Health Professionals I’ve Added to My AS Team

Over the years I’ve visited a number of different health professionals to help me manage my axial spondyloarthritis. Some have not proven helpful for me personally (both chiropractic and osteopathic care were not right for me), but several others have ended up becoming valuable members of my health-care team.

Most people with AxSpa will regularly visit a general practitioner (or primary care physician) and a rheumatologist to help manage their condition. In addition to those providers, here is a list of other health professionals that have provided valuable assistance to me in throughout my time with AxSpa.

Podiatrist

I developed a bad case of plantar fasciitis (something a lot of people with AxSpa are troubled by) and sought out the help of a podiatrist. I found someone well qualified and checked that he knew enough about AxSpa to understand how my body responds. It’s helped me so much to have his treatment and advice and I’m managing much better with my feet these days.

Integrative doctor

Here in Australia, this is the term for a general physician who has a medical license as well as a knowledge of complimentary therapies and holistic care. I found an integrative doctor to be a great resource in support of improving my general health rather than just treating symptoms. He provided in depth testing and helped me address nutritional deficiencies through diet and supplementation. He also recommended and prescribed Low Dose Naltrexone for me, which has helped my symptoms significantly.

Health coach

Before training as a functional health coach myself I had previously worked with a coach on my own health. Health Coaches are behaviour change experts who use motivational interviewing and psychology-based techniques to help you set and achieve goals in relation to positive health behaviours.

This process gave me so much encouragement when I needed it and enabled me to set up a self-management framework I still use today. It was an experience that was very empowering after years of feeling at the mercy of painful AxSpa symptoms.

Physiotherapist (also called physical therapist)

Working with a physiotherapist at various points over the years has been a great way to recover from injury and strengthen parts of my body left vulnerable by AxSpa. I have worked with both a pain specialist physiotherapist and one who specialises in female pelvic floor work. I have also attended hydrotherapy classes run by physiotherapists where I learned warm water exercise routines that were hugely beneficial to me at various times.

This year there are two additional health professionals I am adding to my team.

The first is a psychologist with a knowledge of chronic health conditions. The connection between state of mind and our physical symptoms is very real and there are some areas I want to work on wth the support of a mental health professional.

The second is an exercise physiologist (another allied health profession available here in Australia). I’m really keen to add more strength training to my weekly routine and want someone to help me get started with a routine that is safe and effective.

Are there other professionals who have helped you better manage your health and wellbeing with AS? Please let us know in the comments!