Chiropractic and RA | Arthritis Information

Does anyone here go to a chiropractor when having a flare in the neck or back?

LONG before being diagnosed with RA I suffered from terrible neck pain, some days not even being able to turn my head. I would go to the chiropractor and eventually it would subside, but now I believe it was the first indication of RA.

Now that I know what's wrong, I'm not sure if I should continue seeing a chiropractor. Is there a better alternative? So far my neck has been OK since going on the medication, but it's feeling a little stiff today and that sometimes is what happens just before it gets really bad. Thanks for any feedback,

GingerR

Ginger, have you ever been evaluated by an orthopedist for your neck and back pain? Even if you think you know it is RA, I think it is important to rule out any degenerative changes or other spinal problems. If the ortho doesn't find anything, then more likely it is either related to RA inflammation or muscle spasm...either of which I think would be fine to be treated by a chiropractor or a physical therapist (obviously in addition to regular RA treatments).

I've seen my chiropractor for 17 years now. About 7 years ago when the pain was getting worse, I went to the ortho and he found problems in both my cervical and lumbar spine. Based on those findings, I've had other treatments, but still continue to see my chiropractor occasionally. However, my ortho asked me not to have my chiropractor perform certain moves on me based on my particular problems.

Hope this helps.

InnerGlow2008-02-22 10:35:09someone with RA should be very very very careful before having a chiropractic adjustment on their neck. Where I used to work we used to have a chiropracter continueing education courses just about every week. I spoke with many of the instructers and almost to a man (woman) they said they never recommend adjusting a RA neck. And they need to take extra precautions with the rest of the spine.

Ginger, I'm glad you asked, I've been wondering about this. ThanksGinger - I was married to a chiropractor for 22 years and had thousands of neck adjustments, and now realize I had RA all along, and nothing bad happened. He had observed that something wasn't right, and told me if I didn't keep my spine supple, I would have problems later on.

I have continued seeing a chiropractor since we divorced, all through my years of trying to be diagnosed, and continued post-diagnosis. In fact, I just had my usual one month adjustment. I frankly think I got better care and compassion from the chiropractors and one reason I have done as well as I have is because I had so many adjustments because he was so handy :)

I also understand why people fear chiropractors, but I would probably be bedridden by now if I hadn't of kept up with chiropractic care - at least it was treatment, not excuses. And I always love it when MDs bash chiropractors, saying its ineffective but they can hurt you. Well, isn't hurting someone an effect? And if you can hurt someone, couldn't you also help someone? MDs want it both ways.

JSNM- I'm curious....

what kind of conversations has your chiropracter had with you about RA and cervical involvement? Has he talked about a time when neck adjustments would be too dangerous for you. what kind of x'rays has he done on your neck? and how often are they repeated?

also what questions would you suggest someone ask a chiropracter prior to any treatment

Buckeye - I have 29 years worth of neck and full spine xrays. I have had lots of conversations with my chiropractor about the RA/cervical involvement since my diagnosis in 6/06. I also have a herniated C4/C5 (I think thats the level, I forget, frain bog) that was a WC and he was assigned to me. I refused surgery and he has kept it under control so I am very comfortable as I get regular neck adjustments with a herniated disc and RA and cervical involvement.

That being said, I am very aware of the warning about neck adjustments causing strokes. If I remember correctly, it has happened once in every 10 million neck adjustments.

The xrays he takes are flat plane and we do them every six months - this is all on his and my design, the now fired RD never even ordered baselines. I also have MRIs from the WC accident.

I would check out a chiropractor's training before treatment. There is a huge difference in techniques. Palmer graduates are from the first Chiropractic college, and then many newer colleges since then. My current doctor is a Life graduate.

