Introduction

Arthritis is generally confusing to most suffers.When some people hear this word they envision a future with crippled and twisted joints.  However, many conditions from benign to severe are catalogued under the term, arthritis. For our purposes we will restrict this discussion to the most common forms of arthritis.

Osteoarthritis and Chiropractic Care

Osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease (DJD) are the labels for the most common form of arthritis, which is also called, spondylosis, if it occurs in the spine. Primarily, the condition is due to the deterioration of the cartilage that lines the joint surfaces, and it is found not only in humans, but also in all mammals. When joint cartilage is harmed, the sensitive bone tissue that is normally preserved by the cartilage becomes stressed causing degenerative changes in the joint. Sometimes the bone around the joint will proliferate and make osteophytes, or what are more commonly called bone spurs. These spurs can create painful irritation to other tissues surrounding the joint, in this way complicating the already painful condition. 

Degenerative joints most often occur in the lower neck and lower back, the knees, hips, and fingers. Previous trauma, certain occupations and activities, weight, diet, and heredity all appear to influence both the onset and severity of DJD.

Pain and/or stiffness in the affected joints are primary indicators of DJD. As the condition progresses there can be loss of mobility, especially when weight-bearing joints such as hips or knees are implicated.  In some cases, if the joint is sufficiently worn and the person can no longer walk without severe pain, the joints are surgically replaced with synthetic devices. Of course, one should attempt to manage the condition early on in ones life to avoid the need for surgery.

The best management of DJD is, of course, prevention that involves taking care of ones joints at an early age.

• Making sure that all injuries to joints are properly treated will help to avoid future problems.
• People involved in occupations that demand standing or walking should wear suitable shoes that offer good support and shock absorption.
• Excess body weight can create increased stress upon the weight bearing joints of the body.

• Avoid kneeling on hard surfaces, such as when doing housework, as this can put strain and create knee pain.

• The natural vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants included in fruits and vegetables are crucial for healthy joints and a healthy body.

Recent studies have shown that long-term use of the nutritional supplement, Glucosamine, can not only assist with DJD symptoms, but can possibly help to rebuild joint cartilage.

Chiropractic adjustments assist in restoring proper mobility and function to the spinal joints. Chiropractic care is not only a smart idea, but extremely effective in relieving the debilitating pain of arthritis. Your Chicago chiropractor is highly skilled when it comes to arthritic pain relief. Other forms of chiropractic care may include joint mobilization, massage, ultrasound, cold laser, or electro-therapy, all of which may be helpful in the relief of painful and stiff joints. On occasion a brace is required to help stabilize the joint in order to alleviate pain. Movement is vital to the maintenance of arthritic joints. A chiropractor often suggests gentle, mobilizing activities such as stretching, yoga, and tai chi can be beneficial.

Gout

An elevated level of uric acid in the blood and the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints produce gouty arthritis. Generally, gouty arthritis is characterized by acute pain and swelling of the joints in the big toes, knees, ankles and wrists. A large number of people who develop gout are predisposed through heredity, though episodes are more often than not brought on by binge eating of the wrong foods, when dehydrated or fasting, or after a major surgery or illness. Foods that must be avoided have a natural substance called Purines that are metabolized in the liver to form uric acid. Those with this condition cannot effectively metabolize uric acid, thus the buildup in the bloodstream and the ensuing joint problems. The foods most connected with high purine content are: red meat especially organ meat, certain seafood, legumes, mushrooms and other foods as well. There are other dietary restrictions that must be followed including refraining from drinking alcohol.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is systemic in nature and thought to be produced by immune system dysfunction. The most common joints affected are the small joints of the hands and fingers, the feet, knees, and shoulder, while other areas of the body can be affected as well. Morning stiffness aggravated by movement is usually associated with the disease. Often people complain of general malaise and fatigue, and the disease in its more advanced forms can affect many of the other body systems. Rheumatoid arthritis can be easily identified through definitive blood tests. Though, currently, there is no cure, in addition to medication and vitamin and diet therapy, treatment should include chiropractic adjustments to mobilize joints and help to relieve the pain and stiffness associated with this disease. Additional modalities such as ultrasound, heat, electro-therapy, and massage may also be valuable. Your Chicago chiropractor is dedicated to assisting people in getting relief from the pain and suffering associated with arthritis.

