I've recently dealt with a diagnosis where there is "no known cause", "no known treatment for healing" and "no instruction on how to get better". Here is a story of my journey and how I turned to my body to heal and get well.
This article is designed to offer insights for living with various conditions from a movement and healing perspective. This is in no way designed to replace the advice of your doctor. Healing often involves a team - your physician, a naturopathic physician, movement and breathing practice, and most important YOU.
Any diagnosis or lack of diagnosis can be overwhelming. Being told you have something that you have to "live with" can leave us feeling hopeless and helpless. Or knowing you don't feel like yourself but no one can pin point exactly what is "wrong" leaving you feeling discouraged and powerless. You ask yourself "is this it? I just have to live feeling this way?"
I've recently dealt with Restless Leg Syndrome. It came on gradually and got to the point where I wasn't sleeping AT ALL. Knowing what I know, this was a slippery slope into illness, disease and a terrible quality of life. Western medicine doesn't know how you get it and states there is no solution.
I went to my doc, as it is good to get checked - was my vascular flow good? Heart ok? I was given a prescription and left. Huh. Living with a medication that involved no solution to getting better, nasty side effects and told this was a neurological disorder and that was that left me feeling very empty inside. No questions around lifestyle or stress.
I had a choice, live with it or figure out how to get well.
"You Cannot Heal in the Same Environment That Made You Sick." Joseph Romano
I took the meds for two weeks. It took the edge off, I started to get some sleep and then started to think more clearly. So, they were a good thing. But a long term solution? No way!
Time to take control of my health. My big question, "What do I know about the human body?"
1. I know the body can heal itself if you give it what it needs and stop doing things that break it down.
2. I just needed to figure out what it needed and what it didn't need and start doing that.
3. Gather facts - bloodwork - ask the right questions.
4. Inflammation, lymphatics, gut health and nervous system is ALWAYS involved in everything healthy or unhealthy in our body. Period.
I learned that Restless Leg Syndrome was a neurological issue and may be caused by an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine, which sends messages to control muscle movement. Further research said low Iron, Zinc and Magnesium may be causes.
My plan
1. Blood work - confirmed I was low in the minerals. Perfect!
2. Add supplements and whole foods high in the minerals I needed - yes!
3. Stop stimulants - caffeine, sugar, alcohol, tv/computer before bed. (I did keep 1 cuppa in the early am and a glass on a Friday :) )
4. Clear my lymphatic system, hydrate fascia (that's where my nerve endings are... remember this is a neurological condition), breathwork to stimulate parasympathetic nervous system to promote healing and sleep.
My Tools
1. MELT for Fascia
2. Lymphatic dance, Primal shake and organ resets. (video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi_j3iZMO-g&t=70s )
3. Shift my bedtime routine - 3,2,1 - 3 hours before bed no food. 2 hours stop all work 1. hour - screens off.
4. Breathwork, meditation and nature
5. Nutrition - eat more nutrient dense food, add mineral supplementation.
4. Bowen Therapy - as much as I have tools, it is always good to have another perspective and another help with care and healing. I love Bowen and it works with the same premise as MELT and Lymphatic work I use.
Within a few short weeks, my life changed. I started sleeping, my legs calmed down and I was able to decrease the meds until I was off. By giving my body what it needed and stopped what wasn't supporting my health, I was able to free myself of what would have been a brutal future of autoimmune disease.
Healing involves STOP CHASING THE SYMPTOMS, and GO AFTER THE CAUSE. No system works alone, gets injured alone or heals alone. Regardless of your diagnosis, choice of treatment, getting your lymphatics moving,
My own journey is shared with the purpose of saying that there are steps you can take to help your body heal. In addition to your medical doctor, see a Naturopath, get your lymphatics moving (that's my job :)), breathwork and movement in a healing way (Pilates, yoga, walking). These will all support you to strengthen your immune system and above all give you a sense of power and control over your health. The very fact that you are DOING SOMETHING is empowering and healing in itself.
One thing is clear... any issue we have in our body, especially autoimmune deals with your gut, your brain and your lymphatics. Inflammation is at the root and my reducing inflammation and getting your systems working together, healing is possible. Even if what you have cannot go away, you can reduce the symptoms, slow down the progression and have a wonderful quality of life.