Arthritis

Nixa Arthritis Relief

Arthritis is a general term used for a condition that causes joint pain, stiffness, swelling, inflammation, lack of mobility and other joint problems.

The symptoms of arthritis usually begin slowly and increase over time. Left untreated, arthritis can wreck your quality of life by stopping you from doing the things you enjoy most.

Although most people think of arthritis as a condition that affects the knees, hips and hands of elderly people, arthritis can affect any joint in the body at any age.

The pain of arthritis can affect your quality of life and stop you from doing the things you enjoy most.

Before you give up on your passions, find out how your Nixa chiropractor, Dr. Hunter Greenwood DC ND, a can help you regain your mobility and get relief from your pain.

Dr. Greenwood specializes in the treatment of the two most common types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent type of arthritis. It is a common source ofback pain, neck pain, hip pain, and knee pain in older adults.

As we age, the normal wear and tear we put on our bodies can lead to cartilage degeneration. Cartilage is a firm, flexible tissue attached to the bones which acts as a natural cushion between the joints. As this cartilage degenerates, the bones start to rub one another. The resulting friction leads to decreased mobility, stiffness, swelling, and pain.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system is attacking itself. For patients with RA, the immune system attacks the synovial membrane, the soft tissue lining in the joint that secrets fluid to lubricate the joint.

RA is a progressive disease. In early stages, RA causes inflammation and swelling around the joint. Over time this process will lead to the destruction of cartilage and bone within the joint. Misalignments of the spine can further exacerbate inflammation in the joints and will reduce the amount of healthy blood and fluid going to these joints, only worsening the problem

How Can Your Nixa Chiropractor Help with Arthritis?

Chiropractic care in Nixa is very effective in easing arthritis symptoms. Fixated, stiff joints cause pain and lack of mobility. Furthermore, misalignments of the spine (known as subluxations) apply pressure on nerves, causing pain, and reduce the amount of fluid going to the joints. This can further exacerbate inflammation in these joints

Your Nixa chiropractor, Dr. Hunter Greenwood DC ND, applies chiropractic adjustments and naturopathic stretching and therapies to correct spinal subluxation. He also utilizes gentle adjustments and stretching of these fixated joints. Correcting these subluxations and doing gentle work with the damaged joints reduces pain, improves range of motion and mobility, and improves joint lubrication.

Dr. Greenwood may also recommend exercise rehabilitation or spinal decompression to strengthen weakened ligaments, naturopathic therapies to reduce pain, and dietary changes or natural supplements to help reduce inflammation.

While there is no “cure” for arthritis, this comprehensive approach can reduce pain, restore range of motion and mobility, and slow or stop the progression of your arthritis so that you can resume the activities you love most.

Nixa chiropractic care brings extra benefits as well. Subluxations cause nerve interference, keeping the brain from communicating properly with the rest of the body. When the subluxations are corrected, the body is able to communicate without interference. Your immune system is strengthened and along with a decrease of pain, but you will also experience an improvement in your overall health and wellness.

Don’t let arthritis decide what you can and cannot do. Get relief from your arthritis pain at your chiropractor in Nixa, Dr. Hunter Greenwood at Chiropractor Plus. Call us at (417) 725-6655 or come in today!

Isn’t it time YOU felt good again?

References

• ACA- Don't Take Arthritis Lying Down. American Chiropractic Association. Accessed October 7, 2013. http://www.acatoday.org/content_css.cfm?CID=62.

• Poulsen E, Hartvigsen J, et al. Patient education with or without manual therapy compared to a control group in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip- A proof of principle three-arm parallel group randomized clinical trial. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2013; 21:145.

• Yu H, Hou S, Wu W, He X. Upper cervical manipulation combined with mobilization for the treatment of atlantoaxial osteoarthritis: a report of 10 cases. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2011;34(2):131-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.12.005.