We all hear how great meditation is. And at some point we may have been advised that we should be doing it. To start a new meditation practice sounds easy, but I know first hand, it is not. It can be hard to start something so out of our norm when the benefits aren’t easily apparent. If we have chronic medical conditions, especially if they are rheumatologic, inflammatory or autoimmune, it can seem as if meditation isn’t for us. That perhaps we are too far down the “sick road” to get any benefit. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! EVERYONE benefits from a meditation or mindfulness practice – but what does it do exactly and how can it benefit you?
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Psoriatic Arthritis: The Basics
I have found most people know about Rheumatoid Arthritis (and if you haven’t, learn more here & here) and a lot of people may even know someone with Psoriasis, but not many people have heard of Psoriatic Arthritis. Understanding what psoriatic arthritis is, who can get it and what to look out for can help you know when it’s time to see the doctor.
[Read more…] about Psoriatic Arthritis: The BasicsBack pain: when to worry
Back Pain is everywhere! Most of us will likely experience it sometime during our lifetime and many of us will never know why. In fact, for most of us, when we see our doctor, we may be given pain relievers and told not to worry about it. But when SHOULD we worry about it? There are signs that doctors are trained to look for. Thinking about whether or not you have any of these will help you decide if and when it’s time to see your doctor.
[Read more…] about Back pain: when to worryFibromyalgia Treatment: the basics
Getting a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia can be relieving, yet terrifying, all at the same time. For those dealing with unexplained symptoms, just to know it has a name can be reassuring. However that relief can replaced by overwhelm as we enter into the world of fibromyalgia treatment. There are currently only 3 FDA approved medications for fibromyalgia, all of which focus on the nervous system. For many, these types of medications are new and can come with scary sounding side effects. Why are these the medications approved and what do they do? What do they not do?
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The lessons we can learn from Physical Therapy about our own body and our movement, can, literally, be life changing. Having persistent joint pain or body pain can be frustrating and demoralizing. It can have a profound impact on ALL aspects of our lives, as we may find we can no longer do the things that brought us joy or stress relief. At first, this may seem like a small annoyance, but with time the tension can build and our mental health can suffer. Naturally, we think that this deserves a trip to the doctor, and of course it does. But all too often I have seen the looks of disappointment when I suggest the treatment is physical therapy. What? No shot?? No medication?
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