In our ever-aging population one of the most common causes for back pain is arthritis. Did you know there are many different types of arthritis and you don’t need to be old and worn out to suffer from it? The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis. Though both can be very painful, they couldn’t be more different from one another. The main difference between the two is how they occur.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and it is a degenerative disease. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage (the cushioning tissue in your joints) wears away. Pain occurs when bone rubs against bone. This can be caused by years of wear and tear, overuse or previous trauma to an area. It is most commonly associated with ageing. Think of an old worn down machine.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an inflammatory condition in which your immune system attacks the tissues in your joints. It can often attack areas of your body that you wouldn’t expect from elbows to fingers and toes and even your spine. It can happen at any age from childhood through to the elderly though is most common in adult women. It is usually diagnosed via a combination of blood tests and imaging.
Both types of arthritis can respond well to chiropractic care. Our main goal is to reduce pain, improve function and minimize further damage to your joints. Both types of arthritis often need some medication and assistance for pain relief. In addition, rheumatoid arthritis sufferers often need to manage with medication to help control their inflammation levels and the activity of their immune system as well. Though there’s no cure for either, regular chiropractic care can help maintain joint mobility and muscular function and also a good, regular, managed exercise routine can help with improving day to day function and reduce the ongoing severity of your arthritis.
Reference:
1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/explain-the-pain–is-it-osteoarthritis-or-rheumatoid-arthritis
2. https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/types-of-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis/
3. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/rheumatoid-arthritis
