http://www.derbyfamilychiropractic.co.uk/, https://g.page/r/CaAqxeIe5X95EBM/review

Derby Family Chiropractic - 1st for McTimoney Chiropractic in Derby, 166 Mansfield Road, Derby (2026)

16/10/2026

SOME OF THE WACKY ARTHRITIS TREATMENTS I’VE HEARD ABOUT… OR ARE THEY LEGITIMATE? 🦵

Over the years, people have told me about all sorts of things they’ve tried for arthritis. Some sound a bit out there—but is there any evidence behind them?

Nettles: Some people mean taking nettle products; others mean deliberately stinging the sore joint with nettles.
There have been a couple of small studies, but the results are mixed: one suggested short-term help for thumb arthritis, while a knee study found no clear benefit. So the evidence is pretty thin.

Chillies: The useful ingredient is capsaicin, which is made into creams and gels for joint pain. It can give some people short-term relief from osteoarthritis pain—but it can also make the skin feel as if it’s burning. So, best to leave the raw chilli in the kitchen and keep it away from your eyes!

New Zealand green-lipped mussel: This native mussel is sold as a supplement for joint symptoms. A small 2026 trial involving 100 people with knee osteoarthritis found some improvement in pain and function after 12 weeks. That’s interesting, but one small trial doesn’t prove it works for everyone—or that it’s a cure. It’s a shellfish product, so it should be avoided by anyone with a shellfish allergy.

And history has its own eyebrow-raisers: leeches were used for rheumatic pain, and doctors once treated rheumatoid arthritis with gold injections.

So, are these remedies all nonsense?

Not necessarily. Some have a little evidence behind them; some have very little. But none should be mistaken for a guaranteed cure, and the right approach depends on the type of arthritis.

What’s the strangest arthritis remedy you’ve heard of—or tried? 👇

References
Stinging nettle and Capsaicin from chillies: Arthritis UK
Green-lipped mussel: Kim H-T et al. (2026), Efficacy and safety of green-lipped mussel powder supplementation in adults with knee osteoarthritis
Lemke S, Vilcinskas A. (2020), European Medicinal Leeches
Cochrane, Injectable gold for treating RA

15/10/2026

SHOULD YOU SAVE YOUR KNEES FOR BEST? 🦵

If you’ve got osteoarthritis, you might wonder whether moving more will wear your joints out faster.

It’s an understandable worry.

But your joints aren’t a pair of shoes you need to save for special occasions. 😂

Exercise is one of the main treatments recommended for osteoarthritis. A 2024 Cochrane review looked at 139 trials involving more than 12,000 people with knee osteoarthritis.

It found that exercise probably helps pain and physical function in the short term, although the benefits varied and may be modest.

And here’s an unusual one: walking backwards has been studied too.

Every now and then, my own knees complain as well. They get a fair bit of hammer in my job as a chiropractor!

One of the exercises I turn to is walking backwards—which just about sums up my personality. 😂

I was interested to find that it’s been studied in people with knee osteoarthritis.

A 2026 review of 13 trials found that adding backward walking to usual rehabilitation was linked with improvements in pain and disability. But it’s early evidence: researchers say more work is needed to find out whether it helps on its own and whether the benefits last.

The takeaway? Regular, tailored movement can help.

Start at a level that feels manageable and build up gradually. Some discomfort can happen when you begin, but if pain is severe or keeps getting worse, ask a healthcare professional for advice.

Your joints are made to move. Don’t put them in the cupboard “for best.” 💬

References: Cochrane exercise review, NICE guideline NG226, 2026 backward-walking review, and 2019 randomised trial.

14/10/2026

I started life as an engineer.

Mechanical things are easy to understand.

Rusty? Not working properly? Replace it.

If only the human body came with a handy parts catalogue. 😂

Biology is very different.

Sometimes an X-ray shows quite a lot of osteoarthritis, but the person has little or no pain.

Someone else might have only modest changes on a scan, yet experience a lot of pain and stiffness.

That’s because a scan shows us what a joint looks like.

It can’t tell us exactly how that person feels or explain the whole story.

Osteoarthritis affects more than just the cartilage.

Symptoms and movement matter too, which is why a scan needs to be considered alongside someone’s history and how the joint is functioning.

