Osteoarthritis is a joint disease that results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and mobility restriction. It is the most commonly seen type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis comes from the breakdown of joint cartilage and wear and tear on the underlying bone. In this inflammatory condition, the body fails to repair the injury or damage to the affected tissues. 

Cartilage is a kind of tissue that covers the surface of the bones within a joint. When healthy, it usually is smooth, allowing joints to move freely and without friction. Damage to this lubricating cartilage exposes the underlying bones, which causes inflammation and further damage to the joint.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis

Aging is a risk factor for osteoarthritis. The potential for osteoarthritis increases as you get older. Women suffer from osteoarthritis more often than men. A patient’s genetics are also a pivotal contributor to arthritic conditions. Some people are genetically programmed to be more prone to osteoarthritis, just as some are more likely to have gray hair and wrinkles. 

Prior sports and other types of injury can damage the cartilage and predispose an individual to the development of osteoarthritis. Certain repetitive job actions or stresses that overtax and put pressure on the joints, such as heavy lifting can lead to arthritis. Additionally, being overweight causes more stress on the spine, hips, and knees, leading to osteoarthritis.

Symptoms and treatments for osteoarthritis

The most pronounced symptom of osteoarthritis is pain. However, it can also include swelling, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and mobility restrictions. Osteoarthritis typically affects the weight-bearing joints, including the hips, knees, toes, and spine. It can involve the joints in the shoulders and fingers as well. Osteoarthritis can be diagnosed by examining an individual’s symptoms, and by examining x-rays or MRI scans of the joints.

Unfortunately, there is not a cure for osteoarthritis at this time. Treatments include:

• Anti-inflammatory medication 
• Injections
• Exercise and physical therapy 
• Weight loss
• Joint replacement surgery

Stem cell therapy is a new and innovative form of treatment for osteoarthritis. Stem cells are extracted from an individual’s adipose (fat) tissue or bone marrow and then injected into the damaged or injured joint. Stem cell therapy has demonstrated benefits in both animals and people. 

Stem cells work to repair and regenerate arthritis-damaged tissues by decreasing inflammation. They can repair cartilage, as well. Treatment with stem cells could help delay the need for a total joint replacement for a few years. When stem cell therapy is combined with physical therapy, it can ease pain, help to lessen swelling, and improve mobility in the joint.

A trip to the chiropractor for an adjustment may result in much-needed relief. When the bones of the body are thrown out of whack due to overuse, injury, or age, it can result in pain. One of the most interesting things about bone adjustment is that realigning bones in one spot may provide relief in a seemingly unrelated part of the body. To help patients who suffer from chronic pain or injury, doctors are beginning to suggest chiropractic manipulation. What can be expected after an adjustment is performed? Learn about the common side effects patients experience and those that may signal trouble.

Localized Soreness

The area of the body adjusted by the practitioner may feel sore for a few hours after. The pressure placed around the area by the chiropractor, either by hands or special tools, may feel bruised for a short time. The ligaments and muscles around the once misaligned joint may also feel uncomfortable. The pain should be fairly minimal and should go away with time or over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Nausea and Dizziness

When the neck or back is adjusted, it may be common to feel nauseous and even dizzy for a few hours after. The nerves running to and from the inner ear may have been temporarily affected by the movement of the adjustment. This can cause a sense of dizziness or vertigo. Along with this, some people feel sick to their stomach, much like that caused by motion sickness. This unwelcome side effect does not stick around too long, and if it does, the practitioner should be informed.

Fatigue

The most commonly felt side effect after any bone adjustment is fatigue. Some patients claim that the entire body feels heavy and that the only relief is lying down to sleep. The reason for this is believed to be the activation of the body’s immune system during the adjustment. White blood cells and fresh blood flow faster towards the newly-aligned bones. This diverts energy from the rest of the body temporarily to bring fresh oxygen and extra protection while the body heals. Thus, exhaustion is a good sign that the body’s response system is acting as it should and that the adjustment was successful.

A chiropractor, like a chiropractor from AmeriWell Clinics, is the only medical practitioner trained to do any spinal manipulation or adjustment. When performed properly, the discomfort should be minimal and fleeting. The effects, however, should provide relief to the body as a whole.

