Arthritis and Your Spine: Why Chiropractic Care Matters
Hey there! Dr. Brant Hulsebus here, the team chiropractor for the Rockford IceHogs, and I’m excited to welcome you to another edition of Ask the Chiropractor. Today, we’re talking about something that comes up often: arthritis and your spine. Let’s dive in and explore how chiropractic care can really make a difference.
What is Arthritis in Your Spine?
You might have heard about arthritis, but did you know it can affect your spine too? A lot of people wonder if they can develop spine arthritis quickly, especially after seeing x-rays. The good news is, this doesn’t happen overnight!
When we talk about arthritis in chiropractic, we focus on the spine. Other areas like knees or hips are a bit different. Sometimes, I see patients who have been told by medical doctors that they have arthritis, yet their x-rays look great. It turns out, the American Medical Association defines spinal arthritis quite loosely. If you wake up with a stiff back, they may call it arthritis. But for chiropractors, we have a more specific grading system that tells us how long the back has been affected and if a full recovery is possible.
How Does Arthritis Start?
It all starts with something we call a subluxation, which is when one or two bones in your spine become misaligned, introducing stress to a joint. This stress can affect the nerves, causing discomfort or what some might call a “pinched nerve.” But instead of a pinched nerve, we see it as bones out of alignment creating stress.
When this happens, the body tries to protect itself by making muscles lock up the joint, preventing further damage. This lack of movement spells trouble for the disc between your bones. The disc is like a cushion that absorbs the shock, but it needs movement to get nutrients and expel waste. Without movement, the disc begins to dry out and loses its height, which doctors call degenerative disc disease.
How Can Chiropractors Help?
Chiropractors address this by finding subluxations and restoring movement with specific adjustments. Once movement returns, those muscles help pump nutrients back into the disc, allowing it to heal. We often see improvement when we re-examine patients’ x-rays over time.
But if you ignore these issues, the disc can shrink even more, leading to bone spurs, which are little bony growths that can irritate nearby nerves. If things get to this stage, sometimes surgery is needed to remove these spurs, but chiropractic care can often prevent this by maintaining your spine’s health.
Why X-rays are Important
To properly assess your spine, chiropractors need x-rays. These images show us your spine while standing, which is important because it reveals how gravity affects your discs. An MRI is helpful for some things, but it doesn’t show the disc height while standing.
Old x-rays are especially valuable because they allow us to compare past and current states to monitor changes and decides on proper care. If you have old x-rays, bring them along; they’re a chiropractor’s treasure!
Stay on Top of Your Spine Health
It’s important to have your spine checked, especially if a doctor tells you there’s arthritis. Chiropractors provide detailed evaluations and plans to manage or even prevent spinal arthritis. Regular chiropractic adjustments throughout your life can keep your spine healthy and arthritis-free.
I’ve seen patients from three generations in my office who have no signs of spine arthritis in their 80s and 90s because they’ve stayed diligent with their care.
If you want to learn more, leave your questions, and you just might be featured in next week’s edition of Ask the Chiropractor. Remember, when you have questions about chiropractic care, the best person to ask is a chiropractor. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
FINAL NOTE
Remember, if you have a question about chiropractic care, the best person to ask is a chiropractor. Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll see you next week! Want more? First, check out the video link above. Secondly, go to our blog page. Lastly, listen to our podcast. And if you want to take the same supplements Dr Hulsebus takes click here to pick them up next time you’re in.