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Ankylosing spondylitis
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.
How to control ankylosing spondylitis
The treatment of ankylosing spondylitis mainly consists of three parts: The first part is the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets; the second is the choice of disease control medications, which may include sulfasalazine or methotrexate tablets, especially for patients with peripheral joint pain, immunosuppressive drugs can be chosen. The most effective for ankylosing spondylitis are biologics, but before using biologics, it is necessary to exclude hepatitis, tuberculosis, and cancerous diseases, and the cost of biologics is relatively high. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician and do not self-medicate.)
What is the ESR level in ankylosing spondylitis?
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis, if not well controlled, can exhibit elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR). An ESR higher than 20 mm per hour indicates elevation, suggesting poor disease control. At such times, it is necessary to utilize non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets. Additionally, medications that control the condition should also be used, like sulfasalazine tablets and thalidomide, among others. While biological agents, commonly tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, offer the best treatment effectiveness, they are also the most expensive. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a physician.)
Early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis
The early symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis mainly include insidious onset of pain and discomfort in the back and hip joints. The pain is often intermittent and worse at night. Patients frequently wake up at night due to back pain, which can be alleviated by slight movement. Therefore, when patients experience unexplained back and hip joint pain, it is necessary to determine whether ankylosing spondylitis could be a possibility. In the early stages, a sacroiliac joint CT scan and hematological examination can be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Once diagnosed, prompt standardized treatment is necessary. Generally, this can control synovial inflammation and pain, prevent deformities of the spine and joints, and help patients return to normal life and work.
What tests are done for ankylosing spondylitis?
The main laboratory indicators for ankylosing spondylitis include the following: Testing for the B27 gene, formally known as HLA-B27 gene, which is hereditary and commonly found in male patients. Second, to determine if ankylosing spondylitis is in an active phase, inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein can be checked. Moreover, the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis must involve the sacroiliac joints being affected. Therefore, a CT scan and MRI of the sacroiliac joints can be conducted to determine if there are issues with the sacroiliac joints. If the patient shows symptoms of inflammatory lower back pain, has affected sacroiliac joints, tests positive for the B27 gene, and shows elevated inflammatory markers, then a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis can generally be confirmed.
What to do about ankylosing spondylitis pain?
The methods for treating pain in ankylosing spondylitis primarily include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets; secondly, biologics can be considered for pain relief, but before using biologics, it is necessary to rigorously rule out diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and tumors. During the painful periods of ankylosing spondylitis, patients are advised to rest appropriately to alleviate joint inflammation. However, after the pain subsides, it is recommended that patients engage in functional exercises to prevent complications such as further adhesion and stiffening of the spinal joints. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)
What to do about ankylosing spondylitis pain?
The medications for treating pain in ankylosing spondylitis fall into three major categories: The first category includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets. The second category consists of disease-controlling drugs, which are often immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine. Third, if patients still experience significant back pain despite using anti-inflammatory analgesics and disease-controlling drugs, biologic agents can be considered. The main biologics currently include tumor necrosis factor antagonists. (Note: The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)