Anti-inflammatories and my bad back.
As some of you already know, from all my whining, I am having some very serious back issues. I have two bulging discs in my lumbar region which are crushing a nerve bundle and causing acute sciatica. My piriformis muscle is also badly inflamed, further aggravating the problem. Today is the first day out of the last five that I've been able to stand upright and walk with relatively little assistance. I am in physical therapy and in two weeks I will be having steroids injected into the region near the nerve bundle in a last ditch effort to avoid surgery. My neurologist is already chomping at the bit to cut me open.
What I need to do first is reduce the inflammation in and around the periformis muscle and I'd prefer to do this in a homeopathic manner. I've started taking pycnogenol, ginger, and cayenne and spend an inordinate amount of time lying on ice packs. If any of you have any recommendations for herbals or foods that have anti-inflammatory properties I would truly appreciate your suggestions. I would also like to know if you are aware of any foods that contribute to inflammation so that I can make sure to avoid them.
Thanks ever so much!
there are some omni suggestions here as well but otherwise good information.
http://www.womentowomen.com/inflammation/naturalantiinflammatories.aspx
eta: I forgot to add..Feel better Storm.
Big pain free hugs to you ((((((((STORM))))))
I don't know how much this will help but I recently found a website that has a lot of anti-inflamatory food lists on it :)
http://www.wegenersgranulomatosis.net/Anti-Inflammatory_Foods.html
I hope you feel better soon--and you do not "whine" about your problem--trust me, I'm a champion whiner--and you my friend are humble, kind, sweet and hardly ever ask for help but certainly go out of your way for others! Now it's our turn to help you!! Let us know what you need!!!
high calcium/low protein foods are good anti-inflammatories, ie spinach and broccoli vs dairy. Also, for topical ointments/salves, tigers balm is good. The main ingredient is capsacin (spl?) which is what give chilis their heat, so if you're comfortable w/ infusing oils, you could make your own muscle relaxer/massage oil w/ chili infused oils. Hope you feel better.
I know your back was hurting, but I didn't know it was that bad. I don't have any helpful hints, but I do send pain-free, swell-free thoughts.
Thanks for the links and the kind words. I was looking through a book called the Inflammation Syndrome which had some good suggestions, but it was recommending a diet heavy on the fish and chicken and low on the grains, even whole grains. :o Do grains really cause significant inflammation?
it depends on which propaganda side you want to believe.....the main reason (as I myopically understand it) grains are a no no in the pro-meat side is due to the common denominator for those who have gluten allergies that play out in joint inflammation....so If you don't have a gluten allergy, don't worry about it.
according to the macrobiotic approach to healing...the less acid the food the less inflammatory...so millet, quinoa and teff would be the most alkaline and therefore the least inflammatory of the grains.
^^This is what I'm doing for rosacea, migraines, and Raynaud's phenomenon.^^ (Well, about 75% macro at this point.) The links THHF posted in reply to my post on the food board are excellent.
I am thinking of trying this combination: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA142972
hmm...I'll have to try that. I've got a problem with migraines and primary raynaud's.
Hi. I have 3 herniated discs from a car accident 2 neck 1 back and the nerves are impinging on my spinal cord.
What helped the most to reduce pain, not rid of it was ice and tiger balm.
I take WOBENZYM. It is a natural anti inflammatory made from germany and has bromelain and papian and other things. It is number #1 over aspirin in germany and you can buy it online and at many health food stores. I would highly recommend it. It is all natural and I have been taking it for a long time now.
I felt slightly better with it.
Honestly though I know ginger is amazing for inflammation, better the most foods. I heard pineapple is good.
But my diet was crazy the last 2 years eating really healthy and then really crappy (sugar, and more sugar) and I never felt a difference in the pain factor.
Time was my biggest ally although I got reinjured 3 times since the accident -yes 3 times. It tooke 4 months for me to start feeling *slightly normal* like not having to lie down 3 times in one day.
