Gentle Georgetown Chiropractic Care for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis. Not a well-known back pain condition you hear about every day, but it’s one that merits gentle, relieving treatment by an experienced chiropractor like your Georgetown chiropractor at Dr. Butwell. Chiropractic care for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is relieving for many such patients, and Cox® Technic is a very gentle treatment approach Georgetown ankylosing spondylitis patients value.
WHAT IS ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease concerning most usually the spine and sacroiliac joints. Timely treatment when AS is active may assist in maintaining some flexibility in the spine and minimize any resulting hyperkyphosis of the cervicothoracic spine and/or rigidity of the thoracolumbar, lumbosacral and sacroiliac spine that may arise and prevent doing favorite activities of daily living. There are primarily two forms: active and inactive. Active is the development phase of AS while inactive is the post-development phase of AS. Dr. Butwell manages both types with associated healthcare colleagues to the advantage of the AS patient.
WHAT HELPS MANAGE ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS?
Cooperation and coordination is helpful for patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Chiropractors, rheumatologists, primary care physicians, physical therapists, etc., are all key in the management of ankylosing spondylitis. The first step is recognizing ankylosing spondylitis. Dr. Butwell is aware of the signs: back pain with more than 1 of three features (HLA-B27 positivity, current inflammatory back pain, or x-ray/MRI evidence of sacroiliitis). 37% of ankylosing spondylitis is diagnosed by a rheumatologist while the other 63% is diagnosed by other practitioners like your Georgetown chiropractor. (1) Rheumatologists report on the benefits of a new method to try: nanocurcumin. It’s known that T-helper 17 cells are found at higher amounts in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Nanocurcumin is surfacing as a new approach to control the T-helper 17 cells as it is an anti-inflammatory compound described as improving some clinical symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. (2) Combining chiropractic manipulation and rehabilitation with care of a rheumatologist is advantageous for inactive ankylosing spondylitis patients in a recent study. Cox® flexion distraction was one of the chiropractic approaches to treating ankylosing spondylitis patients that helped. Patients also did home stretches and rehabilitation exercises. They experienced some relief of the symptoms, decreased pain and better ability to do activities of daily living. (3) Dr. Butwell delivers gentle, stretching Georgetown chiropractic care with Cox® Technic spinal manipulation. Georgetown AS patients say it feels good to their stiff spines. And a little good goes a long way!
CONTACT Dr. Butwell
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Gabriel Monterrubio, a chiropractor practicing in Mexico, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he tells of his care and pain alleviating success for several ankylosing spondylitis patients - including a diver who continues diving today – using Cox® Technic and exercise in the treatment plan.
Schedule a Georgetown chiropractic appointment at Dr. Butwell for yourself or a friend who has ankylosing spondylitis. Uncommon? Yes. Unmanageable? No. Dr. Butwell is ready and able to help.
