Ankylosing spondylitis, or AS, is a type of inflammatory arthritis that usually impacts the spine, causing back stiffness and pain, pain in the hips, and decreased range of motion. Brain fog can also be a symptom of AS and other chronic inflammatory conditions. Brain fog can affect memory, concentration, decision-making, learning, and problem-solving. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic can educate on the causes of ankylosing spondylitis brain fog and how to reduce its effects.

Ankylosing Spondylitis and Brain Fog: Injury Medical ChiropracticBrain Fog

Experts do not fully understand how conditions like AS cause brain fog and how it affects the brain and central nervous system. However, they believe brain fog is linked to chronic inflammation and pain associated with the condition, along with certain factors.

Chronic Inflammation

  • Inflammation occurs when the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells.
  • This triggers the release of inflammation-causing cytokines.
  • Cytokines can interfere with normal brain function.

Ankylosing Spondylitis Chronic Pain

  • Chronic pain can cause fatigue and unhealthy sleep quality.
  • Fatigue and poor sleep can worsen chronic pain, leading to intense fatigue and extreme sleep issues, becoming a vicious cycle.

Corticosteroids

  • Doctors typically treat ankylosing spondylitis with corticosteroids.
  • Individuals with cardiovascular risk factors have an increased risk of brain fog from the medications.

Depression

  • Individuals with AS can present symptoms of depression, which has been linked to cognitive impairment.
  • Depression can contribute to the development of brain fog.

Other Medical Conditions

Other Possible Causes

  • Stress
  • Sleep problems
  • Little to no physical activity or exercise.
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Antidepressants
  • Chemotherapy

Effects

The effects of brain fog.

  • Thoughts are blurry and difficult to recall.
  • There are major lapses in concentration.
  • Thinking is harder.
  • There is constant confusion.
  • More effort is required to maintain thoughts in short-term memory.
  • Constantly forgetting what to do.

Chiropractic Care

Doctors recommend a multidisciplinary approach to manage AS brain fog. This includes:

  • An anti-inflammatory nutrition plan.
  • Ergonomic adjustments
  • Regular physical activity and exercise.
  • Mental exercises
  • Concurrent treatment with a rheumatologist in combination with chiropractic care.
  • Chiropractic care focuses on improving joint mobility and the function of the musculoskeletal system.
  • Manual and instrument-assisted adjustments are paired with the following:
  • Soft-tissue therapies
  • Non-surgical spinal decompression
  • Health Coaching
  • Fitness Coaching
  • Nutritional recommendations

Brain Cognition


References

Chiropractic. (2019). nccih.nih.gov/health/chiropractic

Cornelson, Stacey M et al. “Chiropractic Care in the Management of Inactive Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Case Series.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 16,4 (2017): 300-307. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2017.10.002

Creaky Joints. (September 17, 2018) “You can ease inflammatory arthritis brain fog with these 12 tips for a sharper mind.” creakyjoints.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-brain-fog/

Vitturi, Bruno Kusznir et al. “Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.” The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques vol. 47,2 (2020): 219-225. doi:10.1017/cjn.2020.14

Zhang, Jun-Ming, and Jianxiong An. “Cytokines, inflammation, and pain.” International anesthesiology clinics vol. 45,2 (2007): 27-37. doi:10.1097/AIA.0b013e318034194e

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Ankylosing Spondylitis and Brain Fog: Sciatica Clinic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Previous articleSciatica Massage Clinic
Next articleDr. Alex Jimenez Presents: Assessing & Treating Hormonal Dysfunction
Dr. Alex Jimenez
Specialties: Stopping the PAIN! We Specialize in Treating Severe Sciatica, Neck-Back Pain, Whiplash, Headaches, Knee Injuries, Sports Injuries, Dizziness, Poor Sleep, Arthritis. We use advanced proven therapies focused on optimal Mobility, Posture Control, Deep Health Instruction, Integrative & Functional Medicine, Functional Fitness, Chronic Degenerative Disorder Treatment Protocols, and Structural Conditioning. We also integrate Wellness Nutrition, Wellness Detoxification Protocols and Functional Medicine for chronic musculoskeletal disorders. We use effective "Patient Focused Diet Plans", Specialized Chiropractic Techniques, Mobility-Agility Training, Cross-Fit Protocols, and the Premier "PUSH Functional Fitness System" to treat patients suffering from various injuries and health problems. Ultimately, I am here to serve my patients and community as a Chiropractor passionately restoring functional life and facilitating living through increased mobility. Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, functional strength training, functional medicine, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries. We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Cross-Fit Rehabilitation Systems for all ages. As an extension to dynamic rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities' premier doctors, therapist and trainers in order to provide high-level competitive athletes the options to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities. We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last 3 decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs. Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living. With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age, ability or disability.