If having painful arthritis wasn't bad, now a popular medical treatment for joint pain may actually make the degeneration worse.  Steroid injections have been long touted as an effective way to reduce joint inflammation and pain, but could they be doing more harm than good?

Researchers are noticing an acceleration of the patients' osteoarthritis progression, as well as other negative effects including subchondral insufficiency fracture, osteonecrosis and rapid joint destruction with bone loss after undergoing the procedure multiple times - as if the steroid injections were corroding the joints, instead of healing them.

It isn't uncommon to hear a patient say they've had multiple steroid injections over short period of time. But you have to ask yourself... is too much of a questionable thing really worth the risk? There are safer, more natural approaches to help your body heal itself – like Chiropractic.

Source:  CNN Health: Steroid injections may lead to...

When you turn your neck or twist your back does your spine snap, grind and ratchet like a bicycle chain stuck in mid gear? That grating noise could mean something's out of alignment.

Your spine is made up of movable bones called vertebrae, each joined perfectly together like the links of a bicycle chain. If one or more of these joints become stuck and misaligned it can slowly wreak havoc on the mechanical integrity of your entire spine. The result – pain, stiffness and premature arthritic changes. Don't neglect the noises. Abnormal grinding (crepitus) of spinal joints may indicate early degenerative joint disease.

Remember, unlike a bicycle chain, you can't replace spinal 'links' when they get damaged. Get your spine tuned up by a Chiropractor who is thoroughly trained in restoring the normal mechanics of your spine, and protect yourself from premature wear and tear.

What do darts, guided missiles and your health all have in common?  They eventually hit what they're pointed at.

Throwing darts, firing rockets and goal setting all exhibit 'cybernetic' activity - once a final destination is determined, an internal, intelligent system takes over behind the scenes to guide you to the target. And as long as the target remains clear, that internal system will calculate the best way to get you there without conscious micro-management. Changing your health course works the same way.

When starting any health endeavor, whether it’s a new diet plan or a corrective Chiropractic program, set your goal and keep it pinned to the forefront of your mind to improve your odds of success. At times when it seems you're off course (a plateau in your progress or a minor setback), remember the end result you ‘programmed in’ and trust that your innate guidance system is working diligently to reach it. You get what you stay focused on.

Healing is like the stock market. It never progresses in a straight line. You’ve got to expect some ups and downs along the way.

You might experience a surge of relief when you first start your Chiropractic care only to be followed by a setback. Soon you’re back on track, seeing huge improvements. Progress continues with bouts of highs and lows, and you may even experience a plateau or dip in your improvements. But don’t make the mistake of ‘pulling out of the market’ early.

Keep the big picture in mind. Like stocks, the gains in Chiropractic care are best seen over time. When you look back and see how far you’ve come since your first visit, you’ll realize the LIFE dividends are paying off.

Temporary "doughnuts" are meant to get you off the road and to the nearest service station for proper repair ASAP. Those small, cheap spare tires aren't designed to withstand the heat and loading of normal driving -- or even less than normal driving for extended periods. But regardless of that warning, you’ve probably seen someone speeding down the highway with one, oblivious to the potential dangers.

Some people treat their health that way. When they get an injury or a health problem they mask their symptoms with 'spare tire' medication, all the while continuing the activities that got them there in the first place. They pay little attention to the risks of temporarily patching their problem with drugs, and neglect to address the underlying CAUSE. Sooner or later, that will get you into trouble.

When it comes to acute or chronic health problems, the best policy is to fix the underlying cause of the problem the right way instead of masking the symptoms with medication. That's the core philosophy of drug free Chiropractic care. In the short term drugs may bring you false comfort, but in the long run you’re risking a serious blow out.

For over a century Chiropractors have been introducing their clients to the best doctor on the planet... the one that lives INSIDE them. On September 18th we celebrate another milestone.

From the first adjustment given by DD Palmer to the obsessive development and refinement of Chiropractic by his son BJ Palmer... from the suggestive healing power of Fleet to the diplomatic efforts of Williams... the technical dedication of Gonstead, Kale and Harrison to the humble service of Santo, Humber and Reaver. One principled thread holds us all together - the acknowledgment of an innate genius within all and the desire to restore Life through its free expression.

Today we can serve patients because we stand on the shoulders of giants like these, and countless more. Want to know the best birthday gift you can give Chiropractic? It’s your continued efforts to spread the message and help us serve more people. Thanks for sharing your inspiring Chiropractic stories.