Do you need treatment for ankylosing spondylitis?

Do I need treatment for ankylosing spondylitis? Ankylosing spondylitis usually begins to develop in adolescence. It is also somewhat hereditary. And because there is no real cure for ankylosing spondylitis so far, many patients choose not to receive treatment. In fact, this is a wrong view. Ankylosing spondylitis not only requires treatment, but also requires patients to be particularly attentive during treatment. Specific treatments for ankylosing spondylitis are as follows:

Aims to control inflammation, reduce or relieve symptoms, maintain normal posture and optimal functional position, and prevent deformity. To achieve the above goals, the key lies in early diagnosis and early treatment, and the adoption of comprehensive measures for treatment, including educating patients and their families, physical therapy, physiotherapy, drugs and surgical treatment.

(1) The treatment of this disease starts with educating patients and their families so that they understand the nature of the disease, its general course, possible measures to be taken, and future prognosis, in order to enhance their confidence and patience in fighting the disease and gain their understanding and close cooperation.

(2) Pay attention to maintaining a normal posture and mobility in daily life. For example, you should keep your chest up and your abdomen in when walking, sitting, and standing. When sleeping, do not use a pillow or use a thin pillow. Sleep on a hardwood bed, lying on your back or prone, and lie prone for half an hour each morning and evening. Participate in labor and sports activities within your ability. Pay attention to your posture when working to prevent spinal curvature and deformity.

(3) Maintain an optimistic mood, eliminate tension, anxiety, depression and fear; quit smoking and drinking; maintain a regular work and rest schedule, and participate in medical physical exercise.

(4) Understand the effects and side effects of drugs, learn to adjust drug dosage and deal with drug side effects on your own, so as to cooperate with treatment and achieve better results.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is beneficial for various chronic diseases, but is even more important for ankylosing spondylitis. It can maintain the physiological curvature of the spine and prevent deformity. Maintain chest mobility and maintain normal respiratory function. Maintain bone density and strength, prevent osteoporosis and limb disuse muscle atrophy, etc. Patients can adopt appropriate exercise methods and amounts according to their personal circumstances. If the new pain persists for more than 2 hours and cannot be recovered, it indicates excessive exercise and the amount of exercise should be appropriately reduced or the exercise method should be adjusted.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can generally use heat therapy, such as hot water baths, basin baths or showers, mineral hot spring baths, etc., to increase local blood circulation, relax muscles, relieve pain, facilitate joint movement, maintain normal function, and prevent deformities.

In fact, the answer to the question of whether ankylosing spondylitis needs treatment is yes. If the patient can follow the above methods for treatment, he or she can control the symptoms and improve the prognosis. In this way, the patient only needs to pay special attention to his or her lifestyle habits to prevent the onset of ankylosing spondylitis. Therefore, I hope that all patients can take their disease seriously.