Arthritis is joint inflammation, which causes pain and stiffness. There are many different forms of arthritis, but there is no cure for this condition. For most patients, there is little that their healthcare providers can do other than manage pain and inflammation.
Management is most often done through prescription or over-the-counter pain medications, but may also be helped with diet, exercise, and—on occasion—surgery. There is another treatment option that is natural, drug-free, and non-invasive that arthritis sufferers may want to look into: chiropractic care.
Signs and Symptoms of Arthritis
Stiffness and pain in the joints are the most common symptoms of arthritis, and they can range in severity from patient to patient. There may also be swelling or redness around the affected joint when pain is flaring up.
It is most common for people to get arthritis in the hands, hips, and/or knees, but it can strike any joint. Some patients have arthritis in just one joint, while others may have it in multiple joints.
Arthritis can strike people of any age but tends to get worse with age.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Arthritis?
Chiropractors can't cure arthritis, as there is no known cure at this time. However, any misalignments of the joints can exacerbate the symptoms of arthritis and cause more pain and mobility problems than necessary. Chiropractic care can help bring the spine into correct alignment, reducing some inflammation and alleviating the joints, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, and surrounding tissue of undue stress.
The upper cervical spine, which consists of the uppermost seven vertebrae, is most prone to injuries that set off a domino effect down the rest of the body. In particular, the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) are the most prone to injury. These vertebrae sit just below the base of the skull and are responsible for the carriage and movement of the head. Any jolt to the head from a fall, accident, sports injury, or even just persistent poor posture can cause these vertebrae to slip out of alignment.
When vertebrae in the upper cervical spine are misaligned, the body shifts to compensate and keep the head up straight. You may not even notice this shift, but the strain it puts on the rest of your joints and tissue going down the body can cause inflammation, swelling, and pain. For people with arthritis, it just increases suffering.
When properly adjusted, arthritis patients will find some relief and improvement in their range of motion.
Let Us Help With Your Arthritis Pain
Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive, drug-free treatment option that helps many people suffering from inflammatory conditions like arthritis. At Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Gordon Elder is a specialist in the Blair Chiropractic Technique. This technique is gentler and more precise than traditional chiropractic methods, making it suitable for many sufferers of arthritis.
Dr. Elder has a three-step process for patients that begins with a thorough health screening and 3D diagnostic imaging scans. These scans give the doctor a much better look at your unique anatomy.
In the second step, the doctor will discuss his findings and discuss a treatment plan with you. With the use of state-of-the-art technology, corrections can be applied with more precision and much less pressure than traditional chiropractic methods.
The third step of Dr. Elder's process is aftercare which involves regular chiropractic check-ups. This enables the doctor to ensure corrections are holding and nip any problems in the bud to prevent future issues.
Don't let arthritis hold you back from doing the things you love. Contact Dr. Elder to see if upper cervical care can help you. Areas of coverage include Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.