What to Know about Arthritis Treatment Provided by a Temple Chiropractor
If you have joint pain that's particularly bothersome in the morning, you may have a condition known as arthritis. A standard primary care physician will recommend an analgesic and possibly steroid injections. However, chiropractic care has more treatment options to offer a patient. At Armstrong Chiropractic Center, serving Temple, TX, and the surrounding areas, we create a plan tailored toward your needs to help manage your pain naturally.
About Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that affects your joints, causing them to swell. You may suffer from stiffness, especially in the morning. You might also experience redness at the site, as well as limited mobility. Depending on the form of arthritis you have, you could eventually develop a joint deformity. Two types of arthritis happen more frequently than others: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis arises from wear and tear in the joint. Once the cartilage in a joint is damaged, the bones start to rub against one another, causing pain and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, stems from your body's immune system attacking the joint. As this form of arthritis progresses, it may damage the joint as well as the bone.
Causes of Arthritis
Certain factors make you more likely to develop arthritis than others. For instance, some forms of arthritis are hereditary, meaning you're more prone to arthritis if a parent or sibling has it. This occurs because your genes make you more vulnerable to environmental factors that lead to arthritis. You're more susceptible to developing arthritis if you're older.
Diagnosing Arthritis
Often, our chiropractor detects arthritis by completing a physical examination and seeing if you have swelling in your joints. In addition, our chiropractor takes into consideration your symptoms. Further testing is sometimes necessary. We may need to perform imaging to get a glimpse of your bones and soft tissue. Sometimes, we use urine, blood, or joint fluid analysis to determine the kind of arthritis you have.
Chiropractic Treatment for Arthritis
Treatment depends on where arthritis is affecting you. We may utilize exercise therapy to keep your joints moving safely. During this particular treatment, our chiropractor guides you through exercises that work the muscles and soft tissue surrounding the joint. Additionally, this guidance keeps the joint moving in a safe way. We enhance the difficulty of the exercises as you progress. We also offer other treatments, like massage therapy, to relieve pain and inflammation and lifestyle advice to slow the progression of arthritis and relieve pain.
