- 50% of adults over 65 in the U.S. have received an arthritis diagnosis.
- But two-thirds of people with arthritis are actually under 65, including almost 300,000 babies and children.
- People with arthritis lose more workdays every year due to illness or injury than adults with other medical conditions, are more likely to be unemployed, have much higher medical costs, and suffer from some sort of physical disability.
- Among adults with arthritis, around 47% have at least one other disease or condition, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, anxiety, depression, gout, or high blood pressure.
I know that was a lot of numbers and math, but don’t fall asleep on me! As a chiropractor for arthritis in Springfield, IL, I know the significant adverse effects of arthritis on a person’s quality of life, and I don’t want that person to be you.
When the cartilage between bones and joints wears down, rather than have the protection and cushion they need, the bones rub against one another.
Arthritis Signs and Symptoms
- Joint Pain
- Inflammation and Swelling
- Stiffness
- Decreased Range of Motion
- Loss of Flexibility
- Decreased Mobility
Which Joints Does Arthritis Affect?
- Lower Back
- Hips
- Knees
- Neck
- Fingers
- Thumb
Making it hard to:
- Walk
- Climb Stairs
- Lift Objects
- Grasp and Hold Objects
- Intricate Hand Work, such as knitting
- Squat
- Lift Your Legs
As fluid accumulates in the affected joint, the levels of hyaluronan (a beneficial chemical hormone) decline, meaning the joints are less protected from the effects of shock and pressure.
Conventional Treatments for Arthritis
Rheumatologists – the doctors who treat arthritis – love pharmaceuticals. Ok, that’s not totally fair, but it’s also sort of true. Their most common arthritis treatment is prescription drugs. And not drugs that lower inflammation or deal with the underlying cause of arthritis, drugs that treat only the pain. This isn’t a long-term strategy.
Percocet
Darvocet
Oxycontin
Duragesic
The four horsemen of the apocalypse.
These medications don’t just pose devastating side effects like heart attack, stroke, and stomach bleeding…
…they can also be very addicting.
Natural Arthritis Treatments
Maintain Healthy Weight
Extra fat strains joints. This is not meant to shame or stigmatize. It’s the laws of physics.
Notice I said healthy weight, a number that is different for everyone and impossible to determine from Instagram or TikTok.
Fat does more than just sit around and make it difficult to move. It’s an active tissue creating hormones that promote inflammation, further contributing to joint strain and…arthritis. This is why some overweight people have arthritis in parts of their bodies that support body weight. You know, the lazy parts of the body, like the hands. Those stored fat cells speed up joint breakdown.
Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is the foundation of arthritis prevention tips.
Improve Your Diet
Improving your diet is a great way to achieve the above tip.
At this point, we know the good foods and the ones secretly trying to kill us. Good foods are heavy in:
- Omega-3s – wild-caught fish, grass-fed beef, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts are rich in Omega-3s, which are powerful inflammation fighters.
- Sulfur Rich – onions, garlic, asparagus, and cabbage have MSM (methylsulfonylmethane…so let’s stick with MSM) that reduces joint inflammation, rebuilds tissue, and relieves pain – a classic 1, 2, 3 punch.
- Bone Broth – a great source of collage that helps rebuild connective tissue.
- Antioxidants – leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, berries, melon, papaya, avocado, and pineapple are packed with not just antioxidants but vitamins C and A, fiber, magnesium, potassium, digestive enzymes, and anti-inflammatory compounds, which make living less a chore and more of a joy.
- High-fiber – vegetables, fruit, ancient grains, beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds are great for optimizing digestive health, controlling appetite, and lowering the risk of gut-related diseases.
And low in:
- Excess sugar
- Hydrogenated oils (soybean, cottonseed, even canola)
- Nightshade vegetables (potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes) for those with autoimmune diseases
Stay Active
It’s easy for people with arthritis to make every day a rest day. The pain and stiffness they feel when exercising, or run-of-the-mill everyday movement, for that matter, is a legitimate deterrent.
However, staying active is critical for joint health and will help reduce arthritis symptoms.
Exercise is more effective than the pharmacological interventions conventionally used to reduce pain and improve mobility. It lowers inflammation and regulates hormones, and exerting more energy gives you more sustained energy throughout the day.
That’s why I’m here!
Joint health relies on the muscles around your joints for added support and stabilization. Strengthening those support muscles will decrease strain on the joints.
Exercise also releases endorphins. Besides boosting your mood, endorphins are analgesics, meaning they reduce pain. They bind with neuron receptors in your brain, the same receptors that bind with pain medicine. However, unlike actual morphine, endorphins do not lead to addiction.
Chiropractic Care
While there is no cure for arthritis, there is no better medicine or better way to manage and prevent arthritis than chiropractic care. Regular chiropractic care helps maintain healthy joints and instills principles that will transform how you approach your health. We’ll hammer home the importance of an anti-inflammatory diet and that when it comes to exercise-
Chiropractic adjustments are a natural way to relieve pain and ensure our joints are mobile and in good shape. Arthritis doesn’t appear out of thin air like the next young star Hollywood tries to shove down our throats; it is a long degenerative process. That means ample time to get ahead of the problem before it materializes.
Mobile joints, in good alignment and controlled by an efficient nervous system, will help you stay in the sun and out of the statistics. Give us a call or schedule a time to meet with one of our amazing doctors to keep your body arthritis-free or discuss treatment options to help manage the symptoms.
The best time to start chiropractic care was twenty years ago, and the second-best time is NOW.