Tired Of Medicating Multiple Autoimmune Disorders? What Are Some Natural Options?
Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease, and others can wreak havoc on your physical and mental health -- especially when (as is often the case) you find yourself battling two or more of these conditions simultaneously. As the number of Americans suffering from the more than 80 autoimmune disorders identified continues to rise past 25 million, drug and pharmaceutical companies are hard at work on medications that can help ease some of the more unpleasant symptoms. However, using these immunosuppressant medications long-term can sometimes cause further health problems, and you may find yourself being prescribed more and more pills simply to address various side effects of the medication you're already taking. What can you do to relieve the symptoms of your autoimmune disorders without resorting to more drugs? Will these treatments eventually allow you to wean yourself from certain medications? Read on to learn more about some alternative therapies that may finally bring relief.
Chiropractic treatment
While you may associate chiropractic adjustments with neck or spinal problems, this treatment can also be especially beneficial for those suffering from autoimmune disorders that can cause joint pain and inflammation -- lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. In many cases, these illnesses can change the way you walk or carry yourself, often leading to poor spinal and pelvic alignment that can exacerbate existing joint pain. By re-aligning your joints and releasing any compression on the delicate nerve endings that transmit signals from your spinal cord to the rest of your body, a chiropractor, such as Dr. Jason B Kaster DC, can allow you to walk taller and easier.
During a chiropractic treatment, you'll likely have a set of baseline X-rays performed to determine which specific areas are most in need of alignment. The chiropractor will then gently manipulate your spine and pelvis (either using his or her hands or some specialty tools) to restore your natural alignment and reduce the pressure on joints that are particularly painful or inflamed.
Depending on the results you experience after your first few visits, you may opt for regular chiropractic adjustments on a weekly or monthly basis. In other cases, you may need to return to the chiropractor only sporadically as your pain level increases.
Pain scramblers
When your ailments leave you in so much pain you have difficulty focusing or concentrating on specific tasks, you may rely upon narcotic pain medication to beat back these symptoms enough to allow you to function. These medicines often carry their own sense-dulling side effects and may not seem like an ideal long-term option.
A new development in medical technology may be able to provide you with some relief from neuropathic pain by disrupting the nerve signals between the source of pain and your brain. This "pain scrambler" uses tiny electric pulses to target the nerves connected to the painful areas of your body, helping divert these nerve signals elsewhere and naturally dull this pain without the use of drugs. You'll have these treatments as frequently or as infrequently as they are recommended by your primary care doctor -- in some cases, a single treatment may help reduce pain for weeks, while in other situations you may need to set up regular weekly appointments.
Acupuncture
A frequent companion to chiropractic treatment, acupuncture or acupressure can also provide temporary relief from joint pain, swelling, and stiffness--along with a variety of other ailments. This process involves the careful insertion of multiple hair-thin needles into various pressure points on your body, improving circulation and lymphatic flow.
Because so many autoimmune disorders involve the inflammation and visible swelling of joints and tissues, acupuncture is uniquely suited to provide relief. By increasing the amount of blood circulating through various parts of your body and assisting the drainage of excess fluid and white blood cells from your lymphatic system, acupuncture can actually temporary reduce inflammation and allow your body to process waste more efficiently.
You may want to try acupuncture as a stand-alone therapy or combine it with regular chiropractic adjustments or pain scrambler therapy until you find a regimen that provides you with the greatest relief.
