Hiya,
there is no cure for AS the holy grail is remission and not many find that.
AS seems to go with most strange episodes and then a full on active disease that is harrowing to say the least for many. Others have a less painful but damaging or ankylosing form which is more classic.
The idea is nsaids are used to help mild forms, and when these are not enogh start the stronger drugs. This may be the older dmards methetrexate or slazapyrine ( which are not helpful to most ) or the more expensive and more specific biologics. None of these are cures and a response worth continuing these drugs is 20% reduction in pain stiffness and fatigue.
All drugs carry risks, the ones we use from side effects or suppression of the immune system. So you have to be on your toes with infections and changes. My rheummy spelt out to me the risks of the biologics after she lost some patients. However over time we realised that I'm doing quite well on methetrexate lucky for me!
The good news is you have been offered the drugs, if you choose not to now that's ok, at least they are on the table if you need them.
The idea behind these stronger drugs is to stop/prevent/lessen/slow down the damage and for you to lead as normal life as you can. In the future there will almost certainly be better more specific drugs with less side effects.
Most Dr.s nowadays are less likely to suggest long term use of the nsaids, and you will find many here who beleive they are positively the wrong way by experience.
Try some of the altnatives I beleive in trying the no/low starch diet which you will find, it can help some more than others especially early in the disease.
Good luck
Dave
