Can I See a Chiropractor For Arthritis?

Want relief from widespread pain?

Here’s why you should see a chiropractor for arthritis relief.

 

It’s so common that it’s become a bit of a cliché—getting older means having new aches and pains to complain about! But what if that tricky knee isn’t an old sports injury, but a more chronic condition?

Roughly 1 in 5 Americans have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. But just because the pain, stiffness, and swelling have become your new “normal,” that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do about it.

As it turns out, seeing a chiropractor for arthritis could be the best decision for your overall health.

 

What Is Arthritis?

Arthritis is simply pain and inflammation that affects one or more joints. More than 100 different conditions can be classified as arthritis; however, there are three main types.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

OA is the most common form of arthritis, affecting approximately 32 million people throughout the U.S.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition, wherein cartilage between joints starts to break down, causing your joints to rub against each other. Over time, this can lead to inflammation and even bone spurs.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

In patients with RA, the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues—specifically those in the synovial tissues within the joints.

Because RA is classified as an autoimmune disorder, other parts of the body may be affected as well, such as the skin, heart, and eyes.

Juvenile Arthritis (JA)

While most types of arthritis affect adults, nearly 300,000 kids suffer from this painful condition.

There are many different types of Juvenile Arthritis, but the most common is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), which is sometimes referred to as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, as it is an autoimmune disorder.

Other Types of Arthritis

Other less common forms of arthritis include spondylitis, lupus, gout, fibromyalgia, infectious arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

Arthritis Symptoms

Arthritis is typically characterized by joint pain, stiffness, swelling, bone deformities, and joint misalignment.

Arthritis pain is often described as soreness, burning, or even tingling and is most commonly felt in the morning. Individuals with arthritis may even experience pain when the weather is humid or rainy.

Osteoarthritis is usually felt in just one or two joints, on one side of the body, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is often felt in the same joint on both sides of the body (both knees or both elbows, for example).

Swelling is another common symptom, caused by the body sending extra synovial fluid to help heal and “cushion” the joint.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your overactive immune system may cause you to also experience shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, weight loss, weakness, and eye inflammation or dryness.

How To Treat Arthritis

There is no cure for arthritis. Instead, your focus will be relieving pain, which means reducing inflammation.

Low-impact exercise has been shown to be effective at strengthening your joints and reducing swelling.

For mild to moderate pain, many turn to pain killers, hot/cold therapy, and low level laser therapy. Joint supplements may also be helpful at supporting the cartilage you have left. However, these may be insufficient against more severe symptoms.

Fortunately, there’s a non-invasive alternative that can help provide lasting pain relief.

 

See a Chiropractor For Arthritis

While no doctor cannot restore lost cartilage or “turn off” your immune system, regular chiropractic adjustments can help reduce arthritis pain and restore your range of motion.

Chiropractic treatment is a form of holistic care, which treats the body as a whole. By realigning joints through spinal manipulation, chiropractors can ensure that your nervous system is able to work properly.

And because chiropractic care is non-invasive with no side effects, it can work in conjunction with existing forms of treatment and medication.

 

Get Moving With Oviedo Chiropractic!

Arthritis symptoms can range from annoying to completely debilitating. But at Oviedo Chiropractic, our goal is help reduce pain so you can get back to living the life you love!

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff of chiropractors and medical massage therapists offers a wide range of treatments designed to restore misalignment, reduce inflammation, and improve your range of motion.

Schedule an appointment today to see how we can help you!