Osteoarthritis Treatment in Los Gatos
Osteoarthritis can hit different joints in different ways. For some people it is that deep, annoying ache in the knees going up and down stairs. For others it is hip stiffness, or a spine that just does not move the way it used to. At On Purpose Chiropractic in Los Gatos, Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC focuses on conservative, non surgical osteoarthritis treatment that looks at the physics of your spine and joints, not just the pain.
Most people here come in with knee, hip and spinal arthritis, sometimes with hand or shoulder issues layered on top. Your plan is always based on a careful exam, full spine digital X rays when appropriate, and a clear explanation of what is going on.
If you are looking for ethical, non-invasive osteoarthritis treatment in Los Gatos, we would love to sit down with you, review your situation and map out a step by step plan.
Understanding Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is basically “wear and tear” of a joint, but that phrase can be misleading. Over time, the smooth cartilage that covers the ends of the bones can thin out. The joint space narrows, bone can start to remodel, and the area may become painful, stiff or swollen. In the spine, that often shows up as disc thinning and bone spurs.
Dr. Kleinberg states that it is not your age that causes decay, it is improper physics. When a joint or section of the spine is under too much pressure for too long, the discs or cartilage start to deteriorate. The body’s natural response is to build extra bone to “fortify” and stabilize that area. That is arthritis of the spine, and nobody wants it, but it is still the body’s best constructive response to extra stress.
At On Purpose Chiropractic, we most often see osteoarthritis in the knees, hips and spine, especially in people who have dealt with long term posture issues, old injuries or years of repetitive stress.
Common Osteoarthritis Symptoms
People show up with all kinds of stories, but the patterns of osteoarthritis are pretty consistent. In Dr. Kleinberg’s words, most of what people feel in their spine and weight bearing joints comes from pressure on nerves and abnormal stress on the joint. That can create:
- Aching or sharp joint pain that often gets worse with activity or at the end of the day
- Morning stiffness or stiffness after sitting still that slowly eases as you move
- Swelling or a sense of warmth or fullness around the joint
- Limited range of motion and grinding, popping or creaking when you move
- Feeling like the knee, hip or back is “weak,” unstable or might give way
In the spine, osteoarthritis and disc thinning can cause back pain, neck pain or sciatica type symptoms when the nerve roots get irritated. In the hips and knees, people often say they cannot walk as far, cannot do stairs comfortably, or feel like their body is aging faster than it should.
Dr. Kleinberg always looks at how the pain behaves in your real life: walking, standing, sleeping, working, and the sports or hobbies you love. That story matters just as much as the images.
Osteoarthritis Diagnostic Process
Dr. Kleinberg is very clear about this with patients: “We don’t diagnose pain. The patients tell us they are in pain. We diagnose why pain is happening.”
Your osteoarthritis evaluation at On Purpose Chiropractic usually includes:
- History and lifestyle review
- When the pain started and what seems to trigger it
- Past injuries, surgeries or sports that may have overloaded the joint
- Work habits, sports, pregnancy history, long commutes, device use and more
- When the pain started and what seems to trigger it
- Physical and functional exam
- Postural analysis and how your weight is distributed on bilateral scales
- Checking leg length, hip alignment and overall spinal balance
- Range of motion in the knees, hips and spine
- Palpation, which is Dr. Kleinberg feeling the joints and muscles with his hands
- Postural analysis and how your weight is distributed on bilateral scales
- Full spine digital X rays
- In this clinic, nearly every patient is X rayed
- Side and front to back views reveal the shape of your spine, disc height and areas of degeneration
- In this clinic, nearly every patient is X rayed
If someone already has an MRI or other imaging, he reviews the reports. If your symptoms suggest something beyond what chiropractic can safely help, he will recommend that you also follow up with your primary care doctor or an appropriate specialist.
Before you start osteoarthritis treatment, he sits down and explains in simple language what your problem is, how it likely developed, what he recommends and how long it is expected to take.
Treatment Approaches for Osteoarthritis
For osteoarthritis, the focus at On Purpose Chiropractic is on non surgical osteoarthritis management that improves joint mechanics and reduces stress on irritated structures. No injections, no surgery, no medication-frees.
