Arthritis

6 Tips For Reducing Arthritis Pain This Winter

Posted on 01.11.19 |

Handsome middle age man suffering pain on hands and fingers, arthritis inflammation

Welcome to January, better known as the winter of our discontent…especially if you suffer from degenerative arthritis. The cold, windy and wet conditions that bring frigid temperatures and blizzards also seem to bring winter arthritis pain. Some people swear their knees can warn of a change in the air before it rains or gets cold. Whether or not your appendages can actually forecast the weather, the reality is that around 25 million people in the U.S. suffer from degenerative arthritis. There are many treatment options available to help people with arthritis, but one you might not have thought about is chiropractic care. Dr. Cody Doyle, a local Trophy Club, TX chiropractor wintercan help improve your wellness and reduce your joint pain this winter.

Degenerative Arthritis and Winter Weather

Is increased arthritis pain really a predictor of the weather or is it just an old wives tale? While the connection might have been downplayed in the past, recent studies suggest there may actually be a link. “67.9 percent of the people surveyed responded that they were sure changes in the weather had an effect on their pain…Most reported that they can feel a change…before rain or cold weather occur,” according to Robert Jamison, a professor at Harvard Medical School.¹However, the link may not just be cold, but changes in the barometric pressure, which can cause joints to expand, increasing pain.

Tips for Reducing Winter Joint Pain

There are things you can do to reduce the severity of arthritis pain in the winter. Here are 6 tips to help make winter more bearable for your aching joints.

1. Dress warmly in layers.

When the temps drop, be sure to keep your joints as covered up as possible. This is especially true for joints that receive more exposure to the elements such as your hands, knees and feet. Gloves a must in the winter months. Wear warm pants if you can, but if you need to wear a dress or skirt, try wearing leggings or thick tights. You can layer to get maximum coverage when you go outside, but still have the freedom to remove some outer layers if it is warmer inside.

2. Drink plenty of water

Water is good for everything, even your joints. In the winter months it is easy to become dehydrated since you are not hot as much, but it is still important to drink up. Keeping hydrated can reduce the affect of arthritis pain.

3. Maintain a healthy weight.

The New Year’s Resolution to get in shape is a perennial favorite with many people. There are so many health issues that can be solved by losing or maintaining a healthy weight, including reducing the pain and inflammation in your joints.

4. Get plenty of exercise.

Even though it is cold outside, you can still exercise inside. There are many options, from joining a gym to exercise videos that you can buy or find online. Do a search on YouTube and you are sure to find several. There are also dozens (if not hundreds) of weight loss and exercise apps you can download on your mobile devices.

5. Eat a healthy diet.

What we put in our bodies affects our health in every way. Nutritious foods will help you maintain a healthy weight and give you energy for all that exercise (see above). Certain foods can also do a good job of helping to relieve joint pain and stiffness, including those with Omega-3 fatty acids like salmon. You can also take fish oil supplements. Be sure to speak to your doctor before taking any supplement or vitamin, however.

6. See a Chiropractor.

A chiropractor can adjust your spine and joints, which can help reduce muscle strain, spasms, misalignments and to break up old scar tissue. It is a safe, non-invasive treatment that can reduce the inflammation that causes joint pain, especially when combined with rotating heat and cold compresses.

Chiropractic care has many benefits for those who suffer from arthritis. It can:

Reduce your pain and discomfort
Decrease joint inflammation
Improve your range of motion
Improve your flexibility
Increase activity to enhance your lifestyle

Contact a Local Chiro in Trophy Club, TX

Want to know whether a visit to a chiropractor can help ease the pain from arthritis this winter? Call our office at (817) 767-5430 to set up an initial appointment with Dr. Doyle

Chiropractic Care for Trophy Club, TX: Back to Mobility

Posted on 09.12.18 |

The way the human body functions is amazing. Every part is meant to work together. Our musculoskeletal system – muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments – is connected in a beautiful way and its health can easily be taken for granted. Think about the accomplishments of Olympic athletes, pushing their bodies to the limit. Think of kids and teens who jump and leap, seemingly without effort. The stay-at-home mom who goes up and down stairs, picking up laundry, or the professional who spends all day focused and poised over a computer with arms, neck, and back in the same position for hours. That amazing musculoskeletal system can be put to the test. When the pains and strains get to be too much, Dr. Cody Doyle of Doyle Chiropractic & Acupuncture can provide chiropractic services that can help relieve pain and restore your range of motion.