I would demand, not ask pre-treatment neck xrays after disclosing my RA DX. Then its up to you if you want to risk it. Just like when you decide if you want to start taking Predisone or MTX or any other chemical drug.
justsaynoemore2008-02-23 08:52:51

I was told by the CME chiropracter instructers (most of whom were Life-I was in Atlanta then) that the risk of paralysis at C1-C2 was a bigger rsk for someone with RA than stroke. What does yours say? do your regular x'rays include a series looking for instability in that area

and I'm honestly not asking to be confrontational..I really am interested to hear what others have to say about this. I haven't looked into the subject much on this..I've always gone on what the instructers said.

I would never have neck adjustments by a chiro as I have neck involvement. Also in the beginning of my RA I had an adjustment and the doctor knew I was just DX with RA. That adjustment was not done right and caused me extreme pain the next day, I could not lift my head of the pillow. I had to go several times more to try and get it back in alignment.

(IMHO) This is the reason I have had bad problems with my neck.

Fast forward to when RA was at it's worst and aside from extreme pain had incidents of bells palsy, face went numb etc.

I was told by a chiro that a good chiro would never do adjustments on a RA patient as dislocation is too easy to happen.

From what my personal experience has been, I would NEVER do it again.

LuAnn:)

I would have an evaluation by an orthopedist to rule out any cervical/spine issues first before seeing a chiro for any neck pain. If you do have some other condition, some manipulations should be avoided. I was recently diagnosed with cervical stenosis (congenital) and the canal is quite narrow. My ortho told me to never let anyone manipulate my neck - the only movement should be ROM. Said that he has two patients that he is currently treating that were paralyzed due to not knowing their condition and had neck adjustments. Scary story, yes, does it really happen that often, probably not, but it made me realize that it's not something to mess around with. I can't do contact sports either because of it - darn !! I was so looking forward to playing football (j/k)

Cathy

Interesting. I have cervical stenosis and my ortho said neck adjustments are just fine. He only told me to avoid "twisting" adjustments to the lower back because I have MRI-visible vertebral edema (hope I got that right) and that the torque would exacerbate that. My chiropractor simply found another, even less forceful way, to do the same thing. Also, my rheumy knows I see a chiropractor and he hasn't cautioned me in any way against that.

Aside from different training methods, chiropractors are just like any other profession...there are good ones and bad ones, ones that listen and ones that don't, ones with experience and ones who are new. Be very careful selecting one.

Buckeye - post diagnosis, my chiropractor just stopped adjusting my neck, didn't say a thing. I finally after a couple of appointments said I know you stopped because of the RA dX. Let's re-xray the neck, evaluate it all, then make a decision. We decided I could handle them and its been fine for over a year. I have to have adjustments or I wouldn't be able to move my neck. And I agree Innerglow, Chiropractic is no different than Medical Doctors - good ones, bad ones, medium ones. Ask for referrals like you do with your medical team and decide if its for you or not. Everybody is different. I won't give up my Chiropractic until he says its time to stop as I trust him more than anyone else. That's me, my decision. Referrals are the best, another thing to check is your state's board of chiropractic examiners. My chiro was actually one of the examiners for a term.I agree with those who told you to get a firm diagnosis and be absolutely sure of what's going on with your neck. I have herniated discs, osteophytes and degenerative disc disease and I was told by a neurologist and my PCP (who actually likes chiropractic for certain conditions) to NEVER let a chiropractor adjust my neck because, as my PCP put it, "If he makes one wrong move, you're screwed." You sound like you have a similar condition that could make an adjustment dangerous. Please get that checked out carefully. I am beginning to see the possibilities of letting a chiropractor kill you with an adjustment as it solves alot of problems. You are finally free from pain, the MDs can make it a front page news story, and your family gets the insurance money. JSNM, if only it were that easy!

I have partial herniations in 2 cervical discs and 3 lumbar discs, cervical stenosis and spondylosis, and the aforementioned vertebral edema. I have had hundreds of chiropractic adjustments since those diagnoses, and yet, I am still alive, definitely not free from pain, and my family could sure use that money!