Signs That You Need a Chronic Joint Injury Doctor in Arlington, VA
So, you hurt your ankle playing high school basketball, or you’ve never been able to shake your nagging tennis elbow. You look around, and your friends all seem to recover quickly from their injuries. Why is it that your joints haven’t healed?
If you’re looking for a chronic joint injury doctor near Arlington, VA, then naturopathy could be for you. Using natural, holistic methods our team gets to the root cause of joint pain. Specifically, we address the source of inflammation, the #1 culprit behind achy elbows and stiff knees.
Keep reading to learn why old injuries may still bother you after all these years, why inflammation is usually the main culprit, and how the right chronic joint injury doctor near Arlington, VA, can help.
How Old Injuries Can Lead to Chronic Joint Pain
The body has an incredible ability to heal itself. However, we need to work with our bodies if we want to experience this healing. When we’re young, we don’t often take the necessary steps to recover from a strained tendon or a fractured bone. The injury doesn’t feel that bad, and we’re ready to get back to our favorite activities. Improper healing is the main reason why you feel chronic joint pain even after all these years. Chronic joint injury doctors in Arlington, VA, and around the country have identified a number of factors that contribute to this incomplete healing.
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Scar Tissue
After an injury, the body initiates a complex healing process, aimed at restoring the injured tissue to its original function. However, in some cases, this process leaves behind scar tissue or misaligned joint components. This scar tissue lacks the flexibility of the original tissue and can limit range of motion, leading to pain during movement.
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Cartilage Degeneration
Cartilage, the cushion-like material between joints, can be damaged during an injury. Unlike other tissues in the body, cartilage does not regenerate easily. As a result, injured cartilage might undergo wear and tear more quickly than uninjured cartilage does, leading to conditions such as osteoarthritis.
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Muscle Imbalances
When one muscle or group of muscles is injured, it often means that another muscle or group has to overcompensate. Over time, this can lead to imbalances in muscle strength, flexibility, and length. Imbalanced muscles can pull joints out of their natural alignment, leading to chronic joint injury requiring a doctor in Arlington, VA.
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Altered Biomechanics
Following an injury, an individual may unconsciously alter their movement patterns to avoid pain. This protective strategy, known as limping or favoring, can lead to abnormal stresses on the joints and muscles, resulting in long-term pain and degeneration.
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Nervous System Changes
Chronic pain can also be a result of changes in the nervous system. After an injury, the body becomes hypersensitive, with nerve endings sending pain signals even after the original injury has healed. This can lead to a state of heightened sensitivity where even minor stimuli can cause pain.
Inflammation: The Key to Chronic Joint Pain
If many years have passed since your injury, then inflammation is likely the cause of your chronic joint pain. Many people have visited physical therapists without finding lasting relief. Why? Inflammation.
That’s why people turn to naturopathy. At practices such as Thrive Naturopathic, we address the root causes of your joint pain and get you back to feeling your best. With our emphasis on natural interventions, we’re a go-to destination for chronic joint injury care in Arlington, VA.
Here is a basic overview of the tools we have at our disposal to fight joint inflammation.
Anti-inflammatory Diet
The foods we eat can either contribute to or combat inflammation in the body. An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on consuming foods that are known to reduce inflammation and avoiding foods that can exacerbate it. Key components of this diet include an increase in Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds), fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants (such as berries, spinach, and kale), and spices with anti-inflammatory properties such as turmeric and ginger. On the other hand, we often recommend that people decrease their intake of processed foods, trans fats, excessive sugar and salt, red meat, and dairy. By reducing systemic inflammation, we can alleviate joint pain and stiffness.
Personalized Exercise Plan
Movement and exercise are essential for maintaining joint flexibility and strength. However, not all exercises are suitable for everyone, especially if joint pain is already present. A naturopathic doctor specializing in chronic joint injuries in Arlington, VA, might recommend low-impact exercises such as swimming, cycling, or walking. Strength training to build muscle and protect joints is also beneficial, as are flexibility and balance exercises such as yoga or tai chi. Regular, appropriate exercise can reduce joint pain, increase mobility, decrease risk of injury, and improve overall joint health.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is based on the principle that “like cures like.” In this method, small highly diluted amounts of substances are used to stimulate the body’s healing response. When chosen correctly, homeopathic remedies can provide tremendous help for joint pain symptoms without the side effects that conventional medications may carry. And unlike conventional medical treatments, homeopathic remedies actually stimulate true healing – which can bring long-term relief.
However, the practice of homeopathy is not easy – involving a complex process to uncover the specific remedy or remedies for each individual. So you need to find a practitioner who has experience and skill in this area. Many practitioners claim to practice homeopathy but in actuality just dabble in it.
Supplements
Dietary supplements can provide the body with essential nutrients and compounds that support joint health and combat inflammation. As the name suggests, these capsules supplement our daily diet and give the body an extra boost. Notable supplements for inflammation include Glucosamine and Chondroitin, which are found naturally in the body and can support cartilage health. Omega-3 fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric (curcumin) is a spice with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is believed to reduce pain and inflammation.
Supplements can provide therapeutic levels of compounds that support joint health and reduce inflammation.
Work with Thrive Naturopathic’s Doctors near Arlington, VA, for Chronic Injury Joint Relief
Thrive Naturopathic offers a revolutionary approach to chronic injury joint pain relief near Arlington, VA, in nearby Alexandria. We know how old injuries can linger, and unless you tackle underlying imbalances and inflammation, then you’ll stay in pain even longer.
The good news is that with the right interventions and understanding, many individuals can find relief and return to an active, pain-free life. We invite you to learn more about how our chronic joint injury doctors near Arlington, VA, can help you. Schedule a discovery call, and if naturopathy feels like a good fit, then you can visit our clinic in Alexandria, VA.
