I Can't Do CrossFit, My Doctor Says I Have Arthritis

One of the most common issues I see in the office are patients that have been told by their physician that they have arthritis in their spine, usually in the form of osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease or degenerative disk disease and they are told by their physicians to refrain from activities such as CrossFit. I am going to let you in a little secret; Everyone over age forty typically has some form of arthritis-osteoathritis-degenerative disk disease-degenerative joint disease. Its usually nothing more than just the wear and tear of life. Often times many patients have arthritis and don't even know it because they are symptom free. It isn't until they go into an orthopedist or chiropractor have an x-ray then the physician gives them the so-called dreaded news of arthritis. I just want to emphasize I am not referring to the severe types of auto immune-inflammatory arthropathies such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. The problem with basic arthritis is patients typically don't know any better. They are usually ignorant on the topic of arthritis and put all of their faith and trust in their physician. Often times, their doctor is mis-informed on the subject and patients fall victim to the nocebo effect. The nocebo effect is the opposite of the placebo. Their physician has planted a seed of arthritis and patients believe that their bodies are going to succumb to arthritis where their bodies fall apart and there going to end up in a wheelchair or possibly surgery. The fact is, most arthritis issues including osteoarthritis, deg. joint disease, and deg. disk disease can be treated effectively with acupuncture, chiropractic, diet modification, increasing your water intake and supplementing with omega 3's (fish oil). Several MRI studies have shown that many asymptomatic (No Symptoms) patients will demonstrate a positive result for disk herniation, spinal stenosis and degenerative disk and joint disease in as high as 35 to 60 percent depending on the study. And these patients go on to lead happy, healthy productive lives despite what the MRI tests reveal.

Bottom line, don't believe everything you are told. Even the experts are wrong from time to time. Our bodies crave motion and activity. You have heard the term; Use It Or Lose It. When we become inactive, we fall apart literally. When we stay active, we become stronger and healther. And I can't think of a better way to stay active and healthy than CrossFit.

Enjoy.

Love, Light & Laughter

Corey Sondrup, D.C.

Oh! But CrossFit is Too Expensive!

CrossFit is so expensive! I hear this one all too often in my office and online. Does CrossFit cost more than a regular gym membership? It may appear that way at first. Most gym memberships average out to about $40.00 per month for an individual. CrossFit memberships run, depending what region of the country you live in can go anywhere from $99.00 to $150.00 per month for an individual. To the uneducated $40.00 a month is a no-brainer. However, when you consider that for every CrossFit workout you participate in, you get a certified CrossFit instructor-trainer-coach at every workout. Add to that, a group of highly motivated individuals there to motivate and cheer you on at each workout. Lets not forget the faster and better results with your health gains that two hours in a regular gym four to five days a week won't even come close to matching the results you will be achieving from doing CrossFit three times a week. Not only that, most CrossFit (WOD) workouts range from seven to twenty minutes per workout. How can you beat that?

Still not convinced? How about that daily $4.00 latte or energy drink; 4x30=$120.00 a month in drinks alone. Now factor in what the average person spends a month eating out; $200.00. Give that up and now you have an extra $320.00 per month that will be more than enough to pay for CrossFit.

Still not convinced? How about these numbers:

$44,820.00: Average cost for heart bypass surgery (American Heart Asso. 1995).

$$10,000: Average cost per year per person for treating complications related to diabetes. (WebMD. Healthnews)

$$1,500.00: Average cost more per year obese patients pay for health care (ABC News/Health)

$$147 Billion: Direct and Indirect costs America spends each year on obesity (CDC 2006).

So you still think CrossFit is too expensive? If you still do. Then maybe you're just not really serious about your overall health and wellness.

Love, Light & Laughter

Dr. Corey