Waking up one day with stiff left neck and left upper back muscles I couldn’t almost move to turn my head to one side and move my left arm at certain points. Doing so caused me much pain and discomfort on my back and neck. As a result, the neck and arm on the affected side were rendered limited in mobility. There’s no doubt, both were the cause of my sleeping and positioning to my left side almost all night. I spent half the following day guarding my every neck and arm movement.
It was one long, 4-day holiday-weekend at the time and being burdened with such an unfortunate state of mobility at the middle of the holidays is a sorry state. So I got myself in a “fighting mood” the other half of that day. I thought I just couldn’t let the pain and stiffness spoil the remaining days.
First, I started to repeatedly move my arms and neck slowly on and away from the affected side acquainting myself with the pain and discomforts. When I did start to tolerate them I proceeded to exercise them within range of motion every now and then. For once, I had the muscles massaged by a cousin with the application of efficascent (liniment) oil. I even had a home vacuumed-glass application (similar to cupping therapy) to the area for a few minutes. However, going into the night I was still annoyed and frustrated with the persistent discomforts, though, a little bit improving.
Unsatisfied and out of desperation I had to force-stretch the muscle areas affected several times which I noticed some amount of relief. I had them stretched to their limits repeatedly resting only for a few minutes then back again. After dinner, I went back to my stretching exercises and finally before going to sleep for the night, still with the symptoms in restricted and guarded sleeping positions.
The following day, I woke up to my astonishment that everything was very much different and seemed back to normal with very minimal, totally tolerable pain and discomfort. I considered that the collective interventions I employed the previous day did work and that the result was not immediately in effect at that time. Although, I think the stretching exercises impacted the most benefit. Had I not faithfully administered those self-care interventions I would have to wait three to four days for the unwanted pain and discomforts of stiffness to subside on their own without any medication.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
My Self-Remedies in Fighting off and Winning Quickly in the Battle with Flu
Once in a while, I get to catch a dreaded flu virus even though I always make it a point to watch over my health particularly in boosting and maintaining immunity from common illnesses. I remember years ago that it’d get me up to three days to fully recover from battling this feverish illness that tends to visit me every once in a while. Lately however, I have always since been able to recover quickly in just a day. I almost couldn’t believe it the first time that I could be up the next day to report for office.
Most probably, as I've learned from reading health articles particularly updates on immune boosting nutrition and activities, plus my Bachelor of Nursing education I am able to “fight off” quickly with self-remedy the debilitating attack of the influenza virus in such a shorter time span. It helps being equipped with knowledge and taking up arms to fight off the sickness. Remarkably, my unyielding attitude towards the flu does help a lot.
It all begins with my instinct telling me the sickness has struck in its early stage as manifested by sore throat, fatigue and chills. That said, I would be readily up in “fight” mode. Taking in plenty of water comes in first. Fruits, most especially (but not limited to) citrus ones and veggies are automatically increased in intake, though not necessarily compromising the basic food group (protein, fat, carbs) inclusion in diet.
A slice of fingernail-sized garlic taken after meals twice in a day comes in next. As the sickness progresses I’d still be reinforcing myself with milk, sports drink and more water. Oftentimes, an ingestion of probiotics such as yogurt or lactobacillus drink is included. All are taken but spaced by hours accordingly.
Lying in bed most of the time to have a good amount of rest doesn’t mean I give up the battle. I always fight to get a good sleep in the midst of the discomforts associated with the flu. It helps preserve and recharge my waning energy.
My body always thank me for everything. After all, my own personal support is what it needs the most during one of the most challenging times in my health. Already up and noting that the fever would have subsided in the afternoon, I’d give myself just another immune boost to go out and watch the sunset while giving myself that dose of vitamin D.
I’d be back at the office the following day without that fever. And with a replenished energy I would just be filing just one-day leave, sparing the remaining of days for that year-end cash-convertible, unused “Sick Leaves”.
I wouldn’t mind the cough and colds that usually still persist for days. These are just treated with mucous softening medication especially carbocisteine with staple addition of kalamansi juice or orange in between meals for additional expectorant effect and natural vitamin C supplement. Nevertheless, treating these residual symptoms is only the final “combing” operation a few days after the battle with that pesky flu has days been won.
Most probably, as I've learned from reading health articles particularly updates on immune boosting nutrition and activities, plus my Bachelor of Nursing education I am able to “fight off” quickly with self-remedy the debilitating attack of the influenza virus in such a shorter time span. It helps being equipped with knowledge and taking up arms to fight off the sickness. Remarkably, my unyielding attitude towards the flu does help a lot.
It all begins with my instinct telling me the sickness has struck in its early stage as manifested by sore throat, fatigue and chills. That said, I would be readily up in “fight” mode. Taking in plenty of water comes in first. Fruits, most especially (but not limited to) citrus ones and veggies are automatically increased in intake, though not necessarily compromising the basic food group (protein, fat, carbs) inclusion in diet.
A slice of fingernail-sized garlic taken after meals twice in a day comes in next. As the sickness progresses I’d still be reinforcing myself with milk, sports drink and more water. Oftentimes, an ingestion of probiotics such as yogurt or lactobacillus drink is included. All are taken but spaced by hours accordingly.
Lying in bed most of the time to have a good amount of rest doesn’t mean I give up the battle. I always fight to get a good sleep in the midst of the discomforts associated with the flu. It helps preserve and recharge my waning energy.
My body always thank me for everything. After all, my own personal support is what it needs the most during one of the most challenging times in my health. Already up and noting that the fever would have subsided in the afternoon, I’d give myself just another immune boost to go out and watch the sunset while giving myself that dose of vitamin D.
I’d be back at the office the following day without that fever. And with a replenished energy I would just be filing just one-day leave, sparing the remaining of days for that year-end cash-convertible, unused “Sick Leaves”.
I wouldn’t mind the cough and colds that usually still persist for days. These are just treated with mucous softening medication especially carbocisteine with staple addition of kalamansi juice or orange in between meals for additional expectorant effect and natural vitamin C supplement. Nevertheless, treating these residual symptoms is only the final “combing” operation a few days after the battle with that pesky flu has days been won.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)