There are more than 100 rheumatoid disorders under the classification of arthritis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the joints. These include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile, psoriatic, and more. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis may cause pain and disability in any of the joints of the body, including the spine, hips, knees, and hands. In particular, arthritis in the spine occurs when the cartilage of the spinal joints is worn down over time due to normal, age-related wear and tear. Long-term poor posture and trauma may also affect the joint cartilage. This loss of cartilage may lead to the formation of bone spurs in osteoarthritis patients, causing the bones to rub together painfully. Other symptoms include swelling and immobility of the joint.
Patients suffering from arthritis in the spine may benefit from a variety of physical therapy practices, including therapeutic exercise, ice and heat, low-level laser therapy, and traction. Chiropractic treatment is also useful for many arthritis patients. In addition to these practices, our office also incorporates Traditional Chinese Medicine in order to provide patients with drug-free options for pain relief.
For some patients, attempts to relieve pain and improve movement using physical therapy and chiropractic may either be unsuccessful or impossible due to pain and/or immobility. In such cases, our office provides a number of interventional procedures for the relief of pain. For arthritis, we offer Facet Joint Injections, Sacroiliac Injections, Peripheral Joint Injections, and Sympathetic Blocks. (We also offer Viscosupplementation for patients with arthritis of the knee).
