If you're still looking for answers to your AS symptoms, your doctor may talk with you about the latest treatment for ankylosing spondylitis,
U.S. FDA Approves Pfizer's XELJANZ® (tofacitinib) for the Treatment of Active Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Whether it's through physical therapy or on your own, dedicating time to stretching is key. “We recommend making sure that you maintain your flexibility,” says Dr. Elghawy. “And so doing with physical therapy or flexibility exercises on your own for your low back can provide a lot of relief.”
SIMPONI® is the first and only self-injectable biologic treatment for adults with active ankylosing spondylitis that requires just one injection each month. Your results may vary. Once you and your doctor are comfortable with the self-injection process, you will inject SIMPONI® under the skin, just once a month.
It is recommended that patients with ankylosing spondylitis continue their medication and get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder and a rare form of arthritis. Triggers for ankylosing spondylitis include infections (gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections [UTIs], and respiratory infections), heavy physical activity, work stress, emotional stress, and pregnancy.
Don't do movements that cause pain
Any exercise that requires you to twist your spine too much or that stresses your back and spine could cause problems, Arthritis Research UK notes. Carefully consider high-impact exercises, such as running, or jarring and twisting sports, such as tennis, squash, and racquetball.
"I recommend exercise for all of my patients with ankylosing spondylitis who can tolerate it," he adds. Whether you prefer taking a daily walk or going for a regular swim, it's important to perform low-impact exercises every week.
Conventional DMARDs are considered second-line treatments for ankylosing spondylitis. 8 They work by interfering with inflammation-producing processes. By blocking inflammation, they can prevent joint damage. DMARDs like methotrexate and sulfasalazine are useful for treating different types of inflammatory arthritis.
Some people with AS are able to remain fully independent or minimally disabled in the long term. However, some people eventually become severely disabled as a result of the bones in their spine fusing in a fixed position and damage to other joints, such as the hips or knees.
Drugs used to treat ankylosing spondylitis — whether they're over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen, or prescription therapies like TNF inhibitors — all have the effect of reducing chronic inflammation in the body.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine. It may also affect peripheral joints like the knees, ankles, and hips. Normally, the joints and ligaments in the spine help us move and bend.
Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease and is a type of arthritis of the spine. It causes swelling between your vertebrae, which are the disks that make up your spine, and in the joints between your spine and pelvis. The disease is more common and more severe in men. It often runs in families.
The most common symptoms are intermittent flare-ups of spinal pain and stiffness. However, the disease can also affect other joints, as well as the eyes and the intestines. In advanced AS, abnormal bone growth or calcification of the ligaments of the vertebral bodies of the spine may cause the joints to fuse.
Some people who have early AS go on to have more severe disease. The bones of the spine can fuse together, a process called “ankylosis.” Doctors call this advanced phase “bamboo spine.” You can feel a lot of pain in your back, stiffness, and soreness, which could limit your flexibility and movements.
To treat an AS flare-up, a person can try medication, gentle exercise, and heat or cold therapy. They can also use a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine. A person living with AS may experience frequent flare-ups throughout their life.
People who should not have the Pfizer vaccine
anaphylaxis after exposure to any component of the vaccine, including polyethylene glycol (PEG) myocarditis and/or pericarditis attributed to a previous dose of the vaccine. any other serious adverse event attributed to a previous dose of an mRNA(Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine.
There are instances in which having an autoimmune disease increases vulnerability to COVID-19 complications, and other cases in which having a coronavirus infection may trigger autoimmune or other serious conditions.