Can a Chiropractor Help with Arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that can really take over your entire life. It has the power to limit which activities you do and even make it feel impossible to do things you once loved. Unfortunately, for many people seeking out a chiropractor to treat arthritis is a last resort. In reality, it should have been part of their regular medical regimen to deal with the condition. Upon reading the prior statement, you may ask yourself “should I see a chiropractor for arthritis treatment?”
You may be one of the 40 million people who have arthritis in the U.S. and now wonder if a chiropractor can give you relief from arthritic pain. The answer to your question, in short, is yes; chiropractors can substantially reduce pain and discomfort from arthritis.
There could be no better endorsement for this than the Arthritis Foundation’s recommendation of chiropractors to alleviate pain caused by the disease. There are varied types of arthritis and chiropractors can treat most of them. It’s time to forget the outdated stigmas of the past when it comes to chiropractors. Epic Healthcare and Physical Medicine is here to help reduce arthritic pain. Let us delve further in our investigation of chiropractors and arthritis pain.
Chiropractic Treatment for Arthritis Works
Chiropractic treatment can effectively reduce arthritis pain. In fact, nearly all forms of arthritis respond to the use of some type of chiropractic technique to some degree. There are two kinds of arthritis that respond exceedingly well to chiropractic treatment. They are ankylosing spondylitis (a type of arthritis that leads to the fusing of vertebrae) and tendonitis (inflammation of tendons).
With these two forms of arthritis chiropractic treatment leads to relief of pain and other symptoms and improvement of chest expansion and spinal flexibility. Quality of life is better due to the improved range of movement. In some cases, people who were dependant on others to do things like picking something up from the floor or reach for items on a high shelf can perform those tasks themselves.
What Techniques do Chiropractors Use to Treat Arthritis?
As previously mentioned, a chiropractor can help with arthritis in the spine and tendons of the neck. Chiropractic manipulation of the spine along with massage is shown to reduce pressure on the joints. It also provides significant relief to arthritic pain. If a patient loses weight and incorporates stretching and low impact exercise the effect can be even more evident. Some types of training a chiropractor might suggest in conjunction with treatment are swimming and walking.
Arthritic pain caused by degenerative disks is also reduced through chiropractic techniques. With degenerative discs swelling causes misalignment of the spine and exerts pressure on nerves. Through gentle adjustments, arthritic pain can be lessened due to pressure on the nerve being removed. The treatment also significantly increases the range of motion the arthritis sufferer can execute. An improved range of motion means that calcifications in the spine will not occur because the body will not need to fuse vertebrae to stabilize the spine.
Neck pain can derive similar benefits from an adjustment and massage by a chiropractor. The neck is an area of the body where arthritic pain is most acute; chiropractic treatment can bring a large amount of relief that will allow a patient to sleep at night whereas before it was not possible. As with arthritis in the middle and lower spine, a chiropractor will suggest a series of exercise and stretches that will help to strengthen the neck and improve the range of motion.
Chiropractic Treatment for Arthritis Reduces Dependency on Medication
In this day and age opioid addiction is at epidemic levels. And, even drugs which shouldn’t be habit forming, such as Tramadol, are. Chiropractic treatment for arthritis reduces pain and therefore reduces the need for habit-forming medications. Following chiropractor recommended exercise and stretching will help to keep pain from returning and further lessen dependency on opioids and other prescription medication.
Chiropractic Treatment of Arthritis may eliminate the Need for Surgery
A patient may have seen several physicians and a surgeon seeking treatment for arthritic pain. The recommendation laid out by the doctor may include surgery. Often surgical procedure for herniated or degenerative disks involves installment of screws, hooks, and plates which the patient will have to deal with the rest of their life. Surgical implants to correct spinal misalignment are needed in severe cases. However, surgery is often overused to treat patients who could have their problem fixed by chiropractic means.
It is prudent that one seeks out a chiropractor’s opinion and recommendation for treatment before resorting to surgery. Many times the pain levels of the person living with arthritis decrease so dramatically that surgery to alleviate suffering is no longer necessary.
The reduction of arthritic pain through chiropractic treatment and the increase in mobility can help a patients psychological state. Increased confidence in their ability to perform everyday tasks due to less pain and a wider range of motion helps to lessen depression. Seeing a chiropractic for arthritis treatment can give someone a new lease on life. Don’t suffer needlessly when you can get relief.