What kinds of conditions can be treated at Doyle Chiropractic & Acupuncture?

Patients come to our office for many of the reasons you might expect – and for others you might not. Dr. Doyle can help identify a variety of conditions including back and neck pain, upper and lower body strain, degenerative discs, and inflammatory and degenerative arthritis. Along with these familiar concerns, Dr. Doyle also treats plantar fasciitis, allergies, peripheral neuropathy, and ailments related to autoimmune diseases. If you suffer with these illnesses or experience ongoing pain, we welcome to you stop by for a consultation.

While Dr. Doyle is prepared to provide traditional chiropractic care, he knows every patient is different and comes to our treatment center with varying concerns. He takes time to carefully evaluate each patient, taking into consideration their medical history and their current condition. Dr. Doyle can recommend a variety of treatments that can address specific issues and can contribute to the overall health of the whole person.

What kinds of treatments do you offer?

Dr. Doyle is trained to identify specific courses of treatment that can bring pain relief and promote ongoing healing. Chiropractic adjustments can manipulate the musculoskeletal system. To go along with adjustments, premodulated muscle stimulation (sometimes called e-stim) and ultrasound therapies may be used to target a specific problem area. These therapies can help reduce muscle spasms and can release tension in muscle groups and assist in restoring flexibility. Acupuncture is an alternative and holistic treatment based in traditional Chinese medicine and is also available to address concerns related to dysfunction in the nervous system. These therapies can provide relief and positive results. Dr. Doyle is also focused on providing services to those pursuing overall wellness and weight loss. These patients may receive recommendations for exercise, nutrition, detoxification programs, and herbal treatments.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

If you are tired of living with chronic pain, muscle strain, tingling extremities, numbness, and the discomfort that comes with inflammation, it is time to contact Doyle Chiropractic & Acupuncture. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. With more than 20 years’ experience and certification in chiropractic and acupuncture therapies, Dr. Doyle is a highly qualified physician who is ready to help you starting now. Call us at 817-767-5430 or visit our office at 295 W. Byron Nelson Rd., #212 in Roanoke, TX, 76262. We proudly serve, Roanoke, Trophy Club, Southlake, Argyle, North Fort Worth, and surrounding cities. We welcome you to stop by today!

Your Joints – Use Them or Lose Them!

Posted on 08.27.18 |

Joint pain and joint degeneration (osteoarthritis) has long been thought of as a natural consequence of aging and hard use. Cartilage breaks down in the joints over time. Repetitive use of certain joints can make them more prone to arthritis. Think of your grandmother, whose hands became gnarled and fingers became twisted after years of sewing and knitting. Or Shaquille O’Neal developing arthritis in his big toe after running, jumping, and dunking basketballs for years. Some joints are more prone to arthritis if they are used more than others.

But arthritis can also be a result of under-use. Movement in the joint helps protect it from degeneration. Cartilage gets its nutrients and retains its elasticity from using the joint. Underuse can cause further deterioration and pain.

Do you suffer from painful joints or degenerative arthritis? Argyle chiropractor Dr. Cody Doyle can help you stay active and reduce your pain. Call Doyle Chiropractic and Acupuncture at 817-767-5430 to make an appointment.

Exercise as a Treatment for Arthritis

One of the best ways to protect your joints is to keep them active. Motion helps your joints stay healthy and flexible. Getting regular exercise and taking the time to stretch can help your arthritis symptoms in a number of ways:

Exercise helps you maintain a healthy body weight, which can lessen joint pain.
Muscle strength helps take pressure off joints.
Muscle tissue absorbs shock that may otherwise hit the joints.
Stretching helps your damaged joints stay flexible and can reduce swelling.

