Reducing your ability to lift your coffee cup. Curtailing your ability to play with your grandkids. Preventing you from walking the dog without pain. These are just a few of the everyday effects that arthritis can cause. 

While arthritis is commonly believed to be a condition that afflicts the elderly, the reality is that it can strike people in early middle age. In fact, it’s estimated that more than 54 million Americans of all ages have some form of arthritis. Arthritis medications and pain medicines can cause some nasty side effects. So, if you’re looking for a natural arthritis treatment option that allows you to do without pain meds, consider trying physical therapy. 

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is a catchall term used to describe more than 100 different kinds of joint pain and joint disease. What do all these conditions have in common? Some of the answers are inflammation, cartilage wearing or damage, and pain. Here are three of the most common types of arthritis: 

1. Osteoarthritis — The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis; it’s estimated that 27 million Americans are affected by it. Osteoarthritis is caused by a reduction in joint cartilage as it wears away through age or “wear and tear.” This causes bones to rub together, which leads to pain and swelling. 

3. Inflammatory arthritis — In certain cases, the body’s immune system will attack joint tissues with intense inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is one example of this type of condition, and it affects 1.3 million U.S. adults. 
4. Metabolic arthritis — The most common type of metabolic arthritis is gout, a condition caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joints of the extremities, especially the feet. It’s typically caused by reduced kidney function.

Why you should treat your arthritis pain without relying on medicines

Depending on the type of arthritis that a person has, doctors may prescribe NSAID pain relievers, corticosteroids, antirheumatic drugs or antibiotics. All of these carry a risk of side effects, and some can be extremely serious. A few of the side effects that pain meds can have include:

• Increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks or strokes
• Higher risk of developing cataracts
• High blood sugar levels
• Increasing risk of osteoporosis
• Rebound headaches

One way of treating arthritis without taking so many pain medicines is physical therapy. In fact, the researchers from one study report that knee osteoarthritis patients had a 52% improvement in pain and disability scores after having physical therapy. 

Seeking physical therapy that can help treat arthritis without pain medicine? Continuum Wellness can help

You don’t have to search for long to find physical therapy that can help treat your arthritis without pain medicines. After all, you’ll find a therapy team that excels at helping arthritis sufferers at Continuum Wellness. We offer free screenings designed to reveal the type of arthritis you’re living with and how it’s affecting your body. Using this data, our team can build you a personalized therapy plan intended to reduce your arthritis pain and increase your ability to move. 

In addition to in-clinic physical therapy, our team is currently offering virtual care and at-home therapy options, and these services are intended to help you get the therapy you need without even leaving your home. In addition, you can use any of our therapy services without going through the hassle of getting a doctor’s referral. 

Contact our team today for more information about our arthritis treatment options or to schedule an initial appointment.