For typical osteoarthritis, NICE says a diagnosis can often be made from symptoms and clinical assessment, without routine imaging.

So if a report says “arthritis,” it’s reasonable to ask:

“What does that finding mean for me?”
“Does it fit with my symptoms?”
“What can I do to help?”

A scan is a snapshot—not a verdict. 💬

NICE says not to routinely use imaging to diagnose osteoarthritis; imaging findings may not explain someone’s symptoms. NICE

13/10/2026

Many patients tell me:

“I’ve been diagnosed with arthritis.”

So I ask:

“Do you know which type?”

ARTHRITIS: SAME NAME, DIFFERENT STORY 🦴

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis sound like they should be close relatives. But they’re quite different conditions.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. It involves changes in the whole joint over time—not just the cartilage.

For a long time, OA was often explained as simple “wear and tear”: the idea that a joint had only so many movements in it, like a hinge with a lifetime quota.

If that were true, surely we’d all be issued with a little dashboard:

LEFT KNEE: 12,406 cycles remaining. Use sparingly. 😂

But joints aren’t car parts with a fixed number of miles left on the clock. They’re living tissues, and OA is more complicated than simply using a joint until it wears out.

That doesn’t mean loading and injury never matter. A previous joint injury or repeated heavy loading can increase risk. But ordinary movement isn’t a countdown to arthritis—and exercise is one of the key treatments recommended for people with OA.

OA becomes more common as we get older and often starts in the late 40s. But younger people can develop it too, particularly after a joint injury. And getting older doesn’t mean you’re destined to get arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is different. It’s an autoimmune condition: the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, causing inflammation. It can affect other parts of the body too.

So when someone says “I’ve got arthritis,” the next question matters:

“Which type?”

The right advice and treatment depend on the answer. If you’re worried about ongoing joint pain, swelling or stiffness, speak to a healthcare professional. Early assessment is especially important if rheumatoid arthritis is suspected.

Same word. Different story. A diagnosis should help start the right conversation. 💬

12/10/2026

TODAY IS WORLD ARTHRITIS DAY 🦴

The dreaded word: “arthritis.”

It can fill people with worry. And sometimes it can sound like the end of the conversation:

“You’ve got arthritis. That’s just what happens. Learn to live with it.”

But arthritis isn’t one single condition. It’s an umbrella term for many different problems affecting the joints. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout, for example, have different causes and need different approaches.

So the useful question isn’t just “Have I got arthritis?”

It’s:

“What type? What does that mean for me? And what can we do to help?”

Some forms of arthritis can’t currently be cured, but that doesn’t mean nothing can be done. Depending on the type, treatments and practical steps may help ease symptoms, improve function and support quality of life.

Where might chiropractic fit in?

For some people with hip or knee osteoarthritis, hands-on care may be considered alongside therapeutic exercise.

Chiropractic doesn’t cure arthritis or reverse joint changes, but it may form part of a wider plan to support movement and comfort.

A diagnosis should guide a conversation, not close it down.

If you’ve been told you have arthritis and left feeling worried or unsure what happens next, it’s reasonable to ask for a clearer explanation and discuss your options with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Because “arthritis” is a starting point for understanding your joints—not the end of the story.

Source: NICE guidance on osteoarthritis.

11/10/2026

🧠 SO… WHERE DOES CHIROPRACTIC FIT?

Over the last few posts we’ve discovered that pain is frankly a lot weirder than most of us were taught. 😂

Pain can be influenced by:

🧠 The brain and nervous system
😴 Sleep
😰 Stress
🗣️ The words people use
🚨 Previous painful experiences
💭 Expectations
🏃 Movement and confidence

So where does chiropractic fit into all this?

This is where the work of chiropractor and neuroscientist Dr Heidi Haavik gets really interesting.

For more than 20 years, Haavik and colleagues have studied what happens in the nervous system following spinal manipulation.

Her research suggests spinal manipulation can produce short-term changes in the way sensory information is processed and integrated.

In plain English…

Your spine isn’t simply a stack of bones.

Its muscles, joints and sensory receptors are constantly sending information to your brain about:

Where am I?

How am I moving?

What is my body doing?

Much of this is called proprioception.

An adjustment provides a sudden burst of mechanical and sensory information into that system.

