Rheumatoid Arthritis in Vacaville

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is the most common form of autoimmune arthritis. An estimate of 1.3 million Americans is affected by this disease and 75% of these patients are women. In fact, women have a 1-3% chance of getting arthritis in their lifetime and it starts between the age of 30 to 50 years old.

RA is a chronic disease that can cause joint pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased movement of the joints. The commonly affected joints are the ones found in the hands and feet. There are instances that RA can also affect your organs like the eyes, skin, or lungs.

The joint stiffness in RA is usually worst during mornings. It can last for 1 to 2 hours or sometimes up to an entire day. However, some patients can find relief just by moving their joints. So, if you're feeling stiff for a long time every morning, then it's an indication that you may have RA since this isn't common in other conditions. The good news is, Chiropractors in Vacaville can help relieve some of the stiffness caused by RA.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS in Vacaville

Apart from stiffness, you should also lookout for the following signs and symptoms:

• Low fevers
• Loss of energy
• Loss of appetite
• Dry eyes and mouth due to another related health problem (e.g. Sjogren's syndrome)
• Rheumatoid nodules which are firm lumps that grow beneath the skin particularly on the hands and elbows

Fast facts about rheumatoid arthritis

• RA is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. This happens when the body's immune system isn't working properly. It can cause pain and swelling in the small joints of the hands and feet.
• You can increase your muscle strength by doing regular low-impact exercises like walking. This can help lower the pressure on the joints and improve your overall health.
• RA treatments can reduce joint pain and swelling. In fact, it can prevent further joint damage. If it's treated early, then expect to achieve long term results.
• An early treatment for RA can help patients recover and make them lead an active life. It will also reduce their chances of experiencing joint damage that could lead to joint replacement.

Causes of rheumatoid arthritis

RA is an autoimmune disease. Your immune system supposedly creates inflammation to attack foreign invaders of the body, like bacteria and viruses. But in an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your own healthy tissue instead. A lot of inflammation is created which are then sent to your joints, thus causing joint pain and swelling. Once this happens, the damage can't be reversed and there's no known cause for RA. There's also some evidence which points out that RA could run in the family. So, if someone in your bloodline has experienced it, there's a possibility that you, your family or relatives can acquire it as well.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis

Even though you're suffering from RA, it's best to remain physically active but scale it down as soon as it flares up. In general, rest is important when a joint is inflamed or when you're just feeling tired. When it flares up, you can also do some gentle range-of-motion exercises to maintain the flexibility of your joint. It might even provide some relief as well.

Once an RA patient recovers, they are encouraged to do low-impact aerobic exercises like walking to continue boosting their muscle strength. This will reduce any pressure on your joints and even improve your overall health. You can ask your therapist or chiropractor to help you with the ideal activities and how you should perform them.

Having a chronic illness can be a life-changing event. It will make you feel depressed and isolated in knowing that you have to live with it. But with the help of advanced treatments, these negative feelings will be eliminated along with the pain and stiffness. So, consult with your health care provider on the best approach for your illness and the treatment that's suited for you.

Managing rheumatoid arthritis

There's no doubt that rheumatoid arthritis can be painful especially when it flares up. However, there are steps you can take to make it more manageable. Try doing these things if ever your RA pain starts bothering you:

1. Start some breathing exercises. Tune in to your breaths and try to inhale and exhale normally. Pay attention to each one and try to avoid distracting thoughts when doing this. This is a simple way of calming yourself and doing this for a few minutes each day can be helpful.
2. Do the things that you enjoy the most especially the activities that makes you happy both inside and out. If you find it hard to do such things during an RA flare, ask for some advice from your doctor or physical therapist on how to make it easier.
3. Apply heat, cold, and a massage. Use an ice pack to soothe the inflamed area. For stiff joints, use heat packs on those to warm it up. If there are mild symptoms, massage that area for a quick relief.
4. Stiff joints can be relieved through an exercise. There are certain exercises that you can still do even when you're in pain. Just ask your doctor or therapist on which exercises are recommended for your situation.
5. Eat a balanced diet. For your meals, make sure to include fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. If you have a problem on which ones to choose, you can consult with a registered dietitian to help you out.
6. If possible, quit smoking right away. It may be hard to quit at first and it may even take you several times. If that's the case, don't give up and just quit smoking in a gradual manner.

Chiropractic care and rheumatoid arthritis

Chiropractic adjustments are the best when it comes to providing the much-needed relief when dealing with RA pain. These adjustments are uniquely performed to cater to every individual's needs since they provide a non-addictive, non-invasive and safe option compared to the other treatment alternatives. Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine is one of the few clinics that you can consider in providing you with treatment for this condition and the associated joint pain.

Chiropractors will help in restoring your mobility and keep you in a comfortable state. Maintaining the proper alignment of your body will make you move more freely and reduce your need for pain management medications. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to not only deal with the problem but also fix the root cause. You will also be instructed to make some changes on your diet, lifestyle, and exercise habits that can impact your entire body. Your joints will now feel more relaxed because of the relief from the pain and stiffness. In short, chiropractic care is a great, non-invasive alternative in managing your RA, thus giving you a more productive and pain-free life.

Another part of the chiropractic treatment for RA is to be provided with nutrition and diet advice. This includes supplements that could help with the inflammation that characterizes the disease. Keep in mind that not all arthritis patients are candidates for a chiropractic adjustment, but it can still be modified to avoid irritations on the pained areas and improve flexibility.

To see how patients have benefited with the help of Absolute Integrative Physical Medicine, you can check it out on their testimonials page and find Lacy P. from Vacaville, CA. She has been suffering from joint pains and the adjustments that she got from us has helped her tremendously.