Suggest Treatment For Ankylosing Spondylitis

Posted on Fri, 28 Apr 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 Answered on

Fri, 19 May 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My friend has a joint pain in the hip, neck and the back muscle and he has consulted the orthopaedic doctor and he suggested following tests.

1. Vitamin D - Result came low as 14.5 ng/ml (Range: 31-100 ng/ml)
2. C-Reactive - 39.7 mg/l (Range: <6)
3. HLA B 27 - PCR - Result came as positive
4. ESR - 36 mm/hr (Range: 0-15)

Now the doctor is saying he is suffering with initial stage Ankylosing spondylitis and suggested to take medicine
1. Saaz 500mg-15 days twice a day 1-0-1
after completing the above dose then
2. Saaz 1gram-15 days twice a day 1-0-1

And suggested to do yoga and a followup visit after a month.

Please advise whether he is at right path with the treatment plan and what other options he has to cure this problem.

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Ankylosing spondylitis

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well, for now, yes, the medicine is ok but only Saaz is not going to provide him the relief and moreover, it is slow acting, so the effect will take a while to come...A couple of points I would like to highlight here...

1. If your friend is having active hip joint involvement, that is there is difficulty in walking and getting up from sitting position we should get an MRI done...The hip joint is an indication that we should attack the disease early and control in the inflammation fast..So we do inject the joint at times or give a short course of steroids

2. For Back pain, he will need some other anti-inflammatory as well. Something like Etoricoxib 90 mg daily for at least 2 weeks. It is a pain killer but it has the best role in controlling the disease, especially when he has a high CRP

3. Exercise and all is ok...Also, Vitamin D supplement would help the fatigue

Do let me know where you are based and I would guide you to a rheumatologist nearby

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (37 minutes later)

Thanks for the response.

He is based out in XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Further course

Detailed Answer:
Good evening,

Well he can meet Dr Joyce( Fortis hospital) or Dr Chandrashekhar(Chanrey Hospital)

They are quite well-known rheumatologist and will look into his case and make sure he is guided well

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee