Chronic Pain

Note: Upcoming teleclass to be offered Spring 2010.
Nutrition for People with Chronic Pain.
Contact Anasuya for more information.

My first work with pain relief was with bodywork. Tight muscles, stuck energy or qi, and an anxious state of mind all exacerbate the pain experience. Caring hands-on contact has a deeply relaxing and therapeutic effect, often reducing pain dramatically. It also helps expand a person’s awareness of their body, helping them to re-connect with themselves. I have several bodywork tools in my toolbox: Shiatsu, Tui na, Acupressure, CranioSacral Therapy.

Later I observed that those who had healthy eating habits experienced longer-lasting pain relief from the bodywork while those who ate poorly often had benefits that lasted only a few hours. Curious about this difference, I researched the nutrition and chronic pain connection, and performed a small clinical study. I discovered that individualized food and supplement programs reduced pain significantly. Since then I have continued to use nutritional approaches to chronic pain with good success.

Ideally I am able to use both bodywork and nutrition with each chronic pain client. There are some people who just want to focus on the bodywork support, and those who prefer the nutrition support only. This is the individual’s choice. Progress has been made in most cases.

A Case of Fibromyalgia

Dave had fibromyalgia for 10 years. Every winter it got worse. I initially suggested a few simple dietary changes and he experienced the first winter in 10 years where he maintained his level of pain without a set-back. He was so encouraged he continued his nutrition appointments so we could adjust and refine his food and supplement program. His pain continued to reduce while his sleep, moods, and energy improved. Later he came for bodywork sessions once or twice a month.  After several months, he was able to increase his work hours and thus his income for the first time in 10 years, while focusing more attention on his artwork, and a new relationship.

A Case of Back Pain

Janine was having excruciating low back pain that prevented her from performing her physically demanding work. She came in for combination sessions of nutrition and bodywork and within 2 weeks she was pain-free. Months later she experienced a set back, she returned to her food and supplement plan on her own, and the pain abated. Now she receives bodywork one a month and she remains physically active with little to no pain.