Lowe Chiropractic and Wellness is joining the Arthritis Foundation walk this Saturday, September 18, 2010. Promoting the event has sparked a lot of questions from our patients and friends.  Questions like:  “Isn’t arthritis just part of getting old?”,  “Doesn’t everyone have arthritis?”, “Once you have it, you just have to live with it, right? “ or  “The only thing I can do for my arthritis is take the medicine right?”

Let’s start with the basics of what arthritis is and what it isn’t.  Arthritis is a general category for any joint degeneration.  There are several types of arthritis, the most common is osteo-arthritis (OA).   Other categories include the auto-immune types of rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis among others.   Over all, when a joint degenerates, the cartilage becomes thinner, the bones develop rough spots or spurs and the joint doesn’t function the way it should.  Inflammation of the dysfunctional joint leads to pain.  Arthritic pain is usually described as an achy pain or stiffness that gets better with movement.

Here’s the key, movement relieves the pain and properly functioning joints are not painful.

I had a patient look at me and say, “Yes, my right leg hurts. It’s just old age.”  My response “How old is your left leg?”  He looked at me and said, “ I guess it’s the same age… so what can you do about it?”

Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis respond very well to chiropractic care since we help restore proper motion to the joint. The joint starts to loosen up and then swells less.  Less swelling equals less inflammation which means less pain.

Don’t just listen to me, here’s what some of the top medical researchers have to say about it.

“Chiropractors manipulation of the spine was more helpful than any of the following: traction, massage, biofeedback, acupuncture, injection of steroids into the spine and back corsets, and ultrasound.”  Stanley Bigos, MD Professor of Orthopedic Surgery

True or False:  Everyone has arthritis right?  Arthritis is part of normal aging, right? False
There are 360 joints in the human body. Arthritis only sets up in the ones that are injured and don’t heal properly.  While it is common for people to develop arthritis, it’s not normal.

The only thing I can do for my arthritis is take medicine, right? Wrong
Medicine is not recommended by either the arthritis foundation or the British Medical Journal.
The arthritis foundation recommends movement and exercise to prevent and reduce arthritis pain.  The British Medical Journal reports, “Manipulation (chiropractic adjustments), with or without exercise, improve symptoms more than medical care did after both 3 and 12 months.”

I want help with my arthritis, where do I start? or I know someone who suffers with arthritis what can they do?
Call our office, we’ll find a time to sit down with you and talk about your individual pain. We will answer any questions you may have and decide if chiropractic care can help you.  If we think we can help, we will tell you that.  If we think you need to be seen by another specialist, we will tell you that as well.  Our goal is to help YOU get the help YOU need.

Want to hear from some of our patients …

Patrick Lowe, D.C.

Louisville Chiropractor Patrick Lowe is passionate about helping the community.  Lowe Chiropractic supports Wayside Christian Mission, The Arthritis Foundation, Hannah’s Hope, Boy Scouts of America, Mom’s Closet and many others.  Dr. Lowe was recently commissioned a Kentucky Colonel.