Get Me Off the Medicatication Cart: Please!

I really dislike talking medications. If I am having back trouble, I try a chiropractor and massage therapist first, same for most other aches and pains, there has got to be something else other than medications. Generally speaking I have a high tolerance for pain, partly because I am afraid of addiction, but also because I dislike being reliant on pills.

I have always had seizures, so those are forever-medications I just have to take, and I knew when they took out my throttle and put in direct injection I would have to be on Thyroid medication; okay that is (2). But then before the surgery they told me my Vitamin D levels, and Calcium levels would get whacky at first because they have to cut near some cords that control that...and there was a slim chance...1 or 2 percent of people that never recover from that and will be on Vitamin D and Calcium pills the rest of their lives.

So for the last two months my left arm goes numb all the time, and I could not figure out why. Its been months since surgery, until I went to move my Calcium bottle out of the way. Then I read it, "Take 2 extra tablespoons if finger tingling persists". Well...well...well, I guess I am 1-3% of the people that have to take Calcium and Vitamin D for the rest of my life too. Now we are up to (4) different for-life pills.

But wait...there is more. (Sadly)

The tumors on my Pituitary Gland killed that pretty much, so I have to take medications for that. (5) Medications for life...and I am only 43 years old!!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Is there anything I can do for some of this crap?
   

90% of health problems are diet/toxin triggered, most can be reversed if caught early.  Or at least you can stop the degeneration.

Even many seizures can be controlled simply by diet, google ketogenic diet.  It is not easy to be on a strict keto diet in most places today, but it can be done.  It does wonders for lots of weight and diabetic issues, too.

I wouldn't consider vitamin D and calcium to be "medications." They're supplements. You might be able to get by without them by increasing the calcium in your diet and eating foods that help you absorb calcium.

As for vitamin D, I recently got a vitamin D light for my psoriasis (I forgot to reply to your other post about vitamin d in different thread!). Mine cost $600 with insurance negotiating with the company, but it is a different way to get vitamin D without pills, and works really well for skin conditions.

That really stinks about your seizures. I had the tonic clonic/gran mal seizures back in Jr High, and they were horrible (I was aware during mine). They never figured out what caused mine, and I thankfully outgrew them before I started to drive. Some people control their seizures through a ketogenic diet (less than 50grams of carbs per day). But, that's risky. There'd be a long period of not knowing if you can drive or operate machinery. Even though I haven't had a seizure in 18 years, I still worry about having one when driving.

For back pain, maybe physical therapy might help? Have you tried stinging it with nettle--that helps some joint-pain sufferers with their pain. Some even get relief by eating or making a tea from the leaves. I believe the leaves also contain lots of calcium...

I can only recommend eating lots of bone broth/stock (the kind that gels), eating lots of cabbage, taking a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar (in a glass of water), and taking glucosamine with chondroitin.

I have heard good things about Alkaline-Diet

https://permies.com/t/47736/kitchen/benefits-apple-cider-vinegar

Also of interest might be:

https://permies.com/t/53620/kitchen/cooking-tumeric

https://permies.com/t/54157/kitchen/Vegan-foods-herbs-joint-pain

https://permies.com/t/42810/kitchen/Ketogenic-Diet

Very sorry to hear of your troubles!! I'm going on 42 and (knock on wood) have been lucky enough to not need permanent meds so far.

I had severe back pain/spasm issues in my mid 30s that had me on muscle relaxants, anti-inflamatories, and opiate pain killers for a couple months. It was awful. Then I found a reputable physical therapist and they diagnosed issues that I realized I had been dealing with since I was 6 or 7. The therapy took between 2-3 months and wasn't the cheapest thing in the world. But now I need no meds, I understand exactly how my body works, and have a exercise regimen to keep my back in tip top shape. I'm working far harder homesteading now than I did when I was still an office jockey in my mid 30s.

Another vote for diet, as well. Obviously it may not remove the need for meds, but it can only help to improve your overall health. I have a crackpot theory that most of our modern diet related issues come from eating factory farmed food that require manufactured nutritive inputs to grow in relatively sterile soil. Each case I've read of people committing to growing most of their own food on living soil they carefully manage (without the need of chemicals, etc.) report great general health (Fukuoka, the Nearings, Will Bonsall, as well as the ubiquitous reports by traveling western researchers of very healthy indigenous peoples found all over the world). It's a huge task, but there is no way to buy food like that, no matter how rich you are. It can only be grown :)

Again sorry to hear of your troubles! Best wishes in your pursuit of improved health!

