I can appreciate your concerns about the side effects associated with medications, having negative feelings about taking medication daily, and the fear that the medication could leave you worse off than you were before.
However, ankylosing spondylitis is a long-term disease that involves inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones, and the joints between the spine and pelvis. These joints become swollen and inflamed. Over time, the affected spinal bones join together.
Established treatment options include:
1) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often referred to as NSAIDs, to reduce swelling and pain.
2) corticosteroid therapy such as prednisone
3) sulfasalazine
4) methotrexate, taken once a week
5) TNF- inhibitors
Surgery may be done if pain or joint damage is severe.
The course of the disease is hard to predict. Symptoms may come and go at any time. Most people are able to function unless the hips are severely involved.
To be quite frank, this condition is not going to go away without medical intervention. The choice is yours to make.
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Hello Anonymous,
I can appreciate your concerns about the side effects associated with medications, having negative feelings about taking medication daily, and the fear that the medication could leave you worse off than you were before.
However, ankylosing spondylitis is a long-term disease that involves inflammation of the joints between the spinal bones, and the joints between the spine and pelvis. These joints become swollen and inflamed. Over time, the affected spinal bones join together.
Established treatment options include:
1) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, often referred to as NSAIDs, to reduce swelling and pain.
2) corticosteroid therapy such as prednisone
3) sulfasalazine
4) methotrexate, taken once a week
5) TNF- inhibitors
Surgery may be done if pain or joint damage is severe.
The course of the disease is hard to predict. Symptoms may come and go at any time. Most people are able to function unless the hips are severely involved.
To be quite frank, this condition is not going to go away without medical intervention. The choice is yours to make.
Maryann
February 5, 2013 - 6:29pmThis Comment
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