If you are starting to experience joint degeneration, you can prevent things from getting worse by finding opportunities to exercise that don’t push you past your limits (and into pain). If you used to enjoy running, but now your left knee swells up and stiffens any time you jog, try something lower-impact. Walking, swimming, and cycling can deliver a lower-impact workout that keeps your muscles and joint moving and flexible.

Joint Degeneration Affects the Spine, As Well

Once you get to a point when you’re starting to feel the stiffness or swelling that can indicate osteoarthritis, you should also start thinking about your back. Your spine isn’t just one joint, but 29 individual joints that make up the vertebrae. Just like the other joints in your body, the vertebrae need exercise to keep the cartilage and discs from degenerating.

What kind of exercises are best for protecting the spine from joint degeneration? Any exercise that works out the core muscles of the back and abdomen. Pilates, yoga, and Tai Chi are great for the spine because they incorporate stretching and strengthening, while focusing on spinal alignment. Ultimately, as long as you are up and moving, rather than sitting for long hours every day, you’re going to be strengthening the muscles that support the spine and keep it flexible.

Arthritis Treatment with Argyle Chiropractor Dr. Cody Doyle

If you suffer from degenerative arthritis, visit Argyle chiropractor Dr. Cody Doyle. We have many potential treatments that might help you, depending on your symptoms and individual joint problems. Chiropractic treatments may help your case, or you may benefit more from myofascial release therapy, TENS treatment, or even acupuncture. Even if you just need help determining the best way to exercise without causing yourself more pain, Dr. Doyle can help! Call our office today at 817-767-5430 to make an appointment.

Is Inflammation Causing Your Joint Pain?

Posted on 06.6.17 |

Joint pain can be an irritation and can make completing daily tasks difficult. Inflammation is a common cause of such joint pain. This response is your body’s way of protecting itself when an injury or overuse occurs, but as we age inflammation may cause more pain than we’d like. You can tell if inflammation is the cause because your joints will feel warm to the touch and appear red and swollen. Dr. Cody Doyle in Roanoke, TX has a variety of non-invasive treatment methods for common joint pain. By using chiropractic, acupuncture, and other treatments, he can alleviate your pain and make recommendations on how to reduce future pain.

Is joint pain inhibiting your ability to live life to the fullest? Schedule your appointment with Roanoke, TX chiropractor Dr. Doyle today to put an end to your joint pain. Call 817-767-5430.

Inflammation is your immune system’s response to a foreign stimulus. When an unknown stimulus could cause harm, your body creates inflammation in that region as a way to protect itself. Here are three common forms of inflammation that can lead to irritating joint pain.

Inflammatory Arthritis

Arthritis can easily be defined as inflammation of joints. When the white blood cells found in synovial fluid (joint fluid) become inflamed, the protective membrane surrounding your joints can thicken. This thickening damages the cartilage between joints and results in joint pain. This can also cause your joints to lose their shape and misalign. Although the exact cause of inflammatory arthritis is unknown, poor nutrition, genetics, and stress have all been linked to this condition. The most common form of inflammatory arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis. .

Osteoarthritis

Throughout your life, your body will feel the effects of normal wear and tear. The simple routines of life put our bodies through a lot, and over time this can result in osteoarthritis. Cartilage cushions our joints; when it begins to deteriorate, you will experience a feeling of stiffness in your joints. The degeneration of cartilage between your joints can eventually lead to bones rubbing against one another, causing a painful response.

Leaky Gut Syndrome

Another name for this medical disorder is intestinal permeability. Leaky gut syndrome is the result of damage to the lining of the small intestine, causing undigested food, toxins, and bacteria to leak into the blood stream. This can cause a slew of painful symptoms, one of which is joint pain. Joint pain may seem to be unrelated to digestion, but has been linked to inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis, so it’s worth considering as a possible source.

