Pain relief?

[YayaAnanas]

I think it is inevitable that, once one commits to a healthier lifestyle, it spreads to more than food. I am doing my best not to put anything harmful or artificial into my body (at least as much as I can help it) and this includes advil and other pain medicine.

I have horrible body aches at night which keep me up. Usually they are helped by heat (probably because they are triggered when I am cold) but once the pain starts, I can't relax until I take a pill.

Does anyone have any natural remedies or has anyone been helped naturally with a raw diet?

Any tips would be appreciated!! :o

[Veganforlife]

Try using a hot water bottle or two. They are wonderful, soothing, old remedies that really help. You could cuddle up with them in bed, one on your front and one on your back area...

How about warm dead sea salt baths? They too are very relaxing and healing. To the bath water add a couple drops of Bulgarian Lavendar oil and grapefruit oil.

What are the body aches from? How about doing some research on the benefits of MSM? Read up on it and see if maybe this is something you may need to supplement into your diet.

[FloridaPatty]

http://www.letstalkhealth.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=67

Takes a few days to feel the effects. I have relied on this for the last few years. It allows me to walk without pain and eases my aches and pains in lots of other places. I have noticed on the raw food diet after 2 weeks the pain starts going away.

They have a lot of testamonials. Mine is Patricia from Florida.

[Revvell]

As Lucy says, what's causing the pain? As Richard Schulze says, stop doing what's making you sick.

You've not given enough information here for much in the way of accurate answers.

Putting heat on pain, warm baths, drinking warm water... treating the symptoms... well, with the warm water, maybe the problem. I dunno.

Revvell

[YayaAnanas]

Hi,

Thank you for the suggestions!

I honestly do not know what is causing the pain. I have had lower back pain since my senior year of high school (I'm now 23) and when I was in college I consulted a number of doctors about it but they simply dismissed it and told me to put heat on it.

In the past year or so the pain has spread to my legs and it feels like muscle pain more than anything. Some have suggested that the back pain is due to the fact that, though I am quite small, I have a fairly big chest... But it isn't THAT big and I don't think it would cause the pain to radiate to my legs (mostly my right leg). This January, I went to an Osteopath but he turned out to do more damage than good.

I used to be in VERY good shape, dancing about 16 hours a week so maybe my stomach muscles aren't what they used to be. I just started on a 100% raw challenge and will begin a new exercise regimen but until that kicks in... I would definitely need a temporary fix! I cracked last night and took a muscle relaxant. :(

[Revvell]

O.k., that helps some. A few things you can try ~

Does it hurt constantly or only in certain positions? More at night than day? When you sit or stand?

Take a tennis ball, put it on the floor and put your right butt muscle on it. Roll that. If there's a lot of pain, work it more. Work down the outside of your leg as well. No pain there, don't bother. Lots of pain, work it until it goes away.

If you're in SoCal, come see me. Can possibly take care of that w/in a session or two.

Also, you may not be getting enough water...
Find a good qigong teacher... maybe at a school
Yoga or Pilates

[FloridaPatty]

I had really bad back problems and leg problems. The pain was horrible. It was because I the chair I was sitting in every night was putting a lot of pressure on my back.

A little chiropratoring and a new Lazy Boy helped things out a lot.

Check the shoes - bad or worn shoes can cause back pain. And lastly - you matress. That would cause a lot of back pain if it's work out or not the right firmness for you

[Clare]

Regular yoga classes and chiropractic care would be wonderful for you

[zig_zag]

YOGA! And if you can't make it to a yoga class or afford it, just stretch about 20 minutes every night before you go to bed... Seems like a huge production, but it's really not... It's very relaxing and miraculously rewarding! I sound like I'm promoting a miracle product, but really, part of "RAW" is learning to utilize what nature has equipped us with, and thus pain killers just don't fit into the equation... Use your body to your advantage and stretch it out;) Actually, I think I'll go do that now.:D

[YayaAnanas]

O.k., that helps some. A few things you can try ~

Does it hurt constantly or only in certain positions? More at night than day? When you sit or stand?

Take a tennis ball, put it on the floor and put your right butt muscle on it. Roll that. If there's a lot of pain, work it more. Work down the outside of your leg as well. No pain there, don't bother. Lots of pain, work it until it goes away.

If you're in SoCal, come see me. Can possibly take care of that w/in a session or two.

Also, you may not be getting enough water...
Find a good qigong teacher... maybe at a school
Yoga or Pilates

Thanks, Revvell! I'll definitely try that as soon as I find a tennis ball around here with no dog slobber on it! :p
I don't live in Southern California but I will be moving there very soon so I might take you up on that as soon as I am financially settled!

Everyone else-- Thanks for the tips!!
I definitely want to do some yoga. I LOVE stretching and yoga would be perfect for me but I am a little short on cash right now... But that will change VERY SOON (thinking positively.. :D ) and then I will start practicing Yoga more regularly. --> I have heard of online yoga classes but I'm not sure it is safe to practice without a professional making sure you are positioned correctly... Any thoughts?

Thanks so much for your responses!!

[Revvell]

--> I have heard of online yoga classes but I'm not sure it is safe to practice without a professional making sure you are positioned correctly... Any thoughts?


You wont learn it correctly yet, if you move slowly into position, feel how you might adjust yourself to get full benefit, it's better than not doing it at all.

[unbent]

I second what Revvell said about water. I am half way thru my second book by Dr. Batmanghelidj talking about how dehydration can cause all kinds of pains, diseases and illnesses. The brain is 85% water and takes priority regarding what part of the body gets to use any water that is consumed even to the point of robbing other parts of the body, if need be, in order to get what it needs. It will take it from the joints causing rheumatoid arthritis, it will take it from various organs causing angina, peptic ulcers, kidney stones, etc.. I highly recommend reading any of his books. His findings are creating quite a paradigm shift in the medical field and make a lot of sense when you stop and think about it. Also, if you drink cafeinated (sp) pop, coffee, tea, etc. you will have to drink more water to replace what it pulls from the body. Caffeine will actually pull water from the body. Hope this helps.

Andy

[Eva]

A few tips:

www.yogatoday.com They have free yoga videos every day with scenic backdrops. If you don't have a yoga mat, just toss a blanket on the floor. :)

Try some different things to help with your circulation. This could be a big part of the problem. Suggestions for that:

Green smoothies (sheesh, they're great for everything!)
lots of water
using cayenne, ginger and other warming spices in your food
in the shower alternating between hot and cold water (THIS really helps!) dry skin brushing
did I mention lots of water?
exercise that makes you sweat and brings up your heart rate and stretching.

If I remember correctly, pineapple has bromelain and can help with pain relief.

And I hate to be the bearer of bad news... but the pain meds are (and I am sure you know this) just masking the problem. You likely won't find relief until you get some idea of why it is happening. My guess would be the circulation stuff will help a lot, but it's anyone's guess!

Good luck!

[RawforSeth]

The Oxygen channel has Yoga on every morning at 6. If that is too early for you, tape it! It is an awesome hour and the instructor is really good.

Hope you feel better!

Pam

[carolg]

Yoga classes with instructor has helped me do the poses correctly just like the pesonal trainer helped me use the machines and do exercises right to stay out of trouble doing it wrong. I have never had a trainer so I wasted many years in ignorance so I'm really like a newbie learning machines/strength straining done right with the trainer now.

I do love yogatoday.com since someone posted it, but still doesn't replace my classroom experience with instructor.

carolg

[protea]

YayaAnanas,

I was just wondering how you are doing and if the back pain is any better. Personally, I would get an MRI to rule out any serious issues..