Patient's question:
My husband suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, and his condition has recently flared up again, causing him a lot of pain. Every time he takes a nap in the afternoon, his lower back hurts intensely, as if being pricked with needles. Seeing him like this makes me very sad. What kind of medicine should be taken for ankylosing spondylitis?Doctor's answer:
The commonly used medications for treating joint pain and morning stiffness caused by ankylosing spondylitis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For patients with concomitant ulcers or those who experience gastrointestinal intolerance due to NSAID use, gastric mucosal protectants can be added, or a switch to a selective COX-2 inhibitor may be considered. It is also possible to take disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) concurrently, such as sulfasalazine. For those who do not respond well to the above treatments, local use or short-term oral corticosteroids can be administered. Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.