Arthritis, Neck Pain, and Chiropractic

If we say the word “arthritis,” what images pop up in your head? Some people think of crippled hands or perhaps a friend who talks about his bad hip being, “…bone on bone!” Or, how about the neighbor who has a bum knee and walks with a limp and a cane? Rarely do we think about the neck being associated with “arthritis.”

Before we go too far into this discussion, we should define the term, “arthritis,” which means joint (“arth-“) swelling (-itis). Simple enough, right? Wrong! Without getting too complicated, we must realize there are MANY different types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, etc. To narrow this down a bit, we will limit our discussion to osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease.

Degenerative joint disease or DJD, is the most common type of arthritis that EVERYONE eventually ends up with – whether we like it or not.  Or do they? That’s because, over time, our joints absorb the stresses of life and can wear out prematurely and can become “arthritic.”

The most common cause of DJD is wear and tear over a long period of time complicated by joints that are not in their proper alignment. Of course, the rate of acquiring DJD in the neck (or anywhere else for that matter) is directly related to how “nice” we have been to our body, in this case, the neck.

For example, after a car accident, a common injury to the neck is whiplash. This Acceleration-Deceleration Injury occurs when the head is whipped back and forth overstretching joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves.  This causes altered bending and twisting mechanics in the spine with resultant abnormal wear and tear much like having the front end out of alignment on your car.  Your tires will prematurely wear out.  So will your neck and back joints and discs.

Our lifestyle choices play a big part in DJD. The way we sleep (cervical pillow?), sit at our desk at work, the amount of exercise we get, the amount of mental stress we are under (tight muscles pull neck joints out of alignment), and what we eat (the Typical American Diet is pro-inflammatory) are all factors.

As the condition advances, neck movements become tight and restricted with pain, which further limits movement, and sooner or later, the patient must rotate their whole body to look to the side. If the arthritis hits or bumps into a nerve as it exits the cervical spine, neck soreness, and numbness/tingling may radiate down an arm, at times to the hand, usually only affecting certain fingers.

Headaches, especially in the back of the head, can also occur from the reflex muscle “splinting” due to the pain associated with arthritis. As Dr. Peter Ulrich, MD points out  chiropractic adjustments, “…help control chronic symptoms or provide relief for more severe episodes of pain from osteoarthritis.”

But mostly, chiropractors can help you prevent degenerative disc disease in the first place or dramatically slow it down.  At our Athens office we have found chiropractic adjustments, exercise, myofascial release, ergonomic instruction and nutrition therapy to be a potent combination in the prevention and treatment of DJD.

We realize that you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for arthritic pain and/or spine pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr Barry Hitchcock call 706-353-8032 and mention this blog post.

 

Related posts:

1. Oh, My Kid has Pain From Her Backpack!
2. Whiplash – What’s the Best Treatment for Me?
3. How to Have Healthier Kids