Arthritis

OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE SPINE

As chiropractors, we frequently encounter individuals who report that their doctor has told them that they have arthritis in their spine and that they will have to learn to live with it.  Arthritis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), degenerative disc disease (DDD), disintegrating discs, wear and tear … All these terms mean the same thing. Your spine has not been functioning properly for a very long time which has resulted in structural and nerve damage.  These areas become weak or unstable and your body’s natural defense is to strengthen the area with spurring or bone growth to protect the area.  Arthritic changes can be quiet painful and restrictive for the majority of patients, but it can also lie silent in waiting. 

Typically, a medical doctor will prescribe pain or anti-inflammatory medications to deal with spinal arthritis. The drawback to this approach is that while drugs may provide some symptomatic relief, they do nothing to address or correct the arthritis itself.  When on medication, you may have the false impression of effectively managing your condition while the degenerative process is continuing to progress.

The chiropractic approach to arthritis is to restore the proper motion of the bones of the spine and allow the spinal nerves to function optimally.  By increasing the motion of these bones we can decrease the body’s need for the inflammatory process and greatly reduce the amount of pain you are experiencing.

If you are suffering in pain or taking medication to artificially mask your arthritic symptoms, be assured that chiropractic care is worth investigating.  In addition to preventing further progression of your condition, it could help you to lead a higher quality of life.