When Osteoarthritis Brings Pain Your Chiropractor May Help
We all seem to know someone who has arthritis, which shows up when the cartilage between joints wears away. At first it is just a twinge, but later as bone meets bone the situation becomes more critical.
The knees are a real target. I have known several people, both men and women, who have suffered with arthritis in the knees. They were all busy, upbeat people and they kept going until they found solutions and were able to get back to all of their regular activities. When the knee became non-functional they hobbled around and sat more, but finally the call to action motivated them to seek treatment with good solutions.
One fellow was a teacher and he never backed down, but he did move a little slower for awhile. Another was a busy homemaker who gardened, shopped, and refinished antiques. But she too insisted on solutions and eventually made it back to her projects.
The third one was a woodworker who was on his feet a lot and used his hands in his work. He had arthritis in his back and in his hands. But he also got back to his workbench after a series of treatments with his chiropractor.
If you or someone you know is facing arthritis in hips, back, neck or hands and wrist you are well aware of the pain and disruption of life that can be involved. And of course the mental stress of dealing with all of it can lead to tense muscles and more discomfort.
If you are looking for answers a chiropractor may be able to help. Moving you beyond the temporary relief of painkillers, the chiropractor may be able to help you relieve pain with alignment adjustments that release pressure on the nervous system. This may also help joints move more normally.
Many chiropractors will tell you this is a focus on treating the whole body, not just the painful knee, hip or wrist. Starting with an initial session, exploring medical history and daily activities and providing adjustments, the chiropractor may be able to help you relieve pain and create an overall feeling of wellbeing.
They may also suggest weight control to lessen the load on the joints. And they will have good advice on shaping a beneficial lifestyle. Stress reduction, balanced diet, moderate use of alcohol and caffeine and no smoking will all help. Distributing weight evenly in totes and lifting with the legs instead of the back works too.
Overall, the journey through osteoarthritis can be a long one, but your chiropractor may be a very helpful assistant in making it a little easier.