Will a chiropractor help with arthritis?

So can a chiropractor help with arthritis? Chiropractic care can be a great way to reduce the symptoms of arthritis. A safe, non-invasive, and non-addictive alternative to prescription or over the counter pain medications, it’s becoming an increasingly common option to help sufferers manage their pain. If you’re looking for chiropractors in Doncaster, look no further than Thorne Road Chiropractic Clinic. We can help treat the pain of arthritis, with our experienced team having expert knowledge of this debilitating joint condition. 

What is arthritis?  

Arthritis is a common condition which causes pain and inflammation in the joints. More than 10 million people suffer from it in the UK alone. . Occasionally, it even occurs in children. There are several types of arthritis, with the two most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. At Thorne Road Chiropractic Clinic, we can assist with many forms of arthritis, with our skilled chiropractors providing a fully tailored treatment plan for every patient. 

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is by far the most common type of arthritis, with nearly nine million sufferers in the UK.

It affects the cartilage of the joints, usually in the hands, knees, hips, and spine, leading to pain and stiffness and making movement more difficult. As the cartilage starts to thin, the ligaments and tendons are forced to work harder, resulting in swelling and causing bone spurs known as osteophytes to form.

Rheumatoid arthritis 

Just as in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is much more common in older females. In this condition, the immune system attacks the joints, leading to pain and swelling.  What is affected is the joint’s outer covering, known as the synovium. This may then spread throughout the joint, causing more swelling and even altering the shape of the joint. Eventually, the cartilage and bone may break down. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks itself. Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are also autoimmune diseases and are more commonly seen in younger people.

Although the symptoms of arthritis vary according to the type of the disease, sufferers commonly experience joint pain and stiffness, joint inflammation, restricted joint movements, and muscle weakness and wasting. In both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, self-care combined with non-invasive and non-addictive treatment is recommended as the first line of defence. 

A debilitating chronic condition 

If you suffer from arthritis, you don’t have to put up with the pain. Living with this condition can be debilitating in some cases. Symptoms usually start as a mild pain that gradually becomes more severe over time. Arthritis can drastically affect your quality of life, preventing you from doing the things you enjoy the most. However, before you give up on your favourite activities and hobbies, it makes sense to consult with a chiropractor. 

How can chiropractic care help with arthritic pain?

Chiropractic care can be highly effective in treating arthritis. As well as being natural and safe, it’s also non-invasive and doesn’t involve the use of drugs. Instead, it delivers a gentle therapy known as chiropractic adjustment. These adjustments fix misalignments, reducing joint restrictions and lowering inflammation. 

As well as improving the function of the affected joint, it can also improve nervous system function, giving the body a greater ability to manage the symptoms caused by arthritis. Here are some of the biggest benefits to chiropractic care of arthritis patients:

Less pain and discomfort

Less inflammation

Improved range of motion

Greater flexibility

Increased activity and enhanced lifestyle

Adjustments are one of the main therapies chiropractors use when treating arthritis. However, they often employ other strategies too. These techniques include cold laser therapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound, and infrared sauna. They can be particularly useful for managing more severe arthritis pain which stops patients from carrying on with their normal daily activities. 

Reducing the need for anti-inflammatories

Osteoarthritis is frequently treated solely with anti-inflammatory medication. However, this is a mistake. Using these drugs over long periods of time can slow the healing rate of cartilage. Additionally, it can eventually cause damage to the stomach lining, potentially leading to fatal stomach bleeds. Elderly patients are most at risk of this. It’s also important to consider that whilst many pain medications may offer fast relief, they don’t treat the underlying issues. 

Chiropractic care offers a better way to manage osteoarthritis. Not only is it concerned with alleviating pain, but it aims to treat the cause of the problem too. Regular chiropractic care combined with regular, gentle exercise and a better diet can reduce your need to take anti-inflammatories.

Find out if chiropractic care is right for you

If you suffer from arthritis, there’s a good chance that chiropractic care is right for you and can help with arthritis. It can lessen or even eliminate the pain and discomfort you experience, enhancing your quality of life greatly. To find out if our professional chiropractors in Doncaster can help with your arthritis symptoms, get in touch with our team to book a consultation. 

We’ll examine you at this appointment.  We may even begin treatment, as long as no further information about your case is required. In some cases, we might refer you for diagnostic imaging tests, such as x-ray or MRI. We may decide it’s best to treat your arthritis alongside other healthcare professionals, including physical or massage therapists or primary care physicians. 

You can always expect to receive the highest quality chiropractic care when you attend Thorne Road Chiropractic Clinic. We’ve been treating the symptoms of arthritis sufferers in Doncaster and the surrounding areas for many years, establishing ourselves as the first-choice chiropractic clinic in the region.