Dr. Doyle’s Non-Invasive Approach

Roanoke, TX chiropractor Dr. Doyle uses a variety of non-invasive treatment methods to manage joint pain. A common method that he will use is myofascial release therapy, which among many other things improves your joint’s range of motion and flexibility. During this therapy, Dr. Doyle will apply pressure to various connective tissues and muscles in your body.

Along with myofascial release, Dr. Doyle will incorporate chiropractic care, acupuncture, and deep muscle stretching. Chiropractic care uses musculoskeletal manipulation to relieve pain and tension found within the body. Acupuncture redirects energy within the body for pain relief and management. These non-invasive approaches will manage your joint pain and alleviate pain in other areas of your body.

Don’t go another day with joint pain; schedule your chiropractic appointment with Roanoke, TX chiropractor Dr. Doyle today to non-invasively manage your pain. Call 817-767-5430.

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262

How Ankle Pain Affects Daily Life

Posted on 05.29.17 |

Pain in any area of your body can elicit irritation and frustration. Ankle pain commonly results from a sprain, but can appear for a number of other reasons. In some cases, it may be hard to determine what is causing your ankle pain. Many people use pain relievers, such as Tylenol or Advil, to manage their bodily aches and pains. Dr. Cody Doyle, in Roanoke, TX offers chiropractic and acupuncture treatment for those who can’t effectively manage their ankle pain solely with medications and braces, or for those who wish to take a holistic approach to pain relief.

Leave the medications behind and learn how to manage your ankle pain with help from Dr. Doyle. Schedule your chiropractic or acupuncture appointment in our Roanoke, TX office today. Call 817-767-5430.

Ankle Pain

Common sprains are a typical cause for ankle pain. However, the pain can also result from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, tendonitis, shin splints, and Fibromyalgia, among other conditions. Ankle pain also occurs from wearing shoes that don’t properly fit and from disorders related to the hips, feet, and knees. All of your lower extremities (hips, knees, shins, ankles, feet) are connected; therefore, untreated discomfort in one extremity could lead to pain in another. Dr. Doyle holistically treats ankle pain with chiropractic care. He also offers musculoskeletal acupuncture for pain relief.

Tendonitis

Ankle pain can appear when a tendon becomes inflamed. Usually, when referring to ankle pain, it’s the Achilles tendon. This is the tendon that connects your calf muscle to your heel. Inflammation can create irritation, soreness, and even swelling. When left untreated, Achilles tendonitis can result in a great deal of ankle pain.

Shin Splints, Plantar Fasciitis, and Heel Spurs

These conditions may seem unrelated to your ankles, but because your shins, feet, and heel are all part of your lower extremity, issues that begin there can lead to ankle pain. Shin splints usually cause aches in the shins, but that pain can radiate or worsen to cause aching ankles and feet. The presence of plantar fasciitis causes discomfort in the heel. When plantar fasciitis is left untreated, heel spurs may develop. These bony growths appear on the heel bone and can be incredibly painful. The pain can radiate to the ankles.

Arthritis

Arthritis is another common source of ankle pain. Stiffness in the joints can flare up when the weather changes. As we age, many of us develop arthritis in different parts of our bodies. Ankle arthritis can make your ankles feel stiff, and you may find walking painful.

How Can Dr. Doyle Help?

Dr. Doyle provides chiropractic care and acupuncture to his patients. These are both holistic methods for managing pain throughout the body. By manipulating your spinal alignment, Dr. Doyle can alleviate many common aches and pains. At your appointment, he will conduct a thorough evaluation of your pain, as well as review your medical history. From his findings, he can often determine the cause of ankle pain. Tell Dr. Doyle about any injuries, overuse, or regular activities that could irritate your ankle(s).

Dr. Doyle will create a personalized treatment plan to address your ankle pain. He may also make recommendations on how to better care for your body and reduce your risk for experiencing ongoing pain. When you leave the office, you’ll know whether to apply heat or ice, and whether you need a brace or wrap. Should you have any questions, please ask – and if questions come up after your visit, simply call the office.

