There are so
many spinal conditions! Your Vancouver chiropractor is in the know. Vancouver Disc Centers welcomes them all! For optimal
relief of pain and limited function, the initial step is recognition of the condition then set up its proper
treatment. Vancouver Disc Centers is experienced in both! This week’s highlighted
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 is commonly missed as a cause of chronic low back pain although
approximately 1% of the US population experiences it. Characteristics
of axial spondyloarthritis consist of onset before 45 years of
age, morning stiffness, improvement with exercise not rest, alternating
gluteal pain, and good response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drug treatment. Other features 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. Prompt diagnosis
is vital as is a rheumatology referral for evaluation and co-management. (1)
Not only is axial spondyloarthritis overlooked in medical offices,
but it is sometimes overlooked in chiropractic offices, too. (2) It’s just not recognized for what it is: an immune-mediated
inflammatory disease. Your Vancouver chiropractor is aware and looks for it so that typical lapses of time - sometimes years - will not pass between symptom onset and diagnosis. Being
a back pain condition, axial spondyloarthritis can be diagnosed and co-managed
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 chiropractic
and medical care with rehabilitation often works well for
these patients in reducing their symptoms and increasing
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 as well as
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 beginning to end.
(5) Vancouver Disc Centers performs 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 subsequent
good outcomes.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
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 treating ankylosing
spondylitis.