What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis or OA is one of the most common forms of arthritis and is a disease that affect the joints and most commonly the knees. It causes a degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone. In excess of 27 million people in the US are affected by OA. It most commonly begins after age 45 and is most common in people over age 65, but people in their 20’s or 30’s can get OA too.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Overuse of the knee joint, job or sports related injuries, stress on joints from being overweight , and family history are all factors that can cause or further aggravate an OA condition.
Available Treatments
Chiropractic Treatment – There are numerous ways that chiropractic can help osteoarthritis. The most important way is it restores normal joint alignment. By aligning the joint and enabling it to move properly, chiropractic care can reduce further wear and tear and slow down the degenerative process. In addition, chiropractic care relieves pain and inflammation in the joints, which goes a long way to reducing the pain in osteoarthritis patients. Chiropractic manipulative therapy also increases the mobility of the joint which can help improve joint stiffness and lack of motion.
Diet – In addition to an ongoing weight loss program which can help alleviate pressure and stress on the joints. Dietary suggestions that may be helpful for people with OA include emphasizing high-fiber, complex-carbohydrate foods, while minimizing fats. Plants in the solanaceae family, such as tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes, should be avoided, as should refined and processed foods. Foods that are high in bioflavonoids (berries as well as red, orange, and purple fruits and vegetables) should be eaten often.
Medical Treatment – At Innovative Health and Wellness we also believe in using HYALGAN® injections which can provide long-lasting pain relief for up to 6 months. HYALGAN® is not a drug. Its principal component is a naturally derived substance called hyaluronan that relieves your pain by lubricating and cushioning your knee joint. As an added benefit, HYALAGAN® does not pass through your bloodstream because it is injected directly in to your knee, alleviating stomach bleeding problems that some patients experience with certain pain medications.
No one treatment plan is right for all patients. The team at Innovative Health and Wellness is available for consulting with you to develop a plan with the elements that are right for you. Just give us a call to schedule an appointment.