Treating and Managing Ankylosing Spondylitis

Can I be cured?

There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis but there are things you can do to lessen the impact this disease will have on your life. Because there is currently no cure, treatment is designed to minimize pain and to maintain mobility and function.

Due to the genetic factor, ankylosing spondylitis cannot be prevented either. Early diagnosis and treatment is about the best you can do. Quitting smoking is a wise choice, as ankylosing spondylitis can cause your lung capacity to drop, and smoking can contract your lungs and reduce your ability to breathe even further.

What if I change my diet?

Yes, diet can play a key role in reducing your symptoms and preventing those painful flare-ups. Both Vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to help reduce inflammation.

Foods rich in Vitamin C include citrus fruits (oranges, limes, grapefruit), cabbage, tomatoes, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.

Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed oil, and coldwater fish such as sardines, anchovies, salmon, mackerel, and herring.

Adopting a "good-health attitude" and healthy habits, such as eating a nutritious diet (low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt and high in fibre and complex carbohydrates - whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables), maintaining a healthy weight, and getting enough sleep, will make you feel better and allow you to stay active.

What are my treatment options?

If you have been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, there are steps that you can take to help reduce pain and stiffness and allow you to continue daily activities. These steps include:

• Exercise. Exercise is one of the most important activities in managing ankylosing spondylitis. Exercise helps keep joints moving and reduce pain. Exercise will also help you to maintain chest expansion and improve your posture. Activities such as swimming, walking and cross-country skiing also encourage good posture. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates are good activities to participate in too.
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  Physical therapy. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to do daily. Range of motion exercises reduce stiffness and help keep your joints moving. As well, a therapist can provide pain relief through movement and massage.
• Proper posture. Avoid the tendency to slump forward or slouch, even though this may feel more comfortable. Be aware of how you are standing or sitting and remind yourself to keep your back straight. Strengthening exercises maintain or increase the strength of your back muscles and help you keep an upright posture.
• Cold therapy. Apply a cold compression wrap. Cold compression wraps interrupt pain signals and reduce inflammation. Arthritis immobilizes your joints by inducing swelling in the surrounding tissue. The deep cold provided by cold compression wraps slows this process. Cold wraps numb the nerves to reduce the pain. In the early stage of your flare-up, controlling inflammation is extremely important, especially because inflammation also strains the surrounding tissue causing more pain and damage.
  
  If you don't have a cold compression wrap for managing your arthritis pain, an important and safe treatment method is being ignored. Our MendMeShop store contains a wide selection of cold compression wraps.

  Combine heat therapy. Heat applied to an arthritic area can help relax aching muscles, and reduce pain and soreness. Applying a hot pack is a great way to help reduce pain and stiffness in the morning. Heat should not be applied to an already inflamed joint since this could make symptoms worse.

  
  
• Ultrasound therapy. Ultrasound therapy is a great option to decrease inflammation, pain, tension and soft tissue damage experienced with gout. You can administer your own therapy using a portable, home ultrasound device or see a physiotherapist.
  
  The treatment is easy, painless, safe, and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear). These waves send vibrations deep into your body and raise the temperature of your soft tissue. The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer and medicinal conductive gel that are used together in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the affected area. You may experience a slight tingling or warm sensation during the process as a result of the gel; this enhances the therapeutic effects of ultrasound (phonophoresis).
  
  You deserve specialized, professional care. Get your own ultrasound kit from MendMeShop.
• Radiant Energy. When your joint is inflamed, it needs the blood flow to promote recovery. Since you can't work your swollen joint without excruciating pain, you need to stimulate the blood flow another way. A very effective way of doing this is with radiant energy. Radiant energy penetrates the body. As it is absorbed it stimulates blood flow and warms the inner tissue. It is perfectly safe, natural, and very effective. Our radiant energy therapy systems are medical devices registered with the FDA and Health Canada as a true therapeutic and pain relieving device. You can order a system from MendMeShop to be sent to your home today!
• NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), such as Indocin, Naproxen, Feldene, and Clinoril. NSAIDs reduce pain when taken at a low dose, and relieve inflammation when taken at a higher dose. Taking more than one NSAID at a time increases the possibility of side effects, particularly stomach problems such as heartburn, ulcers and bleeding.
• DMARDs (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs), such as Azulfidine or Rheumatrex. DMARDs are often prescribed to relieve severe symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. These medications are designed to prevent AS from getting worse, but do not reverse permanent joint damage. It will usually take several months for DMARDs to make a noticeable improvement in the inflammation.
• Corticosteroids. Cortisone is a steroid that reduces inflammation and swelling. An injection can provide almost immediate relief for a tender, swollen, and inflamed joint. However, this treatment can only be used periodically because excess corticosteroids can weaken the cartilage and bone.
  
• TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor) blockers, such as Humira, Enbrel, and Remicade. These drugs block specific hormones which are involved in the inflammatory process. TNF drugs work quickly to ease inflammation and can be used in combination with other medications. TNF drugs work by suppressing your immune system which can make it slightly harder for you to fight off infections. Side effects include mild skin reactions at the injection site, headaches or dizziness, colds or sinus infections, and nausea or diarrhea.
• Surgery. Severe, advanced ankylosing spondylitis may require surgery for badly damaged joints. Surgery usually involves replacing a joint with an artificial joint. This is most commonly used for the end stage of damage to the hip joints, called a total hip joint replacement. Benefits include less pain, better movement and restored function.

How can cope with the disease?

The degree to which ankylosing spondylitis affects your daily activities depends in part on how well you cope with the disease. Talk to your health professional about coping strategies. In time you'll find what strategies work best for you. In the meantime, try to:

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  Keep a positive attitude. Work with your doctor to make a plan for managing your arthritis. This will help you feel in charge of your disease. Studies show that people who take control of their treatment and actively manage their arthritis experience less pain and make fewer visits to the doctor.
• Know your limits. Rest when you're tired. Ankylosing spondylitis can make you prone to fatigue and muscle weakness. A rest or short nap that doesn't interfere with nighttime sleep may help.
• Connect with others. Keep your family aware of how you're feeling, especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Also, connect with other people who have ankylosing spondylitis — through a support group in your community or online. Other people with the disease can offer unique support during these times.
• Take time for yourself. It's easy to get busy and not take time for yourself. Find time for what you like, whether it's time to write in a journal, go for a walk, or listen to music. Use this time to relieve stress and reflect on your feelings.
• Relax. Developing good relaxation and coping skills can give you a greater feeling of control over your arthritis and a more positive outlook. Try deep breathing exercises. Listen to music or relaxation tapes.

Although there's no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, with proper treatment, a strategy for joint protection and changes in lifestyle, you can live a long, productive life. While the course of ankylosing spondylitis varies from person to person, most people do well and continue to live normal but sometimes modified lives.

Do you have more questions?

We encourage you to contact our office directly with any questions you may have regarding joint pain. We will do our best to answer your questions in a thorough and courteous manner.

Feel free to email us at info@AidMyJoints.com. Emails will be answered promptly during business hours.

Alternatively, for those located within the US or Canada, you may contact us on our toll free number 1-866-237-9608. If you live outside of these countries, call our local number at 1 (705)445-3505

Our Office Hours

Monday and Tuesday 8:00am to 9:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday and Thursday 9:00am to 7:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Saturday 12:00pm to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)

Please contact us for more information. Will this product be able to control my pain and inflammation? There is a great possibility it can. All you need to do is call or email.

We wish you a great day and we look forward to hearing from you.