Approximately 80 percent of adult men and women will experience knee pain in their lifetimes. Sometimes this pain might go away within a few days while in other situations it might last for much longer. Nearly 20 percent of people will have chronic knee pain that hinders their ability to move, function, and perform basic tasks. In the past, knee pain doctors might have prescribed cortisone injections, anti inflammatory medications, and in some cases painkillers. They also at times suggest surgery in addition to physical therapy. Although these treatments are still widely utilized, there is a new innovation that many patients are finding success with. This is the newly popular knee injection treatment or also known as PRP treatment. 

Understanding PRP Injections

PRP injections are a natural method of treatment. When considering other treatment options, PRP treatment can save money and time. The treatment can treat, restore, and rebuild torn muscle tissues and injured cartilage in the knee. It can also reduce swelling and alleviate knee pain. It should be noted that if you have long term, chronic knee pain, your knee pain doctor might still advise you to have a knee replacement surgery. If this is true, you may not be a candidate for PRP treatment. 

Knee Injection: How It’s Made

A PRP injection is made from your own blood and spun in a centrifuge. It is injected into the area of pain to stimulate repair of damaged cells and new cell growth. In short, the PRP knee injection supplies the body with the necessary building blocks to promote healing and recovery. 

Benefits of PRP Treatment for Knee Pain

As a knee pain doctor might explain to you, many people are opting to try PRP treatments over other conventional methods. If you are unsure, consider the following advantages and consult a knee pain doctor for further assessment. 

• PRP is made from your own blood. 

• It is a natural, minimally invasive, treatment.
• There are very little side effects.

Unlike cortisone injections that can weaken tissues and ligaments over time, PRP can strengthen them. 

• PRP treatment takes approximately one hour. 
• There is no down time. 

Not everyone will qualify for PRP injections. If any of the below applies to you, a knee doctor might advise against PRP treatment. 

• You are pregnant
• You are taking blood thinning medication
• You have an autoimmune disorder
• You have certain blood disorders
• You have certain cancers

Regardless of what may be the cause of your knee pain, or whether it is chronic or acute, PRP treatment may be able to help you

You hear the drill every time you go to your dentist: brush twice a day and floss once. How often does your dentist discuss a mouthwash or rinse? If they are not mentioning every time you go for an exam, then does that mean it is not necessary? If it is necessary, then how do you select the right rinse or wash? This article aims to shed a little light on the subject.

Do You Need a Mouthwash or Rinse?

Mouthwash is not essential, but it doesn’t hurt. While it will not replace brushing and flossing, it can help, especially if you have a hard time brushing correctly. Mouthwashes and rinses are used before and after brushing to help eliminate as much bacteria and debris as possible. Taking the extra precaution of mouthwash is beneficial in terms of preventative care.

What Are the Common Ingredients?

When you look at the oral health aisle of your local drug store, you will see many choices, from whitening to bad breath. However, don’t be fooled by shiny labels and marketing tricks. Check the ingredients. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities and reduce the spread of tooth decay. Astringent salt is used to mask bad breath. Peroxide fights against staining and antimicrobials kill oral bacteria. Essentially, the best way to choose a wash or rinse it to look for the ADA seal of approval.

When Is the Best Time to Rinse?

While it sounds strange, there may actually be a good time for using a mouthwash or rinse. For example, the National Health Service recommends using a fluoride rinse immediately after brushing, but they also recommend waiting to use a non-fluoride mouthwash. It is best to wait to use a non-fluoride mouthwash until later in the day or some time after brushing.

How Do You Rinse?

While each mouthwash and rinse will have its own recommendations on use, there is a standard rinsing protocol. You want to swish the wash around in your mouth for a minimum of 30 to 60 seconds. It is better to rinse for at least a minute, but less is OK if you can’t handle it.Mouthwashes and rinses are considered additional preventative care. They work in tandem with brushing and flushing to help reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease. Although, if you want to make sure that you are incorporating the healthiest oral habits, contact a dentist, like a dentist from John Redmond Orthodontics, and schedule an appointment to discuss your dental habits.

