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Alternative Health Treatments
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Was hoping some people could suggest some alternative health treatments. I'll fill you in with the details....
I broke my knee almost 20 years ago and over the last 5-8 years I have been experiencing pain. I have been for an athroscopy (sp?) and the "specialist" basically told me to lose weight to eleviate pressure on the knee (I am approx. a stone overweight. Maybe a stone and a half). I am working on the weight thing! I have also have physiotherapy and a course of acupuncture for short to mid term pain relief. I also wear a knee support overrnight mainly for the warmth received from it for pain. I am also have shares in Ibuprofen.
Couple that with a pain in my wrist and hand after a break that never healed correctly which has manifested into a clicking and painful elbow.
Has anyone tried alternative health treaments such as Reiki, acupuncture, etc.. and fill me in with good and bad stories.
Thanks in advance.
I broke my knee almost 20 years ago and over the last 5-8 years I have been experiencing pain. I have been for an athroscopy (sp?) and the "specialist" basically told me to lose weight to eleviate pressure on the knee (I am approx. a stone overweight. Maybe a stone and a half). I am working on the weight thing! I have also have physiotherapy and a course of acupuncture for short to mid term pain relief. I also wear a knee support overrnight mainly for the warmth received from it for pain. I am also have shares in Ibuprofen.
Couple that with a pain in my wrist and hand after a break that never healed correctly which has manifested into a clicking and painful elbow.
Has anyone tried alternative health treaments such as Reiki, acupuncture, etc.. and fill me in with good and bad stories.
Thanks in advance.
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Comments
Sounds like you've injured your joints and need to put less train on them by carrying around less weight?
And I'm guess building up more cartilage so they move smoothly?
Your problems sound more bone related then anything else?
If you need to build up cartilage then get glucosamine tablets which are also on sale in H&B.
Another thing to consider is swimming which is non load bearing.
I know that's not alternative treatments as such....
Actually yeah... some form of gental exercise that builds up strength might be good if your doctors think it'd be OK for you to do...Yoga for example... you only do as much as you personally can with that, and I know it helps with pains because I did yoga for a while leading up to an operation I had... I know it's not the same because mine were abdominal pains... but just the fact that it was relaxing and theraputic seemed to help over-all and stopped me having to take as many pain-killers.
Well I'd suggest Reflexology... but that's cos I studied it and think it's great.
Not all, but lots of people find it improves their general health and can help relieve symtoms of long term conditions and pains. At the very least it's relaxing, so it's worth a go.
I would love to try Reiki... I've heard that can be extremly effective too.
I had accupuncture once... I have mixed feelings about it. I think it helped a bit... but I only ever went once because I didn't like it; so didn't really give it a proper chance to work. It's not suposed to hurt, but mine did a bit (maybe I had a really crap person doing it)... it wasn't terrible, just not the most relaxing thing. It was a strange experience. But then I know other people swear by it. So really it's up to you what you try; I think just see what draws you to it the most and give that a go first, if you don't like it or get no use from it try something else.
You generally should give Alternative therapies more than one chance though, because they're not something that suddenly works miricals after the first session; although sometimes they do.
My knee cracks alot. I can't sit with it in one position for too long and it seizes up on me. Best way I can describe the pain and discomfort is a kind of pressure building up just to the left of my knee cap (my right knee so the inside of the joint). I then have to hyper extend my leg (basically bend the knee the wrong way) and this cracks my knee and the pain disappears. Not the best I knw but it helps. Heat helps as well and the specialist says I have early symptoms of artiritis (sp?) in the knee.
My wrist is an old break that never really healed correctly and cramps up a lot. Because of the pain in the wrist I over compensate with mouse and keyboard by overusing the elbow. Sometimes my elbow will lock on opening resulting in having to crack that and getting a huge "funny bone" electric shock. Not funny.
SM I know that swimming is the best exercise for me. My problem is this though. (as stupid as it sounds). Too embarressed to go swimming until I lose some weight. Can't lose weight till I go swimming. Other forms of exercise put too much strain on my knee.
I would ideally love to go back to some form of martial arts. The knee break effectively ended my Karate and Judo career but would love to start something up again.
Do you have a local public one? That would be the best place to go if your confidence isn't that great. I'm assuming you're a guy? In which case get a pair of swimming shorts (the baggy beachy type, not the lycra ones) which is what most people wear and get down there.
The only time when anyone can really check out your figure is the gap between the changing rooms and the water, once you're in the water you're fine (I know water is see through, but when someone's swimming you really can't tell whether they are overweight or not). If your public one is anything like ours and you're only a stone overweight then compared to plenty of others there you'll be athletic looking so there's nothing to worry about.
At the end of the day there are only 3 groups of people that look at what anybody else looks like at the pool, creepy men that are looking at the kids, teenage boys looking at the girls, and bored male lifeguards checking out anything female and under 40. You probably don't fall into any of those catgories so get down there and swim.
While you're there, get a 10 swim card so you're obliged to go back
Abbie has been seeing a Chiro for over a year and I originally took her along because she had a problem with her foot (the hospital wanted to break her foot and reset it) which has since been sorted thanks to her Chiropractor.
This is who Abbie goes to, I know it's not in Aberdeen but you could read up on it a bit if you like.
How 'alternative' are you willing to go?
I know! But as Go away says it's a confindence thing and I do feel a wee bit intimated but I'll maybe bite the bullet and go for it.
Would Chiropractory be different to physio? I'll maybe see what Chiropractors are in Aberdeen?
If I thought it would help I would put powdered pixie tescticles in my eye and sing the national anthem.
may need more athroscopy to keep repairing it ... and DO THE PHYSIO AFTERWARDS!
Plus, take your cod liver oils
:yes:
I have arthritic hips which can make exercise a bit trick, but my physio gives a big old thumbs up to swimming and pilates (maybe a bit girly, but just think of all those lovely ladies in lycra you'd be able to eye up).
if all else fails ask a fellow Ninja
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdS5lkeN8_8
Seriously, get down there, the only person looking at you will be you.
Are you eating enough fats? Good fats will help keep your joints lubricated which will reduce any problems with them. You can get good fats from things like avocado, olives, including olive oil, monounsaturated oils like rapeseed, salmon, tuna (not tinned), mackerel, herring, peanuts, including peanut butter, hazelnuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds and pistachios.
Turmeric is good for joint problems because it has anti inflammatory properties. You can use it in your food, or you can take a teaspoon in warm milk three times a day. Also try to eat lots of onion and garlic.
For instant relief from joint pain take a hot bath with Epsom salts which are also anti inflammatory.