Feet a little better

[cjsmith]

For the last day or so I've added the following things to my anti-inflammation battle arsenal:
- no white bread, no pasta, no candy, no sodas
- flaxseed oil, full dosage recommended on the label
- ice, last night and the night before
- Blue Goo, the only thing I could find last night that contained arnica
- an office chair I ripped apart to make a stool that fit under my desk, to elevate my feet a bit
- vivid mental imagery telling my body exactly what I expect of it

The ice (well, a cold pack) is very effective. After icing, my toes have a noticeably wider range of motion than before. This tells me I'm not merely numb, but also less swollen. I made sure to bring a cold pack to work this morning. I plan to use this superweapon more frequently throughout the day.

The Blue Goo also helps with the sensation of pain, but it might be a) the analgesic properties of the menthol, b) the cold-sensation helping to decrease inflammation, c) the I-presume-tiny bit of arnica in it helping to decrease inflammation. Hard to tell so far. (I also smell like a minty sort of fruit basket.) Need a bigger hammer -- something that contains enough arnica that it's not hidden in the "Other Ingredients" section.

I'm gaining ground, but the enemy is still fighting: there's some pain and inflammation even with all this. I will continue to press the attack on all fronts.

Comments

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

I also smell like a minty sort of fruit basket.

I'm tickled by that image, for some strange reason....

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

Minty fresh! ;-)

[dieppe.livejournal.com]

I'm taking flaxseed oil 2Tbps (or whatever) every day. I have to get my eyes moist enough so I can do Wavefront(LASIK)...

How are you taking it? I'm taking 1Tbps with oatmeal in the morning and 1Tbps in yoghurt at night.. I can't really taste it in the food much... eh.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Mine's in gelcaps, "take with food". I just pop 'em when I'm eating a meal. By itself, would yours have much of a flavor? I've never tried it "loose".

[dieppe.livejournal.com]

Not much of a flavor that I've been able to tell. A tiny oily taste, and I keep it in the fridge.

On the other hand my coat has never been shinier... ;)

I mean my hair, of course.. and really I haven't been taking it long enough to tell.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

what about Arnica Cream (http://www.feelingbetternaturally.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/info/arnicainfo.htm?L+scstore+fhbz8773ffba25ba+1115712063) or Sore Muscle Relief Soap (http://www.feelingbetternaturally.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/info/soresoapinfo.htm?L+scstore+yvkl0658fffbcbfb+1115972068)? (i've got their headache relief soap, and it's amazing stuff. love it love it love it)

or, try pineapple. The Unofficial Guide to Alternative Medicine (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0028625269/qid=1108601239/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5528815-8790549?v=glance&s=books) says that pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which helps reduce inflammation.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ooo, cool - I love pineapple! I will eat some without guilt, next time I come across it.

Thanks for the pointer to the arnica cream. I had been hoping to just find some I could buy off a shelf, but I may indeed have to wait for shipping. Dang, I wandered around that site and I soooo wish I could smell all their soaps!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Maybe your eyes don't need to be moist, just shiny. ;-) Good luck with the procedure, by the way! A housemate had it done once and was extremely happy with the results.

[rampling.livejournal.com]

Oooh -- gaining ground -- good news! Glad to hear you've got a nice arsenal of stuff and ideas to work with.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I darn well better win, 'cause hitting this with everything I've got means I don't have a Plan B.

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

the headache relief soap is kinda peppermint-y, that much i can tell you. i hope to hit the Old Thyme Herbs down cincinnati-way this weekend, mostly 'cause i'm curious about arnica cream, too.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

google google google...

These guys recommend looking for a cream with about 15% arnica oil. I can't tell from the web site how much is in the Old Thyme Herbs cream. O'course, nobody who gives the percentage has anywhere near that much: homeopathic ones such as Nelson's (0.9%) are of course going to be on the low end, Weleda looks to have a total of 5% or so, and Boiron is the most powerful I've found so far at 7%.

Not that I should be so picky. Five percent? put on more!

[kimatha.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a full frontal assault!! It's great that the ice is helping, and may the rest of the stuff kick in right alog with it.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Like I said to rampling above, I darn well better win, 'cause hitting this with everything I've got means I don't have a Plan B.

[jupiter29.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a vivid description of your foot issues and treatments AND the knowledge that you smell all sweet and minty. If I ever develop a foot fetish, this is definitely the first journal I'm reading every morning. ;)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

It's good to know my journal appeals to some particular niche! :-)

[jupiter29.livejournal.com]

Some audience is better than no audience. ;)