Arthritis
Arthritis
is a leading cause of disability in the United States and in Connecticut (CT).
Arthritis frequently creates other
neuromuscular problems that are easier to treat. These secondary conditions are created because the patient is
compensating to accommodate the arthritic joint.
Arthritis is frequently exacerbated by cold, dampness, fatigue, and heat. Each type of arthritis is treated
differently. The types of arthritis
frequently seen in my practice are outlined below.
Moving Pain Arthritis
This type of arthritis is characterized by pain that moves from joint to joint.
One day you fingers hurt and the next day your feet hurt.
Cold Arthritis
Arthritis
that feels worse with cold weather. This is very common condition in Connecticut
(CT). The pain is located at a
specific joint, frequently the hands or the site of an old injury. This condition often improves with
application of heat and/or movement. Treatment
of this condition usually includes both acupuncture and heat therapy.
Dampness-Arthritis
Symptoms of dampness-arthritis include swelling of the joint
and increased pain with rain or humid weather. I frequently use the example,
“that this type of arthritis is equivalent to old wooden door that just won’t shut
all the way on a damp summer’s day in New England. Just turn on the air conditioner for a
few hours and the door closes with no problem.” Well the same thing happens to
the joints
in the body; they contract and expand with changes in the weather. With acupuncture I am just turning on the
air conditioner or turning off the heat depending on the patient.
Heat-Arthritis
This pattern is frequently seen with
patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms
include pain, redness, and other heat type symptoms.
Note: When
using acupuncture to treat Rheumatoid arthritis I have been most successful when
I treat away from the effected joint.
Age
Related Arthritis
The type
of arthritic pain is normally associated with ageing, symptoms include periodic
or persistent back pain, knee pain, and of course hand pain. The patient can frequently predicts
changes in Connecticut (CT) weather.
Note: Every once in awhile I hear a young medical doctor say “weather has
nothing to do with arthritis”. They are almost always young in age; but ask a
medical doctors in his 60’s, if he/she is not already living in Florida, if they
feel any pain with changes in the weather and I bet you get a different
response.
After scheduling your appointment, (203)
488-7284 or online
CHS Life.Net
please print
and complete the first visit form found on this web sites
FORMS page. Thank you
for visiting acupuncture Connecticut (CT).