Arthritis is one of the most talked about, and unfortunately misunderstood, joint issues impacting people today. Here at our Laurel, MD chiropractic office, we see a lot of individuals with arthritis—many of whom don’t even know that they have this condition.
This is because arthritis is an umbrella term and one that is meant to encompass a number of different types of joint inflammation or joint disease. While many people will automatically call pain in their joints “arthritis’ but pain alone isn’t the only way to diagnose arthritis. The good news is, this condition is relatively easy to diagnose if you go to a professional.
So, How Do You Know If You Have Arthritis?
You need to visit a doctor to get an official arthritis diagnosis. Here at or PG County chiropractic office, we will always take x-rays and perform a physical examination to determine if the pain you are dealing with is actually arthritis, or something else. X-rays are essential to diagnosing this joint condition, meaning it is important that you visit a chiropractor who will take films first.
Is There Just One Type of Arthritis?
One of the many things that people don’t realize about arthritis is that there isn’t just one type of arthritis. There are actually many types of arthritis, that can be categorized into four different categories:
When most people talk about “arthritis” they are actually talking about degenerative arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis. This is the most common type of arthritis and occurs when a joint in the body wears down over time or stops working from “wear and tear.”
While this is common, it does not mean degenerative arthritis is “normal.”
What Causes Degenerative Arthritis?
Osteoarthritis is quite common, but what causes it? Well it isn’t just “normal wear and tear.” It happens when an abnormal amount of pressure and stress is put on the joints over time. This is what causes more wear and tear than your joints can handle.
This extra pressure can come from a number of factors including sports injuries, car accidents or even falls. There are other factors that can contribute to issues with arthritis including sitting for long periods of time every day or having poor posture.
Sound familiar? This is why arthritis impacts so many people—many of our common lifestyle choices can ultimately lead to this condition.
How Can You Treat Arthritis?
Some people assume that the only way to treat arthritis is through over-the-counter medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, that will only cover up pain and discomfort, it won’t treat the actual root of the issue.
Pain is a warning sign indicating there is an underlying problem, meaning medication alone won’t fix the actual wear and tear—it only masks the warning sign. It’s like putting a piece of tape over your check engine light, so you don’t have to see it anymore.
Since arthritis is a result of abnormal pressure on the joints, one of the best ways to remedy this pressure and prevent arthritis from getting worse is through regular chiropractic joints adjustments. By correcting the structure of the spine and the surrounding joints, you can take pressure off of them and help reduce that extra wear and tear that your body doesn’t need.
This will prevent your arthritis from getting worse, and allow the body to heal naturally.
Here at our Laurel, MD chiropractic office, we are here to help all of our patients on their arthritis journey. We know that untreated arthritis can cause a lot of pain and discomfort and that many patients don’t want to be on inflammatory medications every day just to enjoy the activities they love the most.
We also know that if left untreated, osteoarthritis will only continue to get worse.
This is why our PG County chiropractic office specializes in treating all type of arthritis and are dedicated to helping our patients get out of pain and stay out of pain. If you ever have any questions about joint pain or suspect that you may have arthritis, contact our doctors here at McAuliffe Chiropractic. We have been proudly helping customers across PG County and Howard County stay pain free.
To schedule and appointment with us, make an appointment online here, or call or office directly at 301-776-0755.
