Why a Good Patient-Doctor Relationship Helps Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis

“What’s recommended for patients with ankylosing spondylitis is that they maintain a good relationship with their doctor, particularly their rheumatologist,” says Themistocles Protopsaltis, MD, spine surgeon at NYU Langone Hospital.

Like other autoimmune conditions, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) occurs in a cycle of remission and relapses (often called a “flare”). Finding the right AS treatment to maintain remission can take a lot of guess-and-check work, and you and your doctor, or doctors, will need to have a lot of back and forth to get it right. The key is to keep your doctors in the loop. This can help address flares immediately, help you find the right treatment, and help prevent your condition from progressing or causing complications.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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