Travis, I feel for you, I had to retire early due to complications with cf, I also do not like to take all the meds I have to take and also suffer from abysmal vitamin d levels.
My body has a hard time digesting and breaking down vitamin d for absorbstion so my primary doctor (been with for 25yrs) suggested I be outside in the sun as much as possible, this is how my life changed for the better! So much better, I started gardening! I feel better (and my condition isn’t very promising) and my vitamin d levels are better. I have even noticed a decline in general health with the winter shutting me in, but look forward to spring and my newest project, building a small cold frame!
So, anyway, probably the best drug free help may just be getting as much sun as possible, it has helped me immensely! Good luck my friend 😎

My recommendation would be: Dont settle on taking calcium forever before you get your blood-levels tested. The numbness in your arm could be related to other problems. One sided numbness of the arm may be related to cervical spine issues or carpal tunnel syndrom, that could be cured with physiotherapy. Calcium deficiancy usually causes symmetric tingling, starting in fingers and toes.

Something I meant to mention  ... I know you get a lot of exercise doing your farm work.  There are specific exercises that can help with pain,   Has your doctor recommended that you see a physical therapist?  They could show you exercises that would help.

Since you don't want to take medication, I would suggest learning about dietary preventive measures. What you can do to prevent taking other medication as you get older, such as how to eat to prevent high blood pressure or high cholesterol.   Also learn about ways to make life less stressful.

This will not help you get off medication.  It is a suggestion to make taking the medications that you must take a little simpler.  You may already use this product:



My DH has me trained to organize his meds.  He takes 6 pills in the morning so I use this container for a four week program rather than the "Morning, noon, evening, bedtime" it is designed for. If you take medication twice a day, it could be used for a two week program.

I wish you the best.  I don't know how to or what to recommend to get off the medication that you must take, other than eating calcium rich foods.

Greetings.  I inherited a bad back so you have my deepest sympathy.  My mother had to have back surgery in her 30s and her sister was addicted to pain meds taken for back pain.  Now in my 60s, I have so far avoided both with the advice of a good doctor and a physical therapist who advised exercise to strengthen the back muscles - I have a few yoga stretches that seem to work, AND an inversion table.  My inversion table has been my life saver and the only bit of cool I ever bought that I still use multiple times a day - after about 30+ years of use.  

I get on and hang upside down while waiting for my morning coffee to make, when I come in for water after loading or unloading hay or feed, etc..  I just stay on it long enough to feel my spine open up and not so long that the pressure on the tops of my feet (holding me up)  becomes painful - and that part does get better over time.  I try to do about 60 small situps while hanging at least once a day as I think having a bit more abdominal strength also helps support the back when i am doing chores.

I try to stop and do my stretching exercises and hang for a bit after the morning's feedings and before I have breakfast and start on bigger projects.  I may occasionally miss my yoga stretches - I am not a very disciplined person, but I never miss using the inversion table a time or two a day.  It simply feels too good.  Good luck!

There is a LOT you can do.  I've spent over a decade researching healing and health.  Everything you're describing has already been eradicated by someone before you using the knowledge I'm going to share.  You can easily detox all of those conditions out of your body and hence get off the med cart.

Go through the link I'll share and spend time listening.  You'll learn just why and how important the kidney function is to it all.  Cleaning the Lymphatic System for Health and Healing and its Relation to Diet

If you spend even just a short time applying this knowledge then you'll come to realize at how effective detoxing the body is to recovering and achieving health and healing.  And I should be the first to mention that this should be approached as a lifestyle.  Not a 3 day detox and all done type of thing....but a lifestyle that you apply this knowledge more and more on a daily basis, or just take it on full steam and get the results you're looking for.

started in my 40s as well,
high blood pressure, thyroid meds, RA., Niacin. back problems from a car accident.
I highly recommend physical therapy exercises for back.
and diet changes for the rest.
I went to a high protein and animal fat diet with lots of veggies, and low carbs and found I feel much better , and only take a few anti flams now to regulate the RA flare ups. keep a food diary, that's how I found out certain foods caused flare ups in my RA.

I can't help with a lot of what you mention, but I will comment on my own aches and pains.

