Can Chiropractic Care Help Autoimmune Conditions? How?

In the past few decades, autoimmune conditions have garnered a significant amount of attention in the scientific research field. In the past, people with vague symptoms of pain and inflammation were often passed around by doctors who weren’t certain how to manage these conditions.

But with new understanding in the field of autoimmune diseases, we now have much more insight into how we can effectively help patients with autoimmune conditions manage their diseases.

In this article, we’ll discuss the topic of autoimmune conditions and detail how chiropractic care can be a big help for patients who suffer from these disorders. 

What Are Autoimmune Disorders?

Autoimmunity refers to a group of related conditions in which the immune system attacks healthy cells within the body. Even though we now have a much better understanding of how to help patients with these disorders, it’s still unclear exactly why patients develop autoimmunity.

What Are Some Common Autoimmune Conditions?

In all likelihood, you’ve probably met a few people in your life who suffer from autoimmune disorders. In this section, we’ll take a brief look at some of these common issues.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder that affects the joints of the body. RA can attack any joint, but it often severely disfigures the hands and other joints we rely on a lot throughout the day. 

People with RA will generally have a lot of discomfort when using their affected joints, and on some days their symptoms can be worse than others due to a variety of factors.

Multiple Sclerosis

In Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, patients’ nervous systems are attacked by their immune systems. As the coverings on their nerves are slowly chipped away, patients begin to experience movement problems. 

Over time, patients with MS will have great difficulty walking, moving, and even standing. 

Type I Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a disorder related to blood sugar regulation. You’re probably familiar with a slightly different kind of diabetes known as type II diabetes mellitus. Type II diabetes mellitus is a condition often caused by lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise.

Type I diabetes results from the immune system destroying cells that help with blood sugar regulation in the pancreas. Because of this, patients can often experience very serious symptoms, which are sometimes life-threatening.

Pernicious Anemia

Anemia, in general, refers to a lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. There are tons of different types of anemia, all of which stem from different underlying causes. 

Pernicious anemia, specifically, is caused by a B12 deficiency. This vitamin, found in animal products such as meat and eggs, is necessary for our bodies to function. When we lack this nutrient, it can trigger an autoimmune response. Luckily, if this issue is caught early enough, it can often be treated by simply taking in more B12. 

Autoimmune Conditions and Chiropractic Care

So, what autoimmune conditions can chiropractic help with? In short, chiropractic care can help with all of them, to a degree.

The three conditions described in the previous section, and many other autoimmune disorders, are all related to the spine in some way. By performing manipulations on the spine, chiropractors can often improve communication between the central nervous system and the immune system. This may allow for improved healing, decreased symptoms, and decreased pain during the day.

Also, chiropractic manipulations often serve to improve range of motion throughout many joints of the body. As a result, patients who receive these treatments regularly can usually move more fluidly than they could before. Because many autoimmune disorders indirectly or directly cause movement dysfunction, this is a huge benefit of chiropractic care.  

Have you been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition? We’re here to help! Book your appointment with the Anchor Health Chiropractic team today. Allow us to be your go-to Noblesville chiropractor. Together, we can get your health on track.