Patient's question:
Ten years ago, unfortunately, I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis. I have a question for you: Does ankylosing spondylitis cause re-ankylosis in peripheral joints, such as the knee? Now my lumbar disc herniation is severe, and my legs also hurt. I would like to ask the doctor if physical therapy for a period of time would be helpful?Doctor's answer:
This is hard to say. It's not clear how ankylosing spondylitis could cause other joints besides the spine to become ankylosed, but the most commonly affected joint by this disease is the spine. Regarding the leg pain you mentioned, it may not necessarily be caused by ankylosing spondylitis, and it could also be due to a herniated lumbar disc affecting the nerves. Therefore, for the above situation, it is recommended that patients undergo a thorough MRI examination of the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. If the examination suggests that the leg pain is caused by a herniated lumbar disc affecting the nerves, then treatment options can be considered based on the actual condition, such as whether minimally invasive surgery is needed. For patients with ankylosing spondylitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken in combination with slow-acting anti-rheumatic medications.