For decades, arthritis was considered an inherent part of the aging process and a signal to a patient that it’s time to slow down. But not anymore. Surprisingly recent research points out that people much younger can develop rheumatoid arthritis pain but the best news is that people no longer need to suffer needlessly from the pain.
Recent research and clinical findings show that there is much more to life for arthritis patients than the traditional recommendation of bed rest and drug therapy.
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
The word “arthritis” means “joint inflammation” and is often used in reference to the pain affecting a certain part of the body, for example the neck or low back. Recent studies indicate that arthritis and arthritic pain does effect up to 80% of people over 50 years of age, but not all.
Specifically rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. Several features distinguish it from other kinds of arthritis:
- Tender, warm, and swollen joints.
- Fatigue, sometimes fever, and a general sense of not feeling well.
- Pain and stiffness lasts for more than 30 minutes after a long rest.
- The condition is symmetrical. If one hand is affected, the other one is, too.
- The wrist and finger joints closest to the hand are most frequently affected. Neck, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle, and feet joints can also be affected.
- The disease can last for years and can affect other parts of the body, not only the joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is also highly individual. Some people suffer from mild arthritis that lasts from a few months to a few years and then goes away. Mild or moderate arthritis sufferers have periods of worsening symptoms (flares) and periods of remissions. Finally, people with severe arthritis can feel pain most of the time. The pain lasts for many years and can cause serious joint damage and disability.
Chiropractic Care
As spinal and musculoskeletal specialists, we look at x-rays everyday. What we observe is that arthritis often develops in areas where there have been misalignments , or areas where a trauma has occurred and left untreated over a long period of time. For instance if you suffered back or neck pain from a car accident, sporting injury, or even held an improper posture at work for a long period of time, over the years that area of the body can and will degenerate and your bodies protective mechanism of swelling, arthritis, in time will result.
In the traditional treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, anti-inflammatories are most frequently prescribed to patients which are unfortunately linked to dangerous side effects such as blurred vision, increased blood pressure, digestive ulcers and bleeding, kidney problems, dizziness and even possibly death.
Chiropractic care is safe and natural approach that addresses the body as a whole system. This whole body approach incorporates exercise, nutrition, along with function and mobility for the best and most long lasting maintainable results.
What makes our team special? Our team specializes in techniques and treatments that address the cause of the arthritic pain directly rather than simply masking the symptom of the inflammation.
We Can Help!
Rheumatoid arthritis requires rehabilitation programs that cater for the specific needs and a long-term approach. Patience is required for these rehabilitation programs and it is essential to remember that the problem has developed over a period of years and will not be fixed in a matter of weeks or months. Progress should be reached in the short-term, but such situations usually require consistent, ongoing attention to achieve the long-term solution.
Applying the appropriate rehabilitation program to this degenerative condition is critically important and chiropractic care can be of great assistance in achieving the maximum rewards from a rehabilitation program. By enabling the maximum mobility of the spine and maximum function of your nervous system, regular chiropractic care’s strategic goal is to not only restore function but to revitalize the health of the entire body.
Our expert team has been uniquely formulated to bring together the right combination of knowledge, techniques, and support to help you and your family members. Not only will we help you achieve health and wellness with reducing and eliminating pain but also help future generations learn to be pro-active and avoid degenerative processes like arthritis to allow them to fully enjoy the activities that they desire their entire lives!
For Your Health,
Dr. Mark Hardwick and Dr. Mitchell Jacobs