By Gina Galvez, MS, PA-C
Do you have a new year’s resolution? Are you tired of being in pain all the time?
Chronic pain can be debilitating, causing many people to have anxiety and depression. Pain can affect your ability to think clearly and function well at work or school, not to forget that it also affects your ability to have fun and enjoy the pleasures of life.
I have created a fun and helpful New Year’s Resolution checklist to get you out of pain and living your best life!
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HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION: Drink 8-10 glasses of mineral water daily (add electrolytes & Akasha Greens) to flush lactic acid and hydrate bones & soft tissue.
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Foods to avoid: Avoid or reduce gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods and oils. For some patients even corn, oats and soy can produce pain. Try a 2-week elimination diet and reintroduce the food 1 by 1 and monitor how your body feels over 4 days before adding it back in.
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Foods to enjoy: Anti-inflammatory foods that contain magnesium, iron and B-vitamins such as spinach, turmeric, ginger, tart cherry juice, wild caught salmon, blueberries, etc.
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Supplements: Magnesium, fish oil, turmeric, arnica, vitamin D/k, etc.
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Myofascial release tools: Theragun and scraper- Essential tool for deep fascial and muscle tension release to break down fibrous hardened tissue.
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Heat & Ice: Use a heating pad before stretching & exercise, use Ice after to reduce swelling & pain relief. (Try infrared sauna & cryotank)
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Pain creams: Arnica, magnesium spray, CBD cream, capsaicin, camphor, calendula, etc.
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Movement & Stretching: Helps move and loosen built up of lactic acidosis from muscles, bringing fresh oxygenated blood to sore tissue. Dancing and Yin Yoga are my personal favorites.
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Strengthening: Essential to strengthening joints and recreating balance to weakened muscles and soft tissue surrounding bone. Physical therapy is a great start!
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Trigger point or intra-articular Injections with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): Your own platelets have growth factors that can replace fibrous arthritis tissue with new regenerated cartilage & bone cells, and increase blood flow to injured muscle and arthritic joints! Talk to your PA/doctor about PRP and discover if you are a good candidate.
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Acupuncture & cupping: Movement of energy or Chi through your meridians
- Mindfulness Meditation: Bring awareness to your pain, breathe into that space, and transform it into strength. You are a warrior, not a victim to circumstance!
Embrace change and healing with open arms. Life is precious, try these modalities and see how you can transform your life!
Hi, my name is Gina Galvez, MS, PA-C. I am an integrative Physician assistant and I’ve worked at the Akasha Center for 2 years.
As a prior Professor of medicine and PA of Orthopedic Surgery in NYC, I am so passionate about changing the lives of my patients with chronic pain, fatigue, arthritis and sports injuries using regenerative medicine such as platelet rich plasma (PRP) to facilitate regrowth of cartilage, bone, skin cells and hair!
If you are interested in getting rid of pain, book a 10 minute complimentary visit with me to learn more about the healing powers of PRP.
Follow me on Instagram for how to videos and more information on the above @Cellular_Vitality
