How is ankylosing spondylitis treated and preventive care provided?

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis do not always develop spinal ankylosis, especially since the improvement of modern medical standards enables doctors to make early diagnosis and early treatment of the disease, thus playing a certain role in slowing down and postponing the development of the disease and greatly reducing the occurrence of spinal ankylosis. Therefore, patients with ankylosing spondylitis should pay enough attention to the disease, full of confidence, and actively cooperate with doctors for treatment. Medications: So far, the main types of medications used in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis include the following. The first and most effective drugs are anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. For example, anti-inflammatory drugs, diclofenac drugs, fenbendazole and other drugs will play an anti-inflammatory and analgesic role in ankylosing spondylitis. However, long-term use of these drugs is not effective in controlling the disease in most cases. Like rheumatoid arthritis, there are some slow-acting medications, and the slow-acting medication that is thought to be effective in the axial joints of ankylosing spondylitis is sulfasalazine. Other than that, methotrexate and leflunomide are very controversial internationally, but when joints other than the medial joints, such as the knee and ankle joints, are involved, slow-acting drugs such as methotrexate and leflunomide will play a role. The introduction of biologics in the last decade, especially tumor necrosis factor antagonists, has played a very positive role in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and has greatly improved the effectiveness of ankylosing spondylitis, its treatment, and its prognosis. The purpose of ankylosing spondylitis treatment is to control inflammation, reduce or relieve symptoms, maintain normal posture and optimal functional position, and prevent joint deformity. Therefore, in order to achieve satisfactory results and maximize the maintenance of joint function, I believe that the combination of drug treatment and rehabilitation is the best effect. Reminder: the pathological basis of ankylosing spondylitis is tendon attachment point inflammation, these parts of the fibrosis, ossification will affect the function of the body, proactive, correct physical exercise will help to maintain the normal function of the body. It is important not to be bedridden and unwilling to move because of pain, as this will only accelerate the progress of the disease. Therefore, three very important things are emphasized here: 1) Maintaining the mobility of the thorax; 2) Maintaining the flexibility of the spine; 3) Maintaining the motor function of the limbs, preventing or alleviating the muscular atrophy of the limbs due to disuse, and maintaining the density and strength of the bones to prevent osteoporosis. Health care methods: patients can often do some deep breathing, chest expansion exercises, bending the knees, bending the hips, bending the waist, leaning back and turning the head, turning the body, radio gymnastics, kicking and other such exercises. Of course, jogging, swimming (breaststroke is better), tai chi and so on are also recommended. The intensity of the patient’s exercise can depend on the specific condition. It is generally considered that the pain lasts no more than 2 hours after exercise. In order to maintain the functional position of the spine, the patient should sleep on the back on a hard board bed, such as has violated the neck, upper chest, should be de-pillowed sleep, because a person if the night a few hours, resting in a very soft bed, it is easy to cause the joints gradually curved, deformity. Ankylosing spondylitis patients, only in the drug treatment at the same time, with appropriate functional exercise, in order to maximize the prevention of spinal deformity.