Arthritis, the word, means literally “Joint Inflammation”. Arthritis, contrary to popular belief is NOT synonymous with PAIN. There are two main types of arthritis, RA and OA. That is, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteo-Arthritis. RA affects virtually 5% of the population. However, OA affects about 95% of the population. We have rheumatologists that specialize in arthatides–that is, all the variances of the arthritis’ out there. And they are very good at diagnosing and treating RA, or specifically more uncommon variants of arthritis.

But what about the OsteoArthritis, affecting the 95% of us? Does everyone go to a rheumatologist? No. That is the short answer. Osteoarthritis or OA, is what I will be talking about over the next few episodes of this blog and on the youtube videos connected to this site.

Specifically, I’ll be talking in depth about the different stages of Spinal decay, aka arthritis, that many people have, but have no idea that they are developing it, until they develop pain. Again, you can have pain without arthritis, and vice versa. People tend to falsely believe that if they have “Arthritis”, they are doomed to have pain their whole existence, and this is simply not true. You can live without pain EVEN with Arthritis. Many people dont even know that they have arthritis, because they have never had any pain.

So, During the next four segments, I’ll be showing you, in detail, what the stages of Degeneration look like, feel like, in your neck and back (although I do see and treat arthritis elsewhere).

Be sure to catch the coinciding videos, that go with these blogposts on youtube.

Today. For lesson one, we are going to discuss a “Normal” Spine, with normal bones, normal discs, normal nerves, and holding a normal structure. See you tommorow for lesson one….

I don’t like to discuss phase 4 spinal arthritis. However, If I don’t warn people about the dangers of getting this bad, than they will continue to degenerate and die.

I have been in practice in the same location for over 10 years now, and I have to say that I have only seen one case walk through my door of what I would truly classify as a phase 4 patient. AND, even that patient only showed phase 4 level degenerative changes in one level of the spine.

Phase four patients have spinal vertebrae that have grown together, from severe degeneration in the spine. Usually, there is nothing left of the disc between the vertebrae involved, and the nerves at that level have are not functioning.

One of the most dangerous areas to get phase 4 degeneration is also one of the most COMMON areas to get degenerative change—the lower neck and upper thoracic (mid-back) areas.

As Americans take more jobs sitting long hours in front of computers, driving long commutes, etc…We are becoming a obese nation of people, that have their heads “going forward” into forward flexed positions.

This, over time, causes degenerative arthritis in the lower neck and upper thoracic area. Sometimes, the “hunchback” is seen in the spine at t1-t6 areas, as the head progressively moves forward.

When we have spinal arthritis in that specific area, the bones close up around the nerves that feed the lungs and the heart.

This is extremely dangerous and life-threatening.

Most phase 4 patients are not walking through my door.

Most are immobile, and have tremendous organ function problems. They are dying or dead already.

These people should have seen a Chiropractor decades ago.

See the video on youtube for more information…

Yours in Health,

Dr. Steve Lininger