Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic progressive inflammatory disease that mainly invades sacroiliac joints, spinal apophysis, paravertebral soft tissues and peripheral joints, seriously affecting the quality of life and physical function of patients. Knowing the optimal treatment time is essential to control the development of the disease.
In the early stage of the disease, it is the golden period for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. In the early stage, patients may only have mild symptoms, such as intermittent low back pain, morning stiffness, etc., which can often be relieved after activity. At this point, the structure of the joint has not been seriously damaged, although inflammation has begun to take place in the joint and surrounding tissues. If timely diagnosis and treatment can be initiated at this time, the inflammatory reaction can be effectively alleviated. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and diclofenac, can quickly relieve the symptoms of pain and morning stiffness, while inhibiting the further development of inflammation. Early and regular use of NSAIDs can not only improve the quality of life of patients, but also prevent the progression of the disease and prevent the occurrence of joint fusion and deformity.
In addition, at this stage, the patient’s physical function is less impaired, and active treatment can maintain better joint mobility and physical function. For example, proper rehabilitation exercises, including spinal stretching exercises and joint flexion and extension exercises, can complement drug treatment. Patients can exercise relatively easily, enhance muscle strength, maintain joint stability and flexibility, and lay a good foundation for long-term disease control.
For some patients with early peripheral joint involvement, such as pain and swelling in hip and knee joints, timely treatment is needed. Early use of antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as sulfasalazine, can control inflammation in peripheral joints and prevent bone destruction in joints. Moreover, in the early stage of mild illness, patients usually have better tolerance to drugs, and the risk of adverse drug reactions is relatively low, which is more conducive to the implementation of long-term treatment programs.
If the opportunity of early treatment is missed, with the development of the disease, inflammation will continue to invade joints and spine, which will lead to bone destruction, narrowing of joint space, calcification and ossification of annulus fibrosus and anterior longitudinal ligament between vertebral bodies. When it develops to the middle and late stages, the deformity of joints and spine will gradually form, and the difficulty of treatment will be greatly increased. At this time, more active treatment methods such as biological agents may be needed, but the curative effect may not be as good as that in the early stage, and more complications and risks need to be faced in the course of treatment. For example, biological agents may increase the risk of infection, and for joint deformities that have been formed, surgery may be needed to improve part of the function, but the risk of surgery and postoperative recovery are also complex problems.
Therefore, for ankylosing spondylitis, once suspected symptoms occur, such as unexplained low back pain, morning stiffness, etc., we should seek medical treatment as soon as possible, strive for early treatment, seize the best treatment time, maximize the control of the disease, and ensure the quality of life and physical function of patients.
