There are so
many spinal conditions! Your San Jose chiropractor is in the know. Chiropractic Solutions welcomes them all! For optimal
relief of pain and limited function, the initial step is recognition of the condition then arrange its proper
treatment. Chiropractic Solutions is experienced in both! This week’s highlighted
condition is inflammatory back pain, axial spondyloarthritis, and the spine-specific
kind, ankylosing spondylitis.
AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS
Axial spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory back pain condition.
It is often missed as a cause of chronic low back pain although
approximately 1% of the US population experiences it. Traits
of axial spondyloarthritis consist of onset before 45 years old, morning stiffness, improvement with exercise not rest, alternating
gluteal pain, and positive response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drug treatment. Other characteristics of axial spondyloarthritis
include enthesitis (inflammation of tendons and ligaments as
they insert into bone), dactylitis (inflammation of a toe or finger), peripheral arthritis, extra-articular appearances (like psoriasis,
inflammatory bowel disease, or uveitis), positive for the human leukocyte
antigen B27, and a family history of the disease. Early diagnosis
is vital as is a rheumatology referral for evaluation and co-management. (1)
Not only is axial spondyloarthritis missed in medical offices,
but it’s sometimes overlooked in chiropractic offices, too. (2) It’s just not identified as what it is: an immune-mediated
inflammatory disease. Your San Jose chiropractor is aware and looks for it so that typical lapses of time - sometimes years - will not pass between symptom onset and diagnosis. Since it’s
a back pain condition, axial spondyloarthritis can be diagnosed and co-treated
with chiropractic care for positive outcomes.
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: A SUBSET OF AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS
SPECIFIC TO THE SPINE
One variety of axial spondyloarthritis is ankylosing
spondylitis. Spondylitis is defined as inflammation of the vertebrae.
Interdisciplinary management with chiropractic
and medical care with rehabilitation often works well for
these patients in decreasing their symptoms and improving
musculoskeletal function. (3) Treating this condition calls for
gentle care that certified Cox® Technic chiropractic physicians are good
in performing. A case of a 30-year-old male first diagnosed at age 12 whose condition, despite medical care, led
to fusion of his sacroiliac joints as well as
facet joints in the lumbar and cervical spine. The patient was
treated with chiropractic spinal manipulation of his thoracic, lumbar, and
cervical spine areas and physical therapy stretches for 12 weeks. His advanced
condition responded favorably with some improvement in
pain and flexibility. (4) Another male patient who was 34 years old with a 10-year history of AS underwent
18 weeks of chiropractic spinal manipulation and mobilization. This led
to a 90% improvement in a disease activity index and an 85%
improvement in a functional index from beginning to end.
(5) Chiropractic Solutions offers very gentle spinal
manipulation and mobilization in the form of Cox® Technic distraction
decompression. An advanced type of the condition does not
preclude chiropractic care or its resulting
good outcomes.
CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Gabriel Monterrubio on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson. He discusses his use of the Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for managing ankylosing
spondylitis.