Arthritic Pain
Osteopaths are recognised for their ability to help manage arthritic pain. Not all forms of arthritis can be treated to resolution with osteopathy- some are autoimmune and require a rheumatologist’s support. But helping you with your symptoms is typically within our remit.
OA: Osteoarthritis
One of the most common causes of arthritic pain is osteoarthritis (OA).
This is a cause of arthritic pain that we can treat the root of. Our aims here are to slow the progression, but if caught early enough, we may also be able to encourage the affected cartilage to regenerate to a degree.
Read more about OA in our dedicated post here.
RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Although often confused with OA, RA is caused by a completely different mechanism. It is an inflammatory, autoimmune condition. The body attacks a layer of tissue within the joint, causing pain, swelling, and heat over the area. When this subsides, it attempts to repair the damaged tissue. Over time, the process causes joint laxity and deformity in some joints (see the image below for some hand deformities caused by RA).
The pain caused by RA comes and goes in line with the periods of relapse and remission. But typically, as with most inflammatory conditions, early mornings are difficult. Long periods of rest aggravate symptoms, but so does too much exercise. Striking the balance can be a real struggle, but we can help you to find it and give you exercises and treatments that fall within that green zone.
AxSpA and Ankylosing Spondylitis
This condition is similar to RA in some respects. Both are autoimmune and inflammatory, causing flare ups and periods of repair. AxSpA is the umbrella term for all stages of the condition, but in both cases the lower back is the primary target. The joints at the base of the spine are attacked by the immune system, and repairs are made incorrectly. These repairs result in bone being laid over the joint, causing restriction over time.
Like RA, too little and too much movement can aggravate symptoms. Therefore, a little and often approach can be most appropriate. If you have this condition, you might find that on particularly uncomfortable days, 5 or 10 minutes of gentle movement makes a real difference to your pain. We can help to strike that balance, both through prescribing you exercises and hands on treatment in clinic.
Our full post on AS and AxSpA can be found here.
Other Forms of Arthritis
There are a number of other forms of inflammatory or autoimmune arthritis. Your osteopath will be aware of most of them, but often they require formal diagnosis from a rheumatologist, which may require imaging and blood tests. In many cases, their similarities with the above conditions mean that their symptoms respond in much the same way. Striking the balance between too much and not enough movement is key, and the exact amount of movement your joints need will depend on the current state of the condition.
There are forms of arthritis that affect children, and where appropriate they may also benefit from treatment for symptomatic relief. We have paediatric trained osteopaths at Flitwick Osteopathic Clinic, so your child will be in safe hands should they need it. We will refer on for further investigation if we suspect undiagnosed juvenile arthritis, or septic/reactive arthritis- but you are welcome to return for treatment once medication and referrals have been sorted.
Click here to make an appointment for your arthritic pain in Flitwick