My Top 2 Complementary and Alternative Therapies for AS
If you asked me which complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies I’ve found most helpful for managing my ankylosing spondylitis (AS), I’d tell you diet and chiropractic care, hands down.
Desperate for relief before receiving an AS diagnosis, I dabbled with various forms of complementary care. Finding pain relief was an ongoing pursuit. I tried massage therapy, physiotherapy, naturopathy, osteopathy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. They ranged from providing significant, temporary relief to seemingly being a waste of time, energy, and money.
Long before I realized I had AS, I went to a chiropractor for regular spinal adjustments, as I’d been experiencing back pain, headaches, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. With regular chiropractic care and exercises catered to my condition, I found these issues relatively manageable for a long time.
Additionally, I found it extremely helpful to have my chiropractor in my corner. He recognized that my lack of improvement could mean that something else was amiss. I was encouraged to seek out other treatments as well as imaging, such as MRIs, to find a reason for my pain.
A frustrating search for relief
Shortly before I received my AS diagnosis, I had a difficult appointment at an acupuncture clinic. I vividly remember the soft, thickly padded, and heated treatment table. The clean white sheet on the table was crisp, and the music was soothing. I was lying with my face down, my head in the breathing hole.
The well-meaning therapist kept asking me to relax, which I thought I was doing. If you’re familiar with chronic pain, however, you know that relaxing isn’t as easy as it sounds. To compensate for pain on one side of the body, the muscles on the opposite side will often work twice as hard. To relax my body when it’d been in a continual pattern of stress for an extended time was impossible.
Eventually, after being told to just let loose for the nth time, I burst into tears. I vividly (and to my horror) remember my stream of tears and snot falling through the deluxe table’s breathing hole onto the dark patterned carpet below. I’d arranged child care and driven across town because I was desperate for relief. I was frustrated with my body and didn’t know where to turn for help.
Upon ending the session, the therapist told me he was unsure he could help me. Mentally, I added him to the long list of various therapists who’d sent me along with equally little hope.
Finding relief
When I eventually learned I had AS, it all made sense. It’s no wonder treatments like acupuncture, massage, naturopathy, and chiropractic care didn’t heal my autoimmune disease. I’ve found, however, that while CAM therapies haven’t cured me, they can still play a significant role in treating my autoimmune disease.
Previously, I’ve shared how my switch to a starch-free diet has been life-changing. I live a relatively pain-free and medication-free life, which I largely credit to diet and lifestyle modifications.
After being diagnosed with AS, I debated whether I should continue with chiropractic care. In terms of offering relief from pain, however, it was one of the most helpful complementary therapies I tried. Typically, though, chiropractic care isn’t recommended for people with AS. The disease can lead to fused vertebrae in the spine, and the risk of fractures or injury to those fused bones is higher with forceful chiropractic adjustments.
As someone with minimal fusion, I decided that the benefit of regular chiropractic adjustments is worth the risk for me. My chiropractor has proven to be thorough in his care for me and knowledgeable about my condition. Most importantly, he uses a low-impact technique of adjusting called the Activator Method, which has been highly effective for me while putting little force on the affected area.
I’m grateful for medical professionals who see the individuals, validate their pain, and cater to their unique needs. For you, that might not be a doctor of chiropractic, but when you find that practitioner who can provide you with relief while keeping your whole being in mind, you know you’ve struck gold!
This blog post was originally published on January 11, 2023 in my Just Keep Swimming column @ Ankylosing Spondylitis News.
Note: Starch-Free Feasting does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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