There are a lot of things you should be concerned about as an expecting mother, and that’s understandable. One thing you shouldn’t be concerned about is seeing a chiropractor. In the majority of cases, it’s not only safe to see a chiropractor while pregnant, it can offer support to both you and baby. The next time you start wishing there was another way to deal with pregnancy symptoms, consider a chiropractic adjustment.

Chiropractic Care Is a Non-Invasive Treatment Plan

There are a lot of things besides just back and neck issues chiropractic care has been known to treat. A lot of those issues also happen to be symptoms of pregnancy. While you can’t take a lot of medications while you’re pregnant, and you can’t participate in a few of the activities you would normally participate in to care for your health problems, you can have a chiropractic adjustment. As you can see, it’s a non-invasive way to care for headaches, nausea, heartburn, sleeplessness and various other issues expecting mothers often deal with.

Chiropractors Offer Specific Treatments for Pregnant Bodies

Most chiropractors can treat pregnant women, though some complete an additional year or two of training to be specialized in the area. Some differences in chiropractic care specifically for pregnant women include an adjustable table that accommodates a pregnant belly, as well as techniques that don’t risk abdominal pressure. Chiropractors can also show a pregnant woman some tension-relieving stretches so she can relieve some of the discomfort of pregnancy on her own at home.

There Are Benefits of Chiropractic Care That Extend Beyond Pregnancy

When it’s time to deliver your baby, your body will be in better shape if you have received chiropractic care along the way. It’s often easier to deliver if your body is limber and flexible. Chiropractic care has also been known to help your body relax so your baby can move into the right position for delivery. Postpartum recovery is also easier for many women when they have been adjusted as their pregnancies progressed.

Contacting a Chiropractor for a Prenatal Adjustment

Every little thing you do during pregnancy counts. The food you eat, the exercise you get, the amount of sleep you get, your OB/GYN visits, how much you can prepare and so many other things might be at the top of your mind. Be sure to include chiropractic care in there, as it’s one of the most non-invasive ways to care for your pregnant body, your baby and your postpartum self. Contact a chiropractor, like from AmeriWell Clinics, to get started with prenatal adjustments today.

When you experience subluxation, it often comes with pain, discomfort and other similar sensations. You might consider chiropractic treatment as a remedy, but could also wonder if a good workout would do the same thing. Chiropractic care is a lot different than your typical workout. While they should actually be completed in conjunction with each other, they are two different actions that offer two different results.

Chiropractic Care vs. Exercise

Chiropractic care consists of gentle movements of the spine and joints. With gentle force, the spine is brought back into alignment after an injury or any other type of normal life event. Many patients feel immediate relief after just one appointment, while others require multiple adjustments before the pain is permanently relieved.

Exercise consists of sometimes gentle, sometimes vigorous movements of the entire body. There are low-impact exercises that are softer on the joints and other body parts, and there are higher-impact exercises that require proper training to avoid injury. Many individuals feel a rush of adrenaline during and after an exercise routine, and while it’s a similar feeling to the after effect of an adjustment, it’s a different result.

Which Action Should Come First

If you need a chiropractic adjustment and are also considering an exercise routine, you may wonder which to complete first. The following are three reasons to visit your chiropractor before you work out.

1. Adjustments remove pressure. If you’re experiencing any type of pain, it won’t be relieved after a workout, which could make your workout uncomfortable. If you are adjusted first, that pressure will be relieved, allowing you to move more fluidly during your workout and feel better after.
2. Adjustments balance the muscles. Your muscles get a lot of movement when you take on a good workout. If you balance your muscles before your workout, it will be safer and you’ll be more flexible. This makes your workout more effective overall.
3. Adjustments relax the body. It’s easier for you to relax after you have been adjusted. Many times, your muscles are tense going into a workout, but if you have been adjusted beforehand, those muscles will be less tense. This helps you to avoid injury during your workout.

Scheduling a Chiropractic Appointment

Before you head into that workout, remember that chiropractic care is equally as important and will work together with your exercise routine for better health. Contact a chiropractic clinic, like a chiropractor at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, to schedule an appointment.