Published:
02/17/2017 12:18am
WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?
During my time working as a Chiropractor I have seen a common trend with my clients who have visited other health professionals before coming to see me. Many have already had x-rays (either by their medical doctor, or even by other Chiropractic Doctors) and they have been told they have arthritis. This big scary word dwells on their mind but they rarely understand what it is. What is arthritis? Is arthritis a bad thing?
Are there types of arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is where the body starts to attack itself, resulting in increases of inflammation and swelling on particular joints. It usually affects both sides of the body at the same time and is worse when we are resting. People will have attacks where the joints get red and swollen. This type of arthritis can NOT be detected by x-ray and needs blood tests.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a scary medical term used to describe wear and tear or degeneration. Wear and tear is something that will happen to every person as they grow older. This is because all the things we use our body for put some level of pressure on it, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing!
“If there is EVEN wear and tear throughout the body this shows that we are in a state of balance, and these marks we see are a sign of a life well lived”
The only time there may be issues is if we see more wear and tear in certain areas rather than being evenly distributed. This suggests more pressure in those areas.
Why does it happen?
This process is our body’s intelligent way to adapt to the increased pressure, but this is actually beneficial. The bone changes shape over time to become stronger for our individual needs and requirements. If it didn’t it would leave us more likely to fracture our bones and cause far more problems. Though it may not feel like it, it is an example of our body functioning well to support us.
Is the word important?
Rather than focusing on the scariness of the word and sickness that some people emphasise on it, it’s far more beneficial to focus on how it shows our body caring for us. It’s also beneficial to focus more on how we can improve our current situation instead of devoting all our attention to the negative things that we cannot change.
How can Chiropractic help?
For clients with rheumatoid arthritis, Chiropractic can be beneficial to ensure proper nerve function. Misalignments in the spine, especially the upper neck, have been linked to improper immune response. We have had multiple clients report Chiropractic care has reduced their symptoms and some have even reduced their medication, based on their reduction in pain.
For clients with osteoarthritis, we emphasize to focus on how to improve their health rather than fester on the name of the condition, as this label will never reap any rewards. For this problem we would find out how the problem started, what can be changed in your life to improve it and how we can help with adjustments. Adjustments of the spine can help the body work better, and then the body is more likely to regulate the symptoms you’re feeling. When you are out of pain we recommend regular adjustments to maintain the spine and to accentuate your health.
Call us today to find out how we can explain what’s really going on and how we can help you achieve the best possible health. All ages are the perfect time to be healthy!
