What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a chronic condition that impacts your joints, causing them to become inflamed. It’s often associated with stiffness, swelling, and pain that’s usually dull and achy, and leads to a progressive decrease in mobility.
Arthritis can occur in any joint in your body, and commonly occurs in the:
What are the types of arthritis?
Different types of arthritis impact the body in different ways:
Osteoarthritis
The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis results when the cartilage between joints begins to wear away. That can lead to bone-on-bone friction, causing severe pain and inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder, where your body attacks its cells. In the case of RA, your immune system strikes the lining of your joints. Because the condition is chronic, your immune system eventually breaks down the joint, causing inflammation and permanent damage and disfigurement.
Psoriatic arthritis
Another autoimmune disease, psoriatic arthritis impacts your joints, as well as your connective tissues, especially where ligaments and tendons connect to bones. It can also cause issues with your skin, including psoriasis.
Other common forms of arthritis include gout and lupus.
How is arthritis treated?
A variety of factors influence how Dr. Price and his team treat your arthritis. Because it’s a chronic condition, there's no cure for arthritis, but your symptoms are manageable.
To restore your mobility and reduce pain, the practitioners at Dr. Price's practice may recommend:
- Gentle spinal adjustment
- Trigger point therapy
- Joint injections
- Hot and cold therapy
If your arthritis pain is severe, they may suggest stem cell therapy. This cutting-edge procedure uses the principles of regenerative medicine to give your body everything it needs to improve its healing process and restore cartilage. In some cases, stem cell therapy may even allow your body to regrow cartilage, leading to long-term pain relief.
Stem cell therapy is especially effective in postponing, or possibly even eliminating, the need for joint replacement surgery.
If you’re tired of being told there’s nothing that can be done about your arthritis aches and pains, contact an integrative specialist today. Call the office or book your appointment online now.
