Arthritic Pain - Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is the word used to describe pain in the joints; it literally means inflammation of a joint. Most people are likely to get some degree of osteoarthritis i.e. degeneration, or 'wear and tear', later in their lives but, when one joint wears faster than the rest, it is in many cases due to excessive or too little movement. This can often be helped by Chiropractic adjustments.
Osteoarthritis is caused when the cartilage covering the bones in a joint become eroded and roughened. Tendons and ligaments holding the joint together get weaker and the joint itself may become deformed, painful and stiff. Joints which have been injured or subject to unusual stress, perhaps as the result of a sporting career or heavy manual job, are likely to wear faster.
After taking a full case history and conducting an examination which may include X-rays, your Chiropractor will make a diagnosis and propose a treatment programme. While chiropractic treatment is appropriate for many forms of arthritic pain, for some it can only give pain relief. You may also be referred to your GP for further treatment. Although the degeneration of joints cannot normally be reversed, your Chiropractor can regularly adjust them to keep them healthy and mobile, reducing pain and helping to slow further 'wear and tear'. In addition, Chiropractic care can help your spine to keep free of the nerve irritation which may prevent your body from healing itself properly.
Degenerative changes in themselves need not produce symptoms. They do, however make the spinal column more susceptible to damage. Regular adjustments by your Chiropractor, together with an appropriate rehabilitation and maintenance plan, can improve movement and reduce the stress that may cause pain in the future.
