Osteoarthritis Treatment in Lynnwood, WA
Osteoarthritis can make everyday moves like standing up, climbing stairs, or walking around Lynnwood feel way harder than they should. At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain in Lynnwood, WA, Dr. Darcy Szigety, DC provides non-surgical, medication-free care that focuses on how your joints, muscles, and nervous system are actually working together.
Dr. Darcy Szigety, DC often sees arthritis and “degenerative changes” in the spine and other joints, especially in older patients, and looks beyond age alone to understand what is driving your pain and stiffness. After a careful exam, he builds a personalized plan to help you move with more comfort and confidence.
Schedule an evaluation to get a clear next step for osteoarthritis treatment in Lynnwood, WA.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It happens when the smooth cartilage that cushions a joint gradually wears down, and the bones and surrounding tissues have to take on more of the load. That extra stress can create pain, stiffness, swelling, and a feeling that the joint just does not move like it used to. Dr. Szigety frequently sees osteoarthritis and other “degenerative changes” in the spine and weight-bearing joints, especially in older patients or people with a long history of physical work or injuries.
At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain, osteoarthritis treatment in Lynnwood, WA focuses on improving joint mechanics, supporting the muscles around the joint, and helping you stay as active and independent as possible. The goal is not to “turn back the clock,” but to help your body work with the joints you have right now using conservative, non-surgical osteoarthritis management.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
A lot of the time, osteoarthritis is a mix of “life mileage” and how your joints have been treated along the way. Dr. Szigety often sees degenerative changes in people who have had years of heavy work, repetitive movements, old injuries, or long-standing posture issues that never really got addressed. Extra load from body weight, weak supporting muscles, and joint misalignment can all speed up wear on cartilage. You cannot change your age, but you can work on mechanics, strength, and daily habits to reduce stress on your joints.
What Symptoms of Osteoarthritis Do You See?
In the clinic, Dr. Szigety sees a range of osteoarthritis symptoms, depending on which joint is involved and how long it has been irritated. Common patterns include aching or sharp joint pain that worsens with activity or by the end of the day, morning stiffness or stiffness after sitting for a while, swelling or a sense of warmth around the joint, reduced range of motion or a “tight” feeling when you try to move, and grinding, crackling, or popping when you bend or straighten.
There can also be a sense of weakness or instability around the joint because the surrounding muscles are tired from constantly protecting sore areas. In the spine, degenerative changes can cause local back or neck discomfort, muscle tension, and fatigue with normal daily tasks. Some people notice they get tired faster because simple tasks now take more effort. A proper evaluation helps confirm whether osteoarthritis is part of the picture and which joints need the most support.
How Do You Diagnose Osteoarthritis?
When someone comes in with possible osteoarthritis, Dr. Darcy starts the same way he does with back or neck pain. He takes a detailed history, asking when symptoms started, whether they feel more acute or chronic, what makes them better or worse, and what kind of work, hobbies, and daily habits you have.
He then performs a physical exam that may include range of motion and functional testing, orthopedic checks, and neurological tests for strength, reflexes, and sensation when nerves may be involved. Posture, alignment, muscle tone, and balance are also assessed, along with palpation to feel which joints and soft tissues are most tender or restricted. X-rays are commonly used to look for joint space changes, bone spurs, or other degenerative findings. If symptoms do not match the imaging or are not improving, he may refer for MRI and co-manage with pain management or orthopedic specialists as needed. Dr. Szigety explains all of this in simple language so you understand what is going on and what the next steps are.
What Treatments Do You Provide for Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis care at Alderwood Back and Neck Pain is conservative and individualized. Based on your exam and imaging, Dr. Szigety creates a plan that often blends hands-on chiropractic care, soft tissue work, and simple exercises. He uses techniques like Diversified adjustments, drop-table, and instrument-assisted tools such as an Activator-style device or ArthroStim-type adjuster to gently improve motion in the spine and other involved joints.
Soft tissue therapy, including massage, myofascial release, and trigger point work, helps calm tight or overworked muscles that are trying to protect arthritic areas. As pain and stiffness ease, he introduces therapeutic exercises and rehabilitation to build strength and stability around the joints, along with lifestyle and ergonomic coaching to reduce day-to-day stress on them. Heat, cold, cryotherapy, and Class IV laser therapy may be used when appropriate to support comfort and tissue health as part of natural remedies for osteoarthritis. Care is always non-surgical and medication-free, paced at a level your body can handle.
