Change For The Better: Sore Muscles

Reflecting on my various injuries throughout the years, it’s unsettling to think of the number of harsh chemicals I’ve put into my body in the name of “treatment”. I’ve mentioned many times the high hamstring injury I sustained a few years ago, but my pathetic list of injuries also includes bursitis in my hip, a sprained ankle, tendinitis in my toe, and current issue with upper back pain & shoulder pain. I’m like a 95 year-old woman.

To treat my long list of ailments I’ve probably taken enough ibuprofen to kill a small child (or at least my liver), taken prescription anti-inflammatories, slathered Biofreeze all over, and had 1 cortisone shot. Let’s not forget the all the x-rays and that expensive MRI—but I’m not even going there. In a matter of 10 years I’ve used way too many toxic chemicals and now it honestly freaks me out a little.

There is quite a lot a person can do to avoid serious injury—this I learned the hard way. For example, don’t run 60 miles/week and lift weights and go to cycle class and swim. Overuse = injury.

However, muscles and tendons still get sore, so what anti-inflammatory options exist that are less toxic? Here are a few of my remedies:

1. Diet

Now I’m no dietitian, but I’ve read about several foods & spices that contain anti-inflammatory properties such as turmeric, pineapple, anything with vitamin C & E, and good sources of omega-3s like salmon. I admittedly have not read the actual studies of these foods and do not know the therapeutic quantity, but I figure it can’t hurt to incorporate these foods into my diet.

2. R.I.C.E.

Good ol’ Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation is commonly used for injuries, but I’ve sat on ice packs every night for years injured or not. Again, I figure icing can’t hurt and anything I can do to ease inflammation from daily workouts is a plus.

3. Homeopathics

Thanks to my hippie boyfriend, I’m now aware of a whole world of homeopathic pain remedies. My favorite being Traumeel which I’ve used in the tincture and gel forms. I prefer the gel form and just rub the ointment on sore or mildly inflamed muscles. A few of my other go-to ointments are Tiger Balm and Triflora Arthritis Gel which is mainly comprised of arnica, a well-known homeopathic anti-inflammatory.

My homeopathic infantry.

It is apropos that I’m discussing muscle pain remedies because I have some seriously sore hamstrings today. I went to a 90 minute Y2 yoga class with Caitlin and Jen yesterday morning after not attending a class for several days.

Caitlin chose to wear leopard print, peep-toe shoes to yoga class. I suppose you can take the girl out of Miami, but you can’t take Miami out of the girl.

We may have replenished our fluid levels with Starbucks coffee. Not healthy. Jen modeled the red cup.

Hopefully all soreness will find its way to the door before my Turkey Trot 8k on Thanksgiving Day. This will be the longest race I’ve run in 2 years and I don’t want hamstring problems to rain on my parade!

What are your go-to remedies for muscle soreness?

Tagged as: arnica, bursitis, cortisone, hamstring tendinitis, homeopathic, running injuries, starbucks red cup, tiger balm, traumeel, yoga