Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group FINALLY some answers!

Took my Costa Rica X-Rays to a DC / Metabolic Nutritionist here at a well-known wellness center in Orange County. He looked at those and what he did get off of the lower back X-ray is an osteophyte on the left hip, about 1/8th of disk left in L5 and degenerative bone loss of the whole spine.

He then took more X-rays of the entire spine and Whoa-nelly! I have an awful lot going on there. It looks as though the entire Thoracic area is degenerating; it's completely white on the film. He mentioned it might be fusing. I'm getting a large hump at the very base of the neck, almost like a dowager's hump, and I have "Military Neck," so my neck is totally straight and angled forward instead of curved. My cerebral function is definitely reduced and I have very limited range of motion in the neck. I also have leaky gut, and some other digestive issues going on.

Apparently, my blood tests also are in the high range (although I read them as "normal"). I am now going to have blood tests done specifically for people with unknown conditions, or those that no doctor can get to the bottom of. The doc said I most certainly show many symptoms of AS, as my spine is showing the result of years of inflammation. There are some other genetic tests we will be doing. If the AS is not the result of genetics, then there may be certain food or environmental allergies we need to work to control.

This is the first doctor who has really taken the time and spoken with me and given me some actual RESULTS. I don't need a Rheumy to put a label on me to know what the problem is. Now I know what's ahead of me and we have a plan to tackle it:
Nutrition, Chiropractic adjustments, and strengthening of the spine and neck. I have not taken any biologics to date, even though I've had some serious pain and stiffness. I hope I can manage without!

I am very happy that you are getting answers and I do hope you find relief soon. That being said if you do indeed have AS I would strongly recommend steering clear of chiropractors. I do believe in the good they do but with our fragile backs and especially if you are fusing they can cause more harm then good. Talk to your doctor about all courses of treatment you plan on doing because what you might think is good isn't

Take care and good luck

It is great to hear you are getting some answers. Sorry to hear they are not so nice though.

I would second what nat5150 says about the chiropractors unless you have a chiro that is very experienced in AS or similar conditions. If you are fusing forceful manipulations of the spine could do way more damage than good.
I think you would be better going to a physio, again one who has experience with AS who can help you strengthen your core muscles.

I wish you all the best and hope you can continue to avoid the biologics.

Like the others, I I am happy you are getting answers, but I would stay away from the chiropractor for the reasons they already mentioned. If you do go ahead and see one, I would be very careful and find one who has experience with AS.

Brad

Thanks, all! This DC is very familiar with AS and he knows what he can and can't do. I'm seeing him more for the wellness part---dealing with what may be CAUSING the inflammation. Is it environmental, fool-related or genetic? My gut is really causing me a lot of problems right now, so that's what we're concentrating on.