Diet to control pain?

OHHH...this is one of my favorite questions because I've been so excited about the changes I made and how much it's helped:) *Sorry for the length on this post...it's an important topic!

Going on close to 11 months now...I switched to eating all Organic...not vegan or vegetarian...just pure all natural..yummy Organic whole foods (not sure if I can say where I shop but you may get the hint..lol)...I don't work there or anything..

Not only did I lose about 40 pounds that I had gained after my last surgery and through my divorce...my skin is better...I have less muscle pain all over my body (I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia back in '95)...

My digestion....both stomach with less acid and the wonderful thing is MUCH better bowel movements!! Which for those of us on narcotics...this is fantastic...I still have to use Miralax from time to time because of taking a Flexeril once in awhile...


My energy level has gone through the roof! This is another major factor that really surprised the heck out me and I praise God everyday for this!...

Over the years...and being on my own...I had been buying a lot of the 'fat free'...boxed type food that lasts forever on the shelf...all the stuff that has tons of chemicals...I mean the list on those packages are amazing how many ingredients you cannot pronounce!...So it was 'easier' but so awful for my body..

Literally...not exaggerating...but in about 2 weeks I started noticing so many differences...the energy and digestion alone help my pain level tremendously...

Also...you can look up on the web very easily about foods that fight inflammation..things like fresh cherries, soy, salmon, walnuts, etc...

I actually have been saving money on my overall food bill because I shop once a week...and buy only things I will eat that week (all my fresh foods)...fix very easy (I don't like nor know how to cook very well)...meals that taste soooo much more delicious knowing there isn't one thing bad for me in these foods!...

I don't buy food that sit in the cabinet...or waste in the fridge and goes bad like I used to because I bought in 'boxes' or packages which was too much for me..Because Organic is getting so popular...most regular stores carry their own brand now...and all Organic stores are pretty comparitive in prices dollar for dollar...

Getting out High fructose, msg, trans fat..hydrogenated oils, refined carbohydrates..less to no gluten products....etc..

All these things work against our immune system..

Again...I am not a vegetarian or vegan..but my hats off to those who are..I like my dairy and meats in small portions once a week or so...but now I know the animals are treated and fed well...

Some people do well just taking out gluten and refined carbs if you only want to do this...as those are known to cause inflammation..

So glad you brought this subject up!...I bet there are lots of great ideas on here for us to share and try...

Anything that I can do to lessen the medicine that I have to take the better!!!

Thank you for posting this!!!

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 5/18/2011 4:21:40 PM (GMT-6)

This is an interesting topic...you've actually beaten me to posting about it as I was coming here this morning to ask the very same thing!

I've found that it doesn't help so much with my pain issues, but it's done wonders helping with my gastroparesis. I cut out almost all fats (can't tolerate them), anything processed, and it's helped me so much. Two years ago I was very much at death's door - I couldn't keep anything down and I ended up in hospital weighing just 28kg (about 60lb to you guys in the US). I had a feeding tube for 4 or 5 months, pouring cans of highly processed, calorie-rich muck down for 12 hours a day and all it did was make me feel sick, sluggish and more depressed. I chucked a bit of a tantrum one night, pulled my tube out, threw the cans of 'food' out and started ignoring everything my dieticians were telling me (nobody's ever accused me of being a good patient... LOL). Now, I make my own soups - full of veggies and herbs from our garden if possible, otherwise from the market. I've cut out potatoes, because I know that they make me ill. I'm lactose intolerant, so I make my own yoghurt from soy milk, and I use that to make bircher muesli that I can snack on all day. I stew my own fruits, so I know that there are no preservatives going into them. AND...*drum roll* I've gained 25kg and now back to my normal body weight.

Maybe we need a sticky thread for sharing recipes? Cooking is one of my passions :)

CRPS patient - what is bircher meusli?? cuz, I like things to snack on all day...I usually use nuts or oriental crackers.

I too, have noticed a big difference when I cut out processed foods. I like meat and fish but have stopped eating it, just cuz I got sick of it. Now, I pretty much only eat spinach, eggs, nuts and flaxseed muffins, oh, and popcorn that I make myself. But, the doctor I work for said that a lot of foods now-a-days have too much estrogen in them ---- I guess it's a chemical they use like in animals.....I'm not really sure. So getting off these types of foods has helped me immensely.

blondie

It helped with my pain. Took care of my bursitis (took 6 weeks), and I felt not so stiff....really helped with overall pain as well. : ) But you can't cheat. You have to stick to it strictly in order for it to help. : )

Hello sis, I am not sure about the others postings as I dont have the stomach problems many CRSP patience have, I will totally agree with jim1969, I totally think alot of if not all the epidemic ADHD ect. are caused by diet, and other things possibly in the very air we breath.  I will say that being a cp patient with mostly lower back problems, weight loss is very important.

It doesnt take a doctor to tell me that if I weigh more my back will hurt more.  Since I have also had to adjust to the fact that I am 3 inches shorter that I was during most of my adult life, that I cant eat the way I used to, also let me mention I am not a spring chicken anymore and when I was 25, I remember older women saying to me "just wait, the older you get the harder it is to lose weight), of course at 25 I attributed those comments to being jealous that they were older than me.  Oh how I wish it was so.  At very close to 58, and in the previous years getting here, alas I realized the truth in there comments.

The two things I have saving me is one, vanity, and the second, my daughter whom I live with is on a weight watchers point plus thing, she does not like me to call it a diet.  I will say I eat much more fruit and veggies than I did before.  At this point I no longer have a doctor nagging me about losing weight.  I think I am pretty much give or take 20lbs. where I am happy being.

Hi Amelius!  So good to hear from you.  I have had good success with my diet.  It took about two weeks for me to notice a difference and it took 6 weeks for my bursitis to totally go away.  I didn't cheat once.  I stayed away from all processed foods, no grains, except maybe oat.  Chicken and Fish.  You sound like you're on the right track.  It sure did help me out a lot. I'm on it right now and feel better.  It doesn't fix it.  It just really helps makes my life more comfortable. Keep me informed.  I used a book to follow this plan and it came with a cook book. I don't think I'm allowed to give that info to you over this tool, but maybe we can chat about it in the chat room....can a moderator let me know how to go about getting Amelius more info about what I did?  Thanks.

I eat a low carb diet and have been losing weight steadily over the past year. I have found that eating meat, lessens my pain the next day.

I do not have a goal for eating completely organic but some organic foods are incorporated in my diet.

I cook everything from scratch but I do eat restaurant meals on occasion.

I do not eat rice, potatoes, things made with white flour and sugar.

I do not eat many grains but I do consume nuts.

Whenever I try to eat vegetarian, my anxiety soars, I cannot rest or sleep and I am jittery. Meats relax me. Not to mention I become downright mean which is not like me.

My diet is high in fat because it keeps me from being hungry. With this I have lost well over 60lb and the weight just keeps coming off.

Less weight means there is a lot less of me to haul around. This results in making me more comfortable.

Donnaeil

Post Edited (donnaeil) : 6/2/2011 3:51:36 PM (GMT-6)

I think that what works for you as far as your diet is concerned, you should absolutely keep doing it.  I often say what works for one person may not work for another, but you never know until you try. 

For me, I have to maintain a certain weight because I know if I go over a certain weight, my pain will be worse due to carrying that weight around.

I unfortunatley having lost 3 inches, must really keep my cravings in check.  When I was 5'9 it was easier, now at 5'6 (which disturbes me so much) I really have to be careful.

I think I have said the same thing in all three paragraphs, so I am going to move on as I have become redundant.

Hoping all are having low pain day, and more to come.