Don't Take Arthritis Lying Down
Arthritis is known by many names, but all of them indicate a condition that can be both painful and debilitating. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a result of repetitive trauma of the joint and is more common as we age. Other forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. These types of arthritis are more common to see in younger people.
Osteoarthritis is often treated with anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID) like ibuprofen, naproxen and nothing else. This is a mistake. Using anti-inflammatory medication in the long term has been shown to impair the healing rate of cartilage and can also cause damage to the lining of the stomach and result in fatal stomach bleeds, particularly in the elderly. Fortunately there are better ways to manage arthritis.
There is a vicious cycle of pain and loss of mobility that comes with arthritis. Arthritis pain causes you to move less, and because you move less there is loss of mobility in the joints. As you lose mobility in your joints the arthritis worsens and you have more pain... and on and on. Our treatments work against arthritis to improve joint mobility and lessen pain. If you have less pain and more joint mobility you are able to remain active which has been shown to reduce the painful affects of arthritis. So instead of masking the pain with anti-inflammatory drugs our treatments help to restore joint mechanics, reduce pain and keep you active without the negative side-affects associated with prolonged anti-inflammatory use.
A study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found that 63% of people who visited a rheumatologist for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia conditions also sought some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Chiropractic was not only the most sought after form of CAM treatment, but it was also among those found to be most helpful for these conditions. Seventy-three percent of patients who had tried chiropractic care (33 of 45) found it to be helpful.
Using the available treatments that we have at the Natural Wellness Center instead of prescription medicines for pain relief, or over-the-counter medications such as NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) can reduce the chances of experiencing harmful side effects from long-term use. Our treatments offer a non-invasive way to improve your physical health and address such conditions as arthritis in a way that is natural and has no major side-effects.
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