Wrist & Elbow Relief
I find it intriguing how we are often presented with lessons in life that can help more than ourselves. This winter I was dealt a hand I did not feel ready for and became rather frustrated. One thing after another seemed to go wrong, and after three consecutive car accidents, I struggled to find the purpose and light behind it all.
When I started to go to the chiropractor and he pointed out that my wrist and elbow kept going out of place and therefore I needed to be careful about what kind of strain I was putting on those joints, I once again felt set back. Being a massage therapist and yoga instructor, it is hard to hear and incorporate that your arms needed to take a break. But self-care is important, so how was I going to deal with this?
I researched. I talked with friends that had struggled with injuries and wrist pain. A surgeon friend who saw a lot of wrist and elbow problems. I asked advice from the chiropractor on how to keep the inflammation down and increase the strength of the muscles in the area.
This post and video are a compilation of what I have found to work for me.
First of all, keep in mind all bodies are different and I urge you to find what works best for your body with your situation. That being said, here are my reliefs:
CBD for pain.
After multiple injuries, along with anxiety attacks, I ended up incorporating CBD (Cannabidiol) into my life last year. If you want to learn more about CBD in general, this site has lots of information available. Since CBD is different from THC it is generally available in your local health food store.
In this instance, I found that it helped to reduce the constant pain that persisted in my forearm.
Brace up the elbow and/or wrist.
After speaking to my chiropractor on how to help keep my elbow from continuously going out of place, he suggested I get an elbow brace. This helps set a second anchor point for the muscles so they do not solely rely on the weak spot where they continue to pull the bone out of place. This is the elbow brace I decided on.
However, while speaking with a surgeon friend, he pointed out that lots of times the issue can also if not solely rely on the wrist. Therefore a wrist brace may be a good option to invest in. I suggest here listening to your body and/or speaking with your health care provider to figure out where the issue lies specifically for you.
Stretch & Strengthen.
Below is a video highlighting some of what is covered here as well as some stretches I have found that helped me!
Another tip for helping strengthen these muscle groups is the TheraBand Flexbar. Depending on your body and ability, you may choose from different colors which are different pounds of force (difficulty). I got the red one (10lbs of force) and found it to be, as described, “light.” These are easy to use and a good way to target those muscle groups!
(If you are viewing this in email, go to the blog page to view this video)
Hematite bracelet.
Whether you believe it is the placebo effect or that crystals can help you through their own energy, this one might be for you.
I linked the hematite bracelet that I got to the heading above, and I have not been disappointed. My pain has definitely been less since wearing the bracelet, and the stones are gorgeous too. So, why would you use hematite? The hematite stone is believed to have the following benefits:
- Maintain charge of nerve cells
- The magnetic charge helps regulate the blood flow
- May relieve cramps
- Absorbs negative energy
- Calming
- Grounding
- Works with the root chakra
- Polarizes energy from negative to a more positive vibration
Eat for your Health.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” -Hippocrates
This is a concept I think we all need to read again. Slowly. Many more times. Let it sink in. Our food truly and deeply affects us, so let us be mindful for what we let into our diets.
What foods can help us here? These are some of the top foods to include in your diet to help decrease inflammation:
- Berries
Berries contain a class of antioxidants known as flavonoids, yet it is specifically the anthocyanins that lead to the anti-inflammatory effects. Blueberries are rich in Vitamin C, resveratrol, and anthocyanins, all of which promote decreased inflammation.
- Broccoli
High in Vitamin K and its glucosinolate content, these help regulate the inflammatory responses in the body.
- Dark Chocolate
The antioxidants in cocoa can aid in lowering blood sugar levels, can be good for heart health, and decrease inflammation. To make sure you are getting these benefits, choose products with 70% or more cacao content.
- Ginger
Gingerols, compounds found in the ginger root, are a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-disease.
- Turmeric
Curcumin, the active compound that gives turmeric its yellow-orange color, is also known for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
For more foods and information that can benefit an anti-inflammatory diet, check out these sites:
Find your team.
It is healthy to ask for help. And there are so many people out there who want to help! They do not just have to be friends, but knowledgable professionals can obviously be an awesome source too. Massage therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, yoga practitioners, Reiki and energy practitioners, nutritionists- your team is out there. Find what works for you and assemble your best team for your best health, self, and life.