first is non-steroidal pain-relief medications, commonly including drugs like sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets. The second involves drugs that control the condition, commonly using medications like sulfasalazine and thalidomide. The third, which is currently the most effective, involves treatment with biologics. Common biologics include tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. However, before using biologics, it is crucial to rigorously rule out complications such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and tumors. Only after excluding these conditions should one consider using biologics. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis should also pay attention to appropriate functional exercises in daily life to prevent the stiffening of spinal joints. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor, based on the specific situation.)
How is ankylosing spondylitis treated?
The treatment of ankylosing spondylitis mainly consists of three types: The first is anti-inflammatory pain relief, primarily using non-steroidal pain relief medications, such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets. The second is the selection of disease control medications, mainly involving drugs like sulfasalazine tablets. For ankylosing spondylitis, the most effective and economically expensive treatment is biological agents therapy. We commonly use drugs such as tumor necrosis factor antagonists. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis during acute pain periods are advised not to engage in intense exercise. However, during remission periods, appropriate functional exercises are recommended to prevent the adhesion and stiffness of spinal joints.