Arthritis

Arthritis Treatment in Jacksonville, FL

Osteoarthritis

Defining Osteoarthritis

A disease that afflicts more than 20 million Americans, osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that wears away at the cartilage on the ends of people's bones. As the cartilage wears down and disappears, people's bones begin grinding against each other, causing significant amounts of pain and stiffness. The bone ends are no longer protected by the fluid cushioning found with healthy cartilage. While this condition does tend to afflict people age 65 years of age or over, it increasingly can be found in patients younger than 65.

Primary Contributors to Osteoarthritis...

  • Obesity
  • Inactivity
  • Prior joint injuries like sprains, strains, separations, or fractures
  • Family history of osteoarthritis

Ask for OA testing if you experience...

  • Joint pain that comes on suddenly or intermittently
  • Stiff joints after extended periods of rest or inactivity
  • Joint inflammation accompanied by heat or tenderness
  • The sensation of bones and joints crushing or grinding against each other
illustration of spine

Risk Factors for Osteoarthritis

It used to be that doctors in Jacksonville Florida and elsewhere throughout the country believed that only the elderly and the aging were at risk of developing osteoarthritis aka OA. Now, however, doctors know that this serious joint and bone condition can afflict people of any age. A number of different factors can contribute to the onset, persistence, and severity of osteoarthritis. The scientific community continues to search for ways to prevent and treat this condition in arthritis sufferers.

Testing & Diagnosing OA

If people suspect that they suffer from osteoarthritis, it is vital that they visit with their doctors to undergo proper testing. The tests may include drawing and testing fluid from the affected joint. It also might entail a thorough examination and specialized tests like x-rays. Prompt diagnosis allows doctors to begin treating patients immediately for their OA symptoms. It also allows physicians to differentiate this disease from other illnesses from which patients could suffer.

Living with and Treating Osteoarthritis

As painful as OA can be, particularly when people try to walk, lift heavy objects, or simply get out of bed, it is vital that people with this condition continue to remain active. Inactivity is known to be one of the worst aggravating factors of osteoarthritis. If people remain inactive out of fear of experiencing pain or wanting to safeguard their joints, they actually do their bodies a disservice. They can learn to live with and possibly minimize the symptoms of their OA if they make an effort to increase their activity levels.
Some of the best types of exercises that OA sufferers can do include low impact exercises. These exercises avoid putting too much stress and weight on their joints and bones. However, they also promote healthy blood flow to the affected areas. Some of these exercises could include:
  • Walking
  • Climbing Stairs
  • Stationary training
  • Lightweight training
  • Yoga
illustration of joints
Lifting light weights with one's arms and legs can likewise promote health and healing. OA sufferers should listen to their bodies, however, and avoid exercising too much or overexerting their joints to avoid further damage. Individuals suffering with arthritic pain may also promote healing and stability in their joints by adding dietary supplements to their OA maintenance regimen.

Dietary supplementation should never take the place of a proper, well-rounded anti-inflammatory type of diet. These supplements can include taking up to 1500 mg of glucosamine and up to 1200 mg of chondroitin sulfate. Before they add supplements to their diets, however, patients should consult with their physicians to avoid complications with medications like anti-coagulants and other prescribed medicines.

Chiropractic Treatment for OA

Chiropractic treatments may also help OA sufferers adapt to and overcome the worst of their conditions. Chiropractors are trained to help minimize the pain associated with this disease through remedies that vary from chiropractic manipulation to trigger-point therapy. They also may utilize therapeutic massage to treat patients.

These providers likewise can recommend lifestyle and dietary changes that could help sufferers experience prompt relief. A knowledgeable chiropractic physician will monitor OA patients' progress and recommend changes to activity levels and pain relief management as needed. Osteoarthritis afflicts millions of Americans each year. People can find relief through exercise and chiropractic remedies.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Defining Rheumatoid Osteoarthritis

The word "arthritis" literally translates as joint inflammation. The condition itself is a symptom found with a wide variety of illnesses. Some of the more common conditions associated with it include:
  • Gout
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Psoriatic Arthritic conditions
Some of the more common symptoms associated with this arthritic disease are:
  • Joint pain
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness or heat
  • Joint Stiffness
Joints found in the arms, fingers, legs, and feet are most com monly affected by this illness. It also may target people's shoulders and upper spine. If left untreated, it can cause sufferers to lose feeling and function in the affected joints. The targeted joints become quite inflamed and as a result of this inflammation joint destruction is realized to some degree. Rheumatoid Arthritis can become so severe that there can be visually noticeable joint disfigurement.
xrays of joints

Treating RA

When it comes to treating RA, a careful balance between exercise and rest must be observed. People who suffer with this  condition are encouraged to exercise when their symptoms are minimal or non-existent. During these non-active phases, they should undertake low-impact exercises like
  • Stretching
  • Dancing
  • Lifting weights
  • Walking
  • Swimming
  • Bike Riding
  • Yoga
These lower impact exercises promote healthy blood flow to the affected joints and also promote tissue and cartilage healing. People affected with RA should try to exercise between 20 to 30 minutes per day during times when their symptoms are least noticeable.

However, during the times that their symptoms are increasing or at their worst, people should rest and avoid putting strain on their joints. If they overexert themselves during RA flare-ups, they could increase their risk of joint damage resulting in loss of movement and sensation. RA sufferers are likewise encouraged to eat a balanced diet and also take dietary supplements if their medication regimen allows. Before they take any kind of supplement, however, patients should ask their doctors and follow any medicinal advice they receive. Some of the more common supplements noted to promote healthy joint health include:
  • Eicosapentanoic acid, or EPA
  • Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA
  • Gamma linolenic acid, or GLA
These natural fatty oils can be found in foods like black currants, fish like tuna, salmon, herring, and halibut. They are also recommended to eat a generally anti-inflammatory diet rich in spices like ginger, turmeric, and nettle leaf extract.

Chiropractic Help for RA

Along with exercise and a healthy diet, RA sufferers may experience more thorough healing by seeking out professional chiropractic care. Chiropractors who are trained to work with RA and osteoarthritis sufferers use a number of different treatment options like physical therapy, physiotherapy, massage or chiropractic manipulation to help people feel better. These providers can also recommend lifestyle changes that can go a long way in keeping the worst symptoms of RA at bay. 

These recommendations may include changes to one's diet to suggesting exercises that will increase one's flexibility and range of motion in the affected joints. Living with rheumatoid arthritis can bring one's life to a quick halt. People afflicted with the symptoms of RA may experience quicker recoveries by exercising and by undergoing competent chiropractic care.

If you find yourself suffering with the above arthritis pain symptoms, please do not hesitate to call North Florida Spine and Injury Center in Jacksonville, FL. We are trained and equipped to properly treat individuals who suffer from the various types of arthritic pain syndromes. We look forward to hearing from you. 

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