Muscle Pain

Muscle Pain

Background

When muscles don’t have enough energy, they get locked in the shortened position. After awhile, they hurt. When the muscle pain is in just 1 or 2 areas, it suggests that there is a structural/ergonomic component. This can be because one leg is shorter than the other, you are carrying a 20 pound purse on your shoulder, repetitive stress injury (as is now being seen with the Wii video games), or other reasons. It is worth looking for these. For example, you might need a wrist support on your computer, or an arm rest on your chair at a height where your wrists and elbows are resting on them.

Treatment

Treat with S.H.I.N.E.

When you have frequent muscle pain, or even a localized area where it just won’t go away, treating the underlying factors that control energy production can help the muscles finally release. This means treating with what I call the S.H.I.N.E. Protocol.

The letters in S.H.I.N.E. stand for:

  • Sleep
  • Hormonal deficiencies
  • Infections
  • Nutritional supplementation
  • Exercise as able

See S.H.I.N.E. under the "More" tab for more information.

Recommended Supplements

BCM-95 Curcumin, Boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase

A special mix of BCM-95 Curcumin, Boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase has been a pain relief miracle—even for many whose pain has lasted decades. Called Curamin (by EuroPharma) take 1-2 caps 3x day (use the higher dose for severe pains, such as fibromyalgia) till pain resolves.

Willow bark & Boswellia

This herbal pain mix is especially helpful for arthritis and back pain.

For acute pain, you can take 2 tabs of herbal mix, and the pain will often quickly go away. For chronic pain, can use either of the above, or both together.

The effect may begin quickly. It builds over a week, and maximizes at 6 weeks. The the dose can often then be lowered to 1-2 a day or as needed. It's like putting out a fire. Once the pain settles, you may no longer need the natural treatments or may only take them "as needed" — with a lower dose doing the job.

Other Therapies & Advice

Releasing tight muscles

There are many ways to stretch your muscles, which releases them — and the pain. These include chiropractic, osteopathic manipulation, and a host of excellent types of massage and body work.

Acupuncture can also help. 70% of acupuncture points correspond to muscle trigger points (the belly of the muscle where it causes a painful knot). Put a needle in a trigger point and the muscle will release (though much more is also happening with acupuncture).

All of these can release the muscles, but if you don't treat the underlying low energy in the muscle, using S.H.I.N.E., and get rid of the structural stresses (such as carrying a 30 pound purse around, having uneven hip heights, or working in an "ergonomically incorrect" workplace), the muscles will go back to their shortened position.

Ice and heat

In addition, ice acts as an anti-inflammatory and heat brings in healing blood flow. Either can be used for 20 minutes at a time (so you don't overheat or overcool the muscle) and if using both together, start with ice followed by heat. Ice is best used in the first 36 hours after an injury. Heat can be used any time.

One especially helpful technique is to add 2 cups of Epsom salts to a tub of hot water and soak away. Epsom salts are made of magnesium, which will soak into your tissues with the heat, relaxing your muscles and loosening any tight joints. Often, you can feel the pain flow right out as your muscles relax!

More Information Online

S.H.I.N.E. Protocol

Pain Free 1-2-3 (my book on pain management)

The Trigger Point Manual (book by Dr. Janet Travell; great for health practitioners working with muscle pain) 

Contributor

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is a board certified internist and author of the popular free iPhone application “Cures A-Z,” which was ranked in the top 10 of all health/wellness downloads on iTunes.

Dr. Teitelbaum is the author of the perennial bestseller From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery Penguin), which has sold over half a million copies; Pain Free 1-2-3 (McGraw-Hill); Three Steps to Happiness: Healing Through Joy (Deva Press); the Beat Sugar Addiction Now! series (Fair Winds Press);  Real Cause, Real Cure (Rodale Press); The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution (Penguin/Avery); and his latest, The Complete Guide to Beating Sugar Addiction (Fair Winds Press, 2015).

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