- Full spine chiropractic adjustments
- Gentle but specific adjustments to restore motion and better alignment in the spine
- The goal is to reduce uneven pressure that is driving arthritis and nerve irritation
- Gentle but specific adjustments to restore motion and better alignment in the spine
- Extremity adjusting
- When needed, he adjusts hips, knees, ankles and feet
- If the hips are “out of whack” or one is higher than the other, everything below is affected
- When needed, he adjusts hips, knees, ankles and feet
- Spinal decompression therapy
- For spinal osteoarthritis with disc thinning or herniation, he often combines adjustments with decompression
- The DrX 9000 decompression table applies a carefully controlled pull and release cycle that “artificially pumps the discs,” helping fluid move in and out so discs can rehydrate over time
- For spinal osteoarthritis with disc thinning or herniation, he often combines adjustments with decompression
- Home support and simple exercises
- He commonly recommends a Posture Pump for the neck to restore curvature when appropriate
- You may be given posture tips, strengthening and stretching advice, especially if you sit or work at a computer all day
- He commonly recommends a Posture Pump for the neck to restore curvature when appropriate
Every plan is personalized. Dr. Kleinberg does not treat “knee osteoarthritis” or “hip osteoarthritis” as a single recipe. He treats you, based on your X rays, your mechanics and your goals, as a chiropractor for osteoarthritis who wants your whole system working better, not just one joint.
Expected Timelines for Improvement
Osteoarthritis is a long game, so Dr. Kleinberg is very honest about timelines. The goal is not to “erase” arthritis but to improve function, reduce pain and slow further breakdown. Typical starting points for osteoarthritis treatment in Los Gatos at this clinic look like:
- A three month corrective chiropractic plan
- Usually 36 visits, three times per week
- Progress evaluations every 12 visits and re X rays at the end to measure structural change
- Usually 36 visits, three times per week
- When significant disc or spinal arthritis is involved
- A two month combination plan of adjustments plus decompression, about 24 visits
- Decompression sessions are typically 20 minutes, three times per week
- A two month combination plan of adjustments plus decompression, about 24 visits
In his experience, many patients start to feel some improvement in two to four weeks. That might be less morning stiffness, easier walking or fewer flare ups. More durable changes in motion, posture and day to day pain usually take weeks to months, and depend on:
- How long the problem has been there
- Which joints are involved
- Your age and general health
- How consistent you are with visits and home advice
Throughout, he sets realistic milestones so you know what to watch for and when to reassess.
Long-Term Effects of Untreated Osteoarthritis
You do not need scare tactics, but you do deserve a real picture of what can happen if osteoarthritis is ignored. Over time, when the “physics” of a joint or the spine stay off, the body keeps adapting. Dr. Kleinberg explains that with too much pressure in one area, discs and cartilage deteriorate and the body lays down more bone to stabilize things. That process is irreversible without some form of energetic or mechanical intervention.
Possible long term consequences of leaving osteoarthritis alone include:
- More frequent and more intense flare ups of pain and stiffness
- Progressive loss of mobility in the knee, hip, spine or hands
- Compensations that overload nearby joints and even the opposite side of your body
- Permanent nerve pressure that can affect organ function when spinal joints are involved
- Gradual loss of strength, balance and confidence with walking, work and exercise
This does not mean you are doomed. It simply means that early, non surgical osteoarthritis management gives you a better chance to keep moving, working, playing and sleeping the way you want. An evaluation does not commit you to care. It just gives you information and options.
Patient Success Story
While most people think of osteoarthritis as a “knee only” problem, one of the most dramatic cases in this clinic involved advanced spinal and hip degeneration.
A woman in her early sixties came in barely able to walk. She was bent forward and twisted, with pain at a 9.5 to 10 out of 10. X rays showed severe degeneration in her neck and low back, all the lumbar discs compressed and a complete loss of the normal lumbar curve, which Dr. Kleinberg says he sees in maybe one out of 200 patients.
Because her pain was so intense, she could only tolerate two or three minutes of decompression at first. Dr. Kleinberg adjusted her and slowly built up decompression time by starting, stopping, letting her rest, then restarting until they could reach full sessions. She came in very consistently, sometimes even on his days off.
