Arthritis Treatment

Arthritis Q&A

​​​​​​​What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a condition that causes pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis is often caused by age, wear and tear, disability, or difficulties bearing weight on the feet and ankle joints when walking. Arthritis most often occurs in the elbow, wrist, shoulder, knee, or ankle joints, but occassionally, it can occur in the neck and back. There are over 100 different types of arthritis, but the most common are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is of an inflammatory nature, and occassionally, based on your physical, Dr. Gailes may request images before treatment because this is a systemic inflamammatory disorder that may require more careful treatment.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It is caused by the breakdown of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints. As cartilage breaks down, the bones rub against each other, causing pain and inflammation. Although osteoarthritis can affect any joint, it most often occurs in the hands, knees, hips and spine.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. This means that the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis not only affects the joints but causes a variety of body symptoms in the eyes, lungs, skin, heart, and blood vessels. If rheumatoid arthritis is not treated, it can eventually lead to bone erosion and joint deformity. Chiropractic care has shown ground-breaking results in relieving pain in patients with RA by not diectly treating inflamed joints. A case study in 2010 showed that chiropractic care reduced inflammation in the body caused by RA by lowering the levels of inflammation-inducing proteins in the body.

Gout

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that most ofen occurs in males. Those that suffer from gout are not able to get rid of all the uric acid that is produced in their body, leading to joint infammation. Chiropractic care is exremely effective for gout, which a significant number of our patients suffer from.

What are common symptoms of arthritis?

The symptoms of arthritis can vary depending on the type of arthritis. Some common symptoms of arthritis include:

• Pain in the joints
• Stiffness in the joints
• Swollen joints
• Tender joints
• Warmth in the joints
• Fatigue, fever, and loss of appetite
• Sleep distrubance
• Loss of range of motion
• Emotional Instability

How is arthritis diagnosed?

Dr. Gailes will diagnose the most likely type of arthrhtis with a patient history and physical exam. A main component of the exam is determination if the pain is articular (in the joints) or not. If not articular, this could be an indication of fibromyalgia or tendonitis. Patients with fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome usually complain of pain all over. Another way to identify inflammatory versus non-inflammatory arthritis is based on pain levels during periods of rest and activity. Inflammatory arthritis will also cause pain in the morning that can last more than 45 minutes. During rest this pain may initially improve with activity, but eventually gets worse with prolonged use and activity. In the more common osteoarthritis, pain usually worsens with activitity over the course of the day.

After evaluating the patient's history Dr. Gailes will do a physical exam (if x-rays are not required) to determine the areas of arthritis, to identify where to focus treatment, and to develop a treatment plan.

How is arthritis treated?

Chiropractic care is successful in not only managing symptoms of arthritis but also giving patients a sense of relieve and independence as flareups decline and sustained healing is promoted in ther body with regular treatment. There is no cure for arthritis, but most available treatment options are meant to help to manage the symptoms. Treatment for arthritis will vary depending on the type of arthritis and the severity of the symptoms. However, some common treatments include:

• Medications - There are a number of medications that can help to relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis. These medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
• Physical therapy - Physical therapy can help to improve range of motion and reduce pain.
• Occupational therapy - Occupational therapy can help people with arthritis learn how to adapt their activities of daily living to reduce pain and improve function.
• Chiropractic care - Chiropractic care can effectively reduce stiffness and pain in the joint as well as decrease inflammation in the body caused by arthritis.

Living with Arthritis

If you have arthritis, there are a number of things you can do to help manage your symptoms and live a full life. These include:

• Staying active - Exercise can help to reduce pain and improve range of motion.
• Losing weight - If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can help to reduce stress on your joints.
• Managing stress - Stress can worsen arthritis symptoms. Finding ways to manage stress, such as relaxation techniques or yoga, can help.
• Eating a healthy diet - Eating a healthy diet can help to reduce inflammation and improve overall health.
• Getting enough sleep - Getting enough sleep can help to reduce pain and improve function.

How can chiropractic help with arthritis?

Chiropractic can help to reduce arthritis pain in a number of ways. First, it can help to improve the alignment of the spine, which can reduce pressure on the joints and relieve pain. Second, chiropractic can help to improve range of motion, which can also reduce pain. Third, chiropractic can help to reduce inflammation, which is a major contributor to arthritis pain.

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on the spine and its relationship to overall health. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to help people with arthritis, including:

• Spinal adjustments - This is the most common chiropractic technique used to treat arthritis. It involves applying gentle pressure to the spine to correct misalignments.
• Joint mobilization - This technique involves moving the joints through their full range of motion to improve flexibility and reduce pain.
• Muscle massage - This technique helps to relax muscles and reduce pain.
• Stretching - This helps to improve flexibility and reduce pain.
• Exercise therapy - This helps to strengthen muscles and improve range of motion.

Specific Chiropractic Techniques for Arthritis

There are a number of specific chiropractic techniques that can be used to treat arthritis. Some of the most common techniques include:

• Sacroiliac joint manipulation - This technique is used to treat arthritis of the sacroiliac joint, which is the joint that connects the sacrum (the back of the pelvis) to the ilium (the hip bone).
• Facet joint manipulation - This technique is used to treat arthritis of the facet joints, which are the joints that connect the vertebrae (the bones in the spine).
• Trigger point therapy - This technique involves applying pressure to specific points in the muscles to relieve pain and improve function.
• Myofascial release - This technique involves applying gentle pressure to the fascia (the connective tissue that surrounds the muscles) to release tension and improve range of motion.
• Spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) - Spinal manipulation is accomplished through high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) adjustments. This is a technique where Dr. Gailes will apply a controlled thrust to a joint of the spine. This motion moves the joint more than it would on its own. SMT is actually a collection of techniques which include massage or mobilization of soft tissue, adjustment of spinal subluxations, trigger point therapy, cross-friction massage, active release therapy, and mechanical traction on an area of the spine or on an extremity.
• Flexion-distraction adjustments - A special segmented table is used so that spinal manipulations, combined with the movements of the table, stretch and decompress your spine.
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) - TENS sends electrical pulses through the skin to start your body's own painkillers. The electrical pulses can release endorphins and other substances to stop pain signals in the brain. TENS can reduce pain. Tens also works on muscles and causes muscle contractions by stimulating α-motor neurons. It is highly effective in improving muscle function, strengthening muscles, and improving joint range of motion.
• Myofascial release - This technique uses gentle pressure to release tension in the muscles and fascia, relieving pain and improving range of motion.
• Class IV Laser therapy - Dr. Gailes is currently the only chiropractor in Greenwich, CT offering Class IV Laser Therapy. Dr. Gailes uses chiropractic adjustments and laser therapy to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and speed up recovery times for all types of injuries. Laser therapy will reduce pain by over 50% in three to four treatments and can complement chiropractic adjustments or be used as an independent form of treatment.

​​​​​​​Begin with chiropractic care today

For complete arthritis relief call the Indian Harbor Chiropractic office or schedule an appointment online today.
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