Posts Tagged ‘osteoarthritis’

Can Chiropractic Cure Arthritis?

Monday, December 21st, 2009

I had a patient ask me the other day if I could cure arthritis. My answer was “Yes and No”.

Arthritis, regardless of the type, typically results in permanent damage to the joint. There are many types of arthritis, some are the autoimmune type like rheumatoid or psoriatic.

With these types of arthritis, your immune system actually attacks the joints causing erosion of the joint surfaces as well as inflammation, pain and in severe cases disfigurement of the joint.

Other types of arthritis are the more typical wear and tear types. Usually these types of arthritis fall under the category of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease, DJD, OA and spondylosis. Other factors affecting the onset of osteoarthritis include genetics, metabolic and developmental issues – all of which can cause a loss of the joints cartilage which provides the cushioning for the joint.

Symptoms of arthritis, regardless of the types include joint pain, tenderness, creaking noises, stiffness, locking of the joint and swelling as a result of inflammation.

So now I am back at the original question. Can I cure arthritis with chiropractic care?

The “no” part of the answer is that chiropractic care cannot reverse joint damage or “cure” a patient from autoimmune types of arthritis or reverse the effects of osteoarthritis.

The yes part of that answer follows the logic of chiropractic care. Chiropractic adjustments break down scar tissue and adhesions that restrict joint motion and are a source of pain. Scar tissue and adhesions are common with arthritis and do restrict motion and cause pain. Chiropractic care helps reduce the pain of arthritis and restore a portion of the lost range of motion that accompanies arthritis by controlling the formation of scar tissue.

In general, chiropractic care can help control the pain of arthritis and help restore joint motion.

Your’s In Good Health


Dr. Jones

(619) 280-0554
www.JonesPainRelief.com

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Stress, Cortisol, Belly Fat and Your Health

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

The other day I was talking to one of my patients about the negative effects of stress on our bodies and the impact of a hormone called cortisol. She had seen that commercial for that weight loss product that they plug on TV that links belly fat to excessive levels of cortisol.

I explained to her that cortisol is a hormone that is produce by the adrenal glands when we are stressed. Cortisol is a good hormone that is secreted for specific situations in order to help your body respond to stress. The problems that we run into with cortisol are due to prolonged exposure to this hormone. Long-term high levels of cortisol are found in many people today because of the pressures of work, family and other stresses.

Long term cortisol exposure can produce the following negative effects on your body:
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sluggish immune system
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high blood pressure
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insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes
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fatigue
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headaches
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increase in belly fat

Cortisol has been shown to increase belly fat. It is that connection that we are concerned with in this post. Belly fat has been linked to many serious diseases including:
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heart disease
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gall bladder disease
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certain cancers
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osteoarthritis
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diabetes
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asthma

Belly fat is loaded with cortisol receptors, in fact it has four times more cortisol receptors than other type of body fat. When we get stressed, we secret cortisol which causes our bodies to store fat. Since belly fat has a high percentage of cortisol receptors, it is mobilized for fat storage.

Putting an end to this cycle involves a lifestyle change. At my San Diego Chiropractic Clinic we encourage stress reduction through exercise and stretching (yoga), nutritional support and chiropractic care to relax muscles, restore full range of motion of your joints and restore your health. Reducing stress will reduce your cortisol levels leading to less belly fat and a healthier lifestyle.

Your’s In Good Health


Dr. Jones

(619) 280-0554
www.JonesPainRelief.com

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Arthritis and Back Pain

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Arthritis is a scary word to most people. It is also a condition that most of think we will never be afflicted with.

In my San Diego Chiropractic clinic, I see people every day who suffer from the effects of arthritis. Besides the fact that arthritis slows you down and limits your physical abilities, it also causes pain. Neck pain, back pain, knee pain, shoulder pain and even headaches (secondary to the neck pain) are common complaints from people with arthritis.

Most of the patients that we provide chiropractic treatment for are suffering from a type of arthritis know as osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease, degenerative arthritis and wear & tear arthritis. The term osteoarthritis describes a type of arthritis that occurs because of a wearing down of the joint. Other types of arthritis such as rheumatoid are due to a more aggressive auto immune response that destroys the joints much faster than osteoarthritis.

In some cases, osteoarthritis is the result of some injury to the joint that resulted in unnatural or awkward movements of that joint. In the medical community we refer to these abnormal movements as “biomechanical abnormalities” In many cases, a joint has to be exposed to biomechanical abnormalities for years before the joint becomes laden with arthritis.

In my chiropractic office, we treat many patients for automobile accidents. I always tell these patients that while I am not trying to minimize the pain that they are currently suffering from, the most important aspect of their entire treatment program is to help restore normal biomechanics of the spine. This is because eliminating the pain associated with car accident injuries is important but the initial pain that comes with a car accident is only a fraction of the long-term discomfort that comes with biomechanical abnormalities (arthritis).

Of course I am referring to a process that involves whiplash of a joint leading to scar tissue formation causing abnormal biomechanics that results in arthritic joints.

We do provide effective treatment for the PAIN of arthritis but there is no treatment that CURES it.

The bottom line is this: If you have neck pain or back pain now, get treatment for it before it becomes an incurable disorder like arthritis.

Your’s In Good Health


Dr. Jones

http://www.jonespainrelief.com/blog1/

www.JonesPainRelief.com

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