Arthritis Treatment
In general terms, arthritis is the gradual breakdown or deterioration of the joint spaces in your musculoskeletal system. According to experts, 8 out of 10 Americans over the age of 55 suffer from arthritis pain. In many cases, arthritis can become so painful and debilitating that simple tasks such as opening a jar or holding a pencil can be difficult. Arthritis affects everyone in different ways. Joints in the spine, fingers, wrists, shoulders, knees, even toes, lose their normal shape and large amounts of fluid and debris fill the joint space.
There are many causes of arthritis. A major cause is age. Injury, suppressed or weakened immune systems are other causes. Arthritis can also be hereditary.
In most people, the body responds to the onset of arthritis by making extra bone. Your body makes this material in an attempt to shore up the degenerating joint. This additional material, or overgrowth, is called a bone spur or osteophyte. Bone spurs are typically found in the joint or disc spaces. This is where cartilage has begun to break down or deteriorate. Bone spurs sometimes block the spaces where nerve roots leave the spinal canal.
There are many symptoms of arthritis, include: Burning, Cramping, Inflammation, Joint pain, Loss of muscle control, Muscle spasms, Numbness, Pain, Stabbing pain in the extremities
Types of arthritis include: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
The degenerative form of arthritis that mostly affects the elderly is called osteoarthritis. In some, osteoarthritis may affect the spine’s facet joints, making it extremely painful to bend or twist. Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage to break down and away from the joints.
Stripped of their protective material, joints begin rubbing against each other, causing pain and impeding movement. This action further irritates the surrounding nerves. Advanced forms of spinal osteoarthritis lead to disc collapse and other problems. An equally painful and destructive form of arthritis is called rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the joint tissues, leading to pain, weakness, low red blood cell count (anemia), and loss of appetite.
Physical therapy has been shown to help people with arthritis. It can also be used to reduce pain, restore mobility, function, strength, and flexibility, and prevent unnecessary disability. People suffering from arthritis self-manage their pain, giving them a sense of confidence, empowerment, and hope.
Common exercises for individuals living with arthritis include wall walking (which targets the shoulder joints) and the chair rise (which strengthens your legs and makes standing and sitting safer). Good examples of appropriate activities for those living with arthritis include aquatic exercises (such as swimming), walking, bicycling, golf, and cross-country skiing.
Our goal is to make you feel great and enjoy a healthy life without the need for drugs or surgery. Click on chiropractic services to view all of the other services that we provide. Would you like an appointment? Visit our Schedule an Appointment to book your appointment now. If you have any other questions, please call or email us and we will gladly answer any question. We look forward in helping to provide a healthy solution to your problem.