Hi there and welcome!
Speaking as someone who has been in bi-weekly chiropractic care for the last 7 years, a chiropractor can make it easier to live and move, if they treat you properly and according to your body's specific needs.
My chiropractor was the healthcare professional who found my AS. She had never had a patient with AS before, but when she and the technicians looked at my x-rays, it was pretty clear that this was probably what was at the root of my physical issues. By that time, she had been treating me for 2.5 months. One month in, I started having massive muscle spasms while trying to sleep - 4 or 5 times every night the left side of my torso would spasm and lift me off the bed as I screamed in pain. As soon as my chiro found that out, she stopped manipulating my spine and started doing soft tissue work only. When they found the possible AS, the first thing she did was send me to my family doctor to be referred for testing. Then, she started doing her research. She contacted a classmate of hers who was a chiro living with AS and started asking questions and getting guidance. She immediately stopped using torque to manipulate my spine (once the spasms had died down and I was adjustable again) and started using a gizmo called an integrator, which is a spring loaded thingmee that is much more gentle. I always feel lighter when I leave, my energy is more clear and my steps more confident (depending on what kind of shape I'm in when I arrive). Only rarely do I ever feel additional pain after an adjustment, and then it only lasts a little while.
So, the answer to your question is, yes, a chiro can be an invaluable member of your healthcare team. But the chiro
must be knowledgeable about AS. If the chiro isn't knowledgeable, he/she must be willing to learn. That is
not negotiable.
Secondly, any adjustments must be done with an integrator, or an activator (similar gizmo to an integrator). Torque adjustments are not an option with AS; no ifs, ands or buts about it. Any chiro who tries to convince you otherwise should be avoided at all costs.
Thirdly, soft tissue work to warm up the muscles surrounding the joints
must be the first thing in any treatment. Our spines are too delicate and our musculature too apt to spasm to have a treatment done without soft tissue work being performed first.
As for Enbrel will not work? ... Far too many patients with a spondyloarthropathy have regained their lives due to the biologic medications (such as Enbrel, Remicade, Humira). It happens to varying degrees for everyone, and there are exceptions, but for the most part people feel a distinct improvement in their quality of life. If the chiro questions this, refer him/her here to talk to actual AS patients about it.
My chiro is an invaluable member of my healthcare team. She knows everything that's going on and I have insisted that the other more mainstream members of my healthcare team share info with her. Even my rheumatologist has complimented her to me and he seemed very impressed when I told her how she treats me. Once he heard that, he totally backed down on pushing me to drop chiropractic. I'm not sure that he's totally happy with the idea, but he at least knows that she is not being irresponsible in how she handles my case.
Gee, do ya think I feel strongly about this?
Hugs,
