One of the most frequent causes of joint pain is arthritis. While many people think of arthritis as a single condition, there are actually several dozen forms of arthritis and joint-related conditions. At BodaHealth, our practitioners are experienced and skilled at treating these painful conditions. Among them:
Osteoarthritis
This form of arthritis is the most common and is associated with aging and overuse. Osteoarthritis is considered to be a degenerative condition, because it occurs when the protective cartilage within a joint wears away. Cartilage acts like a shock absorber within your joints, allowing the bones to move together smoothly. However, when your cartilage wears away, it causes friction between the bones in the affected joint, which can be extremely painful, limit your range of motion, and negatively impact your quality of life. Over time, painful outgrowths, called bone spurs may also develop.
The weight bearing joints, such as your knees or hips are most at risk for developing osteoarthritis, but it can also occur in any joint that’s been injured. In addition to aging, being overweight can stress your joints, and is a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis. Genetics may also play a role in developing this condition, as it commonly runs in families.
The pain associated with osteoarthritis is typically worse on rising and with activity, and is better with rest. Treatment is generally focused on managing pain, maintaining function, and slowing the progression of this condition. At BodaHealth we use a combination of treatments. Shockwave or acoustic wave therapy and hyaluronic acid injections have been very effective in reducing the pain and reversing the progression of this disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is caused by a case of mistaken identity. That’s because it’s an autoimmune illness, in which your immune system mistakes healthy cells for harmful foreign invaders and attacks them. With rheumatoid arthritis, the target of your confused immune system is your joints. While osteoarthritis occurs when your joint’s cartilage wears away, rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation in the joint, which causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity.
Autoimmunity can cause a number of illnesses, but scientists still aren’t sure why this happens. It’s believed that there is a genetic basis to autoimmune illnesses, combined with some other assault to your health, such as an infection or exposure to environmental toxins. Rheumatoid arthritis affects more women than men, and a diagnosis of RA means that your risk of other illnesses, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or other autoimmune illnesses is higher. https://www.everydayhealth.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/living-with/10-essential-facts-about-inflammation-rheumatoid-arthritis/
Osteoarthritis tends to affect your weight bearing joints, but rheumatoid arthritis is different; it can impact your entire body, often starting with the smaller joints in your hands, feet, and wrists. In addition, it can cause systemic symptoms, such as fatigue, feeling unwell, and pain that may last all day long. It can occur in people of any age, may have a sudden onset, and affects more women than men. Like osteoarthritis, there is no cure for RA, so treatment has been focused on controlling pain, preserving functionality, and slowing the progression and degenerative effects of this disease. At BodaHealth we have found that the use of anti-inflammatory supplements, herbs and diet as well as manual treatments have been very effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.
Gout
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis in which uric acid accumulates, crystalizes, and settles into one or more of your joints, causing severe pain. Gout tends to flare up and recede, and frequently affects the joint at the base of your big toe. However, the crystals can accumulate in almost any joint in your body, such as your hands, feet, arms, or legs.
Gout is caused by too much uric acid in your blood. This occurs through the breakdown of chemical compounds called purines, which are found in high amounts in rich meat, poultry, and seafood, giving gout the nickname of being the illness of kings. When you consume high amounts of purine-containing foods, your kidneys can’t metabolize it quickly enough, and it builds up in your blood stream. In addition to gout, excess uric acid may also cause kidney stones.
Typical symptoms of gout include sharp pain, redness, and swelling at the affected joint. Treatment includes controlling the pain, clearing the flare-up, and management through nutritional planning.
Bursitis
When you think about joint pain, your first thought may turn to arthritis, tendonitis, or some kind of traumatic injury. Bursitis is a frequently underdiagnosed condition that can affect almost anyone. It can be very painful, and can affect your quality of life.
Your bursae are gel-like sacs that are found in and around your joints. Their job is to protect and reduce friction between your bones, ligaments, and tendons when you move. Bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed or irritated in some way, such as trauma, infection, or overuse.
Symptoms of bursitis include pain and redness over the affected area. The pain may be aggravated by using the affected joint or when you apply pressure to the inflamed bursa. You may also notice swelling, as the irritated bursa accumulates more fluid. Bursitis is more common around active joints, such as your shoulders, hips, or elbows. Treatment for bursitis focuses on decreasing pain, reducing inflammation, and supporting the healing process.
Strain, Sprain, and Overuse
Your joint pain isn’t always the result of an illness or condition. It may occur from a traumatic injury, such as a sprain, in which ligaments are injured, a strain to muscles or tendons, or from overuse. In most cases, these injuries are associated with pain, swelling, loss of range of motion, and poor function. However, there is good news in that most of these injuries will heal with time and rest. At BodaHealth, our treatment strategy is geared toward speeding your recovery process.
Treating Arthritis and Joint Pain at BodaHealth
At BodaHealth, our practitioners are knowledgeable and experienced in effectively treating joint pain. We understand that any kind of pain can negatively affect the quality of your life, and we are here to provide pain relief treatments, support the healing process, and improve your quality of life. To best do that, we offer a wide variety of healing services from several kinds of providers, including:
- Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Shockwave therapy
- Injection therapies
- Osteopathy
- Nutritional therapy
- Naturopathic medicine
- Massage therapy
- Clinical Pilates and Therapeutic exercise
- Cupping
- Tui Na (Chinese bodywork)
Our practitioners are committed to giving you the best care possible. They will work with you to understand the history and source of your condition, and develop a treatment plan that’s unique to your specific needs. If you are suffering from joint-related pain, contact BodaHealth today to see how we can help you!
