Osteoarthritis and Sleep Deprivation

If you suffer from arthritis, you’ve doubtlessly lost a lot of sleep to it. You’ve probably also noticed that arthritis exists in a vicious circle with sleep deprivation; the more scared you are of pain, the less you sleep, and the more sensitive you become. So how do you break free of this cycle? At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we utilize minimally invasive, fast-acting pain relief methods for people suffering from joint damage. Those include chiropractic adjustments, high-tech treatments, and lifestyle changes.

 

Osteoarthritis is a kind of joint inflammation in which the cartilage that cushions joints suffers wear-and-tear damage, triggering swelling. If you are are tired, your soft tissues is less elastic and are more prone to irritation. People who dread pain tend to lose sleep out of fear of it, and the nerves pain travels along become over stimulated. People with chronic inflammation may also develop bony spurs, which could further stretch soft tissues and erode cartilage.

 

While you cannot do anything to completely stop the degenerative disease process of osteoarthritis, you can help to slow the process through regular chiropractic care and good nutrition. Chiropractic adjustments help to restore joints to their proper place, making them less likely to push against nearby tissues. In addition to correcting spinal misalignments, at ACT wellness Center, we utilize a variety of anti-inflammation soft tissue treatments, including low level laser therapy and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF). We can recommend wedge pillows that provide you with better joint support while sleeping. A bio-nutritional consultation may help to determine how your diet may be triggering inflammation. Many people sleep better when they reduce their intake of sugar and limit their screen time before bed, and when they stretch throughout the day to remain limber.

 

For holistic anti-inflammation treatments and relief from joint stress, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Do you feel pain or stiffness in your lower body? A joint problem might be to blame, but there are several joint dysfunctions that could cause similar symptoms. At ACT Wellness Center in Woodbridge, we provide natural, holistic pain management with special emphasis on musculoskeletal disorders. This week, we want to educate our patients about one of the lesser-known causes of lower back pain: sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

 

The sacrum is the structure of fused vertebrae that dangles beneath the lumbar region of the spine. It connects on both sides to the iliac crests, which are the highest bones of the pelvis, and the two connections are called the sacroiliac joints. These joints can suffer stress, especially when their supporting lower back and pelvis muscles are weak or tight; typically they don’t have very much mobility.  Inflammation of these joints is called sacroiliitis, and it may cause a person to feel sore in their lower back and buttock. Usually, only one side is inflamed at a time.

 

Although sacroiliac joint dysfunction is less likely than a herniated lumbar disc to compress a nerve, it could still cause pain to radiate outwards. A person is especially likely to feel pain when they put weight on the joint. We can make a diagnosis by testing how a patient responds to pressure on different bones. If a person has a sacroiliac issue, we can treat them by performing chiropractic adjustments, and by reducing their inflammation through low level laser therapy and electric muscle stimulation. Our chiropractor, Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo, is a Chiropractic Sports Physician and Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner; he may also recommend therapeutic exercises to strengthen the lower back and pelvic regions.

If you suspect you have sacroiliac joint dysfunction or a similar disorder, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.

 

The Importance of Vitamin D

During the short days of February, it’s easy to go for several days in a row without being exposed to direct sunlight. The further towards the poles you go, the longer the winter lasts. This could pose a significant health problem, since sunlight is what triggers the production of vitamin D. Obtaining vitamin D is not usually difficult if you live in a sunny area. If the sun is at the proper angle, most people get enough by being exposed to sunlight directly (not through a window) for periods of fifteen minutes three times a week. As a holistic health practice, we at the ACT Wellness Center want everybody to understand why vitamin D is so important to bone health, and what they can do to ensure they’re getting enough.

 

One of the key constituent minerals of bone is calcium. This is not a mineral the human body produces on its own; it is absorbed in our digestive tract from food. Vitamin D is what regulates the intake of calcium, and when we don’t produce enough vitamin D, we can’t absorb enough calcium to maintain the integrity of our bone structure. This could lead to the sort of brittleness seen in people with osteoporosis, which puts people at increased risk for bone fractures and vertebral collapse. In addition, several studies show that vitamin D is linked with immune system function.

 

If you can’t rely on getting enough sunlight, and want to reduce your risk of a vitamin D deficiency; consider eating foods that are known to have high Vitamin D levels. These include products such as dairy, egg yolks, fatty fish oil’s and some mushrooms. Breakfast cereals and orange juice are commonly fortified with both vitamin D and calcium. Our favorite way to get vitamin D in the winter is from wild salmon.

 

If you are not eating enough vitamin D enriched foods, proper supplementation can help fill nutritional gaps in your diet. Numerous studies suggest positive association between taking vitamin and mineral supplements, and disease prevention. It’s a convenient way to get necessary nutrients that you may be lacking or not otherwise easily get in your daily nutrition. We offer pharmaceutical grade vitamins to help ensure our patients receive the maximum benefit possible, without exposure to any unnecessary toxins, fillers, or otherwise unwanted ingredients.

 

If you want to learn more about maintaining healthy bones, visit Dr. Carmelo Caratozzolo at ACT Wellness Center, 14111 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, Virginia. Call 703-491-9355.