You will be invited to attend regular medical check-ups, to monitor the progression of the AS and to ensure your treatment plan is controlling your symptoms.

Medications 

The symptoms of AS can be controlled using medicines. The medicines your doctor prescribes will depend on which symptoms you are experiencing and the stage of your journey with AS treatment.²

Pain Killers

As most people experience pain and inflammation, painkillers are the usual treatment option. The painkiller you will be offered is usually a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID)¹. Another short-term option is injecting glucocorticoids directly into specific painful or swollen joints, where it can quickly reduce pain and inflammation. Injections like these are not a long term solution.¹

If painkillers do not help to control your symptoms, then at your next check-up, you may be offered alternative disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD), such as DMARD biologics or targeted synthetic DMARDs. 

Biologics and biosimilars DMARDs

Biologic medicines refer to medicines made from a biological source, such as living cells and organisms. “Biosimilars” is another term that may be used when talking about biologics. Biosimilars are biological medicines which are highly similar to the original biologic reference medicine in terms of quality, safety and efficacy. This means there is no clinically meaningful difference to the original biologic medicine. 

Biologic DMARD treatments, are given by injection and usually used if NSAIDs aren't effective.¹ They target specific parts of the immune system to reduce inflammation more precisely.

Targeted synthetic DMARDs

Targeted synthetic DMARDs are DMARDs that work to block signals transmitted in the body from the immune system. Like biologics, targeted synthetic DMARDs target molecules related to inflammation, but these medications are synthetic rather than biological in origin.² 

Targeted synthetic DMARDs often are tablets which are taken orally and, like biologics, are usually used after NSAID treatment has not been effective.¹

Surgery

If your AS has led to joint damage and such severe bending of the spine that these medicines no longer help to relieve your symptoms, then surgery may need to be considered.¹

Non-therapeutic treatment

You can also take control of your AS personally, through non-medicinal techniques such as physiotherapy and exercise.¹

One of the most debilitating effects of AS development is the stiffening of the spine. Through physiotherapy and exercise, this process can be prevented and delayed. Your focus will be on exercises to improve posture and your range of spinal movement, for a healthier future with AS.¹

References

1. Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment – NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/treatment. Last accessed June 2025.
2. Biologics vs. JAK inhibitors for psoriatic arthritis – Medical News Today. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/biologics-vs-jak-inhibitors-for-psoriatic-arthritis. Last accessed April 2025.