Again, I am NOT a physician. This is my layman’s understanding. Do your own research and consult medical professionals before deciding on your approach to pain management. From talking with many folks who have used opiate-based pain medications, I have identified a few key drawbacks. There are likely more. Because they depress the central nervous system,…
There may be times that you are experiencing uncomfortable sensations with a strong intensity. Your body may instinctively tense up against those sensations, but I invite you to explore another way. Let the sensations move through you, as if they were waves. Waves of sound. Waves of water (we are mostly water, after all). Breathe. Wiggle. Sing…
I admit it. Some days I just can’t believe I have to exercise or stretch yet again. Didn’t I just do that? I may find myself filled with dread and inertia. I just don’t wanna. Whether we’re talking about staying comfortable and functional pre-op, or restoring comfort and function post-op, if you weren’t previously in…
And how much energy should we put into this question? Here’s the Buddha’s perspective on the matter (Dr. Bradley K. Hawkins’ version; there are others.) “Imagine that you are walking along a path in the forest and suddenly, out of the trees, comes an arrow and punctures you in the thigh. When the arrow goes into…
Are you familiar with the “wedge” approach to addressing climate change? There won’t be one solution; instead, there will be a set of approaches which in aggregate will make the difference. Well, your pain & discomfort can be addressed similarly. Visiting a bodyworker, daily exercise to stabilize, topical salves, mind training, cannabis or other Rx,…
Give me a D! Vitamin D helps the body build and maintain strong bones by aiding the absorption of calcium, and by maintaining normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. There is also strong evidence that Vitamin D protects against osteoporosis, high blood pressure, many cancers(!), and that’s not even all. While we can produce D ourselves through…
This is a topic I know nearly nothing about (except that resurfacing does not involve replacing part of your bone with titanium). I just know that in my particular case, it wasn’t an option. But for some people, it’s all they need, apparently. Add it to your list of questions to ask your orthopedic surgeon. Here’s the…
In a perfect world, you will be able to see three skilled practitioners each week before surgery, and build back up to that afterwards for several months. In other words, you need a Darryl, a Linda and a Lorilee. And it will cost several thousand dollars. Now, if your insurance is any good, the surgery itself will be…
You’ll be standing awkwardly in pre-op as the nurses bustle around you. Your clothes will go into a sealed bag and you’ll be wearing a thin cotton robe/smock. But taped to your chest will be a little piece of paper with some affirming words. You’ll also give a paper copy to the anesthesiologist whenever you…
I have been using mind training recordings from time to time for a few decades. And yes, for convenience I am using these terms interchangeably: mind training, mindset training, hypnotherapy, self-hypnosis, guided visualization. It’s all a practice of listening and visualizing that marshals the imagination to shape our physical, mental and emotional state. I discovered self-hypnosis…