Does that mean we’re “resetting your brain”?

No.

Does it mean we’re switching your nervous system back on?

Definitely not. It was already working — otherwise we’ve got much bigger problems. 😂

But research suggests spinal manipulation can influence sensorimotor processing, proprioception and brain activity.
And it isn’t just Haavik’s research.

A 2026 review of 26 studies found measurable changes in brain activity, connectivity and motor processing following spinal manipulation or mobilisation.

Another 2026 review found some immediate improvements in measures of proprioception, although the evidence remains limited and inconsistent.

And here’s the REALLY important bit…

We still haven’t proved that these brain changes are why patients feel better.

So I’m not going to tell you:

“I adjust your spine and reboot your brain.” 😂

The science simply isn’t there yet.

What we CAN say is that chiropractic treatment provides another sensory and mechanical input into a nervous system that is constantly adapting.

Which is why at Derby Family Chiropractic, an adjustment shouldn’t exist in isolation.

It may sit alongside:

👐 Hands-on treatment
🏃 Movement
💪 Exercise and rehabilitation
🧠 Understanding your pain
😴 Sleep and lifestyle advice
✅ Rebuilding confidence in your body

Because after all these posts, perhaps the biggest lesson is this:

Your brain and your body aren’t separate things.

They are continually talking to each other.

Sometimes helping someone recover isn’t simply about asking:

“Which bit hurts?”

It’s about understanding the person, how they move and the nervous system attached to them.

Which makes chiropractic considerably more interesting than:

“Your back’s out. I’ll pop it back in.” 😂

And that brings our journey through the weird world of pain to an end.

Although knowing me…

I’ve probably just found another 15 posts to write about it. 😂

📚 Haavik H & Murphy B. The role of spinal manipulation in addressing disordered sensorimotor integration and altered motor control.
📚 Jahromi MM et al. (2026). Neurophysiological Response of Spinal Mobilization and Manipulation in Individuals With and Without Musculoskeletal Spine Disorders.
📚 Hadjisavvas S et al. (2026). The Effect of Joint Mobilization and Manipulation on Proprioception: Systematic Review with Limited Meta-Analysis.

09/10/2026

🟡 IS TURMERIC REALLY A NATURAL PAINKILLER? 🍛

I get asked this a lot. "Is there a natural painkiller?"

Well, chiropractic is pretty natural, but I think they mean a tablet! 😂

One of the most popular suggestions is turmeric.

Considering how much Asian cuisine I eat, does that mean I'm practically immune to pain?

So, what does the science say?

🔬 2014 – Turmeric vs ibuprofen

Researchers studied 367 people with knee arthritis. After four weeks, concentrated turmeric extract performed similarly to ibuprofen for several measures of pain and function.

🔬 2025 – Review of 17 clinical trials

Researchers found that turmeric preparations could reduce knee arthritis pain compared with a placebo, although the overall certainty of evidence was low.

🔬 2020 – The MRI study

People taking turmeric extract reported less pain, but MRI scans showed no significant improvement in the joint inflammation measured.

So turmeric may reduce pain, but that doesn't mean it's repairing damaged joints!

And here's the catch...

These studies used concentrated turmeric extracts, not the amount you'd sprinkle into your curry.

There's also insufficient human evidence that turmeric prevents Alzheimer's or treats cancer, despite some impressive claims.

And high-dose supplements aren't risk-free. Rare cases of liver injury have been reported.

My conclusion?

✅ Some evidence for reducing knee arthritis pain.

❌ No convincing evidence it repairs cartilage or cures serious diseases.

⚠️ Natural doesn't always mean safe.

As for me, I'll continue eating my curries from Nalaas (no I'm not sponsored)

Purely for medicinal purposes, obviously! 😂🍛

Have you tried turmeric for joint pain? Did it help?

08/10/2026

🚗 WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BRAIN AFTER WHIPLASH?

Have you ever had a bump in the car, fallen awkwardly or even been headbutted by an overenthusiastic pet?

Your neck can experience a sudden jolt or acceleration-deceleration force.

Who cares, right? Well… read on.

You’re sitting at the traffic lights.

BANG.

Someone drives into the back of you.

Your neck hurts, you’re shaken up and your first thought is probably:

“Brilliant. Just what I needed today.”

