What is Arthritis?
Arthritis is inflammation in your joints. Joint stiffness or pain often characterize it, but arthritis can also result in redness or swelling at the joints and a reduced range of motion. There are over 100 kinds of arthritis, each with unique symptoms. As a result, understanding your arthritis is key to effective treatment.
What are the different kinds of arthritis?
Arthritis can affect virtually any part of your body, from your spine all the way to your extremities. There are two primary kinds of arthritis that most commonly affect Americans. They are:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your body’s own immune system attacks the synovial membrane – the lining around your joints – causing inflammation and pain.
Osteoarthritis
Wear-and-tear takes its toll. When your cartilage – the protective coating on the ends of your bones – gets worn too thin, your bones grind directly against each other. This is painful and can reduce your range of motion.
If left untreated, both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can cause permanent damage in the body.
How is arthritis treated?
There are a number of different treatments for arthritis. Finding the right solution to your arthritic pain comes down to identifying which treatment is right for your body and your lifestyle.
There are medications that can help minimize your arthritis symptoms, restoring comfort and a broader range of motion to your joints. If, however, you’d prefer to take a more natural approach, CITY Health Services also offers chiropractic services and massage therapy.
Chiropractic treatment can realign your joints, helping them work together without causing you pain. When used with chiropractic care or on its own, massage therapy can help minimize pain and stiffness in your body, give you a fuller range of motion, reduce anxiety, and even help you sleep better at night.
If you’re interested in learning more about the different arthritis treatments available today, CITY Health Services is here. Their team can help you find the right treatment plan so you can get back your quality of life. Call their office or schedule your appointment online to get started.