There are so
many spinal conditions! Your Minster chiropractor is well aware
of this. Minster Chiropractic Center welcomes them all! For best
relief of pain and limited function, the initial step is to
recognize the condition then arrange its proper
treatment. Minster Chiropractic Center is experienced in both! This week’s featured
condition is inflammatory back pain, axial spondyloarthritis, and the spine-specific
type, ankylosing spondylitis.
AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS
Axial spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory back pain condition.
It’s commonly missed as a cause of chronic low back pain although
approximately 1% of the US population has it. Characteristics
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 features of axial spondyloarthritis
care 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. Prompt diagnosis
is vital as is a rheumatology referral for evaluation and cooperative care. (1)
Not only is axial spondyloarthritis overlooked in medical practices,
but it is sometimes overlooked in chiropractic practices, too. (2) It’s just not identified as what it is: an immune-mediated
inflammatory disease. Your Minster 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 effective 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 medical, chiropractic and rehab often works well for
these patients in decreasing their symptoms and improving
musculoskeletal function. (3) Treating this condition requires
gentle care that certified Cox® Technic chiropractic physicians are experienced
in performing. A case of a 30-year-old male first diagnosed when
he was 12 years old whose condition, despite medical care, resulted in fusion of his sacroiliac joints and his
facet joints in the lumbar and cervical spine. The patient underwent chiropractic spinal manipulation of his thoracic, lumbar, and
cervical spine areas and physical therapy stretches for 12 weeks. His advanced
condition responded well with some improvement in
pain and flexibility. (4) Another male patient aged 34
years with a 10-year history of AS underwent
18 weeks of chiropractic spinal manipulation and mobilization. This resulted in a 90% improvement in a disease activity index and an 85%
improvement in a functional index from start to finish.
(5) Minster Chiropractic Center performs very gentle spinal
manipulation and mobilization in the form of Cox® Technic distraction
decompression. An advanced type of the condition does not
rule out chiropractic care or its resultant
good outcomes.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
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.