Many lupus patients have found that holistic approaches for pain relief provide them with a level of comfort and aid in managing their symptoms.
20 percent of people with lupus have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus. -Lupus Foundation of America.
Managing the symptoms associated with lupus flare-ups is part of life for the more than 1.5 million people in the U.S. who suffer from this chronic autoimmune disease, 90 percent of whom are women. An overwhelming majority of lupus patients experience lupus-related pain that tends to come and go depending on a variety of factors, including stress.
May is Lupus Awareness Month, which makes it all the more important to discuss ways in which those living with lupus can have a better quality of life by combining traditional medicine with more holistic approaches to better manage their symptoms and reduce flare-ups.
Pain Relief for Lupus Patients
Many lupus patients have found that holistic approaches for pain relief provide them with a level of comfort and aid in managing their symptoms. Everyday Health reports that nearly a third of all lupus patients also have fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that leads to widespread body pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and even memory problems.
Arthritis and what is known as “lupus headache,” which is a headache similar to a migraine, are two more painful conditions often associated with lupus. Those who experience these painful side effects may benefit from holistic treatments, such as yoga, massage and acupuncture– an ancient Chinese traditional medical treatment.
Biofeedback is another holistic method for pain relief. Jim Cahill, Biofeedback Therapist from the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, and founder of Mindfulness-Based Biofeedback Therapy™ gave Aches and Gains listeners an in-depth look at the effectiveness of this treatment. Retired anesthesiologist Dr. Blossom Sanger shared how biofeedback therapy has given her much better control of her pain, allowing her to regain better control of her life.
Holistic health practices may very well be the missing piece of the puzzle when it comes to managing the chronic pain that often accompanies lupus and other diseases that cause pain.
Nick Cannon on Holistic Treatment for Lupus
Numerous celebrities have talked about their lupus battles publicly in recent years, including entertainer and TV personality Nick Cannon, who went public with his health struggle in 2012.
Cannon told the Washington Post that he has experimented with some “holistic ways” of managing his illness, specifically noting he has taken up meditation and has eliminated fast food from his diet. Cannon also said he has considered other means of treatment that fall on the more traditional end of the spectrum.
In a video interview with the Lupus Foundation of America, Cannon shared some ideas and advice for fellow lupus patients.
“When you can see that other people are going through the same thing you’re going through, it’s encouraging,” he said. “When you hear you have it, it’s not over. It’s something that you can get through and you can win.”
Learn more about holistic health practices by clicking through the below episodes of Aches and Gains:
- Holistic Approaches for Pain Relief
- Jin Shin Jyutsu: A Simple Japanese Touch Therapy, Part I
- Acupuncture, Part I
- Biofeedback
For more information about Lupus Awareness Month, visit the Lupus Foundation of America website and check out their Awareness Toolkit.