If you are looking for a chiropractor for osteoarthritis, knee osteoarthritis relief, or hip osteoarthritis care in Lynnwood, this is the style of care you can expect.
How Can a Chiropractor Help with Osteoarthritis?
As a chiropractor for osteoarthritis, Dr. Darcy focuses on how well your joints and muscles are actually working together. He describes chiropractic as a natural form of health care that keeps your spine, joints, muscles, and nervous system working properly so your body can move better, reduce pain, and improve overall function. Adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and targeted exercises are used to improve motion, reduce tension, and support better mechanics. He also coaches you on posture and lifestyle so your daily choices support your joints instead of stressing them. The goal is not to promise a cure, but to help you feel and function as well as you reasonably can.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Because osteoarthritis develops over time, results usually build gradually. Dr. Darcy often explains that healing for degenerative and discogenic issues tends to be measured in weeks to months, not days. Many patients notice early changes like less stiffness in the morning, easier movement, or a decrease in daily pain levels within the first few weeks of consistent care, especially when they follow home recommendations.
More durable improvements in strength, mobility, and endurance typically take longer and depend on how advanced the arthritis is, which joints are involved, and how long symptoms have been present. For some, that means several months of care with gradually decreasing visit frequency, similar to how he manages whiplash and chronic back cases using a mix of passive and active therapies over time. Throughout care, Dr. Szigety sets realistic expectations and checks progress so you know what is changing and what still needs work. No instant-fix promises, just honest timelines.
Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Osteoarthritis
Ignoring osteoarthritis does not usually make it disappear. Over time, progressive cartilage wear and joint irritation can lead to more frequent flare-ups of pain and stiffness, and it may take less activity to trigger them. You might notice that it becomes harder to walk longer distances, stand for extended periods, or get up from chairs and the floor.
As joints lose motion, nearby areas often compensate, which can place extra stress on the spine, hips, knees, or ankles depending on where the original problem started. This can create new layers of discomfort on top of the original joint pain. Left unaddressed, these changes may limit work capacity, exercise options, and sleep quality. Conservative osteoarthritis treatment in Lynnwood, WA is about slowing that spiral, supporting better joint mechanics, and helping you stay as active as your body and condition reasonably allow. Getting evaluated early gives you more options.
Patient Success Story & Home Care
A patient in their late 60s came in with long-standing knee and lower back stiffness that had slowly worsened over several years. Walking more than a few blocks and climbing stairs left them sore for the rest of the day. On exam, Dr. Szigety found reduced range of motion in the knees and lumbar spine, tight hip and thigh muscles, and postural changes consistent with degenerative joint and disc changes. X-rays confirmed osteoarthritic findings in the knees and degenerative changes in the lower back. The care plan combined gentle chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and simple home exercises focused on hip and core strength.
After about two to three months of consistent care, the patient reported easier morning movement, less soreness after walking, and more confidence with stairs. At home, they used heat for stiffness, did daily mobility drills, chose lower-impact activities, and adjusted their sitting habits to reduce long periods in one position.
Ready to Find Relief?
If joint pain and stiffness are starting to control your schedule, it might be time to get some real answers. Alderwood Back and Neck Pain offers non-surgical osteoarthritis management in Lynnwood, WA that looks at the whole picture, not just an X-ray. A focused evaluation with Dr. Darcy Szigety, DC can help you understand what is happening and what you can do next.
Book An Appointment
Please use the booking tool below to book an appointment or by calling us on (425) 775-6767
FAQs - Osteoarthritis Treatment
Can chiropractic care help osteoarthritis pain?
Chiropractic care does not “erase” arthritis, but it can often help with pain, stiffness, and mobility by improving how the joints move and how the surrounding muscles support them. At Alderwood Back and Neck Pain, treatment is conservative, non-surgical, and medication-free, focused on function and quality of life rather than chasing a quick fix.
Is osteoarthritis just aging?
Age is one factor, but it is not the whole story. Dr. Szigety regularly sees degenerative changes in people with years of posture stress, old injuries, or repetitive work. The good news is that mechanics, strength, and habits are all modifiable. Conservative care and smart movement can still make a big difference even if an X-ray shows arthritis.
What exercises are safe for osteoarthritis?
The best exercises are usually low-impact movements, basic strength work, and mobility drills tailored to your joints. During your plan, Dr. Darcy gives you simple, specific exercises and natural remedies for osteoarthritis you can do at home. The key is to avoid pushing into sharp pain and to progress gradually instead of jumping into intense workouts.
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