How the Joint May Help You Handle Osteoarthritis
By Sandy Schroeder
If your knees ache or your fingers are a little stiff, you may be facing osteoarthritis, which affects some 27 million Americans.
Osteoarthritis begins when the flexible tissue lining of the joints, known as cartilage, deteriorates. Space between bones narrows and bone surfaces change, according to healthharvard.edu. If you, or someone you know, experiences this, you understand the reality of bone-on-bone contact. Joint damage and ongoing pain follow.
Taking steps to protect joints, reduce pain, and hang on to the ability to move, can make a huge difference in the impact of osteoarthritis.
Winning the Battle
Using chiropractic assistance and smart exercise routines to fight back may be the best way to take control. The Joint Chiropractic has licensed chiropractors who are well equipped with the training and experience to deal with osteoarthritis, that may show up over time, in the knee, hip, lower back, neck and finger joints.
According to the Harvard medical community, the first sign of joint pain often shows up after heavy activity or overuse. Morning stiffness or slightly tender joints may crackle or grate and even interrupt sleep.
Look for These Signs
Hands - Stiffness and soreness in fingers, or at the base of the thumb, may show up just as you are trying to navigate breakfast. It may be hard to keep a grip on dishes and pots, open jars, turn keys or type.
Knees - Stiffness, swelling, and joint pain can gradually erode a lifestyle, making it painful to walk, bathe, or just get in and out of bed.
Hips and Spine – Hip pain may run down the inside thigh or be felt in the groin and the knee. In the neck it may spread into the shoulders and arms. In the lower spine pain can spread to legs or buttocks.
Taking Charge with Chiropractic
Wherever osteoarthritis shows up, your chiropractor will seek to help you regain control, focusing on your spinal health as the starting point. Using a spinal adjustment to correct any dysfunction, the goal will be to relieve pain and restore activity without using pain medications or surgery.
As you talk with your chiropractor about your joint pain, he or she will want to hear about when it started, and how it impacts your life. There will also be a review of medical history.
At that point, ongoing chiropractic visits and focused activities and exercises may be used to keep you more comfortable and moving. Osteoarthritis is a tough call, but chiropractic may be the best opponent.
As you consider your options, stop by The Joint Chiropractic and see how they can help. They have walk-in visits, extended hours and a private affordable care program that eliminates the need for insurance.