But something fascinating may also be happening in the brain.

Researchers scanned 110 people within days of whiplash and mild traumatic brain injury, then followed them for a year.

The people who went on to develop persistent pain showed early differences in communication involving the hippocampus and amygdala — areas involved in memory, learning and threat.

In other words, the nervous system may start adapting to an injury surprisingly quickly.

Think about what has just happened:

🚗 Sudden accident
😬 Pain
😨 A decent fright
🧠 A very memorable event

Your nervous system has good reason to become protective.

The problem is that, for some people, that protection may hang around longer than necessary.

That DOESN’T mean:

“Whiplash is psychological.”

Far from it.

Research also shows that some people after whiplash have measurable changes involving nerves, sensation and inflammation.

The interesting bit is that the neck and nervous system are responding together.

And perhaps this helps explain why two people can have apparently similar accidents…

One recovers quickly.

The other is still struggling months later.

At Derby Family Chiropractic, persistent whiplash is more than simply:

“a sore neck.”

We need to consider the injury, movement, nerves, confidence, previous experiences and how protective the nervous system has become.

Because your brain may remember the crash long after the bumper has been repaired.

Although judging by the price of bodywork repairs these days, your bank account probably remembers it even longer. 😂

📚 Branco P et al. (2024). Hippocampal functional connectivity after whiplash injury is linked to the development of chronic pain. Nature Mental Health.

07/10/2026

🗣️ CAN WORDS ACTUALLY MAKE PAIN WORSE?

Imagine going to see someone about your back and being told:

“Your spine is worn out.”

“It’s crumbling.” (I’ve already given my thoughts on that one. 😂)
“Whatever you do, DON’T bend.”

Well, that’s reassuring.

Yesterday we talked about the placebo effect — how positive expectations can influence pain.

Today, meet its slightly unpleasant cousin:

NOCEBO. 😬

A nocebo effect is when negative expectations or information can contribute to worse symptoms or make something feel more threatening.

And healthcare professionals can accidentally contribute to this through the words we use.

Research suggests that diagnostic labels, scan explanations and the way clinicians talk about pain can influence expectations and symptoms.

Imagine being told your back is fragile.

Next time you bend over, your brain isn’t simply thinking:

“I’m putting my socks on.”

It’s thinking:

🚨 “CAREFUL! THIS IS THE BAD MOVEMENT!”

You become more cautious.
You notice every sensation.
You expect it to hurt.
And sometimes… it does.

That DOESN’T mean the pain is imaginary.

But words can change expectations — and expectations can influence pain.

That’s why at Derby Family Chiropractic we try not to turn normal scan findings, aches and pains into terrifying stories.

Instead of:

❌ “Your back is knackered.”

Perhaps:

✅ “Your back is sensitive at the moment, but let’s work on getting you moving confidently again.”

Same patient.

Very different message to the nervous system.

So perhaps one of the most important pieces of equipment in any clinic isn’t the treatment bench…

It’s the clinician’s mouth.

Which, in my case, is slightly worrying. 😂

06/10/2026

I was reminded about a conversation I had with a patient whilst writing the previous post.

He’d seen a consultant and been told his spine was “crumbling.”

I seem to remember replying:

“Because your spine is made like a biscuit?” 😂

I’ve been working on my communication skills since then.

But he genuinely thought his back was falling apart. He was frightened to bend, lift or exercise.

And this is why language matters.

Back in 2003, medical guidance reported in the BMJ was already warning clinicians to avoid frightening language such as “degeneration” and “instability” because patients can hear these words as meaning destruction and inevitable pain.

Fast-forward to 2026, and researchers are still making the same point — even radiology reports using terms such as “degeneration”, “collapse” and “bone-on-bone” may unnecessarily increase fear if they aren’t properly explained.

The clinician may mean:

“There are common age-related changes.”

The patient may hear:

“My spine is broken.”

And fear can lead to less movement, more guarding and more sensitivity.

Your spine is not a biscuit. 🍪

It’s strong, adaptable and designed to move.

If you’ve been given a scary-sounding diagnosis or scan result, ask what it actually means, how common it is, and what you can safely keep doing.

Sometimes our words really do matter.

Derby Family Chiropractic - 1st for McTimoney Chiropractic in Derby

16/10/2026

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