Bid Farewell To Morning Stiffness!

Many people experience stiffness in the morning and this sometimes makes it difficult for them to get out of bed. Most patients who come in for treatment state that they experience morning stiffness for about 15 minutes and even up to 45 minutes a day. However, as the day progresses, the stiffness eventually subsides but returns vindictively in the evening.

The Arthritis Foundation has stated that if morning stiffness – or spinal arthritis – persists for over an hour, it could mean the onset of the autoimmune form of arthritis known as rheumatoid arthritis.

By the time you read this article to the end, you will know what morning stiffness is, what causes the painful condition, and how we can be of help to you.

Causes of Morning Stiffness or Spinal Arthritis

Arthritis is usually the culprit responsible for causing morning stiffness, and the best way to determine this fact is via an X-ray.  When you sleep your body is at rest.  During sleep you stop moving, and when you stop moving it allowing inflammation to set back into your joints.  Morning stiffness can occur in one or multiple joints in the human body. It can also be mild, moderate, or even severe in its intensity. The intensity of morning stiffness, however, is not an indication that you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.  Stiffness and pain can also occur even for people who are not suffering from any form of arthritis. This is why you must find out the root cause of the problem – with the help of a chiropractor – before proceeding with any treatment plan. Applying the wrong treatment plan may worsen the situation. 

Symptoms of Morning Stiffness/Spinal Arthritis

The following are some of the common symptoms of morning stiffness/spinal arthritis:

•              Aching or tingling set off by pressure on nearby nerves

•              Agonizing pain in the affected area

•              Some movements that heighten pain in the area of damage

•              Inability to carry out some tasks like picking up an item off the floor or bending to tie shoes

•              Decreased flexibility

•              Crackling sound arising from the joint when specific movements are performed

•              Hunched or altered posture

What You Can Do to Alleviate Morning Stiffness

There are steps you can take to find relief when it comes to spinal arthritis or morning stiffness. Here they are in no particular order:

•    Be active. Staying immobile will not help in any way. So, get up and start moving around. Take some rest from time to time to learn your tolerance. But stay active at all times.

•   Eat some good food, and do not forget to add lots of anti-inflammatory foods – such as turmeric, green tea, ginger, berries, etc. – to your diet. Add some magnesium to your diet because this nutrient helps to relax the nervous system, thereby reducing discomfort caused by twitches and muscle spasms. You can get magnesium in foods like spinach, bananas, quinoa, and pumpkin seeds.

•    Always visit your chiropractor. This is because maintaining regular adjustments via chiropractic care ensures no added pressure is put on your nerves, and a proper alignment is maintained.

•  Give your body some time to wake up. The human brain is like a computer that boots slowly when loading its operating system. As your brain needs a few minutes to come awake, so does your body. Therefore, if you have been sitting or sleeping for an extended period, upon rising move slowly. Add gentle stretches to loosen up your body. You can also take a warm shower first thing in the morning, and you will be surprised at how amazing you will feel at the end of it all

•   Take some supplements such as the legendary omega 3’s as well as glucosamine, curcumin, or boswelia to prevent the occurrence of stiffness

Yours in Health,

Dr. Brian Wallace