Cedar Crest Chiropractic February 2020

DR. BRAADT’S WELLNESS COLUMN

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ARTHRITIS. NOW WHAT?

replacement. The study concluded that there is no pharmaceutical treatment for osteoarthritis other than temporary pain relief.

People are often diagnosed with arthritis and told nothing can be done about it. Options include taking drugs for the pain; getting injections in the knee, hip, or spine; and learning to live with it! Well, that’s not very encouraging. What drives most patients to chiropractic care is spinal pain. There is a public perception of chiropractors as “back doctors.” This is true because most research demonstrates that chiropractic care is more efficient, costs less, produces higher patient satisfaction, is safer, and generally helps keep patients out of surgery. However, what about the knee, hip, shoulder, or other joints affected by arthritis? In our office, every joint can be evaluated and potentially treated. I’ve invested an additional three years in a board certification program in orthopedics and an additional year in board certification in rehabilitation. This allows you to take advantage of a nondrug, noninjection, and nonsurgical treatment for joint pain. Common medical treatment for an arthritic spine or any other arthritic joint is chemical care with drugs. A quick Google search on the side effects of any long-term use of the most common drugs, including steroids, will give pause. Their safety is really in question, especially if you must take these drugs for the rest of your life. The most common treatment in orthopedics for joint pain is steroidal injection. The American Academy of Neurology stated recently that spinal epidural injections may cause some small, temporary improvement, but there’s no meaningful impact beyond three months. It was stated further that the evidence was insufficient to even support their use in clinical practice. Side effects studied included liver damage, kidney disease, heart attack and stroke, weight gain, and uncontrolled blood sugar. A recent study at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center found that steroid injections for osteoarthritis may do more harm than good and are not as safe as generally thought. The study found that the shots may accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis and potentially hasten the need for surgery and joint

So, what’s a person to do?

Of course, lifestyle changes are vital, including diet change, weight loss, exercise, and adjustments in daily habits. Osteoarthritis is essentially a wear and tear problem. It is a mechanical problem . Orthopedically trained chiropractors, like me, are uniquely positioned to address this problem. Adjustments to the knee, hip, shoulder, and especially the spine can stop the wear, tear, and grinding that results in osteoarthritis. Joint supplements, especially from Standard Process Supplementation , are very helpful to reduce inflammation safely and aid in joint repair.

We also have an electromagnetic device developed in Germany called a BEMER.

• The BEMER treatment is safe, painless, and has no side effects.

• It drives oxygen into all the cells of the body and removes toxins. This reduces swelling and pain. Plus, when you have extra oxygen in the body, you have energy and reduced fatigue.

• It increases circulation to all body parts, including where you’re hurt.

So, if you are dealing with arthritis affecting your joints, please let me know at your next office visit. We also have gift certificates for you to share with someone in need. There are safe, effective alternatives to drugs and surgery for arthritis. As always, we’re here to help you get healthy and stay that way!

–Dr. Paul Braadt

CedarCrestChiropractic.com

PAGE 2

610-776-2005

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs