May is National Arthritis Awareness Month. This disease, characterized by painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints, affects more than 50 million adult Americans, and is considered the top cause of disability.
Statistics, courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation:
- This condition affects nearly 300,000 children and teens.
- Over 30% of working-age people with arthritis have limitations in their ability to work and the type of work they can do.
- The condition causes sufferers to miss a combined 172 million workdays each year.
- People who are overweight/obese, have high blood pressure, heart disease and/or diabetes are likely to also have arthritis.
- One-third of adults over age 45 with arthritis have either anxiety or depression.
Natural Treatment Options for Arthritis
There are a number of effective, natural treatments and self-management options:
Exercise. Staying active with low-impact exercise can help strengthen the muscles that support your joints and enable greater range of motion.
Get adequate sleep. Sleep is a vitally important, but often neglected, aspect of our health. Pain and fatigue are actually worsened by poor sleep habits.
Eat well. A healthy, balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods (like Omega-3 rich fish, berries, broccoli, and green tea) can help reduce symptoms and boost the immune system.
Consider PRP prolotherapy. Desert Wellness Center offers PRP injection prolotherapy, an amazing treatment that can relieve pain and actually repair joints.
We utilize the regenerative power of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) by harvesting your body’s healing blood cells and then injecting them back into the joint to stimulate a natural healing response. This can often restore the normal range of motion and eliminate joint pain after just one treatment.
Unlike traditional cortisone injections, PRP prolotherapy will not damage the joint. This treatment is also effective in treating chronic pain from tendonitis, old injuries or repetitive injuries. Whether you have severe “bone-on-bone” arthritis or more mild symptoms, PRP can be an effective way to decrease your pain and increase your mobility.