Arthritis Doctor Shawnee KS Turn to Explains Knee Arthritis Treatment Options
As with any healthcare professional, your first consultation should run smoothly in order to reap the full medical benefits for a swift and efficient recovery. This is also important with chiropractic treatment. Here are the top questions to ask an arthritis doctor in Shawnee, Kansas before you agree to receive treatment from them.
What Chiropractic Techniques Does the Chiropractor Perform?
A Shawnee KS arthritis doctor may only specialize in a single technique. The issue with this is that not every condition an individual can suffer from responds to only one technique. New patients need to be aware that there are numerous chiropractic techniques that can successfully relieve and treat their symptoms.
Does the Arthritis Doctor in Shawnee KS Take X-Rays?
It’s critical to go to an arthritis doctor that takes numerous X-rays to rule out fractures or other serious issues as specified by the examination, your health history, and consultation. A series of X-rays will help the Shawnee KS arthritis doctor to determine the health of your discs and joints and gives them an estimation of how long it will take before your problems improve, in addition to determining what specific chiropractic methods will work best for you. Treating a patient without taking initial X-rays is like flying in the dark without the assistance of a radar – you don’t know where you’re going and it can be dangerous.
Will an Arthritis Doctor in Shawnee KS Provide You with Recommendations in Writing?
Written recommendations enables a patient to go home and ponder their options before making a decision. They also give you an explanation about what the care will consist of, the cost, and how long it will last up front. It’s critical that the chiropractor provides you with all of the information that you need to know in order to make an informed decision.
Can the Arthritis Doctor Shawnee KS Provide You with References?
Before you commit to receiving treatment, ask the arthritis doctor to provide you with at least five references, including two from other chiropractors and three from current patients. There are multiple reasons why you should get both professional and patient references. It provides you with a reflection of the quality and care the chiropractor provides and it also shows you if they are respected by their peers.
What Types of Payment Plans Does the Shawnee KS Arthritis Doctor Shawnee Offer?
Many esteemed chiropractic practices allow patients to make payments, allowing them to get the care they need without the burden of financial stress.
Do They Have a No Waiting Policy?
A recent study revealed that patients get irritated when a doctor and their staff don’t respect their time by making them wait for long periods to receive treatment. See if the chiropractor you are interested in seeking treatment from has a no waiting policy so that you can get back to your life quicker.
Will the Arthritis Doctor Show You Preventative Measures?
Good arthritis doctors will help their patients to stay healthy. No matter how serious or minor your issue might be, excellent health professionals show you how to take actionable steps to prevent future problems.
Be certain to ask a Shawnee KS arthritis doctor all of the aforementioned questions before accepting to receive treatment.
Arthritis Doctor Shawnee KS Turn to Explains Knee Arthritis Treatment Options
If you are one of the one in two people over 50 who suffer from knee pain, an arthritis doctor from LifeWorks Integrative Health would like to help you. Call now for a consultation.
Arthritis pain is exhausting and difficult to manage which is why the arthritis doctor Shawnee KS relies on takes your pain seriously. The team at LifeWorks Integrative Health knows that arthritis can happen at any age to any type of person for a variety of reasons. This is why we specialize in asking “why.”
Even though arthritis is a common condition affecting millions of people, it is still a general term. Having a diagnosis of arthritis basically tells you that joints are inflamed. We are here to help you understand why that is happening. But first, think in terms of “why” the issue is occurring rather than jumping straight to “what” the root cause of your pain can be corrected instead of covered up. The arthritis doctor Shawnee KS residents turn to needs a variety of options for understanding and treating your pain. This is why we combine functional medicine and physical medicine to give you a comprehensive health solution.
Understanding the Knee Joint
In normal conditions, the bones of the knee joint are covered by a thin layer of cartilage. Its purpose is to reduce friction associated with walking, running, jumping, squatting, and other movements. The meniscus is a separate piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion for the knee joint. Four ligaments hold the joint together and offer support for the knee while muscles surrounding the joint help it to move. A small amount of synovial fluid on the interior of the knee joint keeps it lubricated and assists in the reduction of friction.
Over time, wear and tear of the knee can cause a breakdown of the cartilage, fluid, and proteins. This can happen faster when the ligaments or meniscus has been damaged. Smoking, obesity, diet, and a lack of exercise can also speed up the degeneration. Eventually, a person may develop osteoarthritis of the knee. Chronic inflammation, pain, stiffness, and disability are some of the resulting symptoms of osteoarthritis.
