April 7 2008

So much for New Year's Resolutions! Well, it's been a very busy year so far with some challenges. I'll add this story to the blog so you'll know why I haven't posted any hikes in the last 6 months. Good news is, I'm doing well now, walking the pretty strenuous hills near my home and looking forward to Maine!

This past year, I have experienced first hand just how differently allopathic doctors and more holistically oriented physicians and health providers approach a health issue. Sometimes a combination of the two can be the best approach. Having an accurate diagnosis of your problem is very important. But I’ve been disappointed at how fast allopathic docs prescribe drugs that primarily mask a problem, rather than addressing the underlying cause. And I’ve been delighted at how more “alternative” practitioners and docs have helped me to heal. Here are two great examples.

Healing a Chronic Sore Throat

Following some dental surgery last summer, I developed a one-sided sore throat that lasted a week, then kept recurring for several months. Finally, I went to an ear, nose and throat specialist to allay my anxiety that I might have a serious problem. He could see no ulcers or sores so he prescribed a drug for acid reflux disease, called a proton-pump inhibitor, which lowers gastric acid secretion. These drugs have common side effects, such as headache and nausea. Plus people who take a proton-pump inhibitor for a year or longer are more susceptible to hip fracture. Gastric acid suppression also reduces the body’s ability to kill off harmful bacteria in the gut. I reluctantly agreed to take the medicine. After two months on the drug, I had no improvement. I sought out an MD with a specialty in environmental medicine. She prescribed a tincture of myrrh, which is anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory and is often prescribed as a mouthwash for sores in the mouth or for gingivitis. Two drops in the back of my throat and the soreness disappeared. Three months later, it is still gone.

Finding a Healthier Path to Heal Sciatica

In October, I developed pain in my right knee that wouldn’t quit. I stopped exercising for 6 weeks, then began to swim and train indoors. But whenever I tried to walk any distance, my whole leg would cramp up. Frustrated after four months, I went to an orthopedist. After x-rays of my spine, he diagnosed sciatica and offered me an anti-seizure drug, Neurontin, commonly prescribed to treat nerve pain. Since my discomfort was only sporadic, I declined, but sought out a chiropractor with a decompression machine which gently stretches the spine and helps to create space between the vertebrae, releasing pressure on the nerve. After a couple of sessions, I could walk for 45 minutes without discomfort in the leg.

I also began doing specific exercises, with the help of my chiropractor and a yoga therapist, to strengthen the musclesthat support my back and knees. In addition, I increased my intake of fish oil and curcumin to reduce inflammation. Though the orthopedist said his drug was very safe, with minimal side effects (just drowsiness and the tendency to fall asleep!) I disagree. If I’d taken the drug and eliminated the pain, I may never have taken the necessary steps to actually improve my health and protect my spine from further damage.

Taking charge of our own health takes a pioneering spirit. It takes the courage to turn away from the “simple” drug solutions so prevalent in our current way of thinking about medical problems. But there is a rich diversity available to us if we’re willing to seek out natural, alternative methods. Practitioners of these methods respect the natural healing power of the body and seek to understand and deal with the source of the problem rather than merely treat the symptoms.