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At first, we may think that we are just tired from the everyday hustle and bustle of our daily lives or that we just had a series of bad springs for our bed that when we woke up, the pain never stops.  Then we check it with our doctors and find that what is causing such is arthritis back pain but luckily, with the advancement in medicine, we get to have the latest and the fastest cure for it and of course, its pain management.

For those of you who are still clueless about what causes arthritis back pain, here are numerous reasons why you have such.  Also, here are some things you could do for arthritis back pain management to help you deal with it that to help minimize the “ouch” factor.

Possible Causes

They say that determining the real cause of arthritis back pain is difficult and it requires a rigorous medical research and tests as each patient is different from the other.  But, one of the possible causes of which is the genetics though they say that there may be some genetic variations that leads you to have arthritis back pain.  Another of the possible reasons is the age of a person since we all know that as we get older, our cartilage becomes more brittle and decreased its capacity to repair itself. 

Weight also is a contributing factor since other parts of the body relies so much on our joints, therefore, excess body weight could lead to arthritis.  Previous injury, occupational hazards, and certain illnesses or infections that affected your joints or multiple episodes of gout may lead to arthritis back pain and other arthritis in your body.

For Pain Management

Tylenol is the name that you have trusted for years now when you are experiencing headache, flu, or fever and right now, they have formulated a special kind of medicine to help you with managing your pain especially back pain.  But above all, what you may first want to do is call the right doctor and a rheumatologist to find out what kind of arthritis you have and at least, you have the help of the right people with the help of your family doctor.

And surely, if you are going to ask for something to help you manage your arthritis back pain, Tylenol for Arthritis is the number one brand if you want to manage your pain.  For more details or information, log on to tylenol.com for you to have an overview about the best in arthritis pain management.

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I was recently diagnoised with RA and I am in horrific pain. My elbows and knees hurt terribly and in the morning my hands harldy work. The worst part is I am a mother of two small boys who are very active outside and want to play all the time with me! It hurts my heart so much when the pain is to much to do this with them. My primary DR. put me on percocet until I saw my Rhumatologist who didn't feel comfortable perscribing that to me so he put me on vicodin which is like taking Tylenol (it does nothing.) My primary wants my Rhumatologist to be in charge of my meds now but he doesn't get it like she did. Any suggestions? This is my fist time ever writing on something like this.
Thanks to anyone who can help!

i dont understand how ur rheumatologist "doesnt get it", i think u need a new rheumatologist because a primary care doc cant treat your RA……u need to be on RA medication, and pain meds, not only pain meds cus they prolly wont work, atleast they dont really for me…..and pain meds deffinitely wont stop doint damage…………….for stress and depression try marijuana instead of psych drugs, it works for me….good luck

I was diagnosed with RA in 2000. I have suffered with chronic pain for years, mostly in the winter months. My doctors are not sympathetic-I have tried pain management clinics-specialists-surgeons etc. No relief. Pain meds, ugh…doctors are so nervous the rather let me suffer. WHY?
They wish for me to continue therapy. Im so depressed, I ache all night long-killing my sex drive-poor hubby-I toss and turn all night.
Anyone have any advice with dealing with this illness or doctors. I feel so alone, Im young and am so worried about getting older and worse. This disease consumes my life during the winter. I can't drive, eat, cook, type or write without tears in my eyes. My hubby thinks it is all in my head. I cant even play with my kids! I am on the search for a new doc. with empathy. How in the world can I manage anymore. I feel like a failure at work, home and as a wife. My grandma had RA and she was a crippled mess of a woman by time she was 65. Any advice would be appreciated.

