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Health & Fitness

Say Goodbye to Pain, Naturally!

Natural ways to relieve pain that really work and have helped me to do the things I really love.

I almost lost my left leg in a car accident years ago: I lost control of a Mazda on black ice and had a head on collision with a truck.  Upon arriving on the scene, the rescue workers didn't think anyone could have lived through the accident, and had to use the Jaws of Life to get me out.  I was in the hospital for weeks, and bedridden for months. First the doctors told me I may lose the leg, then I may need bone grafts and could never walk again.  As I got better they thought I would never have full use of it and would always have a limp.

My leg is a miracle.  The surgeons saved it, and my life, but natural medicine helped heal it up almost as good as new three-times faster than ever projected.  I can backpack with full weight and downhill ski better than I used to before the accident.  This story is one of the reasons why I think integrated medicine, a balance between conventional and alternative options is so powerful: the blend of acupuncture, herbal medicine, high dose vitamins, physical therapy, massage, prolotherapy and mind body medicine helped heal me.

I do, however, still have pain; especially since the weather in June has been so terrible and I can feel it in my bones!  The past few weeks have been especially bad, and I don't want to take heavy-duty painkillers, so I have designed a regimen for myself to help decrease the pain.  I have a lot of muscle spasms in my neck and back from whiplash that wasn't treated effectively, because everyone was concerned with just my basic survival and keeping my body intact. 

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Yesterday, I did hot yoga in old Fair Oaks, I love the studio, the teachers are great, and when I came out after one hour, my pain was 75% gone.  Taking the quiet time to do yoga, be present, stretch and strengthen is so important, I must include it in the top three things I have done to be able to function as well as I do…making my leg a true miracle.

Other simple ways to help pain without doctors include:

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  • Eating non-inflammatory foods (Foods you are sensitive to can actually make you more inflamed and more prone to pain)
  • Increasing high quality Omega-3 supplements, including healthy fats that are found in nuts, olive oil and avocados, for example.
  • Epsom salt baths.
  • Light Stretching
  • Meditation or prayer
  • Stress Management

Professionals that can help pain naturally include:

  • Naturopathic Doctors do trigger point injections to help decrease painful knots by interrupting the pain loop and increasing circulation, as well as prolotherapy and prescription of natural anti-inflammatories, and balancing of neurotransmitters.
  • Chiropractic and physical adjustments help address the cause of pain by putting bones in correct alignment.
  • Massage to loosen muscles so they do not pull the bones out of alignment
  • Physical Therapists help strengthen muscles to keep the body operating correctly.
  • Acupuncturists increase circulation to painful areas, and smooth and balance chi so it flows correctly through the meridians and organs of the body.
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