Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common form of arthritis that affects over one million Americans each year. Standard medical care is the accepted treatment, but chiropractic care from Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the nearby region, can complement medical care and possibly aid in reducing your pain naturally. First, you need to identify if you have any symptoms. It also helps to understand how chiropractic care is beneficial to RA patients.
General Information
With RA, your immune system attacks your joints, particularly the lining of your joints known as the synovium.
The cause of RA isn’t known completely. However, certain factors increase your risk. For instance, you’re more at risk for this condition if you’re a woman. Although not all cases are genetic, some people appear to have a genetic predisposition for RA. Obesity, smoking, and toxin exposure during childhood also seem to play a role.
Symptoms
When you have RA, you tend to have times when your symptoms worsen, also known as flares. Then, you’ll have times in between symptomatic periods when the symptoms decrease. Your practitioner will call these times being in remission.
When you experience a flare, you may have pain in the affected joints. You might have an aching sensation. Stiffness, swelling, and tenderness are also possible.
As RA progresses, you could develop a noticeable joint deformity.
Besides your joint symptoms, you could also experience the following:
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever
With this issue, you could eventually experience heart, lungs, eyes, and skin problems, as your immune system begins to attack the organ.
Evaluating You for RA
Our Bessemer chiropractor may order testing, such as X-rays, to determine if you have damage to your joints. During your appointment, our practitioner will also ask you questions about your symptoms. Our practitioner will want to know how frequently you have flares. Our chiropractor will also manually feel your joints to look for signs of inflammation. Part of your initial consultation may also consist of asking you to move your joints to see your full range of motion.
Chiropractic Care for RA
A medical doctor will prescribe a medication like Humira or methotrexate. Although certain drugs have been shown to slow the progression, you could do more to better manage this condition, such as chiropractic care.
When you visit our office, our goal is to improve your flexibility and range of motion. We focus on strengthening your muscles. We also center our RA treatment programs on improving your overall health to enhance your quality of life.
Chiropractic Alignments
Since your spine consists of synovial joints, you may notice the symptoms in your neck or back. In this case, our practitioner may perform routine alignments to ease pressure on the surrounding nerves and soft tissue. Additionally, spinal adjustments may have the potential to improve function through your body.
Exercise Therapy
Exercise therapy consists of our chiropractor walking you through exercises that work the affected joints. By moving those joints slowly, you keep these joints functioning. You may also optimize your range of motion and maintain as much of it as possible as your disease progresses.
Lifestyle Changes
At your visit, our chiropractor will educate you on sitting positions that ease pressure on your joints. For instance, if you work on a computer, it could help to reposition the screen so it’s directly in front of you. This will decrease pressure on your neck.
Additionally, part of our treatment program will include diet changes to manage your weight more effectively. You’ll receive recommendations to optimize your nutrient intake to optimize your health in general.
RA is a progressive condition. However, with chiropractic care and your routine medications, you can reduce the chances of a deformity, disability, or the condition reducing your quality of life significantly. We offer a range of treatments and take a multifaceted approach.
Schedule an appointment with Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the neighboring communities. Call us at 205-519-4024, or use our online contact form.
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