Arthritis and Chiropractic
Arthritis is a disease of the whole body (a systemic disease) that is most dramatically seen in joints. The word arthritis may include more than 100 conditions, many that were formerly referred to as rheumatism. Arthritics may have arthritis for years, even decades, and never know it! You may have some arthritis right now.
Osteoarthritis (or OA), also called degenerative joint disease, is the most common arthritis of all: almost everyone over the age of 50 has a touch of it. In many people it causes pain, and in others partial or even total incapacitation.
OA is considered the result of too much spinal stress that creates wear and tear on the joint. Its often the sign that the spinal column is unbalanced. Bone growths, called spurrs, which are a sign of OA, may be a body defense--the body is trying to strengthen an area by building up more bone. Sometimes the bony growth may compress nerves, cause pain and affect the health of internal organs. Chiropractors for years have noticed that practice members under regular care can halt or even reverse some of the effects of osteoarthritis--something previously considered impossible.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the crippler that can destroy joints and affect the heart, blood vessels, eyes, skin, muscles, and other organs. It is accompanied by fatigue, weight loss, and acute pain. It often appears suddenly in someone in their 30s or 40s, and it may disappear just as suddenly. No one seems to know what causes it or why some recover and other do not. The best medical care can provide is physical therapy such as hot water baths and drugs for the pain and inflammation.
Growing evidence has led many researchers to believe that RA is an immune system (autoimmune) disease; the body is attacking itself because the immune system is malfunctioning.
Some other types of arthritis include ankylosing spondylitis, which fuses the spine; gout, which deposits chemical crystals in joints; juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a form of RA which occurs in children.
There now exists a growing theoretical concern which links vaccinations to the huge increase in recent decades of autoimmune diseases such as: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, lymphoma, and leukemia.
The medical profession offers no cure for arthritis; the underlying cause is unknown. Therefore treatment of symptoms--a lifetime of taking drugs, heat, hot packs, or exercises in warm water and similar treatments--are suggested. If a joint becomes severely deteriorated, then surgery may be considered.
Non steroidal anti- inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, Naprosyn, and Indocin, while they may provide mild relief from pain, stiffness, and inflammation, have been shown to cause stomach irritation, bleeding, ulcers, kidney and liver damage, hemorrhage of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum and the rest of the small intestine. Approximately 16,500 arthritic sufferers die every year from the gastrointestinal complications of NSAIDs, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. On top of that NSAIDs also disrupt the formation of cartilage, which covers and helps to lubricate joints and keep them moving smoothly.
Steroids, with prolonged use, may cause thinning and weakening of the bones. Gold salts may cause skin rashes and mouth ulcers.
Many changes in the nutrition of an arthritic patient can aid in dealing with the pain and improving the function of affected joints. The currently hot supplements glucoseamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate have been shown to remove pain and reverse the affects of OA in many people. A vast array of vitamins, supplements, and herbs have been show to help with arthritis. Removing or limiting the use of red meat, vegetable oil, certain fats, and sugars have also been shown to lessen the symptoms of arthritis.
Chiropractic is not a specific treatment for arthritis, but if you have arthritis you should have your spine checked for vertebral subluxations by a chiropractor. Vertebral subluxations stress your nervous system, alter body chemistry, weaken the immune system, put the body in a weakened state and can set the stage for sickness and diseases of all kinds--including arthritis. Doctors of chiropractic specialize in locating, analyzing, and correcting vertebral subluxations which are interferences to the nervous system.
For over a century, chiropractors have observed positive changes and improvement in arthritis in many arthritic patients. Chiropractic teaches us to respect and work with the natural wisdom of the body and to improve our health by removing interference to normal body function. Along with exercise, proper nutrition, and balanced mental and spiritual health, regular chiropractic check-ups should be a part of everyones lives. The body has a wisdom that far exceeds our own. It can cure diseases that have no known cure.
