Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, leading to inflammation and damage. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

What are Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues, leading to inflammation and damage. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Symptoms vary by disease but often include pain, fatigue, and swelling. Effective management typically involves medications and lifestyle adjustments to control the immune response and reduce symptoms.

What are Autoimmune Diseases

What Causes Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. Causes include genetic predisposition, environmental triggers (like infections or toxins), and hormonal changes. Stress and certain medications may also play a role. While the exact cause is often unclear, these factors can contribute to immune system dysfunction and the development of autoimmune conditions.

Our Treatment Approach for Autoimmune Diseases

We are committed to personalizing treatment plans based on what is best for every individual’s UNIQUE circumstances to include symptoms, budget, lifestyle, and goals. Conservative (non-pharmaceutical) care is often effective in resolving autoimmune diseases.  This conservative care usually consists of getting to the root of the problem.  Most autoimmune diseases are not curable but a person can live without the symptoms of the disease by addressing things like inflammation, environmental triggers such as diet, and lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise and stress.

Evaluation

We will review your health history, symptoms, and current treatments to help determine the severity of your condition.  We may recommend additional testing and analysis to get a full picture of potential therapies personalized to you.

Personalized Treatment Plans

We will present a treatment plan that includes only those therapies proven to be effective in treating your condition.  This may include comprehensive lab testing and AI analysis to find the potential causes of the severity of your symptoms.  Additional options include sleeps studies, DNA nutrigenomics analysis for lifestyle design, food sensitivities, pharmacogenetics testing to determine if medication are effective based on your genetics, and other therapies to resolve issues causing inflammation, pain  and other autoimmune symptoms. You will be provided with treatment plan options and timelines with transparent out of pocket costs to you.

What Treatment Have Been Proven Good For Autoimmune Diseases

Treating autoimmune diseases often requires a multi-faceted approach, combining medication, lifestyle changes, and sometimes adjunctive therapies. The effectiveness of treatments can vary based on the specific autoimmune disease and individual patient characteristics. Autoimmune diseases involve the immune system attacking the body’s own tissues. Integrative and regenerative medicine therapies can offer supportive treatments alongside conventional therapies.

Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

Shockwave Therapy (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy) is primarily used for musculoskeletal issues but has potential applications in autoimmune diseases that involve chronic pain.

  • Study: A 2018 study in Journal of Orthopaedic Research found that ESWT can reduce inflammation and pain, which may benefit patients with autoimmune conditions that involve joint pain.
    [Journal of Orthopaedic Research Study]
  • Benefits: Reduces pain and inflammation, potentially improving quality of life in autoimmune diseases involving joint or musculoskeletal pain.

Red Light Therapy

Red Light Therapy (Low-Level Laser Therapy) uses specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair, which can be beneficial for autoimmune conditions.

  • Study: A 2020 review in Frontiers in Medicine demonstrated that red light therapy can reduce inflammation and pain in various chronic inflammatory conditions.
    [Frontiers in Medicine Review]
  • Benefits: Reduces systemic inflammation and promotes healing in autoimmune diseases.

Inflammation Programs

Inflammation Programs focus on dietary adjustments, supplements, and lifestyle changes to manage chronic inflammation, a key factor in autoimmune diseases.

  • Study: A 2021 study in Journal of Clinical Medicine found that anti-inflammatory diets and lifestyle changes improved symptoms in autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
    [Journal of Clinical Medicine Study]
  • Benefits: Reduces chronic inflammation and helps manage autoimmune disease symptoms.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy addresses hormonal imbalances that can affect immune system function and inflammation.

  • Study: A 2019 study in Hormones found that BHRT improved symptoms related to autoimmune diseases by balancing hormones and reducing inflammation.
    [Hormones Study]
  • Benefits: Balances hormones that can impact immune function and inflammation.

Neuro Inflammation Programs

Neuro Inflammation Programs target inflammation in the nervous system, which can be relevant for autoimmune diseases affecting the central nervous system.

  • Study: A 2018 review in Neurotherapeutics highlighted the importance of managing neuroinflammation in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and its impact on symptoms.
    [Neurotherapeutics Review]
  • Benefits: Reduces inflammation in the nervous system, potentially improving symptoms in neuro-autoimmune conditions.

Hands-On Medical Massage

Hands-On Medical Massage helps reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and relieve pain, which can be beneficial for managing symptoms of autoimmune diseases.

  • Study: A 2020 study in Journal of Clinical Rheumatology found that medical massage improved pain and function in patients with autoimmune conditions like fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
    [Journal of Clinical Rheumatology Study]
  • Benefits: Relieves pain, reduces muscle tension, and improves circulation.

Sleep Programs

Sleep Programs aim to improve sleep quality, which can be disrupted by autoimmune diseases and inflammation.

  • Study: A 2019 review in Sleep Medicine Reviews showed that improving sleep quality can help manage symptoms and reduce inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
    [Sleep Medicine Reviews Study]
  • Benefits: Enhances sleep quality, reduces inflammation, and supports overall health in autoimmune conditions.

Integrative and Regenerative Therapies for treating autoimmune diseases often focus on managing inflammation, improving pain, and supporting overall well-being. These therapies include:

  • Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): Reduces pain and inflammation.
  • Red Light Therapy: Decreases systemic inflammation and promotes healing.
  • Inflammation Programs: Use dietary and lifestyle changes to manage chronic inflammation.
  • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT): Balances hormones affecting immune function and inflammation.
  • Neuro Inflammation Programs: Address inflammation in the nervous system.
  • Hands-On Medical Massage: Relieves pain and improves circulation.
  • Sleep Programs: Improve sleep quality, reduce inflammation, and support overall health.

