4 ms·

Anecdotal, and not answering the parent's question, but may be useful to someone, so I'll leave it here. Someone close to me was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spond

Anecdotal, and not answering the parent's question, but may be useful to someone, so I'll leave it here. Someone close to me was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and found that swimming essentially erased the symptoms. This person was diagnosed in her 30ies. Her GP suggested that, along with maintaining a good diet, she learn proper swimming technique and start swimming daily. She has been swimming daily for the last 40 years and has essentially not suffered from any symptoms for decades, except when she's had to take breaks due to either travelling or other health reasons. Obviously, no A/B testing was done here, and I do not know how this could translate to someone else. But maybe, just maybe, it could help someone reading this? Also, swimming is a rather pleasant form of exercise in my experience (though I do not suffer from AS). So assuming there are no counter-indications, folks may want to give it a try!

SilkRoadie 8y ago
I would like to second this. My father has this condition and he does hydrotherapy every week. Essentially exercises in the water. He has been able to stop taking medication and his quality of life has drastically improved.
mjy78 8y ago
I agree completely. Diet and low impact exercise/stretching are the big ones. I was diagnosed with AS as a teenager and recall spending months at a time on crutches with swollen ankles and knees (having a fluid drained and replaced with cortisone injections), at times it affected my finger joints, and in my twenties and early thirties my lower back. Throughout most of these years, particularly early on, Naprosyn was my goto solution. Up until about 2 years ago, I couldn't imagine getting a solid night sleep without some kind of lower back pain waking me, and putting my socks/shoes on of a morning generally involved sitting or laying on a bed and straining to pull my feet up to reach them. I'm not big on swimming, but in the past couple of years have taken up regular Yoga and this has had huge benefits for my lower back (and state of mind). Even more fundamental to this, I believe is my change of diet. Over the past couple of years I've (gradually) reduced my sugar, dairy and meat intake and adopted a more planted based diet. I didn't dive in at the deep end, but I'm now at the put where the only dairy I now indulge in is the occasional cheese, I eat virtually no red or processed meats, might eat chicken/fish once a week at most, and sooth my sweet tongue naturally with fruits, honey, etc. My lower back hasn't bothered me for about 18 months, I can now put my socks on while standing and I rarely, if ever, suffer joint pain elsewhere. I feel more energetic, have taken up running (ran my first 5k recently) which is something I always thought would be something beyond my reach. I don't like to preach or say any one particular thing (if anything) is going to change your particular situation. I can only say the improvement in my quality of life over the past couple of years has been significant since changing my diet and introducing some regular movement.
rorykoehler 8y ago
I exercise (cycling) minimum 3*1+ hour a week. Usually more. Not much of a swimmer though I do it sometimes. Haven't noticed it to provide any added benefit over other types of sports. Exercise is definitely part of any effective treatment program.

SilkRoadie 8y ago

I would like to second this. My father has this condition and he does hydrotherapy every week. Essentially exercises in the water. He has been able to stop taking medication and his quality of life has drastically improved.

mjy78 8y ago

I agree completely. Diet and low impact exercise/stretching are the big ones. I was diagnosed with AS as a teenager and recall spending months at a time on crutches with swollen ankles and knees (having a fluid drained and replaced with cortisone injections), at times it affected my finger joints, and in my twenties and early thirties my lower back. Throughout most of these years, particularly early on, Naprosyn was my goto solution. Up until about 2 years ago, I couldn't imagine getting a solid night sleep without some kind of lower back pain waking me, and putting my socks/shoes on of a morning generally involved sitting or laying on a bed and straining to pull my feet up to reach them. I'm not big on swimming, but in the past couple of years have taken up regular Yoga and this has had huge benefits for my lower back (and state of mind). Even more fundamental to this, I believe is my change of diet. Over the past couple of years I've (gradually) reduced my sugar, dairy and meat intake and adopted a more planted based diet. I didn't dive in at the deep end, but I'm now at the put where the only dairy I now indulge in is the occasional cheese, I eat virtually no red or processed meats, might eat chicken/fish once a week at most, and sooth my sweet tongue naturally with fruits, honey, etc. My lower back hasn't bothered me for about 18 months, I can now put my socks on while standing and I rarely, if ever, suffer joint pain elsewhere. I feel more energetic, have taken up running (ran my first 5k recently) which is something I always thought would be something beyond my reach. I don't like to preach or say any one particular thing (if anything) is going to change your particular situation. I can only say the improvement in my quality of life over the past couple of years has been significant since changing my diet and introducing some regular movement.

rorykoehler 8y ago

I exercise (cycling) minimum 3*1+ hour a week. Usually more. Not much of a swimmer though I do it sometimes. Haven't noticed it to provide any added benefit over other types of sports. Exercise is definitely part of any effective treatment program.