ARTHRITIS AND JOINT PAIN - Inflammation
Many people suffer daily from arthritis and joint pain. Pain is a natural part of life's experience and challenges. The pain can range in intensity, from excruciating to less painful. Regardless of the degree of pain, it can be devastating to the quality of life. The common medical recommendation for arthritis and joint pain is pain medication or induction directly into the joint. Physiotherapy is another recommendation for pain.
Nature provides everything the body needs throughout life, even when pain occurs physically or mentally. It is about listening to the body's signals and giving the body rest when needed.
My story in the encounter with arthritis pain
About five years ago, I was diagnosed with arthritis after a fall. I had tripped over a cobblestone and fell directly on my shoulder. The doctor had said that the bruises would disappear after a few days, and that the sprained fingers and broken little toe would heal on their own in time. The bruises did indeed disappear, but the internal pain in the shoulder and into the arm did not disappear.
I was working with a physical therapist at the time, so I asked her to look at my shoulder, but she couldn't find the cause of the pain. I went back to the doctor and got a referral to a rheumatologist, who explained that there had been an internal bleeding at the fall, which had now settled into arthritis in the shoulder. I asked, "What can I do about it?" and got the answer that you can't do anything about it, I had to live with the pain for the rest of my life and take painkillers or blockades. I received a blockade for the pain, because I was about to travel to California and celebrate Christmas with my children. As I sat in the waiting room, I noticed the other patients who were in pain and I promised myself, that I would not expose my body to arthritis pain for the rest of my life. Back from California, I began going online and looking in my books about nutrition to find alternative ways to avoid arthritis pain. I quickly found the way to plant healing, fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. The road has led me to being arthritis and pain free today in my shoulder and the beginning arthritis pain in my finger and knee.
Nature has everything we need for healing the body and mind.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."
- Hippocrates
Daily habits
Like so much else, it's about changing habits – food habits – to reduce arthritis and joint pain. In addition to diet changes, make sure you get at least 8-9 hours of sleep. A little rest in the afternoon can help with a lack of night sleep. Move every day, go for a brisk walk, bike or swim – all in moderation. Elastic exercises strengthen the joints – listen to the body's signals. Yoga, breathing exercises and meditation can reduce the degree of pain. Practice mindfulness, where you focus on your breath, thoughts, and feelings.
Inflammation
Inflammation is your body's natural response to healing an injury, but the problem is that too much inflammation takes its toll on your body. We can do a lot to block inflammation toxins that cause destruction on our body.
The road to healing
Start today by looking at your diets, what do you eat and drink daily. Think about the above daily habits, are there some of them that you can add in daily or during the week. Start with small steps so you don't give up, get a mentor or coach who can support you along the way – write me an e-mail about how I can support you with your arthritis pain.
In the next blog post, I'll talk about how you can change your diets and what promotes inflammation and how an anti-inflammatory diet can decrease arthritis and joint pain as well as some arthritis-friendly food recipes.
In Health & Happiness
Merethe Shenon