The second myth or misconception we are going to discuss relates to arthritis. Roughly 40 million people in the United States have been clinically diagnosed with some form of arthritis and that number is judged to rise in the next few years. It is a widespread diagnosis and affects a lot of people, both old and young, particularly the overweight and the inactive. However, just because you have arthritis does not mean that you necessarily experience back pain.
Actually, there are thousands and thousands of Americans who have been diagnosed with arthritis in their backs, but do NOT have any back pain. Then why do you feel as if your spine might snap if you move too quickly or twist the wrong way? Why do you feel so unbending?
Guess what? Your stiffness may not even be related to arthritis at all! Arthritis is a pretty common mis-diagnosis and unfortunately, the real reason for your back pain and stiffness is a more serious and risky problem. Unfortunately, you may not ever know about the wrong diagnosis until it is too late. It may develop into herniated or bulging discs in the spine, which will have a huge and rather expensive effect on your health.
The pain and rigidity many arthritis patients experience are caused by a combination of hidden imbalances of the spinal column and the surrounding muscles. If left untreated, these unseen imbalances can result in further health issues, such as hip replacement surgery. This is simple to avoid, if the issue is found and treated quickly.
Think of your spine in terms of your car: if the wheel alignment on your car is just a little bit off, you may not see any clear signs of the problem. You might be able to drive hundreds or even thousands of miles on the misaligned wheels before you may notice any changes. The car will probably not make any strange noises or pull to one side like you might expect. Eventually, after driving on the misaligned wheels, you may see a different pattern of baldness appear on the tires, the car might pull to one side, or a tire blow-out could cause a very dangerous accident.
Simply by taking your car in for a check-up will allow you to easily avoid these potentially dangerous situations. Your chance of being in a fatal collision increases vastly when you keep driving on the misaligned wheels or the worn out tires. Preventative maintenance on your car is key to ensuring your safety on the road.
Your body functions the same way with the spine. You might have a minor misalignment or imbalance in your spine that seemingly does not affect your health right now. You may not even experience any symptoms or pain from the imbalance; however, it exists nonetheless and can have a significant impact on your well-being. By visiting your chiropractor, you can receive the preventative care for any unnoticed spinal misalignments that can make you feel your best right now, while saving you time and health complications in the future.
Do you experience back pain already? Be sure to stop in and see your chiropractor for a spinal exam before your pain becomes a huge, consuming health issue.
Phoenix Chiropractor Dr. Steve Van Laecken has helped numerous people with arthritis to live without from back pain. To learn how to get rid of that awful back pain once and for all, and you live in Phoenix, then call Phoenix Chiropractor Dr. Steve Van Laecken at 602-298-1600. For a limited time, Dr. Steve has agreed to provide an initial exam for 75% off to anyone with a printout of this article.
Posted under arthritis
This post was written by Dr. Steve Van Laecken on August 30, 2010
