Arthritis Pain Treatment in Lake Forest

Arthritis is a common, yet misunderstood condition. It is an inflammation of at least one joint – often multiple joints – that results in discomfort, pain, and stiffness in the affected joints and body. Common symptoms include joint pain, swelling, decreased range of motion, and stiffness. Arthritis isn’t a single disease. There are over 100 different kinds and severities of the disease making it a leading cause of disability in Americans. However, there are two main types of arthritis that can benefit from routine chiropractic treatments – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Chiropractic treatments are a great way to relieve and manage pain resulting from arthritis. It is non-invasive, safe, and non-addictive. Chiropractors deliver gentle adjustments to reduce misalignments and joint restrictions in the joints and spine to reduce inflammation and improve function of the affected nerves and joints. By improving nervous system function and joint mobility, your body can better manage the symptoms of arthritis.

Arthritis Pain Therapy

Your Body, Your Way

Together, we will create a personalized treatment plan catered to YOUR body, YOUR pain points and YOUR speed. What is right for one won’t be right for another. We specialize in the following methods to create a customized treatment plan.

Because chiropractors concentrate on skeletal and neuromuscular treatment, they can often manage symptoms of arthritis effectively. Chiropractors may use gentle spinal manipulation to relieve pressure on the spine and joints and restore blood and nerve flow to all areas of the body. This decreases pain and increases range of motion.

Many types of arthritis may benefit from regenerative medicine treatments. This branch of medicine focuses on repairing, replacing, and regenerating damaged tissues naturally. By using the body’s own capacity for healing, regenerative medicine offers a long-term way to decrease pain and improve recovery compared to surgical interventions. Joints such as knees, shoulders, elbows, and hips respond well to regenerative treatments. Regenerative medicine treatments for arthritis may include stem cell treatments, PRP, or cold laser therapy.

Cellular Therapy

Certain cells in the body have a unique ability to develop into any type of cell the body needs. Your doctor can inject these cells into damaged tissues to encourage them to turn into new cartilage. This is an excellent treatment for those with early joint damage, but also for those who have little cartilage remaining due to advanced disease processes. Stem cell therapy is also effective against rheumatoid arthritis because these special cells are able to alter the way the immune system works and adjust inflammatory responses.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

Platelets are a component of blood that contains healing growth factors. When these growth factors are targeted to an arthritic joint, they promote healing. Your doctor will use your own blood to create the platelet rich plasma so there is little risk of side effects.

Amniotic Injections

Arthritic joints can benefit from amniotic injections because they contain hyaluronic acid, cytokines, lipids, and multipotent cells that foster growth. When administered to arthritic joints, the body is prompted to create new tissue, inflammation decreases, and pain is reduced.

Cold Laser Therapy

Laser therapy uses low intensity laser diode light to eliminate pain, decrease inflammation, and promote healing. It doesn’t cut or heat tissue like high intensity lasers. The light penetrates into the inner tissues where it is absorbed which stimulates the release and production of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural pain killers. The light also excites mitochondria which induces tissue repair, increases microcirculation, and reduces inflammation.

This non-surgical treatment uses a mechanized traction table to stretch the spine and take pressure off the joints and discs. This results in reduced muscle tension, less pain, and better circulation of cerebrospinal fluid for sufferers of spinal arthritis.

This technique utilizes sound waves to improve joint function and decrease pain. The sound waves create vibrations which occur at a high frequency creating a deep heat within the soft tissues of the body. This leads to decreased pain, improved oxygen delivery to injured tissue, and facilitation of tissue repair.

Therapeutic massage reduces muscle tension, improves circulation, reduces cortisol, and releases stress–all of which produce the additional benefit of reducing pain. Types of therapeutic massage that may be used for arthritis include trigger point massage and deep tissue massage. Trigger point massage relieves areas of tension in specific points of the body that may be causing pain in other areas of the body. Deep tissue massage uses heavy, slow movements targeted to muscles to loosen fascia below the surface of the skin.

Causes of Arthritis

Cartilage is a flexible, but firm connective tissue inside the joints. It absorbs pressure and shock that is created when joints are moved. A reduction in the normal amounts of cartilage results in some types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the result of normal wear and tear and is one of the most common types of arthritis. Injury or infection to a joint can exacerbate the natural breakdown of cartilage. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis caused by an autoimmune disorder. This is when the body’s immune system attacks the tissue of the body. These attacks impact the synovium, or soft tissue in the joints that produces fluid that lubricates the joints and nourishes cartilage. This can eventually lead to the destruction of cartilage and bone inside the joint. 

Symptoms of Arthritis

Depending on the type of arthritis, symptoms and signs of the disease may include pain, swelling, stiffness, redness, warmth, and decreased range of motion in the affected joints. Symptoms are often worse in the morning, especially with rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis may also experience loss of appetite and feel tired due to the inflammation caused by the immune system.

Common Questions About Arthritis Pain Relief

Yes, chiropractors can diagnose arthritis through a combination of pain location, physical examination, and assessment of your symptoms. Your chiropractor may also order x-rays to confirm the diagnosis or determine the amount of joint damage involved. An MRI may be used to determine cartilage damage.

Arthritis can’t be cured, but the symptoms can be managed. Chiropractic treatment for arthritis involves a variety of modalities to decrease inflammation, improve range of motion and flexibility, and decrease pain without the use of medications or surgery.

Chiropractors are trained to evaluate where pain is coming from using a history of your symptoms and a physical exam. They can determine if pain is caused by only one area or a combination of multiple problem areas. They may use evaluation, x-rays, muscle testing, or orthopedic tests to narrow down the source of the pain.

Arthritis Treatment in Lake Forest

Conventional treatments for arthritis typically include anti-inflammatory medications which don’t improve your joint function or stop the progression of the disease. Chiropractic is a drug-free way to treat your symptoms. While it may not stop arthritis, it can improve joint and muscle function, therefore relieving symptoms and improving overall function.

If you are experiencing pain due to arthritis, our office may be the solution to pain relief you are looking for. Our team of chiropractors and pain management staff is ready to help you find the relief you need to get back to your normal daily activities. To learn more contact us today.

During your new patient evaluation, we will determine 3 things:
What is the
underlying issue?
Is that a problem
we can help?
What will it take
to get you better?

You Don't Have To Live In Pain...

They had pain. They found relief here. You can too.

"Dr. Kowalik is extremely skilled in chiropractic adjustments. I have been to many chiropractors for over a 30 year period. Since seeing Dr. Kowalik, my need has been greatly reduced. He helped my bad neck like no other chiropractor could. He's also adjusted my hands, elbows, and feet. In addition to his great skill at adjusting, he is extremely knowledgable about managing health. He is very dedicated to patient care and education. I would highly recommend him. Additionaly, his office is always very friendly."
"I would tell anybody that needs to see a Chiropractor or having problems with their back, or walking, etc. see Dr. Kowalik right away. He is the real deal and will have you feeling better in no time. It was amazing how quickly he helped me as I had trouble walking and sitting down without pain. Just after one visit I was feeling better. You can also not ask for a more comfortable environment or genuinely friendly staff. I recommend Dr. Kowalik to anyone and everyone as he will make a difference for you too."
"I think what impressed me the most was the initial exam. It was the most comprehensive exam I have ever had from a Chiropractor. Once he understood my issues he prescribed a very defined course of action. I really liked his approach, his knowledge about wellness and his team spirited attitude. After my first adjustment, that evening, I received a call from the Dr. to see how I was doing. This showed me I am not in this alone, he is my partner, he is working WITH me to get me back in alignment. Its a team. It's so much more than a generic chiropractor. This place ROCKS!"