At the bottom of this post I have added a link to a great website with lots of helpful information. This link list many options for you if you suffer from dysautonomia. Here are a few things I have learned over the years that help me feel better.
- Trigger Point Injections! I cannot say enough about this. After many many years of suffering from such terrible muscle spasms that I now have herniated every disc in my neck except one, I found a doctor who can give these injections and it changed my life. Before my only recourse was muscle relaxers, which if they were strong enough to help left me incapacitated, or months of physical therapy which was nothing but a waste of time for this. These injections are nothing short of miraculous, and if you have trigger point issues, find a doctor who can treat you. I am very fortunate to have a great doctor who is very good at this. He is a DO, not and MD, and that is what you should look for.
- The Grid foam roller is also a great tool for working through the tightly banded muscle fibers we get with or without an active trigger point. I cannot speak for other foam rollers, this is the only one I have tried. It is very firm and has more than paid for itself in pain relief the first month I bought it.
- Before I had the foam roller I used a tennis ball to massage the pressure points until I could get in to get my injections. Be aware that hard pressure will leave you with a very sore muscle for several days, but this is still preferable to an active trigger point.
- Something cold on the back of my neck helps keep me from fainting. I have used frozen corn, a cold cloth, a bottle of water, anything really cold will help a lot. I read that a cold shower works as well, but that is impractical and sounds very uncomfortable. I usually have less than two minutes to find something cold, lie down and get it on the back of my neck. Not cool if you're at the mall....or anywhere really.
- Lie down with your legs up also helps to not pass out....this is even more fun if you are at Walmart.
- Drink as much water as you can stand, then drink more. It is unbelievable how much water we need and how sick we get from the slightest amount of dehydration.
- Salt, salt and more salt. I just read that some doctors are recommending from 5,000-10,000 mg per day for dysautonomic patients. I can't site that or give credit or tell you which doctor because I am in a brain fog and can't remember. It stuck in my head because it seems like such an outrageous amount, but it is my understanding that we really cant get enough salt. Unfortunately with most of us eating highly processed foods, some people probably eat that amount regularly. Many people take salt tablets, but they tend to upset my stomach. Too bad sugar doesn't help, that I could easily do.
- Don't get too hot. Forget the hot showers hot tubs and hot baths. Just don't do it. I have wound up face down on the bathroom floor more times than I care to admit over the hot shower thing.
- Try not to get too tired. I get very sick when I need to rest. It's like my body just shuts down.
- Change your diet. I know, I know....but it really has made a difference for me. I have stopped eating refined and processed food, grains, and sugar. I am eating what is basically a paleo diet. I started this for weight loss, but noticed vast improvements in almost every other area so quickly that I stuck to it....most of the time. I did get a little derailed around Thanksgiving, and again last week when I had family from out of town here. I also felt immediately worse for it, so now I am getting back on track.
- Supplements have made a big difference for me. A quality vitamin and mineral, fish oil, calcium and vitamin c are the basics I started with, and I order online for the best prices and quality products.
http://www.dinet.org/what_helps.htm
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