Over about four and a half months, her pain dropped to zero. She went back to yoga, hiking and normal daily life. At home she was diligent with gentle mobility work, posture changes and continuing low impact movement so her joints stayed as happy as possible.
Everyone is different, and not every case turns out like this, but it is a good picture of what is possible with commitment and a clear plan.
Causes of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is not just “getting old.” In Dr. Kleinberg’s view, it is mostly about how your joints have been loaded over time. Common contributors include:
- Old injuries that never really healed cleanly
- Years of poor posture that shifted pressure to certain joints
- Repetitive motions from work or sports
- Spinal misalignments that throw off the whole chain from hips to knees to ankles
- Muscle imbalance, where one side is doing more work than the other
He reminds patients that when the spine is out of alignment, “kind of everything follows the spine.” If one hip is higher or twisted, it can drive extra load through the knees and feet with every step. That is why a chiropractor for osteoarthritis looks at the whole structure instead of chasing one painful joint at a time.
Chiropractic Support for Osteoarthritis
Chiropractic care cannot “cure” osteoarthritis, but it can often help you move better and hurt less by changing the way stress moves through your joints. At On Purpose Chiropractic that usually means:
- Improving the alignment and motion of your spine so forces are shared more evenly
- Adjusting hips, knees and other joints when they are clearly part of the problem
- Using spinal decompression when disc thinning and nerve irritation are part of your arthritis story
- Coaching you on posture, work habits and simple movement routines so you are not undoing the work between visits
Dr. Kleinberg does not chase symptoms. Whether you come in for knee osteoarthritis relief, hip osteoarthritis care or spinal arthritis, his goal is to help your nervous system communicate better with your body and to restore the shape and function of your spine as much as possible. That is the foundation for lasting, non surgical osteoarthritis management.
Holistic Osteoarthritis Management
If you are searching for “natural remedies for osteoarthritis,” you are probably trying to avoid a cycle of stronger and stronger medications. Inside this clinic, “natural” means:
- Gentle, hands on adjustments that work with your body, not against it
- Movement based care like decompression that encourages your discs to rehydrate
- Simple home strategies based on posture, stretching and strengthening so your joints are supported all day
- Advice that respects your lifestyle, work and family responsibilities
Dr. Kleinberg has been plant based and meditating for more than three decades, and many patients appreciate that his approach to osteoarthritis management lines up with a more holistic, body friendly way of living.
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FAQs
Can chiropractic care help osteoarthritis pain?
For many people, yes. Chiropractic adjustments and decompression do not regrow cartilage overnight, but they can often improve joint mechanics, reduce nerve irritation and make everyday movements feel easier. Dr. Kleinberg focuses on the physics of your spine and joints, so pressure is better distributed and your body is not constantly fighting against itself. Results vary, and you will know more after a proper evaluation.
Is osteoarthritis just aging?
No. Dr. Kleinberg is very clear that “it is not age that causes decay, it is improper physics.” Plenty of people the same age have very different levels of wear and tear. How your spine and joints are aligned, how you move, injuries you have had and what you do all day make a huge difference. Age is a factor, but it is not the whole story, and it does not mean you cannot improve.
What exercises are safe for osteoarthritis?
In general, joints like regular, gentle movement more than long stretches of total rest. The exact exercises depend on your X rays, your pain level and which joints are involved. Dr. Kleinberg often encourages low impact movement, basic strengthening and stretching, and better posture at work, but your plan is customized. He will tell you what to start, what to modify and what to avoid for now.
How many visits will I need for osteoarthritis treatment?
Most osteoarthritis patients start with a three month chiropractic plan or a two month combination of chiropractic and decompression. From there, many choose to continue in shorter phases or transition to wellness and maintenance care. The exact number of visits depends on how advanced your arthritis is and how your body responds. You will always know the plan, the timeline and the financials before you commit.
Does insurance cover osteoarthritis chiropractic care?
On Purpose Chiropractic is primarily a cash practice. The team will verify any insurance benefits and provide a superbill so you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Medicare is billed directly, because that is required by law. Most people choose to pay out of pocket so they can get the care they actually need, not just what a plan approves.
