Are you frustrated when you are told that all your aches and pains are due to arthritis? Have you wondered why medication helps your arthritic hands but not arthritis in your back? At No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego, our at-home physical therapists take an individualized approach to resolving your pain. We will identify the source of your pain and restrictions and guide you to relief no matter the reason!
Approximately 40 million people in the United States have arthritis, and one-third say it limits their leisure activities and daily tasks. Around 25% of these individuals also say they are in chronic, debilitating pain daily.
There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The type of arthritis determines if it is extremely painful or relatively unnoticed, with mild to no symptoms. Degeneration is a normal part of aging and affects the entire body. Degeneration of the joints is often used interchangeably with osteoarthritis and may confuse managing conditions.
At No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego, our physical therapists can give you solutions that reduce your pain and improve your function no matter what is causing the problem.
Request an appointment today so our therapists can come to your home and help you find relief!
How to determine the differences between degeneration and arthritis?
A degenerative joint describes what happens to our joints; they start to deteriorate as we age. This is a natural aging process and cannot be avoided. But degeneration does not always mean arthritis and does not always mean pain.
Although it is common to lump all degenerative changes into arthritis, there are important differences. Arthritis, by definition, means inflammation of the joint(s). Inflammation is an essential difference between degenerative changes and arthritis.
Inflammation is the body’s response to damaged tissue in the joint. Typically the inflammation will cause persistent pain and, at times, warmth around the joint. Our immune system releases chemicals that cause joint swelling and tenderness/pain.
Degeneration is often first noticed by stiffness and/or a loss of joint motion. People usually notice stiffness after prolonged positions, like first thing in the morning or after prolonged sitting. Too often, people assume this is normal, and they can’t do anything to help resolve these symptoms. Worse yet, people avoid movements altogether, thinking the movement is the issue but the lack of activity is the problem.
These degenerative changes often lead to pain and inflammation (arthritis) but not always. Fortunately, our No Limit Physical Therapy physical therapists are experts at identifying the underlying source of your pain and limitations and providing solutions that work no matter what! This partly explains why some older people have degenerative changes to their joints but no pain.
What to expect at your home physical therapy visits
A physical therapist’s primary goal when treating degeneration and arthritis is reducing joint stress by increasing strength, preserving or improving range of motion, and guidance on weight control and nutrition.
Fortunately, there are similar strategies for helping degenerative joint issues, including:
- Stretching/Mobility Exercises: Restoring motion ensures the joint receives proper blood flow to keep existing cartilage healthy and strong. Degenerative and inflamed joints (arthritic) benefit from movement and blood flow. The best time to address changes to the joint is early in the process.
- Strengthening exercises: Similar to mobility work, focusing on strengthening the muscles around the joints helps to reduce the forces through the joint and alleviates the pain simultaneously.
- Weight control: Reducing/controlling your weight helps to prevent added stress on weight-bearing joints.
- Proper Nutrition: Avoid processed and sugary foods that cause inflammation and negatively impact your arthritis symptoms. The overall health of your joints depends on what you eat. A healthy diet can improve your immune system and reduce your pain intensity.
While many people believe that resting joints will help the aches and pains, the fact is, avoiding activity often leads to more pain and disability. Exercise keeps the joints limber and the muscles strong, preventing arthritis from worsening.
Our No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego at-home physical therapists will examine your symptoms, severity of pain, and your joints’ health to determine the best-individualized treatment plan for your specific needs. Every treatment program is different based on the underlying reason for your condition (i.e., degeneration vs. arthritis).
We will develop a comprehensive program that includes targeted manual techniques, mobility work, and strengthening. We will use techniques to reduce inflammation when appropriate and provide clear instructions to help distinguish between degeneration and arthritis to ensure you have the results you are looking for.
Request an appointment today!
The best way to get started on relief is with an at-home physical therapy consultation. Call today to request an appointment at No Limit Physical Therapy in San Diego to assess your condition and give you the most effective strategies for improving your condition!