Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care

Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the names for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. Basically, the condition is due to the erosion of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces, and it is found not only in humans, but also in all mammals. When joint cartilage is injured, the sensitive bone tissue that is normally protected by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Now and then, osteophytes, or bone spurs, can ensue when the bone around the joint increases quickly. Bone spurs produce painful inflammation to other tissues surrounding the joint aggravating the already grievous condition.

Degenerative joints as a rule occur in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, hips, and fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to affect both the onset and severity of DJD.

The symptoms of DJD perpetually involve some degree of pain and/or stiffness in the body part involved. If the weight-bearing joints, such as the hips or knees are involved, ones mobility can be affected particularly in the more advanced stages of the condition.  In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should make an effort to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.

The best management of DJD is, without exception, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.

* Making sure that all injuries to joints are properly treated will help to avoid future problems.
* Shoes with suitable support and shock absorption should be worn by those whose jobs demand extended periods of standing or walking.
* Weight loss through proper diet will help to lessen stress on weight-bearing body joints.

* Care should be taken to cushion knees from pain aad strain when kneeling on hard surfaces.

* Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables as they include natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are crucial for the health of the joints, as well as the rest of the body.

Recently there have been some studies that show that the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can help with DJD and can possibly help rebuild joint cartilage. However, it must be used over time and does not work in all conditions.

Chiropractic adjustments aid in the restoration of proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only a smart idea, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly trained when it comes to arthritic pain relief. In addition, chiropractic modalities such as joint mobilization, ultrasound, cold laser therapy, massage and electro-therapy may be used to aid in the treatment of painful and stiff joints. Sometimes a brace is used to help stabilize the joint in order to alleviate pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.

Gout

An elevated level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints produce gouty arthritis. The most common joints are the big toes, the knees, ankles and wrists, and is often characterized by excruciating pain and swelling. Most people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of agitative foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Certain foods such as red meat (especially organ meat), certain seafood, legumes, and mushrooms have the natural substance, Purines, that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Since individuals with gout cannot efficiently metabolize uric acid, the accumulation in the bloodstream produces joint problems. In addition to the foods mentioned and additional foods containing Purines, other dietary restrictions need to be followed including the avoidance of alcohol.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of systemic origin. The direct cause is not known, but it is thought to be connected to a problem with the immune system. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, while other areas of the body can be affected as well. The condition is usually associated with morning stiffness that is aggravated by motion. Further symptoms can include general malaise and fatigue, and in its more advanced stages other systems of the body may be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through particularized blood tests. Though, currently, there is no cure, in addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic treatments to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness associated with this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be helpful. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to supporting individuals in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.

Technorati Tags: arthritis, chiropractor, joint pain, joint swelling, pain relief

Are you suffering from painful arthritis? Do you also have a challenge with your weight?  If you do, it’s conceivable that you’re having back pain not only as the result of arthritis, but also because of the stress your weight is putting on your spine.  The body was not designed to carry around additional weight in the form of body fat.  Your spine, which supports your body, is being put under a great deal of strain even if you are only carrying a surplus 20 or 30 pounds on a regular basis. This sort of stress can created aberrations of the vertebral column. These misaligned vertebra can cause arthritic changes in the spine and persist in aggravating the degenerative changes that are present already. Furthermore, your body may counteract in other ways, such as by your hips moving forward or tilting to accommodate the additional pounds.  This can pinch the sciatic nerve, which is extraordinarily painful.

A current survey by the NPD Group, a leading market research firm based in Rosemont, Ill., reveals that around 62% of men and women and 34% of children are overweight or obese. The ubiquitousness of arthritis amplifies with growing weight. Research implies that sustaining a healthy weight decreases the risk of developing arthritis in the first place and may slow degenerative progression. A loss of just 11 pounds can decrease the occurrence (incidence) of new knee osteoarthritis and would do a great deal to decrease back pain as well.

A healthy diet and routine exercise is definitely necessary for anyone who is sincere about overcoming their back pain, knee pain, and pain in the joints in other places in the body.  Even though you have likely been advised about this for the better part of your life, it really is the only way for you to stop suffering and regain your life. 

First of all, we’ll address the dieting issue.  There are a huge number of different ways to diet and many of them work only on a temporary basis.  Obviously, if you were to lose weight for keeps, the diet industry would lose a life-long customer!  Eating a life-enriching diet (as a lifestyle choice and not a temporary fix) and decreasing your calories so that you are at a slight calorie “deficit,” is the only way to lose weight in a healthy, permanent manner.  Dropping a large amount of weight too rapidly is not only temporary, but unsafe. You should be losing about 2 pounds every week in order for it to be truly effective.

Research has shown that exercise and physical activity not only decreases pain and improves function, but genuinely slows the process of disability. A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, a minimum of 3 days a week, has proved to be effective. You can get activity in 10-minute intervals.

Chiropractic adjustments are an excellent way to get mobility back in the joints of your spine and other places in, and can be a wise first step before you begin an exercise program. A spine in alignment makes exercise and physical activity a good deal easier and will slow down arthritic degenerative changes. The Annals of Internal Medicine released the findings of a survey of 232 people who were under a rheumatologist’s care for their arthritis.  Of those people, 63% answered the survey by saying they were taking advantage of some kind of “complementary care” as named by the study.  Of those responders, 31% were trying chiropractic. Undoubtedly the most notable statistic was that 73% of those using chiropractic found it helpful.  Answering why they’d tried the non-medical chiropractic care, the responders offered a number of reasons: 1) to reduce pain, 2) they’d been told that it helps, 3) they felt confident that it is safe, 4) it had assisted someone they knew, and 5) because their prescription medication wasn’t working.

Chiropractors, also called doctors of chiropractic, have been aiding men and women suffering from back pain due to arthritis as well as other arthritic afflictions for over a hundred years. Not only can arthritic pain and degenerative changes in the spine be caused by the misaligned vertebra that your San Diego chiropractor will fix, if left untreated misalignments can lower resistance and immunity, which can lead to new health problems.

It is always smart to consult a health care professional to discuss diet and exercise. Your chiropractor is an excellent resource for education about the type of lifestyle changes that you will find necessary to assist you in managing your arthritis. By the same token, in addition to correcting any misalignments in your spine, your chiropractor will evaluate any faulty gait patterns or posture irregularities that may be compounding your arthritic pain.

Technorati Tags: arthritis, chiropractic, chiropractor, weight loss