Recently I had a patient consult me because he always feels stiff and sore this time of the year after gardening or golfing, and finds that the morning after his favourite pastimes, he feels "crippled" and "can hardly get out of bed". He felt he was "reliant on pain tablets". My suspicion of osteoarthritis was confirmed by x-rays which revealed advanced stages of spinal degeneration at the base of his spine.The sad fact is that he was only 48 years old and didn't realise the extent of the degeneration that had been decaying his spine for years.
The object of this patient's story is to spur you to take action. Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as "wear and tear" , can develop from increased postural stresses when vertebrae in the spine are misaligned or in injured joints (for example in the vertebrae in the neck after a whiplash injury).
Chiropractic adjustments have improved my patient's life and he now enjoys his activities painfree. I don't know what it's like to feel addicted to pain medication. But as a health professional that has spent many years specialising in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, I can attest to this. People do not believe their health is deteriorating and their nervous system is suffering until it's too late. That's because they don't feel the process happening.
Answering the title's question, I suspect when the word prevention is mentioned, the most common feeling is one of dismissiveness. That is,"so far I feel fine and have time. I can always develop wellness habits and a healthier lifestyle later."
Any chance we can make later, today? Do you need help making the journey? Be sure to consult a Doctor of Chiropractic because they will be ready to help you take the necessary steps toward wellness and start reversing those years of neglect.
