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Dealing with internal inflammation and joint pain
Last year I was diagnosed with Lupus, Erosive Osteoarthritis in my wrists, Psoriatic Arthritis and Differential Autoimmune. I had, what I discovered is considered a "Flare-Up" that started all of this last year due to a lot of stress, although my blood work has been off the charts for 6 years now, which is why they added "Differential Autoimmune" because they cannot figure out why WBC & RBC and other markers are sooo low or high. I do take Plaqeunil for the Lupus and was also on Tremfya for the Psoriatic Arthritis but now that is being replaced with Skyrizi. I have been really suffering with inflammation of the wrist and ankles and probably all over my body and could not sit or stand for any length of time. Took me about 20 minutes of moving in the morning just to get started with my day after a miserable night of sleep. After my last visit to the pain management doctor for yet another injection in my shoulder, she suggested that I research holistic therapy and herbs. I recently listened to podcasts about home remedies and one section was about inflammation and drinking homemade Ginger Root tea. I'm not one to just run out and try something BUT, I did. I bought Ginger Root, Fresh Lemon and Yogi Mango Ginger tea bags (to lessen the strong taste of the ginger root) After two days (maybe less) of drinking a cup in the morning and evening, I can tell everyone, that I have slept like a baby, can stay in bed all night and barely stiff in the morning. I swear on this tea!! I can also tell you that my husband (gym rat) and had come home complaining about a stiff neck. When he went to bed, just lying down was very painful and he was almost in tears. I told him that there was also a ginger root compress in the podcast. I grated some ginger root into a paper towel, applied to his neck and wrapped it up for the night. It is supposed to draw out inflammation. The next morning, he was amazed on how much better his neck was, and we did it again the following night with the same success. He has been telling everyone about it. We recently went on vacation and of course I had to take my ginger root with me. Before trying this, I could barely sit for any length of time due to the pain in my hips. We flew for three hours each way for vacation, and I had no issues whatsoever with the sitting. I wanted to keep this short and sweet, sorry! BUT I challenge anyone suffering with inflammation of joints to please try this. I so hope this message helps others!!
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@heyjoe415
I had L3-L5 laminectomy and decompression with fusion/hardware to stabilize my spine. I had severe central stenosis, especially at L4-L5, compressing/fully blocking my spinal cord (causing neurogenic claudication pain/weakness/numbness in lower back, hips, buttocks and legs/feet). No amount of core exercises would open this up (I have a congenitally narrow spinal canal, too).
My surgery was a success and my 2 week follow up appointment was Thursday and they said I was doing really well compared to most at this point and I am off narcotics. I have some pain when stepping up onto stairs and certain movements but hopeful about the full recovery reduction of symptoms that affected my quality of life (I am 55).
I used to be able to do splits/and bend completely flat well past my feet (extremely flexible up until my late 40’s when my spine issues started). I did not have my one and only child until I was 40 and my son was big (almost 10 pounds and 22” long…he is only 15 now and over 6 feet tall and still growing!) and think the added weight at the front of my torso impacted my lumbar spine curve.
My surgeon told me I might lose about 15% flexion in my spine but I don’t mind because I was in so much pain I could barely bend/twist. I have pretty good movement for 2 weeks post op and hopeful about further mobility. Like you, I want to get PT to strengthen my core and upper/lower body. I have lost a lot of muscle mass and strength with cervical myelopathy injury to spinal cord and lumbar stenosis/claudication. I will find out at my 6 week post op appointment when I would be able to start PT.
Keep up the great work on your fitness level and core strength! You motivate others that they can do it, too!
Thanks Daily! Sounds like the surgery went very well and you're mending quickly. That's great news.
My surgeon told me that my core is holding my lumbar spine together. I have stenosis, scoliosis, listhesis, and degenerative osteoarthritis in and around the discs on the vertebrae. The discs that are still in place are severely reduced. While he commended me for keeping my weight down and my exercise routine (including core), he made it clear that if things get worse and I start experiencing pain, fusion will be necessary. I've had sciatica twice and know how very painful that is in the buttocks, hamstrings and calves.
I really dread fusion, but your words give me hope. The surgeon said I would be more stiff than I am now and that was about it. As long as I can keep exercising after the surgery, that's fine. I would most likely need to have S1/L5/L4 fused, and maybe more. I'm about to turn 70 and feel great, but take everyday as it comes and as a gift.
So thanks again Daily. All the best in your recovery! Joe
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3 ReactionsHow much ginger root do you add to your tea?? And is the lemon just for taste? I am allergic to citrus (which is crazy)
You can eliminate the lemon and just add the Mango/Ginger tea bags when you each time you have a cup.
Sounds wonderful. I love ginger and I am like you all in this thread with my L3, L4, L5, plus my cervical C3 to T2 work that’s been done. I get major in whole body inflammation but they can’t find anything in all the tests I’ve had over the years so as far as I know, it’s just osteoarthritis for me and degenerative disc disease. But I will try the ginger root as tea. I was wondering if you have a link for the podcast or what you had read thank you and good luck!
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1 ReactionI had fusion L3, L4, L5 and honestly I’ve lost no mobility over the years. I sit in the street and do chalk art for a living. I got my life back and I’m loving it. The rest of my spine is falling apart and cervical surgery didn’t go nearly as well, but I loved my lumbar surgery so I have no doubt you will too. I was such a mess before surgery that there was no way but up when I was finished!
I just took the ginger root after reading this thread and rubbed it on my cervical spine area and my lumbar spine area and went to the store without any pain medicine. Thank you very much for the suggestion! I have a joint juice that I make with apple cider cider vinegar, and, black cherry juice, a little lemon and put it in a big container and fill it up with water or soda water or some 7-Up and I’ve used that for years and years. It works pretty good, but I never thought to use the ginger in the way you recommended it thank you so much!
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2 ReactionsThanks for the link!
Cutting out processed sugar helped to dramatically reduce internal inflammation. I found I can still handle natural sugar as in fruit, at least 2 servings a day.