Introduction
Poor arthritis! It gets blamed for nearly every ache and pain we experience as we age. It's not all arthritis's fault. Arthritis is just one diagnosis that seems to appear in many conditions' lists of symptoms. You may have arthritis, but it is simply a diagnosis to consider as you seek out the source of the pain.
Definition
inflammation of a joint
Description
Arthritis' inflammation causes pain, swelling or stiffness of a joint or joints resulting from any of a number of causes, not the least of which is degenerative changes when arthritis is used in conjunction with spine pain. Arthritis alone is not always the source of spine pain. It is the combination of
degenerative disc disease,
herniated nucleus pulposus, and
stenosis, culminating in spinal degeneration, loss of disc space and joint irritation pain.
Video Description of Arthritis
Examination
A thorough, clinical examination of the affected area of your spine - cervical, thoracic, and/or lumbar - that may include imaging is important to your recovery.
Treatment
In office, Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation uses chiropracticCox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression to widen the canal space, drop the intradiscal pressure and increase the disc height to relieve pain and maintain spine mobility as the disease runs its course.
You will welcome the Cox Technic manipulation that gently "pulls you apart," as many patients describe the treatment or say they need. Depending on the affected area of your spine, Cox Technic protocols will be applied appropriately. Depending on the severity of your pain and symptoms, gentler Protocol I may be applied until 50% relief of pain or more restoring Protocol II may be applied to guide your recovery.
In the following animations, the disc is pressing on the nerve. Note that as the disc herniation reduces, the pinched nerve is relieved.
Goal of Cox Technic for the Lumbar Spine
This is an animation of the goal of Cox Technic Flexion-Distraction and Decompression: reduced irritation of spinal elements enough to relieve pain and help you regain your quality of life. The amount of decrease in size of the herniated disc necessary for pain relief varies from 0% to 100% for each individual patient.
Goal of Cox Technic for the Cervical Spine
This is an animation of the goal of Cox Technic Flexion-Distraction and Decompression: reduced irritation of spinal elements enough to relieve pain and help you regain your quality of life. The amount of decrease in size of the herniated disc necessary for pain relief varies from 0% to 100% for each individual patient.
At Home Care
At home you may want to avoid sitting for long periods of time, wear a support brace if recommended, take nutritional supplements that help rebuild disc cartilage, do exercises that strengthen your spine, sleep on a supportive mattress, sit in an ergonomically designed chair, and modify your daily activities as needed.
Clinical Case Reports
Contact Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation for care of your arthritis.