Arthritis Treatment

osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, spine degeneration, joint inflammation, joint swelling, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, cartilage degeneration, joint cartilage pain

What Is Arthritis?

There Are Many Kinds Of Arthrits And Treatment Depends On The Type

Do your joints feel stiff when you first get up out of the chair? Is getting out of bed in the morning difficult? You may be suffering from arthritis. Fortunately, our dedicated doctors and healthcare providers can do to help you find relief and keep active!

For some people, arthritis pain is constant and debilitating, but for others, their symptoms improve throughout the day, and they seem to feel better being active. Finding arthritis pain relief is possible for most people!

Arthritis is a widespread condition that affects many people; however, many wait far too long to seek professional help for their aching joints because they assume there’s nothing they can do to alleviate the pain.

In years past, the medical community thought arthritis got worse with activity. Recent research has conclusively shown that staying active is actually the key to healthy joints and preventing arthritis from getting worse in most people!

Read our blog post about successfully treating arthritis here!

Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid are the most common types of arthritis

Arthritis is any chronic condition that can affect any joints in the body, causing pain, inflammation, and usually joint breakdown. This joint breakdown cannot be reversed but can be managed. The Arthritis Foundation states that there are over 100 different types of arthritis that exist. However, the two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, both of which can affect a single joint or multiple joints simultaneously.

What Is Osteoarthritis (OA)?

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and can happen in any joint in the body. Commonly it is found in the low back and neck, knees, hands, wrists, and ankles. The main characteristic is the loss of articular cartilage, which results in inflammation, bone/joint structural changes, bone spur formation, and joint pain. Osteoarthritis is often referred to as the “wear and tear” form of arthritis that occurs progressively over time from joint misalignment or previous injuries.

Osteoarthritis occurs mostly in the synovial joints of the body (hand, fingers, knees, and spine) and therefore it is essential to manage it early to reduce the likelihood of it worsening as we age. Arthritis in the spine is effectively managed with a chiropractic adjustment to promote proper movement of the joints. Though this will not stop the arthritis, it will safely reduce pain and increase range of motion.

This condition is typically described as the gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints that typically occurs from age, injury, or repetitive use of the affected joint(s). When worn down, cartilage can no longer act as a strong cushion and shock absorber for the joints, resulting in bone-on-bone friction and painful inflammation.

Typical symptoms include pain, muscle weakness, joint instability and swelling, brief morning stiffness, crepitus (i.e., noises like snaps and pops), and difficulty or inability to stay physically active due to pain.

Although aging is one of the most significant risk factors for osteoarthritis, obesity is also a major contributor to developing osteoarthritis. Obese patients have extra weight on their bodies that add to cartilage breakdown.

There is increasing evidence that different risk factors are associated with osteoarthritis, including:

Obesity
Genetic predispositions
Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., female gender, African-Canadian race),
Specific bone/joint shapes

There are also physical risk factors associated with increased osteoarthritis, including:

Joint injury
Participation in certain occupational activities (i.e., repetitive movements like bending or prolonged positions like sitting/driving)
Participation in sports (i.e., contact sports)
Thigh flexor muscle weakness and knee osteoarthritis
Joint misalignment

Fortunately, conservative healthcare like chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture can disrupt this cycle by improving joint movement, muscle strength, balance, and coordination, reducing pain and inflammation. If you have arthritis let us help you and start your recovery to better health and wellness!

What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?

Rheumatoid arthritis is the second most commonly experienced form of arthritis and develops as an autoimmune response. When someone has rheumatoid arthritis, their immune system sees the joints as a threat. Because of this perceived threat, the immune system attacks the joints, resulting in pain and inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis causes stiffness, edema, and pain in the joints. Untreated, it can cause irreversible joint injury and deformity.

While research is ongoing to understand rheumatoid arthritis better, many experts believe that your hormones, genes, smoking, and environment could all be contributing factors. According to researchers, rheumatoid arthritis affects more women than men and can cause pain while exercising or working.

Athritis Treatment In Saskatoon

Our Treatments Reduce Joint Inflammation To Reduce Arthritis

One of the most effective treatments for arthritic pain is chiropractic, physiotherapy, massage therapy and acupuncture. Request an appointment with Axis Health Center today if you suspect you have arthritis. The sooner you address your symptoms, the sooner we can help you find relief.

For some people with arthritis, the source of the pain is not solely due to damaged cartilage. Often swelling and weakness in the muscles supporting the joint magnify the pain and may even be the primary source of the pain. We will help you identify all the factors related to your pain and dysfunction and pinpoint the source of the problem. Our team will assist you in coping with your discomfort and teach you the strategies you will need to restore your function and maintain an active lifestyle.

One of our dedicated healthcare providers will evaluate you thoroughly to determine which treatments and exercises will help you relieve your arthritis pain while ensuring your ability to remain active. Our arthritis treatments are tailored to your specific needs, allowing you to recover faster and achieve better, longer-lasting results.

Our targeted treatments can help you improve your range of motion, strength, balance, coordination, and overall performance. We’ll also show you how to prevent future joint pain and perform home exercises to stay in front of the pain. Don’t wait, start your recovery today!