Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Chiropractors?

Hi all!
We have been discussing a trip to the chiro and just wondering what you all think. I have always been 'afraid' for Brandon to go because of fractures or causing more damage. If you can share any advice I would appreciate it or anything I need to know before we go. thanks.
And do you all that go get manipulations or just other stuff?

I have been going to a chiropractor for many years. I have had A.S. symptoms since 1991 (started going to a chiropractor after that)

The key is to find a chiropractor who will listen and work out a treatment for the particular case. The chiropractor should know about A.S. and be more careful because of it.

I haven't had manipulations/typical adjustments for a few years since they do set of extreme pain in my body now. In my earlier stages of A.S. this was not the case and I did have regular manipulations and they helped. My chiropractor does a deep massage and very gentle manipulating of the bones/joints now.

I can only afford to go once a month but I feel that it really helps me, especially my neck and back.

All the best,
Ruby7

i would let the chiro know you (and Brandon?) have AS first, so they know to be careful.

sometimes i go to the chiro and get heat, electrical stimulation, some PT, and adjustments, and it feels awesome. many times i get all of this done and it doesn't help much at all.

i think, though, that it's good to periodically get adjusted so as to get realigned correctly...but again, chiro needs to be very careful. some docs argue that getting adjusted is contraindicated in AS. and also, remember that there are different kinds of adjustments. some are the more forceful "thrusts", while others are more gentle manipulations.

hope this helps.

I had always been reluctant to use chiropractors due to my AS and fear of them causing me more problems. Fed up with much of the "treatment" I had been receiving, I finally gave in to visiting a chiropractor. I was mainly interested in hearing how he thought he'd be able to help me given my condition. I told him from the beginning that I was not open to being manipulated via what I perceive to be the "snap and pop" method. He told me that he also practiced manipulation with an activator tool. I decided to allow that form of adjustment and never had any problems.

I moved from the area of that practitioner and had not pursued a new practitioner in my new locale. However, I ended up having some problems with severe facial pain/spasms and read that some individuals had been helped by incorporating an upper cervical chiropractor into their treatment. This upper cervical stuff is billed as "gentle" chiropractic. So far, it has been helpful. I have not experienced any adverse effects and still continue this form of chiropractic treatment.

It may be worthwhile to investigate either the activator methodology or the upper cervical stuff to determine the applicability to your situation. Good luck.

Chiropractic care is fairly controversial when it comes to AS. Some say to never go, others say it works.

Personally, I go every two weeks. However, my chiro is extremely well-versed in AS (I was her first patient with AS, but she did a ton of research and planned my care with a colleague of hers who also has AS). She is extremely careful in how she treats me.

She does some soft tissue work first, to warm up the muscles, then does her adjustments. Make sure the chiro for Brandon uses an 'integrator' or 'activator' to adjust. The old-school adjustments (using torque and force) are dangerous for us as they can damage our fragile spines. If the chiro isn't willing to use an integrator, find another one who will. This should be non-negotiable. Integrators do the adjustments in a very gentle way by nudging the vertebrae back into alignment. After she adjusts, she stretches out and massages my neck a bit and then mobilizes my hips and shoulders for me.

Brandon should feel no lasting pain after an adjustment. Maybe a touch of immediate discomfort, but no lasting pain. If he does, then something's gone wrong. I always (and I mean always) feel lighter and more energetic after an adjustment.

Just so you know, my rheumatologist was very concerned when he found out I go to the chiro on a regular basis. Until he found out she uses an integrator. Then he was OK with it (just OK, not great, but OK) and stopped giving me grief over it. He was very impressed with how carefully she handles me and also that it was her who found the AS to begin with. For myself, having someone who is intimately familiar with my spine has been invaluable to me. She always knows first when something is not right and gives me a heads up about it (ie. go for more massage, have I been doing my pilates and stretching, that kind of thing).

So, long story short ... research the chiros in your area. Make sure the one you pick is knowledgeable about AS and doesn't make humongous claims about being able to cure anything. Also that he or she uses an integrator and doesn't try to talk you out of that. And that there will be a bit of soft tissue work first to warm up the area.

Hope that helps.

Hugs,

I agree with Kat...it's very important that the Chiro not only know that you have AS but understand the mechanics involved, in 2004, before I was dxed, my chiro accidentantly broke several ribs during an adjustment because they didn't "give" as much as he expected them to....but neither of us knew at the time that I had AS. He felt awful about it, he'd been my chiropractor for 6 yrs without any problems until that day, I knew it was an accident and I didn't hold him responsible for it.

That thing they do with your neck scares the hell out of me. I won't go back to a chiropractor because of that. If you go, make sure they know you have AS.

Hi, Goingtogetwell:

I once believed (pre-diet) that I could not get by without chiropractors, but the relief was always only temporary. AND I never liked that stupid trigger thing--I always wanted bone-crushers (Palmer method), and even went to one after I broke my back--but before I knew it was broken!

Chiropractors are certainly much safer than doctors, but they do little good, long-term. They are equal with rheumies for long-term effectiveness, but a chiropractor is much less likely to kill you, so they are preferred for temporary relief.

Good luck, and I hope you achieve whatever level of relief you are looking for,
John

I imagine their are cases where it may be appropriate, but I for one am very reluctant to see a chiropractor. I am afraid quite a bit of damage could result.

Tim

I wont allow any chiropractor to do that neck adjustment.