OSTEOARTHRITIS – FACT OR FICTION: DO JOINTS WEAR DOWN AS YOU AGE?

Do you have joint pain? Has your doctor told you it’s normal “wear and tear” or that it’s just part of aging?

We’re here to tell you that joint pain isn’t “normal” wear and tear, nor is it part of the aging process. Joint pain is damage to tissues or an inflammatory process and isn’t something you just have to live with because you’re getting older.

If the normal aging process causes disk degeneration, then we have to ask, “Why would one disk be degenerated but the others around it just fine? Aren’t all the disks in your spine the same age?”

The cause of degenerative areas is from trauma to the area. This can be acute trauma like a car wreck or work accident, or it can be repetitive trauma like poor posture, sitting too much, or poor work desk configuration. Trauma in this case is anything that changes the normal biomechanics of the body. In other words, anything that changes or impedes the body’s naturally designed movement or function.

There are actually three types of spinal degeneration that the health community collectively defines. A key point in these progressing types is they all START with inflammation!

Associated with vascularized fibrous tissues, increased osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and reactive woven bone all due to an inflammatory-type- type response.
Conversion of red marrow to fatty marrow
Subchondral sclerosis (cartilage loss)

Here’s how authors Studin and Owens explain this:

“There is inflammation, then the marrow changes to fat preventing nutrients to feed the bone, followed by sclerotic degeneration of bone.”

Here’s another way to look at it…

When the wheel alignment on your car is slightly off, the wear and tear on the tires becomes imbalanced and one tire gets the brunt of the force. This results in the tread on one tire wearing down faster than the others and having to be replaced sooner. This is similar to why one area of the spine might show degeneration while other areas are fine. There is an imbalance in the pressure or force being put on one area due to acute or repetitive (chronic) trauma.

When your spine is in good health, maintained through regular chiropractic care, there will not be prolonged irritation, pressure, or damage occurring, therefore degeneration doesn’t have a chance to occur. This means pain improves or resolves. By addressing underlying sources of inflammation occurring through the entire body, you can be sure you are not being limited by the 3T’s. Aging doesn’t have to hurt.

At LifeWorks Integrative Health, we specialize in finding a pain management solution and addressing the root or underlying cause of your pain from chronic, or acute health issues. Our team of physical medicine specialists and practitioners are the investigators on your case. We don’t stop until you have answers and we understand the imbalances in your body systems that are causing your health issues.

Don’t live with pain. Contact us today to get evaluated by our team.

References:

Studin, M., Ownes, W., Efficacy of Chiropractic Care on Cervical Herniated Discs with Degenerative Changes in the Spine; Monday, 27 March 2017 18:32. US Chiropractic Directory
Kressing, M., Peterson, C.K., McChurch, K., Schmid, C., Leemann, S., Anklin, B., & Humphreys, B.K. (2016). Relationship of Modic Changes, Disk Herniation Morphology, and Axial Location to Outcomes in Symtomatic Cervical Disk Herniation Patients Treated With High-Velocity, Low Amplitude Spinal Manipulation: A Prospective Study. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 39(8), 565-575.
Fardon, D.F.. Williams, A.L., Dohring, E.J., Murtagh, F.R., Gabriel Rothman, S.L., & Sze, G.K. (2014). Lumbar disc nomenclature: Version 2.0. Recommendations of the combined task forces of the North American Spine Society, American Society of Spine Radiology, and American Society of Neuroradiology. Spine, 39(24), E1448-E1465