Arthritis Treatment for Residents of Cumming, Georgia
The term arthritis means inflammation of a joint but is generally used to describe any condition in which there is cartilage damage. Arthritis is a common disease that causes pain, swelling and limiting movement.Â
According to research, arthritis can affect people of all ages, but it is most common in the elderly. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. This form of arthritis causes inflammation and cartilage damage.
Other common forms of arthritis are Rheumatoid arthritis and Psoriatic arthritis.
The former is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy joints, organs, and tissues. This form of arthritis is most common in women of child-bearing age (15-44 years).
Psoriatic arthritis, on the other hand, occurs in people with a scaling skin disorder known as psoriasis. It affects the joints at the fingertips and toes and may cause changes in the fingernails and toes. If the spine is affected, back pain will also occur.
What Causes Arthritis?
The type of arthritis determines the cause of the disease. Osteoarthritis is caused by the wearing out of cartilage, typically from strenuous activities over a prolonged time. It could also be caused by joint disease, deformity, or injury.
In the elderly, osteoarthritis is associated with age and general degeneration of joints. Repeat trauma such as surgery to the affected joint and abnormal joint structure from birth can also cause osteoarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when an infection or the environment trigger the gene that is responsible for the disease. The body produces antibodies to defend itself which leads to the disease. This is also the cause of other forms of arthritis and rheumatic diseases such as lupus and scleroderma.
You become predisposed to post-traumatic arthritis when your joint is fractured at the surface. Because of the injury, your body produces certain hormones which cause the death of cartilage cells.
Genes also play a role. If you have the genetic marker HLA-B27, you are at a higher risk of getting arthritis.
Symptoms of Arthritis
Other diseases can mimic the early signs of arthritis, but the signs and symptoms of arthritis are very characteristic.
These symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Joint tenderness
- Joint pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Limping
- Stiffness
- Loss of range of motion
- Anemia
- Fever
- Depression
Treatment Options for Arthritis
Arthritis treatment aims to control the pain, minimize the joint damage as much as possible, and improve or maintain joint function and quality of life.
As an arthritis patient, you have two treatment options available. You can either take medication or use lifestyle strategies to improve joint function and prevent further damage.
Medication Options for Arthritis
Non-inflammatory types of arthritis can be treated with pain-reducing medication coupled with physical activities. If you are overweight, the doctor will also recommend weight loss and diet improvements.
Pain medicine and physical activity can also be used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis.
Your doctor might also prescribe diseases modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or biologics.
The most commonly used medications used to treat arthritis include:
- Â Â Â Analgesics, which reduce pain
- Â Â Â Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which reduce both pain and inflammations
- Â Â Â Counterirritants, which are creams and ointments with menthol or capsaicin
-    Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs which slow or stop the body’s immune system from attacking the joints
- Â Â Â Biologics which target various protein molecules in the immune system to stop or slow down joint attacks, and
- Â Â Â Corticosteroids which suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation
Lifestyle Treatment Strategies for Arthritis
Diet
Adopting a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol intake can all help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. No specific diet treats arthritis, but some foods such as fish, nuts and seeds, fruits and veggies, and beans may help reduce inflammation.
Some foods naturally increase inflammation and should be avoided. Nightshade vegetables, such as tomatoes, contain a chemical called solanine that has been linked with arthritis pain.
Although there is a conflict on whether nightshade vegetables should be avoided, some patients have reported pain reduction after dropping these foods from their diet.
Self-Management Strategy
To manage arthritis inflammation, you should keep active, achieve, and maintain a healthy weight, get regular medical checkups, and protect your joints from any unnecessary stress.
These are seven habits you can adopt to drive your self-management strategy:
- Stay organized by keeping track of symptoms, pain levels, medication and side effects of the medication you are taking.
- Manage pain and fatigue with either medication or non-medication strategies.
- Remain active by doing arthritis friendly exercises such as walking, cycling, yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, and stretching.
- Maintain a healthy diet to keep your weight in check and reduce inflammation.
- Get adequate sleep by adopting habits that help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Avoid caffeine and strenuous exercises.
- Balance work and rest, so you don’t strain your body.
- Care for your joints by using the stronger joints as levers when opening doors or using several joints at the same time to spread the weight.
Physical Therapy Strategy for Arthritis
Your arthritis specialist may recommend the use of physical therapy which works to strengthen the joints that have been damaged and are swollen.
Warm water therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, TENS therapy, and diathermy are commonly used to relieve pain from arthritis inflammation, slow tissue damage, and achieve a higher level of mobility.
Massages are also common in managing pain and may include kneading or rubbing joints and muscles to increase blood circulation.
Lastly, chiropractic treatment can also be an ideal option.
The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Arthritis Treatment
Chiropractic care can be a great way to manage and relieve pain caused by arthritis inflammation. Routine chiropractic care provides arthritis patients with a natural and safe alternative to prescription or over the counter pain relievers.
At Arise Family Chiropractic, we deliver gentle, non-invasive therapy to our Cumming patients who suffer with arthritis. Our chiropractic adjustments reduce restrictions on joints or spine and joint misalignments. With improved joint mobility, nervous system function, and overall spinal health, your body has the ability to better manage symptoms from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
These are just some of the health benefits our chiropractic techniques can provide local Cumming arthritis patients:
- Reduced pain and discomfort from inflammation
- Improved range of motion in joints
- Improved flexibility throughout the body
These benefits can help you lead a more active, pain-free life and enjoy all that our wonderful city of Cumming has to offer.
Not every method will be successful for you and no arthritis therapy is a magic bullet. These arthritis treatment options, however, will help you remain active and independent.
For the best diagnosis and treatment for your arthritis condition, book an appointment with us and discover how our chiropractic care can help you return to your normal lifestyle..