In August 2014, I started showing symptoms of arthritis. Before the symptoms, I practiced yoga three times a week and lifted weights/did strength training (deadlifts, squats, pull-ups, overhead shoulder press, etc.) three to four times a week. However, a little before August I decreased this number to weights and yoga a few times a month because my joints started bugging and I didn’t know what was going on.
At one point, my ankles, knees, hip flexors, wrists, elbows, and neck were all swollen.
I was bedridden often. Walking down my street was a mission. Lifting a gallon of water was a mission. Tying my shoes was a mission. Sitting in a chair was a mission. The little things we take advantage of everyday was a mission.
This went on for awhile. I survived off of BioFreeze, ice, peppermint oil and muscle relaxers. Restorative yoga poses were even too strenuous for my joints, so I tried practicing yoga with a chair. Though the chair yoga helped stretch me out physically, the slow movements would aggravate me more when I was panicky or depressed. What worked best for me were self-massage treatments with tennis balls, a rolled up towel and essential oils plus I built up a strong daily meditation and pranayama practice.
Now it’s April 2015. Two months ago, I got an auto immune allergy test through US BioTech thanks to Toni Kuhn, yoga instructor and friend who also has arthritis, who recommended I see Dr. Yoon Min who studies both Eastern and Western medicine.
He told me to stay away from any foods that was in the #2 section. One month later, my ankles and knees started to feel better, though my hips still were on and off angry.
Two months later, this month, April 19 to be exact, my hips have stopped complaining, and my knees no longer feel unstable when I stretch out my hamstrings.
Did my new diet cure my arthritis? Or is this just a flare up in remission? If you read “Why I Started Yoga,” you’ll discover my history with injuries as a teenager, and how I was often bedridden then as well. Was that the beginning of arthritis? Or were my head to toe injuries just coincidence?
I’m a hamster. Stay tuned for more updates on the science experiment of my joints. Currently, I’m doing well
I hope if you have arthritis that you try the US Biotech test, and I hope it helps you too !!