Arthritis Misconceptions Debunked for Natural Pain Relief

Did you know that nearly 1 in 4 adults in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis according to the CDC? This is a staggering statistic that is often overlooked because many people view arthritis as an “old person” disease. The common misconception is that arthritis is inevitable with age. While arthritis is more prevalent in older adults, it’s not a routine part of aging. In fact, arthritis symptoms are easy to treat with routine chiropractic care and Pressure Point Therapy. 

What Is Arthritis?

Many people think that arthritis is caused by calcium deposits on their joints, but that is another misconception about this condition. “Arthritis” comes from the Greek arthron, meaning “joint,” and -itis, meaning “disease or inflammation.” Put together, the word arthritis means “inflammation of the joints.” 

How Arthritis Affects Your Joints

Arthritis is caused by joint inflammation which reduces a person’s range of motion. Arthritic joints are often stiff, swollen, and painful. This pain causes people with arthritis to avoid using that joint. Unfortunately, that makes the problem worse because your joints need to move to stay healthy. 

Joints do not have a direct blood supply. Movement helps prevent cellular debris from getting trapped in the joints. If you don’t move the joint because of arthritis pain, that cellular debris accumulates in the joint and can cause it to degenerate. Movement is the solution, but arthritis makes movement difficult. 

Common Medical Treatments for Arthritis 

Doctors will commonly prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for patients suffering from arthritis. These types of medication can relieve arthritis pain, but they do not treat the underlying causes: inflammation and debris in the joints. 

What’s more is these medications can worsen your health with unpleasant side effects, especially if you continue to use them long term. In fact, long-term use of NSAIDs causes an estimated 41,000 hospitalizations of older Americans each year due to the side effects of these drugs. 

Common side effects of NSAIDs include: 

• Stomach bleeding and ulcers
• Dizziness, nausea and vomiting
• Increased blood pressure
• Reduced ability of blood to clot
• Higher risk of stroke or heart attack
• Higher risk of kidney damage

Chiropractic Care & Pressure Point Therapy Treat Arthritis Naturally 

Chiropractic care and Pressure Point Therapy are two natural treatments for arthritis that can reduce inflammation without the dangerous side effects of NSAIDs. These treatments work by restoring normal joint movement to handle the cause of arthritis, not just masking its symptoms. 

Chiropractic adjustments use varying degrees of pressure to manually realign joints. Most people think adjustments are just for your neck or back—and those are common body parts that need adjustments. But there are other techniques we can use to adjust your wrists, elbows, knees, and other joints as well. These adjustments ensure your joints are in proper alignment. They also provide that crucial movement your joints need to clear out the cellular debris and improve your range of motion. 

Pressure Point Therapy also works by targeting specific areas on the body where your nerves are pinched or compressed by your muscles. This therapy can help alleviate arthritis pain and increase circulation to promote healing in affected areas. 

Don’t Power Through Arthritis Pain

Because many people believe that arthritis is a normal part of aging, they also believe the only way to deal with it is to take their medicine and “power through” the pain. Unfortunately, the longer you let this condition go untreated, the more havoc it can wreak on your body. If you seek chiropractic care early on, you’ll have a much easier recovery than if you wait a few years until the pain and stiff joints prevent you from living your life. 

Visit Mattingly Chiropractic for Natural Arthritis Pain Relief 

If you’re suffering from arthritis, call us at (314) 310-8359 today to schedule a consultation and a free Pressure Point Therapy session. With routine treatment, you can achieve long-term, natural relief from arthritis pain and improve overall wellness.