Antardhwani will launch a first-of-its-kind Support Centre for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Jaipur on Sunday, October 9.
The Support Centre, aimed at spreading awareness about the ailments and helping patients live a normal and healthy life, will be launched in the presence of well-known rheumatologists Dr. Avinash Jain, Dr. Aradhana Singh, Dr. Ajay Shah, and Antardhwani Jaipur’s programme head Shalu Golecha.
“The support centre will cater to the primary needs of patients like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, family counselling, and pear-to-pear counselling, to help them
manage the condition successfully. These services will be provided at a minimum or no
cost to the member patients of Antardhwani,” Ms Shalu Golecha said.
The launch of the Support Centre in Jaipur will come just over a year after the launch of Antardhwani’s patient support group for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
in the Pink City in August last year.
“Antardhwani’s mission is to connect doctors and patients and spread awareness about managing Ankylosing Spondylitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Support Centre, aimed at spreading awareness about the ailments and helping patients live a normal and healthy life, will be launched in the presence of well-known rheumatologists. Antardhwani already has chapters in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Udaipur and has supported over 3,000 patients to date,” said Antardhwani Founder and CEO of Hi-Tech iSolutions Pranit Banthia.
The support group brings together patients, expert doctors, physiotherapists, yoga trainers, and dieticians, who get exposure to common ailments related to Ankylosing Spondylitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and in turn, aid patients, share new research and findings, and new medicines in this field.
“Most autoimmune diseases are chronic in nature. It is wrong to think that doctors or medicines can do everything as patients need all the support. The concept of a support group is new, but it is much needed. It is like a family beyond family,” said Dr. Aradhana
Singh.
Dr. Avinash Jain said, “A support group is a place where we are all there for patients and caregivers, a place where patients are there to support other patients. These are diseases that bring physical pain to the patients, but mental agony for both patients and caregivers. Support is crucial in such cases.”
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a condition where all or some of the joints and bones of the spine fuse together like bamboo. It often causes inflammation in the backbone, and in severe cases, even affects the heart or eyes. A rare disease, it affects eight out of every 10,000 persons. The disease is a lifelong ailment and incurable, but regular exercise, lifestyle moderation and medical aid can provide relief to the patients.
Its first symptoms are frequent pain and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks, which occur gradually over time. The pain is felt on both sides and persists for at least three months. Males between the age of 20-30 are most commonly affected by Ankylosing Spondylitis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Its exact cause is not known yet, but scientists believe the interplay between genetic, environmental, and immune systems triggers the
symptoms.
Experts recommend the consumption of food rich in calcium and Vitamin D, which help in preventing structural damage. Other common treatment regimes include medication, exercise, and possibly physical therapy, good posture practice, and applying heat/cold to help relax muscles and reduce joint pain.
Similarly, Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the joints, including those in the hands and feet. The body’s immune system attacks its own tissues, including joints, and in severe cases, even the internal organs. More than one million cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis are diagnosed in the country each year.