Having a Crack at Chiropractic for Crohn’s

I wanted to see if spinal adjustments could help relieve some of my inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms. My bloating is better, at least temporarily.

Confession time: I love the sound of cracking joints. Cracking your knuckles? Like it. Your neck? Love it. Your back? Obsessed with it. It’s a polarizing fascination, I know. But hey, you love what you love.

In the past year or so, I’ve found myself on Instagram, watching videos of chiropractors cracking spines or necks. I love the noise. It’s strangely satisfying for me to watch.

However, until recently, I had never actually visited a chiropractor. Though I loved watching videos of them adjusting people, I had a fear that if I were to visit one, they’d undoubtedly break my neck. (Note: In my opinion, this fear is unfounded. Though accidents and injury have occurred, a 2017 research review showed that “serious adverse event incidence estimates ranged from 1 per 2 million manipulations to 13 per 10,000 patients.”)

In October of last year, I was chatting with a friend of mine who is pro-chiropractor. She has lupus and found that spinal and neck adjustments ultimately helped her symptoms. It was only after adding chiropractic care to her treatment regimen that her lupus went into remission.

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Beating the bloat

When I explained to my friend that I was experiencing severe bloating and constipation that, I hypothesized, was connected to my Crohn’s disease, she suggested I try seeing a chiropractor. It had worked wonders for her. Maybe it would do the same for me.

When I say that my bloating has been severe, I mean, like, it’s been ridiculously severe. It’s not only been incredibly uncomfortable but has also done a number on my self-esteem. My clothes don’t fit correctly — sometimes, I can’t even button my jeans — and I dread seeing myself in the mirror.

I’ve jumped through hoops to try to relieve this. I exercise daily and massage my stomach. I’ve started taking probiotic drinks and prebiotic supplements. I’ve ordered digestive enzyme pills on Amazon. I’ve tried greens powder. I drink at least 100 ounces of water daily. I’ve modified my diet, limiting dairy and hard-to-digest foods. Nothing worked.

Coming around to chiropractic

I wasn’t opposed to trying chiropractic care. I’ve tried other holistic treatments in the past, such as acupuncture, and found them beneficial. Why not try having my joints adjusted? Nothing else was working. I figured it couldn’t hurt.

I did tons of research before visiting the chiropractor, including familiarizing myself with what a chiropractor actually does. Chiropractic care falls under the umbrella of complementary and alternative medicine. The idea behind chiropractic is that dysfunction in the spinal cord, where many nerves that control body movement and sensation originate, can greatly affect health.

By correcting these dysfunctions, the body will, ideally, have enhanced functioning.

Chiropractors use a range of treatments to help restore function, but one of the most widely known approaches is spinal manipulation. By adjusting specific joints in the spine, which may have lost mobility due to tissue injury, the chiropractor can alleviate pressure on nerves, restore mobility, reduce pain, and help tissues heal.

During my initial consultation, my chiropractor asked me to describe my symptoms. He then took X-rays of my spine and came up with a care plan for my IBD. He made it clear that he would not be able to treat Crohn’s itself, but he was hopeful to help by adjusting my spine, neck, and pelvis.

He explained it to me this way: My spine is what houses my enteric nervous system. This nervous system is what communicates digestion and hunger to my brain. By adjusting the misaligned vertebrae in my spine and other joints, my nervous system will function better, and I will see digestive improvements.

I should note, however, that the intended benefits of chiropractic care for IBD are not proven. Few, if any, studies have been conducted in recent years, suggesting that this area is ripe for new research.

Continuing with care

I’ve been visiting the chiropractor weekly for the past few months. So far, I have found that it does help with my bloating. However, this relief is not yet consistent. The relief lasts for 2 days or so before reappearing — similar to the bloating relief I experienced with acupuncture.

I will continue to see a chiropractor. Even though it may not be totally consistent, I still enjoy the sensation (and the satisfying noises.) And it feels good!

Aside from temporarily alleviating my bloating, I’ve also found it reduces stress and joint discomfort. Weeks ago, my chest felt tight. I felt overwhelmed by stress and felt as though my upper back was a cage, constricting my spine and organs. My chiropractor adjusted me, and I felt instantaneous relief. What was once tight and compressed felt suddenly loose and open.

The takeaway

Chiropractic care might not be for everyone. Historically and presently, some professionals claim it only has minimal benefits, while others consider it an effective form of treatment that has become widely accepted, even among many insurers.

My friend with lupus — though she’s not a professional — swears that it was only after adding chiropractic care to her treatment plan that her symptoms got under control.

It’s a testament, I suppose, to how unique our bodies are. Naturally, we will respond differently to various medications or treatments. I’m sure that some medications that didn’t work for me were lifesavers for others. Foods that destroy others’ stomachs, I can eat daily. It’s partly what makes Crohn’s so frustrating and special. We all share a disease, but we each have a different experience with it.