Arthritis Relief and Prevention

Arthritis is a condition you hear people complain about everyday! There are two types of arthritis that commonly occur in the spine, hips, knees, and hands. These are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis, or “OA”, is a breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage is the part of the joint that allows for easier movement. This breakdown causes the bones to rub together which can cause bone spurs or pointy bone growths to develop. This often causes pain and stiffness. Some of this wear and tear may be part of the natural aging process, but plenty of older folks do not have arthritis… Why is that?

The main cause of arthritis is stress within the body. Arthritis in the spine is especially a problem because nerves between the vertebrae become compressed, which will compromise their function. This is known as a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve is a condition in which a spinal nerve loses proper communication between the brain and the system it controls in the body. When nerves, which branch off of the spinal cord, are pinched or compressed, they lose the ability to function properly. Why is this bad? Because nerves control the function of the entire body, meaning, serious health problems may result if they are not communicating correctly.

How is chiropractic able to help arthritic conditions?

Chiropractic adjustments do one thing that neither drugs nor surgery can do. They reduce these pinched nerves, allowing the proper communication from the brain to the body. This helps relieve stiffness and pain, but more than that, chiropractic can reduce the chances of osteoarthritis from beginning at all with beginning chiropractic checkups at an early age.

Rheumatoid Arthritis or “RA” is what is known as an autoimmune disease. This is when the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body’s healthy tissues and joints. That means an organ becomes inflamed. Joints also become warm, swollen and red with morning stiffness.

Would an anti-inflammatory work?
Anti-inflammatories might temporarily cover symptoms but it does not fix the cause.

Can chiropractic help rheumatoid arthritic conditions in the hands and not the spine?
Yes it can! Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system problem. The immune system is controlled by the nerves. Nerves come from the spine. Chiropractic removes spinal subluxation (pinched nerves) allowing the nerves to regain proper function. When the nerves function properly, so can the immune system. Malfunctions responsible for RA can possibly self-correct naturally using this method.

Common Questions:

Do I need x-rays?
A: In many cases x-rays give important information when evaluating the condition of your spine and any possible degenerative processes of your joints or discs. At Crossroads Chiropractic we offer state of the art digital x-rays to provide us with the best quality films to best evaluate your condition and determine the appropriate care plan.

Do you see a lot of people with arthritis?
A: Yes we do. Many people will develop arthritis at some point. It is not an uncommon finding whether directly related to why a patient seeks chiropractic care or an indirect finding.

How long will it take for me to get better?
A: Depending upon your specific findings, relief care will vary from a few weeks to a few months.

Do you have a friend or loved one who suffers from osteoarthritis or RA? Ask us for a copy of arthritis information to pass along so that your loved one can finally find relief and live the life they’ve always imagined. You can help change someone’s life! What could feel better than that?

“Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength” ~ Betty Friedan.