(This is a long post....stick with me to the end)
Disclosure: If I'm not making money through affiliate links on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon!
I am sure some of you saw my post in January with my ankle all wrapped up - if not, here it is!
Last year, I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which was a decades long search for a reason behind so many medical issues. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with the same genetic micro-deletion as my son (and two of my other kids). 2023 was a year of taking care of me. I got an endoscopy to confirm or deny Celiac, which I had just assumed I had. Turns out, it is NOT Celiac, but I did test positive for non-Celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Part of this taking care of myself, was addressing my chronic right ankle issues. I had been told over a decade ago that I would need surgery the next time I sprained my ankle. Several sprains later, the pain just never went away, so I decided it was time to address the inevitable. I ended up getting the Brostrom procedure done in January to tighten up the ligaments in my right ankle, with the idea that this will allow my quality of life to be significantly higher. The idea is that once healed, I can actually exercise again. I can be a 30-something year old mom to my young kids again, taking them on hikes and walks again. I will be able to lose the weight I have piled on due to inactivity.
I was always worried about the healing period - one month of no weight bearing, and then an additional month until I can drive. So two months of not driving at all....with therapies and homeschool co-op to go to. Two months of my mother driving me around, just like when I was a kid, but this time, with my four kids in tow as well. It has been......hard. I won't sugar coat it. This isn't easy for any of us. Many tears have been shed. Everyone is on edge. It's HARD. But.....with God, we can do anything. We can do everything. We've got this. This isn't forever, and we WILL get through this, with more skills than before. Having endured hardship, we grow with God and end up better at the end.
(I feel like at this point, I have veered off from where I had meant to go....ain't that life, though?)
Back to why I wanted to write this post in the first place......Last year, once I got diagnosed with EDS, I started a new medicine called Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) which has been used more and more for chronic pain, chronic inflammation, fibromyalgia, etc. It has been a life changer for me. I no longer had debilitating brain fog. I have many more days where I am not crying in pain. I can actually get up and DO things (like dishes and laundry), I can actually PLAY with my kids. It's exactly what my body needs. The downside? I cannot take opioids. Naltrexone is typically used for (and FDA approved for) those with alcohol and drug users, to help them not want those substances. See the issue now?
In order use the typical pain relief offered after surgery (opioids), I would have to go off the LDN. But since it has been such a life changer for me, I did not consent to that. So I pushed for an opioid/narcotic free surgery. It was a bit rough, as both anesthesia and ortho gave me the run around (talk to the other....this is how we do things) but I eventually just decided I would do it my way and just tell them this is how it will be done. It felt so nice, honestly. So how did that work? I was able to get an anesthesia pump for a few days after the surgery - basically an epidural in my leg and a pump that continuously pumped numbing medicine into my leg, so I wouldn't feel the pain. While in theory it was perfect, it accidentally got set for 8mL an hour instead of 6mL an hour (like the RX said) so it ran out a day early. My body does not do well with general anesthesia, so I was on some anti-nausea meds the first couple days. While they sent me home with tylenol, I never took it (another post to come on that whole topic...). I was given Aspirin to help avoid blood clots, so I have been on that and ibuprofen for several weeks. I am finally down to lower levels of ibuprofen than pre-surgery! It's an amazing feeling.
But what was the real life changer, the real holistic medicine? HOMEOPATHY. I know, many are very new to homeopathy and assume it's all woo-woo and pseudoscience. It's not - I promise you. Below is all the ones I take on a daily basis. The first two weeks, I took them 2-3 times a day, to get the most out of them (1-2 pellets is a dose). Stay tuned for further posts on more details about homeopathy and why it's so amazing!
*All descriptions are from the Ollois website.
Rhus Tox
Relieves joint pain improved by motion
"When joint pain or skin irritations disrupt your daily life, a natural remedy may be just what you need. Enter: Rhus Toxicodendron, one of Ollois’ homeopathic solutions that has been traditionally used to alleviate symptoms related to arthritis, sprains, and even certain skin conditions."
Buy Here:
Hypericum perforatum
Relieves nerve pain
"Get back on the mend quickly with Hypericum Perforatum, traditionally used for nerve pain after surgery or injury. Made from the roots of the Hypericum Perforatum plant, this remedy is one of our plant based and certified vegan remedies."
Buy Here:
Arnica montana
Relieves muscle pain and stiffness, swelling from injuries, discoloration from bruising
"There’s no worse feeling than pain or muscle stiffness keeping you from living your life. Using traditional homeopathic methods, Arnica Montana can help you ease this pain naturally. No need to worry about side effects: our pharmaceutical-grade homeopathic treatments are suited to all lifestyles and are side effect free.
Made from the Arnica Montana flower, Arnica Montana is one of our plant based and certified vegan remedies."
Buy Here:
Staphysagria
Relieves promotes healing of surgical wounds
"If you're on the mend, Staphysagria can help! It is traditionally used for minor cuts & surgical wounds. Made from the seeds of the Staphysagria plant, this remedy is one of our plant based and certified vegan remedies."
Buy Here:
Ruta graveolens
Sprains & tendonitis, eye strain due to computer or artificial light
Sports injuries or nagging issues, Ruta Graveolens is traditionally used for sprains and tendinitis - eye strain due to computer use or artificial light. Made from the aerial part of the Ruta Graveolens plant, this remedy is one of our plant based and certified vegan remedies.
Buy Here:
Symphytum officinale
Symptoms of bone trauma
"Whether it's bruising or a break, Symphytum Officinale is traditionally used for bone trauma. Made from the roots of the Symphytum Offcinale plant, this remedy is one of our plant based and certified vegan remedies."
Buy Here:
So there you have it! I know...that was a lot.
Please let me know what you got out of it! What are you excited to try for yourself?
Comments