Subluxations and Pain

When I was being diagnosed with some auto-immune conditions in 2010, my rheumatologist was moving me around to see how the RA was affecting me and he mentioned I had the hip mobility of an 18-year-old ballerina. I was 49. He did not ask about my other hyper-flexible or now frozen joints and did not mention hypermobility as a cause of pain. It would take me nine more years before a friend of mine mentioned EDS – which instantly explained my weird health history.

Almost everyone I know who has a hypermobility syndrome has pain. When I was younger I assumed that other people just had more courage and stoicism than me and that I was a “drama queen.” I am sure you have had similar experiences before your diagnosis. When my knees accidently bend backwards, it can hurt for months. My right hip flexes too much constantly, causing a regular ache at night. My daughter would cry silently with growing pains as a child, and doctors said it is just growing pains and she should buck up or give her Tylenol EVERY NIGHT. Why did no one tell me to try homeopathic arnica 30c at night as she went through those stages? Sometimes a small and natural thing can really shift pain into something tolerable. If you have periods of constant pain, consider a trial with some of these:

Arnica

Arnica has long been known as the healing herb. If I have surgery of any kind, I always take homeopathic arnica 30c before and for a few days after. Homeopathic remedies are not strictly herbal, but in my personal experience this works. Arnica also comes in a gel form and I put it on any wound. Most of our pain comes from our bodies healing from injury. Arnica makes sense to me. WebMD tells me that you should not take arnica by mouth. The doses in homeopathic arnica pills are so small that it is considered safe. I also recommend salves and cremes. Like the warnings on nearly every other plant, if you are pregnant or nursing or taking blood thinners, you have to be careful with this plant. Since arnica is a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family, if ragweed or daisies give you an allerigic reaction, stay away from arnica.

Pineapple

Pineapple is a natural source of bromelain, an enzyme that is often thought to reduce inflammation and reduce pain.1 You don’t need anything fancy. Just include pineapple in your diet.

Aloe Vera

You might have a bottle of this to put on after a burn or sunburn. Aloe Vera gel applied topically can help reduce joint pain. 2 I have been having an issue with an eye and often gently tap aloe vera on the skin around the eye.

Willow Bark

One of the world’s oldest treatments for pain and inflammation, this is the original form of aspirin. So needless to say, if your body does not take aspirin well, don’t take willow bark! 2 I always tincture willow bark in brandy and take a dropperful a few times a day when my joints are acting up and include it in my winter anti-inflammation tincture.

1 Vogel, Alfred., “5 Top Herbs for Muscle and Joint Pain.” Avogel.co.uk

2 HealthLine “9 Herbs to Fight Arthritis Pain.”

This information is not intended to take the place of personalized medical counseling, diagnosis and/or treatment by a trained physician. Herbs and other botanicals are presently classified by the Food and Drug Administration as foods, not as medicines.