Brief Answer:
Medication and exercises help to live healthy life

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
After going through your suffering, Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease that is autoimmune in nature. It affects mainly spine and at sites of major tendon attachment at heel and knee. Just like various chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and Ischemic heart disease are not curable but controllable. Ankylosing spondylitis is also controllable. With proper medication and exercises you can lead an absolutely normal life without any pain or disability.

The drugs usually given are Sulfsalazine/Methotrexate along with and pain killer. In addition, relatively new drugs called biologics - Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), Remicade (infliximab) - have been used under rheumatologist guidance for treating ankylosing spondylitis.It is not advisable to stop medication on your own as it only leads to accrual of joint damage and leads to joint deformities.
So keep a positive attitude and take regular medication; also exercise regularly.

The response to treatment is measured by CRP (blood test).To lower levels of CRP /Inflammation we usually recommend the same lifestyle changes shown to reduce heart disease - diet, exercise, not smoking, drinking less alcohol, following a heart-healthy diet, anti-inflammatory diet that includes two to three servings of fish such as salmon or sardines per week. If you don't eat fish, my suggestion would be take fish oil supplements along with anti-inflammatory herbs including ginger and turmeric.

I hope this information will be helpful and I shall be glad to answer further.
Take care
Regards
Dr.chugh, Orthopaedic surgeon
Virtual clinic http://bit.ly/drmchugh

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