Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment

In the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis play a key role gymnastics and physical therapy to maintain joint mobility and prevent gradual deforming of the spine even though the exercise may be somewhat painful for the patient concerned.

Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to relieve inflammation and pain, so the patient can lead a life normal and you can practice to improve laespondilitis appropriate exercises.

The most used are phenylbutazone, indomethacin, diclofenac, piroxicam and naproxen, among others. With Salazopyrin is having obtained very satisfactory results.

Absolute rest is strongly discouraged, but a rest of type importanterealizar relative in the sense of good rest night and reduces physical activity.

Aerobic exercise, mainly at derehabilitación, is very beneficial to provide both rigidity columns as the peripheral joints.

The primary objective of treatment inflammation is to eliminate joints and prevent the development of the rigidity of the column, especially in positions vicious.

Traditional treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases is based on the use of NSAIDs and the specific exercise. With this combination of treatments many spondyloarthropathies have adequately controlled for years. However, when these arthritis affecting non-vertebral joints, especially in the case of arthropathy

Psoriasis is need for immunomodulatory drugs such as methotrexate or sulfasalazine. In the last 6-8 years the emergence of TNF-alpha blocking drugs such as ifliximab, etanercept or adalimumab, has been a remarkable qualitative advance in the treatment of these diseases since these drugs very effectively mitigate (sometimes completely) symptoms of spinal pain and stiffness in a majority of patients (see more on Anti-TNF drugs).

The use of these treatments has also decreased dramatically the need for joint replacement prosthetic replacement but still remains an option for those patients with longstanding or severe involvement of the hip or knee.

Often in the natural history of the disease can appear affected associates other bodies that have nothing to do with the bones or joints, this is the case of the eyes that are affected by uveitis with relative frequency, the lungs where pulmonary fibrosis may occur or where the heart can become inflamed heart valves so it is vital that these diseases, which seem indolent, are always followed by rheumatologists trained and familiar with such displays.

It is important to know that Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic, or life long disease and that the severity of AS has nothing to do with age or gender.