Arthritis pain treatment, Winchester
Bradford House Chiropractic Clinic is Winchester’s fast growing centre for the effective treatment of arthritic pain.
What is Arthritis?
“Arthritis” means joint inflammation and there are over 200 different types of arthritis that can affect both young and old people. Arthritis can affect different parts of the body and each type has a different cause. It is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints and in some cases can also affect the soft tissues of the body. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout and systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people older than fifty-five years.
The Different types of Arthritis
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, is a result of repetitive trauma of the joint and is more common as we get older. There is evidence to suggest that abnormal anatomy, deformity of a joint, such as hip dysplasia might contribute to the early development of osteoarthritis. Poor nutrition, poor nerve and blood supply and immobilisation are also contributory factors.
Other forms of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. These types of arthritis are more common to see in younger people. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection and can either be viral or bacterial. Gout is a metabolic condition, which is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint, causing inflammation. There is also a more uncommon form of gout caused by the formation of crystals of calcium pyrophosphate. This type of gout is also known as pseudogout.
How can Chiropractic help?
Osteoarthritis is often treated with anti-inflammatory medication and nothing else. However, using anti-inflammatory medication in the long term has been shown to impair the healing rate of cartilage and can also cause damage to the lining of the stomach. Fortunately there are better ways to manage osteoarthritis. If you receive chiropractic treatment, including laser treatment, take regular gentle exercise and improve your diet you can often reduce your need to take anti-inflammatory medication. In fact some of our patients have been able to stop taking them all together.
With respect to the inflammatory arthropathies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, there is not a real cure for these conditions. Although they have their natural peaks and troughs, the inflammatory process can be quite severe and it is therefore important to take medication to control it to avoid joint destruction. Chiropractic treatment is still useful as an adjunctive therapy for these conditions to help control the symptoms.
Our Chiropractors at Bradford House Chiropractic Clinic are trained to identify the exact cause of your pain and provide a specific diagnosis and if appropriate a treatment plan in order to help relieve your pain. This in the case of osteoarthritis, may involve manipulation, soft-tissue therapy, ultrasound or other procedures. Our chiropractors can also advise about long-term solutions to arthritic joint problems by providing advice about posture, ergonomics, nutrition and tailored exercise programs.
Our Chiropractors are highly qualified with years of experience in their respective fields, are Members of the British Chiropractic Association and the Royal College of Chiropractors, and are fully registered with the General Chiropractic Council. Both Chiropractic and acupuncture have been proven by research to be effective in the treatment and management of osteoarthritic pain. However there are times when we find that chiropractic care is not the right approach to a problem. Due to our close working relationship with the GPs at St Clements and other local GPs and Consultant specialists, we are able to refer you quickly to the right person or team to help resolve the problem.
If you live and are suffering from arthritic joint pain in the Winchester and Hampshire areas then please contact us today on 01962 861188 to arrange a consultation and help to get you out of pain FAST.