Don’t settle for ‘just having to live with it’
Take a look at these before and after x-rays:
In both x-rays, the green line indicates the natural curve that a healthy neck should have. The red line, on the other hand, indicates the actual curve of this patient’s neck.
In the before x-ray, you can see that this patient had lost some of his curve. The after x-ray shows the results of regular Chiropractic adjustments after 5 years. As you can see, we succeeded in restoring the patient’s neck to its proper, healthy alignment.
Bear in mind that this patient was 62 years old – age wasn’t an issue. Healing takes time.
What would have happened if this patient had not sought out care with a Chiropractor? Most likely, continued degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae in his neck, along with arthritic degeneration of the vertebrae themselves. The result over time may be chronic pain, lost mobility and function, and a lower quality of life.
But he didn’t have to live with that. Something could be done.
Too often, however, patients come to us with these kinds of issues that other health professionals have told them is “something you’re just going to have to live with.”
We can only assume in these instances that the other health professional in question simply doesn’t understand, as we do, the consequences of having a misaligned spine or neck, or how it can be corrected. It’s not their forte, any more than a Chiropractor does not have the same skill set as, say, a Dentist.
Fighting back against osteoarthritis
Take osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritic joint disease. Patients who suffer from it often come to us believing they just have to live with it. They don’t understand what can be done to slow its progression and counter its ill effects.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time. Any joint in your body can be damaged by this degenerative condition, but the most commonly affected ones are your hands, knees, hips, and spine.
Osteoarthritis can gradually worsen over time. As with many chronic conditions, the key to maintaining quality of life is a proactive combination of diet, exercise, and proper care.
If the degeneration is in your neck/spine, a Chiropractor can help, by ensuring your structure is as healthy and aligned as it can be. A misaligned spine contributes to and accelerates arthritic degeneration, and this may lead to chronic pain and symptoms.
That’s what we can do. The rest is up to you.
The first step is to exercise. Bottom line, exercise is good for your joints, especially if you are suffering the onset of osteoarthritis.
It’s an unfounded myth that exercise somehow “wears down” the joints. In fact, the reverse is true. Exercise is good for your joint tissues and can reduce joint pain.
Of course, people in pain typically avoid exercise. A 2011 study at the American College of Rheumatology found that over 40 per cent of men and 56 per cent of women with osteoarthritis don’t even get 10 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week.
The authors of the study wrote that, “The fact that so many people with arthritis are inactive should be a wakeup call for physicians.”
Another option to consider is to engage the services of a qualified personal trainer, who can help you develop a safe and effective exercise routine appropriate to your needs. There are many in the Kanata area. We can help you find one.
Don’t overlook what you eat
According to Mercola.com, people who eat a diet high in processed and fried foods, sugars, and red meat are more likely to develop arthritic conditions than those who eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, poultry, and fish.
Diet also plays a critical role to overcome the pain and inflammation that can make the prospect of exercise daunting.