Prescription drugs do help in treating your symptoms of aches and pains, but they are still drugs which in itself is the problem. By keeping your body pure, your body can focus on healing without having to first process chemicals, which are sliced and diced by the enzymes in your stomach, leaving very little of the effective ingredients still in tact. This breakdown of chemicals usually leads to a build up of toxins in the liver and essentially can begin poisoning your body over time – recent news headlines prove it.

Try ReliefMD. It is an all-natural solution that uses a revolutionary new approach, dedicated to matching and combining the different properties of these oils into a single formula for superior pain relief. And to top it off, ReliefMD is NOT PETROLEUM based. This formula is the most unique combination of plant and nut extracts to give you an effective way to relieve pain.

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If I may ask without seeming nosey-
What were the symptoms leading to your diagnosis?
How long did your diagnosis take?
How have you been treated (what meds/therapies) and what has worked best?

I am being tested for a number of things but my own experience and background leads me to suspect RA will be the ultimate diagnosis. The doctors I have seen also seem to be leaning that way.
Chronic, almost unbearable fatigue, weakness, intense joint pain in almost every joint, it’s worst in my extremities especially feet and ankles-several times recently I have had an ankle just ‘give’ while walking – three times now that has been while carrying a baby down my stairs and once while in a store, again while carrying my little one, which is frightening not to mention a bit embarrassing. I went for a walk the other day and suddenly felt as if my foot were broken, like if I took one more step weight-bearing on that foot the bone would just snap. I limped home and put heat on it, and rested it for the evening and overnight, and by morning it was back to it’s regular state of ‘just’ sore. I’m pretty young and in pretty good shape- actually *very* good shape when having two children within two years is factored in; I have been fairly athletic in the past, and all of this is a bit out of the blue- it seemed to start gradually during my last pregnancy and I thought it was from carrynig extra weight of baby and fluid, but it’s been almost three months since the new little guy was born and it is only getting worse even though the weight and fluid are long gone. I went to the Dr. hoping to be told it was normal considering I have two very young children in addition to school-age kids but also knowing it was not the normal fatigue of mommy-life. I have to get up at least an hour before anyone else and take medication before my kids are up in order to just be mobile enough to make them breakfast and get the day going. The pain tends to get better as the day goes on but as the day goes on the fatigue gets worse, so it’s a bit of a nasty cycle going here. Sound anything like what you’ve experienced? What has helped?

Wow I don’t want that to sound like I’m whining; I’m not neccesarily complaining, just curious.
Okay guys, I'm starting to think this is a 'Jewish thing', LOL!

(((Mz Rahi))) I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through all of this. I know how hard it is, although mine came on early enough that I've not gotten to have a family.

I show all the signs of RA, except for the bloodwork, and have since I was 20. I also have extreme fatigue, weakness, joint pain (the *only* joints that have never bothered me are in my spine). I also have a lot of problems with inflammation of the just about everything, including my brain, which can be quite debilitating and frightening.

And I know about the knees/ankles just giving way. To me, it feels like someone rammed a knitting needle directly into my joint. It's usually so sharp that I cry out and I have to wait until it lessens before I can hobble home. It pretty much only happens outside, and seems to be connected with ozone from outdoor pollutants AND indoor computer/ printer/ machinery emissions.

One of the root causes is that my body has problems breaking down synthetic chemicals and pollutants, so they build up in my system and cause all sorts of problems. What's helped me most is reducing as much of those sorts of things as I can, including switching to 'safer' shampoo, soap, laundry detergent and cleaning products. Eating organic as much as I can makes a huge difference. Nutritional supplements sometimes help, as long as they're good quality, EFAs are the most important ones re the arthritis.

I hope that all makes sense, I'm really worn out from the week and it's hard for me to concentrate. E-mail me if you have any questions at all or just want some support from someone who understands.