We at Van Every Family Chiropractic Center of Royal Oak, Michigan, care about your health and well-being and strive to provide you with current information in a variety of health topics!
Arthritis is a disease of the whole body (a systemic disease) that is most dramatically seen in the joints. The word "arthritis" may include more than 100 conditions, many of which were formerly known as "rheumatism."
Osteoarthritis or OA, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common arthritis of all; almost everyone over the age of 50 has a touch of it. OA often results from an unbalanced structural system creating stress on the joints so that bone growths ("lipping" and "spurring") try to strengthen the joint by depositing extra bone. (1) Sometimes the growths compress nerves, causing pain and affecting internal organs. (2)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the crippler that destroys joints, affects the heart, blood vessels, eyes, skin, muscles and other organs. It often appears suddenly around ages 30 to 40 – then may disappear just as suddenly! No one knows what causes it. Some researchers believe RA is caused by infected root canals or other dental infections.
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is similar to adult RA but in over half the cases the disease simply disappears. The rubella vaccine has been discussed as a cause – up to 40% of those vaccinated with rubella suffered joint pain arthralgia, with nearly 2% developing arthritis. (3)
According to one researcher: There now exists a growing theoretical concern which links immunizations to the huge increase of … rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus, lymphoma, and leukemia. (4)
Medicine offers no cure for arthritis. Since the underlying cause is unknown, symptom treatment – a lifetime of drugs for the pain and inflammation, heat, hot packs or exercises in warm water and similar treatments – is suggested. If a joint becomes severely deteriorated then surgery may be considered.
The Chiropractic Approach
For over a century arthritic patients have benefited from chiropractic care. (5-7)
Chiropractic care has even reversed osteoarthritis – something previously considered impossible. (8-9)
Chiropractic is a system of healthcare that improves the function of your entire body by removing or releasing blockages called subluxations. Subluxations weaken your nervous and immune systems, weakening your body. This can set the stage for sickness and diseases of all kinds – arthritis included.
References:
1.Giles LG. The pathophysiology of zygapophyseal joints. In Haldeman S. (Ed.). Principles and Practice of Chiropractic. Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange, 1992:203-205.
2. Benhamou CL, Row C, Tourliere A et al. Pseudovisceral pain referred from costovertebral arthropathies. Spine. 1993;18:790-795.
3. Nathan H. Osteophytes of the spine compressing the sympathetic trunk and splanchnic nerves in the thorax. Spine. 1987;12:527-532.
4. Mendelsohn R. The People's Doctor Newsletter. 1984;8(12).
5. Shell RC. Chiropractic management of degenerative joint disease of the spine. Journal of the National College of Chiropractic. 1970.
6.Maigne R. Orthopaedic Medicine: A New Approach to Vertebral Manipulations. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 1972.
7. Zusman MA. A theoretical basis for the short-term relief of some types of spinal pain with manipulative therapy. Manual Medicine. 1987;3:54-56.
8. Ressel OJ. Disc regeneration: reversibility is possible in spinal osteoarthritis. Int'l. Review of Chiropractic. March/April 1989:39-61.
9. Berkson DL. Osteoarthritis, chiropractic, and nutrition: osteoarthritis considered as a natural part of a three stage subluxation complex; its reversibility; its relevance and treatability by chiropractic and nutritional correlates. Med Hypotheses. 1991;36(4):356-367.
