Arthritis is a very prevalent ailment that appears in a variety of forms. Treatments vary greatly depending on where it occurs, what caused it, and how severe it is. Fortunately, most cases of arthritis can be treated by a good chiropractor in a natural and effective manner. Numerous types of arthritic pain can be relieved with an emphasis on natural healing with the help of Dr. Thomas Keogh at Bare Chiropractic in Billings.
Arthritis Overview
Arthritis often makes it hard to go about your regular routine. It can affect different parts of the body, and each variety has its own set of symptoms. It is a set of disorders characterized by wear or damage to the joints and, in certain circumstances, soft tissues in the body. While arthritis is most commonly associated with the elderly, it can afflict people of all ages, including men and women equally. There is a myriad of different types, but there are two main groups to watch out for: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is solely the product of joint wear and tear. Because they are weight-bearing, joints, ankles, knees, and hips are easily and frequently afflicted by osteoarthritis. The most common symptoms are joint pain and stiffness (including in the spine), inflammation, and a reduction in range of motion. Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of arthritis, and it affects the joints as a result of daily wear and tear, aging, exercise, and similar activities.
One of the most insidious aspects of this ailment is that it develops over time, so it may not appear to be a serious problem until it has worsened to a point of extreme severity.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack the joints. Contaminants, such as bacteria or viruses, are attacked and disabled by a healthy immune system. However, in the case of RA, the immune system perceives the body’s joints as a foreign invader and attacks them as a result.
Misalignments of the spine can aggravate joint inflammation and restrict the quantity of healthy blood and fluid that reaches these joints, exacerbating the condition.
How Chiropractic Can Help
Many folks who aren’t familiar with chiropractic care aren’t sure how chiropractic can help them beyond reliving minor back pain. Chiropractors are almost always thought to deal solely with the spine. This is one of the reasons why people with arthritis in other joints—such as the hips or knees—disregard chiropractic care as a viable therapeutic choice. A skilled chiropractor, on the other hand, will treat your entire body rather than simply your spine. Additionally, chiropractors understand how the health of the spine impacts the health of the whole body and will treat you accordingly.
Chiropractic adjustments are generally considered quite safe for arthritis because they are non-invasive and conservative treatment options. Chiropractic adjustments to the spine and other regions of the body have been found to reduce joint tension and provide arthritic pain relief. If you want to learn more about how you can safely and effectively eliminate your arthritic pain through chiropractic, contact us at our office in Billings. After all, good health is a joint effort.
Sources
Allen, K. D., L. M. Thoma, and Y. M. Golightly. “Epidemiology of Osteoarthritis.” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 30.2 (2022): 184-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2021.04.020
Lewis, Kelsey L., and Patrick J. Battaglia. “Differentiating Bilateral Symptomatic Hand Osteoarthritis from Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Sonography When Clinical and Radiographic Features are Nonspecific: A Case Report.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 18.1 (2019): 56-60.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jcm.2018.07.005
