Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that mainly affects the sacroiliac joints, spinal prominences, paraspinal soft tissues and peripheral joints, and may be accompanied by extra-articular manifestations. The main clinical manifestations are back, back, neck, hip, and hip pain as well as joint swelling and pain, and in severe cases, spinal deformity and joint ankylosis may occur. We also talk about how to “maintain” ankylosing spondylitis on a daily basis.
Ankylosing spondylitis patients daily “maintenance” strategy
1, reasonable clothing
Some patients with ankylosing spondylitis, family members or non-rheumatologists allow patients to wear tight-fitting corsets, which are not only detrimental to the patient’s movement of the spine, but can also cause the spine to become fixed and eventually lead to inactivity by limiting movement over time. It should be emphasized that patients with ankylosing spondylitis should pay special attention to warmth, cold, damp is often a trigger for pain.
2. Diet and hygiene
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis should eat foods high in protein and nutrients such as meat and fish, as well as fruits and vegetables for vitamins, and drink milk for calcium. While maintaining a balanced nutritional intake, it is important to avoid being overweight, which can add to the burden on the joints. Do not drink raw water and do not eat unclean food. Moderate alcohol consumption is not harmful to ankylosing spondylitis, but during the period of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, you should drink as little or no alcohol as possible to avoid aggravating the damage to the gastric mucosa.
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3.Smoking
Do not smoke. Ankylosing spondylitis patients with spine and thoracic involvement will reduce the volume of the lungs. Smoking then makes the patient susceptible to pneumonia or shortness of breath. It is vital to quit smoking because smoking not only aggravates the difficulty of whistling, but also can cause induce and aggravate lung infections. If you have a smoking habit, it is best to gradually quit.
4.Choose the right bed
The ideal bed should be firm, not sagging, and not too hard, the average ordinary bed can be. Mattress can have springs inside, but the edge should be firm, in the selection, it is best to first lie on the mattress for twenty minutes to see if it is comfortable. If necessary, a cardboard or plywood should be placed between the mattress and the bed board. The pillow should be as short as possible, high pillows will accelerate the deformity of the spine, especially the cervical spine. Loose feather pillows can give good support to the neck, more suitable for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
5, choose the right chair
Whether at home or in the class, an ideal chair should have a hard seat and a hard backrest that extends vertically to the head. The appropriate armrests on the chair will help reduce the pressure of the body on the spine. The seat should not be too long, or the back is difficult to lean on the back of the chair. The height of the chair should be moderate, to ensure that the knee and hip joints can maintain the right angle. In any case, should avoid sitting in a low and soft chair or sofa to stay, otherwise it will form a bad posture and aggravate the pain.
6, the correct posture
Posture can affect the state of the spine, bad posture is not conducive to the recovery of the disease. Sitting should maintain an upright position of the chest, and often move the spine regularly, stretching the crest by sitting straight and moving the shoulders backward. Do not sit for too long, but stand, walk and stretch often. After standing or sitting for a long time lying down for 15 to 20 minutes, it is beneficial to reduce the pressure on the crest, which should be part of the time lying on its back, legs dangling to the floor. Standing should be as far as possible to maintain the chest, stomach and eyes flat posture. When sleeping, more supine position, to avoid the promotion of flexion deformity position.
7.Rational choice of hot and cold compresses
Heat can reduce pain and stiffness in a variety of ways, so many patients with ankylosing spondylitis like to take a shower or bath in the morning or before bed, such as with some stretching exercises can be more effective in reducing pain and stiffness. In addition, patients can also use hot water bags or electric blankets in bed. For the special inflammatory parts, you can also try to use the external wrapping wet towel ice bag for external application to achieve the purpose of anti-inflammatory pain, but be careful to avoid frostbite.
8, driving
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis can feel increased pain and stiffness when driving for too long, so stop intermittently to stretch yourself on long trips. Put a small cushion to the back or under the hips to help maintain good posture. Care should be taken to adjust the driver’s seat and move away from objects that can easily collide with the head, as even minor collisions can cause serious consequences for patients with cervical spine involvement. For patients with a strong or stiff neck, a reflector should be added to the windshield or dashboard to avoid trouble when the car turns.
9. Daily work
Patients with effectively controlled ankylosing spondylitis are able to perform most of their daily activities. Most patients with ankylosing spondylitis have a high desire to work no less than the average person. 3/4 of patients are able to hold down a full-time job. Special attention should be paid to the posture of the spine while sitting and standing at work. When seated at a desk or dining table, adjust the position of the chair to maintain correct posture and avoid bending the body forward. Do not stand or sit in one position for too long. If you must maintain a posture, move and stretch your joints as much as possible.