Pain & Musculoskeletal

Arthritis Treatment in Greenville, SC

Arthritis treatment in Greenville, SC. Dr. Hendry's acupuncture and functional medicine reduce joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness naturally. Call (864) 365-6156.

★★★★★
"Having Cancer and the side effects of the Medicine has made it difficult with the Joint Pain. However by receiving the treatments it has made my outlook and pain tolerable with the help of Dr. Hendry. Highly recommend this practice."

— · April 2015 · Google Review

What Is Arthritis?

'Arthritis' covers a lot of ground — over 100 distinct conditions share the name. Osteoarthritis is cartilage that's degrading faster than it can repair. Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system attacking the joint lining directly. Psoriatic arthritis, gout, reactive arthritis — each has different drivers. For most people with osteoarthritis, the conventional framing of 'wear and tear, we can only manage the pain' misses the central role of systemic inflammation in driving cartilage breakdown. Adipose tissue, gut dysbiosis, metabolic dysfunction, and diet all influence the inflammatory environment inside joints. That inflammatory load is addressable. The difference between a joint that's progressively degrading and one that stabilizes is often determined more by whole-body inflammatory status than by the structural changes already present.

Common Symptoms

Joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest (OA) or pain at rest (RA)
Morning stiffness — particularly lasting longer than 30 minutes in RA
Swelling, warmth, and redness around affected joints
Reduced range of motion and joint deformity over time
Cracking, grinding, or creaking sounds with joint movement
Fatigue and flu-like symptoms during RA flares
Joint symptoms that come and go in flares
Symmetrical joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis

Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective

Osteoarthritis was long considered simply a mechanical wear-and-tear process, but research now shows it is driven significantly by low-grade systemic inflammation. Adipose tissue, particularly visceral fat, produces inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF-alpha) that directly degrade cartilage and inhibit chondrocyte (cartilage cell) repair. Diet, gut health, and metabolic status all influence the inflammatory environment in joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition with genetic and environmental triggers — gut dysbiosis, molecular mimicry (where gut bacteria trigger immune responses that cross-react with joint tissue), and hormonal factors all play roles in disease onset and flares. Functional medicine evaluates and addresses these underlying immune and inflammatory drivers, making it a powerful complement to conventional RA management.

How We Treat Arthritis at IHP

Acupuncture is well-studied for osteoarthritis — particularly of the knee and hip — with consistent evidence for meaningful pain reduction and functional improvement. For rheumatoid arthritis, acupuncture reduces joint inflammation, pain, and morning stiffness during flares and may help reduce the frequency and severity of flares over time.

Dr. Hendry's functional medicine approach for arthritis includes anti-inflammatory dietary protocols (Mediterranean diet, elimination of common inflammatory foods), targeted supplementation (fish oil, curcumin, boswellia, glucosamine/chondroitin), and gut microbiome support. These systemic interventions work synergistically with local acupuncture treatment to reduce joint inflammation from both inside and out.

Dr. Hendry's Approach

I don't treat the joint in isolation. Chronic systemic inflammation is what drives most osteoarthritis progression — diet, gut health, metabolic function, and hormonal status all influence the inflammatory environment that determines whether cartilage degrades faster than it can repair. My protocols address that full picture alongside local joint acupuncture. For rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, I work alongside rheumatologists, focusing on the gut-immune axis and dietary triggers that drive autoimmune activity between medication adjustments.

Treatments We Use for Arthritis

Arthritis Pain Treatment
Joint Pain Treatment
Acupuncture Therapy
Acupuncture Treatment
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture
Nutritional Counseling

Frequently Asked Questions About Arthritis

For osteoarthritis, reducing systemic inflammation through diet, supplementation, and acupuncture can slow cartilage degradation. For RA, functional medicine approaches that modulate the immune response may reduce long-term joint damage, particularly when combined with conventional disease-modifying therapy.
Yes. Acupuncture is safe alongside NSAIDs, DMARDs, biologics, and other arthritis medications. Many patients find they can reduce their medication reliance as acupuncture and functional medicine improve their baseline inflammatory status.
Osteoarthritis has the strongest evidence base for acupuncture response, particularly in the knee and hip. RA responds well during flares for symptom management. Both types benefit from the systemic anti-inflammatory approach of functional medicine.
An anti-inflammatory diet — emphasizing omega-3 rich fish, colorful vegetables, olive oil, and whole grains while eliminating processed foods, refined sugar, and excessive saturated fat — significantly reduces joint inflammation. Specific food sensitivities (especially to nightshades and gluten) can trigger flares in some arthritis patients.
Yes. Psoriatic arthritis, like other autoimmune arthropathies, responds to an integrated approach addressing gut health, immune regulation, and inflammation — combined with local acupuncture to relieve joint pain. Dr. Hendry works alongside dermatologists and rheumatologists where appropriate.

Related Conditions

Knee Pain
Hip Pain
Shoulder Pain
Autoimmune Disease

From the IHP Blog