May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. Whether you or a loved one has this condition, now is the time to ask questions and get answers about joint health, arthritis pain, and treatment options. Here are some interesting facts you might not have known about arthritis.

What is Arthritis?

This chronic condition describes inflammation of the joints—“arth” meaning joint and “itis” meaning inflammation. Many people think arthritis is a single disease, but it’s actually a group of over 100 different types of joint inflammation.

Symptoms of arthritis include:

  • Joint pain, swelling, and stiffness
  • Limited range of motion
  • Redness and warmth around the joint
  • Bumps or nodules on the joint
  • Fever
  • Fatigue

If you show symptoms of arthritis, you should consult a doctor and start a treatment plan as soon as possible.

How Many People Have Arthritis?

According to the Arthritis Foundation, an estimated 54 million American adults have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. About 31 million of these cases are osteoarthritis, making it the most common type. Diagnoses are on the rise each year, with 67 million Americans—or a quarter of the adult population—predicted to have arthritis by 2030. The widespread prevalence of arthritis makes it the most common cause of disability among adults in the United States.

Who Gets Arthritis?

It’s a common misconception that arthritis is an old person’s disease. However, people of any age can contract this condition. For instance, 300,000 American infants and children have arthritis or a rheumatic condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which causes pain and inflammation of the joints, muscles, and fibrous tissues.

While anyone can be diagnosed with arthritis, some conditions are more prevalent in certain groups than others. For instance:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than in men.
  • Gout appears more often in men than in women.
  • Psoriatic arthritis affects women and men about equally.
  • Osteoarthritis is usually seen among older adults.

How is Arthritis Diagnosed?

If you experience persistent symptoms of arthritis for more than two weeks, see your doctor for a diagnosis. The examination is performed in your doctor’s office, where your medical history is taken.

Then, your doctor gives you a physical exam to observe any visible symptoms of arthritis. Next, your doctor orders lab tests and takes X-rays to look for abnormal signs of inflammation and joint damage. The results of your tests confirm the diagnosis.

Is There a Cure for Arthritis?

Currently, there is no cure for arthritis, but new and better diagnostics and treatment methods are helping more arthritis patients control their symptoms for a pain-free way of life. Your treatment options for arthritis pain include:

  • Trigger point therapy: Trigger points, or areas of knotted muscle caused by arthritis, can decrease blood flow and worsen your symptoms. Trigger point injections promote healing and reduce arthritis pain.
  • Regenerative therapy: Stem cells develop into whatever tissues are needed at the injection site, including ligaments, tendons, and even bones. Spine Correction Center is proud to offer state-of-the-art stem cell therapy for arthritis here in Fort Collins.
  • Joint injections: The purpose of a joint injection is to lubricate the large joints of the body, such as the knee or shoulder, and decrease arthritis pain.
  • Chiropractic care: By realigning your joints with chiropractic adjustments, you can reduce muscle tension and help stiff joints feel more mobile.
  • Physical therapy: Gentle joint exercises can relieve arthritis pain and improve your range of motion.
  • Electrical stimulation: Electrodes are placed on the painful, arthritic areas of your body to stimulate the release of endorphins and enkephalins. These peptides activate the body’s opiate receptors, resulting in natural pain relief.
  • Acupuncture: This ancient healing technique involves placing needles at specific points on your body to open energy pathways and promote healing. Acupressure is a similar therapy, which uses acupuncture methods but with pressure applied using the hands instead of needles.
  • Heat therapy: Treat arthritis pain at home by applying a hot pack or heating pad to your affected joints for 15 minutes. Repeat this two to three times a day to increase blood flow to irritated areas and help your muscles relax. A warm bath before bed is also an effective way to soothe aches and help you sleep.
  • Physical exercise: It’s a myth that people with arthritis should avoid exercise. In fact, staying physically active is important to slow joint deterioration and maintain a healthy range of motion. To prevent arthritis pain, try low-impact exercises such as walking, water aerobics, stationary cycling, weight lifting, and yoga.

Treat Arthritis Pain at Spine Correction Center of the Rockies

If you struggle with arthritis pain, get the effective, non-invasive treatment you’ve been looking for at Spine Correction Center. You can find all of the treatments outlined above at our Fort Collins office. With help from our team of knowledgeable doctors, nurses, chiropractors, therapists, and technicians, we’re able to help many of our patients relieve arthritis pain without medication. Schedule a free consultation at our office today to discuss which treatments might be right for you—(970) 658-5115.