The benefits of chiropractic care and acupuncture go far beyond relieving back and neck pain. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Doyle today at our Roanoke, TX office to discuss how he can help you find relief from ankle pain. Call 817-767-5430.

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262

Alternative Treatment For Arthritis–A New Hope

Posted on 12.2.16 |

Many patients, after receiving a diagnosis of arthritis, believe that not much can really be done to help them. The diagnosis usually comes abruptly, from a well intentioned physician, without much explanation or discussion regarding causation or treatment options. “It’s just arthritis” we are told, “Old Arthur comes to visit us all eventually.” It is as if the diagnosis is something of a normal consequence of aging. That annoying uncle that must be tolerated and accepted for the rest of your days.

Of course there are options like pills, steroid injections, pain management, nerve burning, and even surgical procedures that are used in a otiose attempt to mitigate the persistent symptoms of the bothersome “Uncle Arthur.” However, it is now clear that the use of medications, surgeries, and injections in the treatment of osteoarthritis can lead to unintended and occasionally devastating outcomes.

A New Perspective

After years of treating patients suffering from the painful effects of degenerative arthritis, I have come to learn that a new approach is required. No longer is it acceptable to simply throw pills at the problem. The research is clear. Without a comprehensive approach that addresses the fundamental causes of the degenerative process, no lasting recovery from the effects of arthritis can be expected.

We must look at the problem from a completely different point of view. We know that the fundamental cause of degenerative arthritis is loss of function within a motion segment. The loss of function leads to abnormal motion with causes inflammation of the joint. Chronic inflammation leads to degeneration which leads to more loss of function and more pain. It is a vicious cycle.

Any hope at improvement must be focused on dismantling the cycle. Once the cycle is dismantled (not just broken) improvement that leads to lasting recovery can begin.

To dismantle this chronic and degenerative cycle, we ask specific questions relative to your unique condition. We will commonly ask questions like….

What can be done improve the function in your area of complaint?
- Example: Both traditional and low force chiropractic techniques can help improve joint function and biomechanics.
- Example: Acupuncture is excellent for decreasing spasm, reducing inflammation, promoting healing, and restoring function.
- Example: Massage, therapeutic exercise, ultrasound, and electric muscle stimulation can all be utilized to improve joint function and health
- Other modalities and techniques will be addressed and discussed depending on your unique situation
What dietary changes need to be addressed to promote healing and decrease inflammation?
- Do you consume artificial sweeteners? Sweeteners like aspartame are highly inflammatory.
- What is you level of hydration? Inflammation thrives when we don’t get adequate water intake.
- Are there any foods or habits that need to be addressed to give you the best chance at recovery?
- We will make specific recommendations relating to your diet in order the promote healing and improvement
What stretches and/or exercise programs need to be implemented to promote healing and recovery?
- A specific, custom tailored exercise program will be developed and updated throughout the course of your treatment plan.
Do you require nutritional and/or herbal supplementation?
- When and if we believe that you would benefit from nutritional and/or herbal supplementation, we will custom tailor your person supplement schedule.
Do you have any medications that may be causing some of your symptoms?
- We are happy to work with you and your prescribing doctor to suggest alternatives to any prescription medications that may be slowing or hampering your recovery.
And many more…

I believe the success we have had in our clinics in treating patients with degenerative arthritis over the last 20 years lies in the uniqueness of our approach to care. Our model has you, the individual patient, at it’s core. Since no two conditions are the same, it stands to reason that no two treatment plans should be the same either. We get to the core of the degenerative cycle specific to your individual condition and dismantle it so that treatment can begin and healing can occur.

This is certainly not an overnight process and it will take a considerable amount of effort of your part to meet your goals. However, we have accompanied thousands of patients on this journey and we will be with you to provide support, encouragement, and love throughout the process.

Call us today and let’s get started! I look forward to seeing you in or La Grange or Roanoke, TX chiropractic and acupuncture office.

We serve patients from Trophy Club, Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Argyle, Justin, NRH, and across the North Tarrant County area. Chiropractor Acupuncture 76262