While the thought of arthritis seems to be synonymous with old age, the reality is this isn’t necessarily true. Arthritis is the degeneration of joints in the body and there are many conditions that younger individuals can have which accelerate the breakdown of joints. Conditions called inflammatory arthritides trick the body into attacking different joints in the body. Examples of these inflammatory arthritides are: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
These conditions can lead to inflammation, pain, and loss of mobility in joints all over the body. Class IV laser therapy is a new method of treatment for co-managing these diseases. Let’s talk about the different diseases classified as inflammatory arthritides, what the medical treatments are, and how Class IV lasers can be a great complementary treatment.
Joints have a protective lining called synovium which prevents the bones from rubbing against each other. Inflammatory arthritides are conditions where the immune system will begin to attack this joint lining. Typically, the body's immune system only recognizes foreign substances as a threat. Cells produce antibodies that attach to foreign threats and allow the body to identify and destroy them before they inflict damage. For an unknown reason, the immune system can begin producing antibodies that target the synovial lining of joints, forcing the body to begin attacking itself at these sites. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common example of an inflammatory arthritide, but there are several others including lupus, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Left uncontrolled, these conditions will completely destroy the synovial lining. Without the lining, the bones will rub together causing further inflammation, pain, and the inevitable destruction of the joint. Typical medical treatments for these conditions include drugs that are meant to slow down the immune system. Initially, these drugs can take a long time to be effective. In the meantime, it’s important to stop inflammation before permanent damage is done. NSAIDs can help temporarily relieve inflammation and pain but shouldn’t be used long term. Class IV laser therapy can be the answer to preventing inflammation and reducing pain for these conditions.
High-powered Class IV lasers have been shown to be an effective tool when treating painful inflammatory arthritides. When enough laser light is applied to the cells lining the affected joints, photobiostimulation occurs, beginning a cascade of intracellular signaling that tells the brain to reduce inflammation to the area. Newer high-powered lasers are able to reach the deeper layers of joints with enough energy for photobiostimulation to occur. Recent studies on rheumatoid arthritis patients have shown that after treatment with high-powered lasers, inflammatory markers in the blood were reduced and the patients reported decreased joint pain.
Class IV laser therapy is a natural and painless treatment with minimal side effects. Long-term use of NSAIDs and other anti-inflammatory medications has been proven to cause organ damage over time. When used in conjunction and complementary to each other, you can improve your pain and discomfort while minimizing the risk of organ damage from overmedication.
Flare-ups occur frequently with these conditions because they are reliant on how well you control inflammation in your body. Diet, exercises, and lifestyle habits all play a role in the frequency and intensity of flare-ups. If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions and are having difficulty keeping it under control, schedule an appointment with your Rochester chiropractor. Here at Rush-Henrietta Family Chiropractic, we have been helping many people by using class IV laser therapy. Your chiropractor in Rochester can help slow down the painful and damaging process of inflammatory arthritides and help you learn to control the condition through natural lifestyle changes.
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