CASE DISCUSSION-ANKYLOSING SPONDYLYTIS

 CASE DISCUSSION

ANKYLOSING SPONDYLYTIS

Presenter- Dr. Pallavi Koli, 2nd year PG Scholar

A 59-year-old male patient, a hawker by profession, presented with chronic low back pain and stiffness—worsening over the past week—along with disturbed sleep and eye discomfort. He was previously treated multiple times with Ayurvedic therapies for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and had a history of absolute glaucoma in the right eye leading to vision loss.

On admission, clinical evaluation showed loss of lumbar lordosis, reduced spinal movements, and a BASFI score of 7.6 indicating severe functional limitation. Diagnosis confirmed Ankylosing Spondylitis (Katigraha in Ayurveda), with vata dosha, asthi, and sandhi involvement, and asthivaha srotodushti. Treatment included abhyanga, swedana, tikta ksheera basti, agnikarma, and internal medications like Trayodashanga guggulu and Guggulu tiktaka ghrita.

After 9 days of therapy, the patient reported about 60% pain relief and 70% improvement in mobility and daily activities. Post-treatment BASFI score reduced to 4.8, indicating moderate functional limitation, with better lumbar flexibility and improved Schober’s test score, suggesting significant therapeutic progress through Ayurvedic management.