Saturday, August 29, 2009

When McKenzie doesn't work: Alkylosing Spondilitis

If you've tried the McKenzie extensions with little to no benefit (I did, for several years) maybe you don't have a slipped disk. There's at least one condition that doesn't respond to back extensions at all: Alkylosing Spondilitis. It's kind of like rheumatoid arthritis, but it targets your SI joints (and often other joints as well). One of the other diagnostic features is that your pain will sometimes switch sides, for no apparent reason. About 10% of back pain cases are due to Alkylosing Spondilitis. A more offical diagnosis depends on checking your blood for HLA-B27, though this is not conclusive. An MRI or, x-rays can also help make the diagnosis, though X-rays usually only show disease progression after 4 or more years after pain onset.

AS treatments include NSAIDS and Tumor necrosis factor-alpha supressors.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Ya One of my friend has used Mckenzie extension but he has got less benefit for the back pain.

JBrownDC said...

Ankylosing Spondylitis rarely responds to 'positional relief' techniques such as McKenzie. While it must be decided on a case by case basis, treatment with mobilization or spinal manipulation combined with spine stabilizing exercises.
Back Pain Exercises