The Facts About Arthritis

Number of Americans with arthritis AND chronic joint PAIN:

• 1985.   35 million.
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• 1990.   37.9 million.
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• 1998.   Nearly 43 million. 1 in 6 people.
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• 2005.   66 million. nearly 1 in 3 adults. 42.7 million have doctor diagnosed arthritis and 23.2 million people live with chronic joint symptoms, but have not been diagnosed by a doctor.
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• Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over the age of 15.
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• Arthritis is second only to heart disease as a cause of work disability.
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• Arthritis limits everyday activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than 7 million Americans.
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• Arthritis results in 39 million physician visits and more than a half million hospitalizations.
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• Costs to the U.S. economy totals more than $86.2 billion annually.
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• Arthritis affects people in all age groups including nearly 300,000 children.
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• Baby boomers are now at prime risk. More than half those affected are under the age of 65.
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• Half of those Americans with arthritis don’t think anything can be done to help them.
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• Arthritis refers to more than 100 different diseases that affect areas in or around joints.
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• Arthritis strikes women more often than men.

Overall arthritis:

• Women.  25.9 million of the people with doctor diagnosed arthritis.
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• Men.  16.8 million of the people with doctor diagnosed arthritis.

The disease also can affect other parts of the body.  Arthritis causes pain, loss of movement and sometimes swelling.

Some types of arthritis are:

• Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone. It is the most prevalent form of arthritis.
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• Rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune system activity. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious and disabling types, affecting mostly women.
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• Gout, which affects mostly men. It is usually the result of a defect in body chemistry. This painful condition most often attacks small joints, especially the big toe. Fortunately, gout almost always can be completely controlled with medication and
•  changes in diet.
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•  Ankyalosis spondylitis, a type of arthritis that affects the spine. As a result of inflammation, the bones of the spine grow together.
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• Juvenile arthritis, a general term for all types of arthritis that occur in children. Children may develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or childhood forms of lupus,  Ankyalosis spondylitis or other types of arthritis.
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• Systemic lupus erythematosus, a serious disorder that can inflame and damage joints and other connective tissues throughout the body.
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• Scleroderma, a disease of the body’s connective tissue that causes a thickening and hardening of the skin.
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• Fibromyalgia, in which widespread pain affects the muscles and attachments to the bone. It affects mostly women.

Is Chiropractic a Treatment for this Disease?

Arthritis & Reversal of Arthritis.

Disc regeneration: reversibility is possible in spinal osteoarthritis.  Ressel, OJ. ICA Review March/April 1989 pp. 39 -61.

From the abstract:   Historically, osteoarthritis has been regarded as a common, slowly progressive disorder seen most often in the elderly that affects the weight bearing joints, the peripheral and axial articulations, and the spine...clinically, osteoarthritis has been universally accepted as an integral consequence of aging. The condition is considered to be the product of various pathobiomechanical alterations in joint function, a “wear and tear” sequelae.  It is only in the past few years that increased knowledge about the histopathology, biomechanics, biochemistry, and metabolic properties of normal and osteoarthritic tissue structures has given clinicians any hope of being able to deal with osteoarthritis.  When patient care is related to the pathology, pathophysiology, and the kinesiopathology of this condition, arrest and even reversal is possible.

Osteoarthritis, chiropractic, and nutrition: osteoarthritis considered as a natural part of a three stage subluxation complex: its reversibility: its relevance and treatability by chiropractic and nutritional correlates. Berkson DL Med Hypotheses 1991 Dec; 36(4):356-67

From the abstract:  It is proposed that chiropractic and nutritional treatment contribute to the amelioration and perhaps reversal of osteoarthritis (OA). It is further proposed that the chiropractic manipulative thrust is, in effect, treating dysfunctional bio-mechanics of joints, affecting positive cartilaginous change.   The pathophysiology and multi-factorial causes of OA are reviewed. New interpretations of the literature surrounding OA are discussed which offer arguments for OA's treatment and reversal through chiropractic manipulation and nutritional support. Presented is a new model of the chiropractic concept of subluxation (abnormal joint complex resulting in fixation or decrease in normal range of motion) and the chiropractic manipulative thrust. The associated histologic correlates are also discussed. A review of the literature of anti-inflammatory and muscle/joint complex supportive nutrients appropriate for OA is presented…a complete treatment protocol for OA is summarized.

Rheumatoid arthritis, a case report.  Nelson W. Chiropractic Technique 1990; 2:17-19.

From the abstract:  A case of rheumatoid arthritis is presented where chiropractic therapy apparently produced homeostasis and a symptom free patient.  This is the case of a 51-year-old registered nurse with previously diagnosed RA of 6 months duration.  After 4 weeks of care her hand spasms had eased and by 6 weeks the patient had stopped using anti-inflammatory drugs.  After 8 weeks all the pain was gone; the patient was able to go dancing….After 8 months of treatment she attended her daughter’s wedding with practically no pain.  After 12 months she was generally pain free unless she altered her diet…After 30 months the patient broke all treatment rules with no articular or tissue pain.  Note: The Bennett method of chiropractic was the technique used.

Experimental models of osteoarthritis: the role of immobilization.  Videman T. Clinical Biomechanics, 1987; 2:223-229.

From the abstract:  Evidence is reviewed from animal experiments supporting the hypothesis that immobilization, for whatever reason, is one of the pathogenic factors in musculoskeletal degeneration.  It shows beyond reasonable doubt that immobilization is not only a cause of osteoarthritis but that it delays the healing process.  Note: It was observed that arthritic changes were observed after only a few weeks of immobilization

Osteoarthritis: a review of the cell biology involved and evidence for reversibility.  Bland, JH, Cooper SM, and SEM Arthritis Rheum 14 (2): 106-133, 1984.

The reversibility of osteoarthritis. Bland, JH.  American Journal of Medicine, 75:16-26, 1983.

A 5-year follow-up of 50 cases of idiopathic osteoarthritis of the hip. Seifert M, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 28:325, 1969. 

Spontaneous reversal of osteoarthritis is noted.

Incidence and prognosis of the coxarthrosis. Danielsson LG. Acta Orthop Scand (Suppl) 66; 1-114, 1964.  Reversal of osteoarthritis is shown possible.

Spontaneous recovery of the hip joint in degenerative joint disease. Perry GH et al. An Rheum Dis  31:440-448, 1972

Restoration of the femoral head after collapse in OA. Storey et al. Ann Rheum Dis 30:406-412, 1971

The chiropractic medical management of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. Hicks L. American Chiropractor 1991; 13:12-15.

Atlanto-axial subluxation and upward translocation of the odontoid in rheumatoid arthritis. Rana NA, Hancock DO, Taylor AR, Hill AGS, Am J Bone Joint Surg 55A: 1304, 1973.

Research has shown that most patients with rheumatoid arthritis have severe spinal misalignments.

Brain stem compression in rheumatoid arthritis. Mayer, JW et al JAMA Nov.1, 1976-Vol.236, No.18.

“Involvement of the cervical spine, particularly the atlanto-axial (C-1 to C-2) area, by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may result in serious complications, including quadraparesis, vertebral artery insufficiency and even death. Pathologic conditions of the cervical spine are common in RA and may occur in as many as 86% of patients with this disease…The incidence of roentgenographic evidence of serious C-1 to C-2 subluxations has been reported as high as 25%.”

OA of the hip: a study of the nature and evolution of the disease. Harrison MHM et al  J Bone Joint Surg 35B: 598-626, 1953