I'm a big guy and have always always had aches and pains associated with stiff muscles and bad posture. I've tried all sorts, but avoided medication because for the most part it just masks the symptoms. What I have found that genuinely helps me is doing regular (bad!) yoga, and investing in a new bed (buckwheat hull mattress). The combination makes a big difference.

My biggest problem maintaining it is that I start feeling good after a few weeks of doing regular yoga, then slack off for a bit and it all comes back!

I don't have any specific advice for your specific issues.  Our bodies are all so different and react in unusual ways to different toxins and stressors.

For your back, I highly recommend yoga, deep stretching, and calisthenics.  On the calisthenics side you need to make sure you are working the core front and back.  Most of the time what hurts isn't the problem, it is the body compensating for the injured body part.  My lower back kills me but it's actually my hip flexors that caused it.  It takes a while to get everything stretched out.  Now, I can usually feel that my back is wanting to go out so I drop and start stretching.    I would have poo-pooed yoga but it helped me get my back under control.  Yoga by Adrianne on Youtube has some good 30-day courses that are free.  I was shocked at how much-controlled breathing makes you more aware of what is going on with your body, reduces stress and keeps you centered.  It really works.

Regards, Scott

Scott Foster wrote:I don't have any specific advice for your specific issues.  Our bodies are all so different and react in unusual ways to different toxins and stressors.

For your back, I highly recommend yoga, deep stretching, and calisthenics.  On the calisthenics side you need to make sure you are working the core front and back.  Most of the time what hurts isn't the problem, it is the body compensating for the injured body part.  My lower back kills me but it's actually my hip flexors that caused it.  It takes a while to get everything stretched out.  Now, I can usually feel that my back is wanting to go out so I drop and start stretching.    I would have poo-pooed yoga but it helped me get my back under control.  Yoga by Adrianne on Youtube has some good 30-day courses that are free.  I was shocked at how much-controlled breathing makes you more aware of what is going on with your body, reduces stress and keeps you centered.  It really works.

Regards, Scott

I also use the "Yoga with Adrienne" videos on youtube. I found it helpful to pick one basic routine and do the same one every day for 3 weeks or so. It helped me learn the positions and loosen up. After a while I did some more routines and was able to mix and match a bit.

Research. Research black walnut husks, research golden rod leaf and the recently approved prescription CBD drug. Black walnut husks can help with thyroid issues. Golden Rod leaf seriously reduced inflammation and helps regulate blood sugar. I always find a suggested herb then research it online and with physical books. If I find the suggested use at least three times in my research (from reputable sources) and I can wild source the herb, I try it. The only herb I regularly use is golden rod leaf. My arthritis improved so much that I haven't used my implanted back stimulator in 2 years and instead of taking 400 mg of celebrex everyday, I occasionally take a Tylenol (less than 3 a month on average) and if you give it to your friends you may have a full time job collecting and processing golden rod. The new CBD drug is used for certain types of epilepsy. I believe that using a plant in its natural form is best though. So now I'm in search of hemp plants that I can afford.

On the subject of CBD, it is very beneficial to use whole plant. There are some 80+ cannabinoid and just extracting one is less effective.
We are very lucky to live in Spain where the growth of marijuana, whilst not legal per se, is tolerated for personal use.
I make a paste from coconut oil and whole plant which is incredibly useful for all types of inflammation. I use one strain which is very high in CBD and low in THC, and this paste we take daily. Colds finish early, toothache disappears in 30 minutes, and the aches and pains of farm life seem less.
The recipe is here for those who may be interested.
https://jamjarchris.blogspot.com/2019/04/healin-paste-this-time.html?m=1
We give the paste away to those who will benefit from it, as we are not big fans of money.

To be honest, I have tried everything natural and I still need to be on a mental health med for the rest of my life most likely. And I am ok with this. But it's only one. And I tried to detox offf everything. I even healed my gut using all good gut foods and diet. And I healed my yeast mostly. I got off a LOT of medication previuosly too. And I did get it down to one. I homesteaded and ate organic and followed gut health protocols. I wish you all the best in decreasing if you can. But then again not feeling badly if you need these meds.  Dr. Aviva Romm is a good go-to for hormones. And weston a price for gut health, which seems to have a lot of support in the homesteading community. Donna Gates is good for yeast. Talking to a local herbalist can help A LOT.