Laying down for periods really helped, stretching (some not all kinds) ICE, TIGER BALM and the WHIRLPOOL and sauna.
Walking really helps me(very slow) as sitting too long puts pressure on the back discs. See if sitting with you legs above your hips or crossed legged helps. Stand up every 15 minutes or so.
Things that contribute to inflammation is sugar not fruit, refined foods (white flour). I am almost postive dairy is NOT good for inflammation.
I send you hugs. I never knew how much pain can come from herniated discs (I have both neck and back) and hope you feel better.
Any other questions feel free to ask me. :)
Thanks for the information about the grains, Hanashi and THHF. Fortunately I have no gluten allergies and my well stocked grain supply includes all three alkaline grains mentioned above.
NoIllusions: Thanks so much for reminding me about the Wobenzym. I have taken it in the past, but for some reason it had slipped my mind. I guess I'll be off to the vitamin shoppe today!
I've started to experience some tingling and numbness in my lower left leg and foot. If I don't get the inflammation down and the pressure off that nerve bundle I'm going to end up under the knife and that would be a very bad thing. :(
Very bad because you don't want an invasive procedure?
Very bad because you don't want an invasive procedure?
Exactly. The idea of someone operating on my spine is just scary! The neurosurgeon I saw earlier this week does not carry malpractice insurance and was way too eager to "open me up". I'm getting a second opinion and quite frankly, there is no way I'm going to allow someone with no insurance to perform surgery on my spinal cord if surgery is necessary.
Very bad because you don't want an invasive procedure?
Exactly. The idea of someone operating on my spine is just scary! The neurosurgeon I saw earlier this week does not carry malpractice insurance and was way too eager to "open me up". I'm getting a second opinion and quite frankly, there is no way I'm going to allow someone with no insurance to perform surgery on my spinal cord if surgery is necessary.
Jeez...no kidding...scary that someone without surgery would be operating. That would make me run!!!
Very bad because you don't want an invasive procedure?
Exactly. The idea of someone operating on my spine is just scary! The neurosurgeon I saw earlier this week does not carry malpractice insurance and was way too eager to "open me up". I'm getting a second opinion and quite frankly, there is no way I'm going to allow someone with no insurance to perform surgery on my spinal cord if surgery is necessary.
Yes, get that second opinion, and a third if necessary! Back surgery often creates more problems than it solves. That's your spinal cord in there, man...they can affect a lot of things besides the pain you're in without intending to. Sometimes when they're so quick to reach for a knife I wonder if we aren't just guinea pigs for them to experiment on.
>>Storm<<
Hang in there, and get multiple opinions as well as looking at the place for the proposed surgery. From my experience w/ knee surgeries, go with hospital sites and not "out patient" facilities....(yes, they do some back surgery as outpatient procedures). Do look into wading pools. Walking in water is great for the joints, and will take pressure off the spine when you want to crawl.
Look at acupuncture, acupressure massage, and continue going to the chiropractor. It will help, and if it can save you from going under the knife, it's worth the try!
Thanks hanashi, but actually, hospitalization is exactly what I don't want. If I have to have surgery, I absolutely want an outpatient procedure. My second opinion is coming from a doctor at a spine institute, specifically the one used by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'm doubting that the Bucs organization would send their players to hack doctors. It's also where my brother went for his disc surgery nearly 10 years ago and he hasn't had a problem since.
EFAs are supposed to help with inflammation. You could try some Udo's Oil for a while.
Definitely get that 2nd opinion, but if your in that much pain, something has to be done. That's no way to live. I've seen many people with disc problems get immediate relief with surgery. But I'm with you, surgery would be a last resort, and I wouldn't want to stay inpatient.
I put a tablespoon of tumeric in water and drank a glass daily when I had plantar fasciatis, and when I had an arm infection that cause a severe celluitis to the surrounding area. I'm not sure if it helped, or if time helped, but it's supposed to have anti-inflammatory properties. Both conditions which can be chronic or serious are gone now.