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

I think it all depends on what stage your AS has progressed before making an attempt to see a chiro. The last time I was seeing one was in the early part of the 1990's and it would provide temporary relief of some of the pain and slow the spasms, but as the disease progressed going started causing more pain with each adjustment until I gave up on it. In the shape I am in now there is no way I would go again. When I move or stand up most of the time you can hear the crunching noises from my hip, back and neck now without anyone touching me.

Brent

I agree with Brent...I had been using Dr. Ted B. in '98 after a serious car wreck and by 2002, I was well re-aligned and stopped going then I had a small wreck in 2004 and went in for that....and that's when the ribs got broken, I think that my AS had progressed during the 2 years since I'd seen him but there's no way that I could withstand chiropractic care now. In reference to what John said....we nicknamed my chiro "Dr. Ted, The Bone Crusher" after that incident!

Back in the early '90s, during what I now know was my first full blown flare, my chiro used to have an awful time adjusting my SI and lumbar area. Now we know why. Then, nobody had a clue.

Poor you with the ribs. And your poor chiro!!!! I wouldn't be angry either. They can't treat us properly when they don't know what the problem is.

Hugs,

im with Tim here - I have a great masseuse though and we've discussed the AS.

oh btw - i got my disability accepted this week so no more hassles.

Continuing to rain here and boy do we need it
have a good one,
Patrick

Patrick....I'm jealous!! Let me elaborate....I'm jealous about the masseuse but congrats on getting your disability!

A good masseuse would be nice one in a while although I have a few spots I don't let anyone touch on the back of my ribs. I have one spot where it feels like the ribs are floating and when pressure is applied I have to move away.

I do shiatsu on my feet and legs. It's to bad I can not reach around to do my own back. At times I can keep the tremors in my legs at bay by pressure point massage.

Congrats on the disability Patrick.

Brent

yes, chiropractic worked wonders in keeping things in line in early stages of AS... but I rarely go anymore. the beginning of last year I was having such pain & knew I needed an adjustmen... I'd go... get some relief and by the time I got home I was 'out' again. After several months of this... I finally realized the more I went, the more my muscles spasmed & the worse I felt... I stopped a couple months & things felt better.

It took me awhile to realize that the adjustments were counter-productive during this huge flare. The couple times I go now, He only does some tissue work on my ribs & gently adjusts my neck as I request.

Yes, there is a time & a place & a season for a chiropractor. And to find a good one too... can be difficult. I prefer to fuse straight and keep the potential of damaged disks to a minimum if I possibly can...

i go to a chiro when i need ultrasound right away and can't wait for the referral process to see PT.

when i had a PT do the gentle realignment of my lower spine where it connects to the SI, it would always abruptly misalign shortly after the visit, so we stopped doing that. maybe if someone had tried some of the other methods mentioned in some of the other replies that i hadn't heard of until now, maybe that would have worked. i'll have to look those techniques up. the chiro had wanted to align me but when he described that it would be the "quick thrust" method, i wouldn't let him.

i'm thinking of trying another chiro that is more knowledgeable in dealing with people with my types of problems.

sue

I wish MI allowed ultrasound therapy ... sigh... but alas, they don't...

i'm so sorry to hear that
sue