The most common arthritis is called osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, or degenerative disc disease can be treated in our office with:
Spinal and hip adjustments
Cox Flexion Distraction and Leander
Electrical stimulation or spinalator
Muscle work and stretching
Acupuncture
More facts about back and neck arthritis
Our spine is made up of twenty-four individual vertebra stacked on top of each other. To allow for flexibility and movement, there is a cushion, or “disc” in between each pair of vertebra. As we age, these discs can wear, becoming progressively thinner over time. This leads to a cycle of arthritic changes, including bone spurs and narrowing of the opening where our nerves exit the spine. Sometimes your nerves can become “pinched” in these narrowed openings. This results in pain, numbness or tingling into your arm along the path of the irritated nerve.
This problem is common, affecting half of the population by age 40 and up to 85% percent of the population by age 60, with men affected slightly more often than women. Symptoms of this type of arthritis include pain or numbness in your neck, arm or shoulder area. Neck stiffness, limited range of motion and headaches are common. Some patients report temporary relief when placing their affected hand on top of their head.
How quickly you develop back arthritis is largely a trait you inherited from your parents. Other factors may play a role, including a history of trauma, smoking, operating motorized vehicles, being overweight and/ or performing repetitive movements (i.e. lifting, twisting, bending or sitting). Men seem to be affected slightly more often than women.
Arthritic changes can be seen on x-rays, but interestingly, the amount of wearing does not seem to correlate directly with the severity of your symptoms. People with the same degree of arthritis may have symptoms ranging from none to severe. Most researchers believe that the symptoms of osteoarthritis are not the direct result of the disease, but rather, from the conditions that preceded the disease and those that develop subsequent to it, like joint restrictions and muscle tightness. Fortunately, those conditions are treatable and our office has a variety of tools to help relieve your pain.
In general, you should avoid repeated lifting and twisting and take frequent breaks from prolonged sitting, especially in motorized vehicles. Avoid any position that causes an increase in radiating pain. Research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle contributes to degeneration so be sure to stay active and perform your home exercises. Low-impact activities, like walking, stationary cycling, water aerobics, and yoga may also be helpful.