If you have chronic pain or been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, an arthritis doctor can provide you with a custom treatment plan that reduces or alleviates your symptoms. Call a Shawnee KS arthritis doctor today.
Treatment Methods for Knee Pain
The following treatments may be recommended by a professional arthritis doctor from LifeWorks Integrative Health in Shawnee KS.
Supplements and Medication
Knee pain can be debilitating and has a limited number of non-invasive treatment options. Paracetamol was once commonly prescribed, but research is continuing to show that it is not very effective for knee pain. Ibuprofen can be helpful; however, there are many side-effects when taken on a regular basis (as in the case of OA patients). Opiate and opioids might also be prescribed, but are controversial because of the risk for a tolerance and addiction. Krill oil, fish oil, and turmeric are natural supplements that do have some evidence to support their ability to reduce pain and inflammation in the knee. Before taking any of these medications, you should consult an arthritis doctor.
Exercise
Exercise, with a focus on strengthening the muscles around the knee, can be beneficial. However, the ability to perform these movements can be hindered by the pain. Hydrotherapy, light yoga, and cycling have shown to improve movement and reduce pain. Weight loss is an important part of treating OA in the knee and should be discussed with an arthritis doctor and/or nutritionist.
Injections
A Shawnee KS arthritis doctor might recommend a series of injections that can reduce pain for four to six months. There are two types of injections: synthetic hyaluronic acid injections and cortisone injections. The former is effective in approximately one in two patients. Cortisone injections are generally effective for most patients with mild to moderate inflammation, but they only last for three to four weeks.
PRP Therapy
PRP therapy for the knee joint is fast becoming one of the leading treatment options with mild to moderate and even severe knee pain. PRP uses the patient’s own blood which means there are very little side effects. The objective of the PRP injections is to stimulate healing of the damaged knee. A patient may require one to five injections depending on the severity of the OA. Improvements can typically be felt within a few weeks.
In addition to the above treatments, an arthritis doctor might recommend surgery. In general, this is suggested only as a last resort and not when other methods have been successful.
The Two Side of Arthritis
Since arthritis is such a common term and condition that so many people face, it is easy to make generalizations about it without actually understanding the mechanism behind it. Educating our community on the conditions they face is one of our favorite things to do, aside from getting you feeling great again, of course! What many do not realize is that arthritis has two faces. A movement side and a physiological side. The arthritis doctor Shawnee KS trusts knows the root of your arthritis lies in one of these two areas, or most likely, a combination of the two.
- Arthritis and Your Movement
Achy, painful joints do not just suddenly begin happening, even if the pain is noticed suddenly. The daily, repetitive movements of your body contribute in large part to arthritis pain. For most of us, these movements are not done in ways that support the body’s natural biomechanics. A variety of things from a misaligned spine, tight muscles, weak muscles, and repetitive movements like sitting, typing, hand-held devices, and poor posture all contribute to poor biomechanics.
When joints are stressed from improper movements over and over again, pain develops. This is when you turn to the arthritis doctor Shawnee KS uses to assess your pain. We do a comprehensive physical medicine assessment to determine how your daily movements, muscle and joint movements, and spine alignment are contributing to your pain. We can then determine the best way forward through chiropractic care, rehab therapy, trigger point therapy, and regenerative medicine options. Arthritis pain can be complex which is why we are experts in multiple modalities to treat you in a way that fits your specific needs.
- Arthritis and Your Physiology
Too many people are led to believe arthritis is inflammation of the specific joint but has nothing to do with inflammation in the rest of your body. The right arthritis doctor Shawnee KS has for you knows that inflammation can show up anywhere in the body and even move from one area to another. Therefore not addressing inflammation from a physiological level cannot solve your arthritis issues.
We get you relief from achy, painful joints through changing the foods you eat and using high-quality nutritional supplements to calm down inflammation systemically. Your arthritis is inflammation housed in your joints. Someone else may have inflammation that shows up in their gut, brain or other organs. Regardless of where inflammation shows up, it needs to be addressed on a physiological level by a qualified functional medicine team like LifeWorks Integrative Health. Join us and the arthritis doctor Shawnee KS trusts to get the relief you need for your pain.
To learn more about these treatments, please call LifeWorks Integrative Health to schedule an appointment with an arthritis doctor Shawnee KS patients recommend.
