How to manage Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist,
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
Q: What are the recent trends in the management of ankylosing spondylitis in initial stage involving the spine and pelvic bone and causing lot of pain in the back and both lower limbs? What is the prognosis in young adults in such cases? Will surgery at this stage help in the long term or are medicines and physiotherapy a better choice? Please mention newer drugs which can be taken for joint mobility on a long term basis.
A:It is very difficult to give detailed or specific information regarding treatment, without any details about the patient being provided. However, Ankylosing Spondylitis in the early stage should not generally have any definite spine or pelvic bone invlovement. If bone involvement or joint destruction has taken place, then this can hardly be called an early stage and will usually require surgery, such as joint replacement. In general terms, provided that a patient with ankylosing spondylitis is under the regular care of a rheumatologist, the prognosis and outlook should be quite good. Regarding medication, this is best decided on an individual basis by the treating rheumatologist.