Integrating these therapies into a comprehensive treatment plan can help manage autoimmune diseases and improve patient outcomes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. This can lead to inflammation and damage in various organs and systems. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.

Autoimmune diseases are believed to result from a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors (such as infections or toxins), hormonal changes, lifestyle factors and chronic inflammation.

Diagnosis involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests (e.g., autoantibody tests), imaging studies, and sometimes biopsies.

Most autoimmune diseases cannot be cured. However, they can be managed with medications, lifestyle changes, and other therapies to control symptoms, reduce inflammation, and improve quality of life.

Treatments include treatment plans are individualized based on the specific disease and patient needs.  These plans are centered around decreasing inflammation and pain and may include diet changes, stress reduction, sleep improvement, balancing hormones, shockwave therapies for pain and red-light therapies (photobiomodulation) for inflammation and pain reduction as well as regenerative cellular healing.

Genetics play a role in autoimmune diseases, as they can run in families. However, having a family history does not guarantee that you will develop an autoimmune disease.

Diet and lifestyle can impact symptoms and overall health. An anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise, stress management, and avoiding known triggers may help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Managing flare-ups typically involves adhering to prescribed treatments, avoiding known triggers, managing stress, and making lifestyle adjustments.

Yes, autoimmune diseases can impact daily life by causing symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and mobility issues.

Stress can exacerbate autoimmune conditions and trigger flare-ups. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, counseling, and healthy lifestyle choices is important for overall well-being.

Autoimmune diseases can affect pregnancy, but many women with these conditions have successful pregnancies with proper management. It’s essential to work closely with healthcare providers to manage the condition and plan for a healthy pregnancy.

Shockwave Therapy (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy) is primarily used for musculoskeletal conditions but shows potential for treating autoimmune diseases, especially those involving chronic pain.

ESWT can reduce pain and inflammation, potentially improving symptoms in autoimmune diseases that involve joint or musculoskeletal pain.

  • Study: Research published in Journal of Orthopaedic Research (2018) indicates that ESWT can be effective in reducing inflammation and pain in chronic conditions. [Journal of Orthopaedic Research Study]

Red Light Therapy (Low-Level Laser Therapy) utilizes specific wavelengths of light to decrease inflammation and promote tissue repair.

Red light therapy can help reduce systemic inflammation and pain, and enhance cellular repair, which can benefit autoimmune disease management.

  • Study: A 2020 review in Frontiers in Medicine found that red light therapy is effective in reducing inflammation and pain, relevant to autoimmune conditions.
    [Frontiers in Medicine Review]

Inflammation Programs focus on dietary changes, supplements, and lifestyle modifications aimed at reducing chronic inflammation.

By managing inflammation through dietary and lifestyle interventions, these programs can help alleviate symptoms and improve overall health in autoimmune conditions.

  • Study: A 2021 study in Journal of Clinical Medicine demonstrated that anti-inflammatory diets and lifestyle changes improved symptoms in autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
    [Journal of Clinical Medicine Study]

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy involves using hormones that are chemically identical to those the body produces naturally to address hormonal imbalances.

BHRT can balance hormones that affect immune function and inflammation, potentially improving symptoms of autoimmune diseases.

  • Study: Research in Hormones (2019) found that BHRT improved symptoms related to autoimmune diseases by addressing hormonal imbalances.
    [Hormones Study]

Neuro Inflammation Programs focus on reducing inflammation in the nervous system, which can be relevant for autoimmune diseases affecting the central nervous system.

By addressing neuroinflammation, these programs can help reduce symptoms and improve function in autoimmune conditions affecting the nervous system.

  • Study: A 2018 review in Neurotherapeutics highlighted that reducing neuroinflammation can improve symptoms in conditions like multiple sclerosis. [Neurotherapeutics Review]

Hands-On Medical Massage involves therapeutic techniques to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and reduce pain.

Medical massage can alleviate pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve circulation, which can help manage symptoms of autoimmune diseases.

  • Study: A 2020 study in Journal of Clinical Rheumatology found that medical massage improved pain and function in patients with autoimmune conditions such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.
    [Journal of Clinical Rheumatology Study]

Sleep Programs focus on improving sleep hygiene and addressing sleep disorders, which can be exacerbated by autoimmune diseases.

Enhancing sleep quality through sleep programs can reduce inflammation, improve overall health, and help manage autoimmune disease symptoms.

  • Study: A 2019 review in Sleep Medicine Reviews showed that improving sleep quality can alleviate symptoms and reduce inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
    [Sleep Medicine Reviews Study]
  • Shockwave Therapy (ESWT): Benefits in pain and inflammation management.
  • Red Light Therapy: Reduction of systemic inflammation and promotion of cellular repair.
  • Inflammation Programs: Management of chronic inflammation through diet and lifestyle changes.
  • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT): Balancing hormones to improve symptoms.
  • Neuro Inflammation Programs: Addressing inflammation in the nervous system.
  • Hands-On Medical Massage: Relieving pain and muscle tension.
  • Sleep Programs: Improving sleep quality to reduce inflammation and support overall health.

 

These therapies can be integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan to help manage autoimmune diseases and improve patient outcomes.

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