Select Your Style

Choose View Style

Choose Colour style

Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment in Rowlett, TX

Back pain that started in your 20s or 30s and hasn’t let up. Stiffness that’s worst first thing in the morning or after sitting for a while. Pain that actually gets better when you move. If that pattern sounds familiar, you might be dealing with ankylosing spondylitis, and it’s not just “a bad back.”

Dr. Frances Lomibao is a board-certified, fellowship-trained rheumatologist providing ankylosing spondylitis treatment in Rowlett, TX. She helps patients across the Dallas-Fort Worth area get an accurate diagnosis, start effective treatment, and protect their spine from long-term damage.

Call 469-825-4010 Request Appointment

Why Ankylosing Spondylitis Gets Missed for Years

AS is one of the most underdiagnosed rheumatic diseases. The average patient waits 7-10 years from symptom onset to diagnosis. That's because back pain is common, and most doctors look for mechanical causes first: muscle strain, disc problems, poor posture.

But AS is inflammatory, not mechanical. It's an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the joints of the spine and pelvis. Over time, this can cause vertebrae to fuse together, reducing flexibility permanently. Getting the right diagnosis early changes the trajectory of the disease.

How Dr. Lomibao Diagnoses Ankylosing Spondylitis

Listening to Your Story

AS has a specific pattern. Dr. Lomibao asks detailed questions about when your pain started, how it behaves through the day, what makes it better or worse, and whether you have symptoms beyond your back like eye inflammation, heel pain, or fatigue.

Physical Exam and Mobility Assessment

She evaluates your spinal mobility, checks for tenderness in the sacroiliac joints, and looks for reduced chest expansion, which can indicate thoracic spine involvement.

Lab Work and Imaging

Blood tests include HLA-B27 (a genetic marker present in most AS patients), along with inflammatory markers. MRI of the sacroiliac joints can detect inflammation long before damage shows up on X-ray.

Personalized Treatment Strategy

Dr. Lomibao reviews your results, explains what they mean in plain language, and discusses treatment options that match your disease stage and lifestyle.

Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment Options

NSAIDs as First-Line Therapy

For many AS patients, consistent use of anti-inflammatory medications provides significant symptom relief and may slow disease progression. Dr. Lomibao helps you find the right medication and dosing strategy.

Biologic Therapies

TNF inhibitors and IL-17 inhibitors have transformed AS treatment. These medications target the specific immune pathways driving spinal inflammation. Infusion-based biologics are administered in the on-site infusion lounge at Lomibao Rheumatology.

JAK Inhibitors

An oral option for patients who prefer pills over injections or haven't responded adequately to biologics.

Physical Therapy and Exercise Guidance

Movement is medicine for AS. Dr. Lomibao emphasizes the role of targeted stretching, strengthening, and posture work in maintaining spinal flexibility.

Lifestyle and Holistic Support

Nutrition, stress management, sleep quality, and smoking cessation all play a role in managing AS. Dr. Lomibao addresses these factors as part of your overall care plan.

Red Flags That Point to Ankylosing Spondylitis

Chronic Back Pain That Started Before Age 40

AS typically begins in late teens to early 30s. Persistent low back pain in a younger person that doesn't resolve with rest deserves a closer look.

Stiffness That's Worst in the Morning and Improves With Movement

This is the hallmark inflammatory pattern. If your back loosens up after 30+ minutes of activity but locks up again when you sit still, that's not a muscle problem.

Pain That Wakes You Up in the Second Half of the Night

Inflammatory back pain often disrupts sleep between 2–5 AM. If you're waking up stiff and sore in the middle of the night, mention it to your doctor.

Alternating Buttock Pain

Sacroiliac joint inflammation can cause pain that switches sides, a pattern that's distinctive to spondyloarthritis.

Recurring Eye Inflammation (Uveitis)

Sudden redness, pain, and light sensitivity in one eye can be linked to AS. If you've had anterior uveitis, a rheumatology evaluation is warranted.

Family History of AS or HLA-B27

AS has a strong genetic component. If a close family member has been diagnosed, your risk is significantly higher.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ankylosing Spondylitis

What happens if AS goes untreated?

Over time, chronic inflammation can cause the vertebrae in your spine to fuse together, leading to permanent stiffness and reduced mobility. Early treatment is the best way to prevent this.

Is ankylosing spondylitis the same as degenerative disc disease?

No. AS is an autoimmune inflammatory condition. Degenerative disc disease is wear-and-tear breakdown of spinal discs. They require different treatment approaches.

Can exercise make AS worse?

The opposite, actually. Regular movement and stretching are critical for maintaining spinal flexibility. Inactivity accelerates stiffness. Dr. Lomibao can guide you on the right types of exercise.

Do I need the HLA-B27 gene to have AS?

No. While the majority of AS patients carry HLA-B27, some don’t. Diagnosis is based on a combination of symptoms, imaging, and lab work.

Does Dr. Lomibao treat axial spondyloarthritis?

Yes. Axial spondyloarthritis is the broader category that includes AS. Dr. Lomibao treats both radiographic (visible on X-ray) and non-radiographic forms.

Don’t let chronic back pain go undiagnosed. Call Lomibao Rheumatology and Wellness Care at 469-825-4010 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lomibao in Rowlett, TX.

Lomibao Rheumatology

Address: 6842 Lakeview Parkway, Suite 100 Rowlett, TX 75088

Phone: (469) 825-4010

Email: scheduling@lomibaorheumatology.com