Rheumatoid Arthrtitis | Trusted Bournemouth Chiropractors | Charminster Chiropractic Clinic
Rheumatoid arthritis: Pain Management With Chiropractic Treatment | Charminster Chiropractic Clinic
Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Do you feel pain getting dressed some mornings? Do your hands feel stiff when you try to grip a toothbrush, phone, or kettle? Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) means living with a long-term autoimmune condition that affects your joints and overall wellbeing. Your symptoms may come and go, with flares where pain, stiffness, and fatigue can become overwhelming. Although it can be very debilitating, you may be followed by calmer periods.
Do you notice that walking, opening jars, or even holding objects becomes harder when your symptoms are worse? Morning stiffness is especially common and can make simple tasks feel slow and difficult at the start of the day.
Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect your mood and mental health. Do you sometimes feel stressed, anxious, or low because your symptoms limit your independence or make daily life unpredictable? This is a common part of living with a chronic condition and you are not alone.
Even with these challenges, many people living with RA are able to maintain a good quality of life. With early diagnosis, the right medication, manual and physical therapy, regular gentle exercise, and support from healthcare professionals, family, and friends, symptoms can often be managed and function could be improved.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the surrounding tissues in your joints (synovial lining). This causes inflammation, pain, swelling, and progressive joint damage.
It most commonly affects small joints such as those in the hands, wrists and feet. It often presents symmetrically and can also involve other organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes. Without treatment, it may potentially lead to joint deformity and disability.
Rheumatoid arthritis is systemic and inflammatory, unlike osteoarthritis, which is mainly wear-and-tear related. There is no cure, but modern treatments can control symptoms and slow the progression.
Common causes of rheumatoid arthritis
The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. However, it is believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It can develop when the immune system becomes overactive and attacks joint tissues, leading to chronic inflammation.
Potential key factors include genetic susceptibility such as HLA-DRB1, immune system dysfunction, smoking, hormonal influences, and possible infections. Obesity and gut microbiome changes may also increase risk.
Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
Symptoms vary but typically develop gradually. Over time, joint deformities such as a dropped wrist (ulnar deviation) and swan-neck deformities could develop. Some people also experience rheumatoid nodules and organ involvement such as lungs, heart, eyes and nerves.
Common features include:
- Joint pain, swelling, and warmth
- Morning stiffness lasting over 30–60 minutes
- Symmetrical joint involvement
- Fatigue and low energy
- Mild fever, weight loss, and general malaise
When to seek urgent help
Urgent medical attention is needed if symptoms suggest complications or serious illness.
Seek help for:
- Sudden severe joint pain with fever (possible infection)
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness or balance problems
- High fever or signs of infection, especially on immunosuppressive drugs
- Sudden vision changes or severe eye pain
These may indicate infections, cardiovascular events, or spinal involvement.
Risk factors
These factors could increase the likelihood of immune system dysregulation leading to the condition. Risk factors for RA could include:
- Female sex
- Middle age onset
- Family history of autoimmune disease
- Smoking (strongest modifiable risk factor)
- Obesity
- Environmental exposures (e.g., silica dust)
- Hormonal factors
- Gum disease (periodontal disease)
Examination and diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation, blood tests, and imaging. Doctors and rheumatologists will assess for joint swelling, stiffness, and symptom history. Blood tests include rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibodies, ESR, and CRP to detect inflammation.
Imaging such as X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI can show early joint inflammation and structural damage.
Diagnosis also involves ruling out other conditions like osteoarthritis, lupus, gout, or infections. Early diagnosis is important to prevent irreversible damage.
Chiropractic pain management of rheumatoid arthritis
Chiropractic care may be used as a complementary approach to help manage pain and improve mobility. However, it is very important for us to highlight that our treatment does not treat the underlying autoimmune disease. Chiropractic care should only be integrated with the primary medical treatment and be coordinated with your GP, rheumatologist or any other healthcare providers you may have.
Gentle manual therapy techniques such as the following could provide symptom relief.
- Soft tissue therapy
- Stretching
- Posture correction
- Low-impact exercise guidance
Disclaimer: The Bournemouth chiropractors at Charminster Chiropractic Clinic will never use any adjustments and spinal manipulation (High-velocity spinal manipulation) during treatment. This is particularly relevant for the neck as there is a higher likelihood of joint instability.
Prognosis for rheumatoid arthritis
The prognosis of RA has improved significantly with modern treatments such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, and immune-modulating drugs such as Janus kinase inhibitors (JAK inhibitors).
Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent joint damage and improve long-term outcomes. Some patients achieve remission or low disease activity. Poor prognosis is associated with high antibody levels, smoking, delayed treatment, and severe inflammation. Unfortunately, rheumatoid arthritis remains a lifelong condition. However, with proper management, most patients can maintain better function and a higher quality of life.
The Bournemouth chiropractors at Charminster Chiropractic Clinic are here to help you with symptom management using gentle chiropractic treatment methods to get better function and better quality of life. Book your chiropractic appointment here today!
References
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