How to Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis | Medication and Exercise | Singapore General Hospital
You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
Turn on more accessible mode
Turn off more accessible mode
Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Turn off Animations
Turn on Animations
CTDetailNew
It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again.
Appointment
Find a Condition or Treatment
Find a Doctor
Menu
MAIN
Back to Home
About Us
Corporate Profile
Newsroom
Contact Us
Patient Care
Conditions & Treatments
Specialties & Services
Your Clinic Visit
Pre/Post Surgery
e-Services
Regional Health Systems Network (RHS)
Patient Resources
Research & Innovation
About NDRIS
Our Research
Our Achievements & Innovations
Our Research Team
Education & Training
Dental Professional Training
DO Advanced Practice Programme
Alumni
Calendar of Events
SingHealth Academy
Careers
Why Choose Us
Career Choices
Sponsorships and Scholarships
Job Opportunities
Giving
Why Give?
Get Involved
Your Gift At Work
Be Informed
Make a Gift
Conditions & Treatments
Back to Home
Conditions & Treatments
Find a Doctor
Medicine
Specialties & Services
Back to Home
Department of Orthodontics
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral Medicine Unit
Department of Restorative Dentistry
Endodontics
Prosthodontics
Paediatric Dentistry
Periodontics
Geriatric Special Care Dentistry Clinic
Multidisciplinary Services
Corrective Jaw Surgery
Maxillofacial Rehabilitation
Aesthetic Dentistry
Tele-dentistry Oral Care for Seniors (T-DOCS)
Your Clinic Visit
Back to Home
Getting to NDCS
Getting Around NDCS
Arriving and Registering
Getting to NDCS Clinic@HPB
Your First Visit to NDCS
Collecting Your Medication
Follow Up and Discharge
Emergency Dental Services
Facilities Virtual Tour
Operating Hours
Consultation Charges
Bill Payment Options
Frequently Asked Questions on your visit to NDCS
Pre/Post Surgery
Back to Home
Preparing for Surgery
Observation and Going Home
Home Care After Gum Surgery
e-Services
Back to Home
Make/Change Appointment
Pay Your Bill Online
Request for Dental Report
Request for Dental Images
Regional Health Systems Network (RHS)
Back to Home
About NDCS Regional Health System (RHS)
Community Programmes & Services
Infant Oral Health Programme
Oral Health 8020 Movement
Oral Health Education Programme (OHEP)
Project Silverscreen
Tele-Dentistry Oral Care for Seniors (T-DOCS)
NDCS Mobile Dental Bus
CAPP Partners
Patient Resources
Home
to skip to the main content on a page
to skip to the main content on a page
About Us
Back to Home
Corporate Profile
Vision, Mission & Values
Our History
Who We Are
Awards and Achievements
Newsroom
NDCS in the News
Media Releases
Check Fake News
Contact Us
Referrals
Share Your Feedback
Whistle-blowing Policy
Patient Care
Back to Home
Conditions & Treatments
Conditions & Treatments
Find a Doctor
Medicine
Specialties & Services
Department of Orthodontics
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Department of Restorative Dentistry
Geriatric Special Care Dentistry Clinic
Multidisciplinary Services
Tele-dentistry Oral Care for Seniors (T-DOCS)
Your Clinic Visit
Getting to NDCS
Getting Around NDCS
Arriving and Registering
Getting to NDCS Clinic@HPB
Your First Visit to NDCS
Collecting Your Medication
Follow Up and Discharge
Emergency Dental Services
Facilities Virtual Tour
Operating Hours
Consultation Charges
Bill Payment Options
Frequently Asked Questions on your visit to NDCS
Pre/Post Surgery
Preparing for Surgery
Observation and Going Home
Home Care After Gum Surgery
e-Services
Make/Change Appointment
Pay Your Bill Online
Request for Dental Report
Request for Dental Images
Regional Health Systems Network (RHS)
About NDCS Regional Health System (RHS)
Community Programmes & Services
CAPP Partners
Patient Resources
Research & Innovation
Back to Home
About NDRIS
Vision & Mission
Clinical Trials
SingHealth Research
Contact Us
Our Research
Singapore Oro-Facial Initiative (SOFI)
Singapore Oral Multiomics Initiative (SOMI)
Singapore Oral Population Health Initiative (SOPI)
GLOBICS
Our Achievements & Innovations
Grants
Publications
Our Research Team
Education & Training
Back to Home
Dental Professional Training
DO Advanced Practice Programme
Alumni
Calendar of Events
SingHealth Academy
Careers
Back to Home
Why Choose Us
Career Choices
Dentists
Nurses
Allied Health Professionals
Management and Administration
Ancillary and Support
Sponsorships and Scholarships
Job Opportunities
Giving
Back to Home
Why Give?
Get Involved
Your Gift At Work
Be Informed
Make a Gift
Home
>
Patient Care
>
Conditions and Treatment
>
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis)
>
Treatment
Facebook
WhatsApp
Email Us
share
Font Resize
A-
A
A+
Print
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis)
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis) - How to prevent?
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis) - Treatments
Specialised and dedicated AS clinics may result in better outcome. Treatment of AS is focused on alleviating symptoms and managing the progression of the condition, to regain and maintain the mobility of the spine and reduce of inflammation in the joints, digits and tendons of the upper and lower limbs.
a. Medication
Although most medications prescribed treat only the symptoms of AS, there is evidence that NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may reduce the rate of disease progression in the spine NSAIDs are also important to reduce inflammation, pain and stiffness of the digits, joints and tendons in your upper and lower limbs. Other
pain relieving drugs may also be used.
Depending on the joints involved and the severity of the condition, steroids and DMARDs (disease-modifying
anti-rheumatic drugs) may be prescribed to reduce the inflammation of your joints. In patients who respond poorly to NSAIDs and DMARDs, you may be considered for biologic therapy.
The current approved biologic therapy for AS includes the TNF alpha blockers. They are very effective in treating both the spinal and peripheral joint symptoms of SpA. These drugs are injected subcutaneously (under the skin) or may require infusion in the hospital at regular intervals.
However, anti-TNF treatment is expensive and not without side effects, including an increased risk for serious infections, eg development of active tuberculosis in patients with latent TB.
Your doctor will discuss the cost and weigh the benefits and risks with you when considering treatment with biologic therapies.
b. Exercise
Exercise, including stretching, helps reduce stiffness of the spine and limbs.
Generally, swimming is recommended for all forms of arthritis. Other physical therapies must be recommended and approved by a rheumatologist in consultation with a physiotherapist. In order to be effective, all exercises need to be done regularly and on a long term basis.
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis) - Preparing for surgery
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis) - Post-surgery care
Display Entire Article +
Diagnosis
Other Information
Tags:
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis),
Inflammatory Bowel Disease,
Spondyloarthritis,
Anti-TNF,
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Oral)
Article contributed by
Rheumatology & Immunology
,
Singapore General Hospital
The information provided is not intended as medical advice.
Terms of use
. Information provided by
Our Breast Team
Filter:
By designation or sub-specialty
By Designation:
By Sub-Specialty:
TOP
[]
Related Conditions
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Spondyloarthritis
Axial Spondyloarthritis (Ankylosing Spondylitis)
View more
Related Medicine
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Oral)
Anti-TNF
View more
×
SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the updates to your email inbox...
Find a Doctor
Conditions & Treatments
Home
Appointment
E-services