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Tag Archives: arthritis

A Joyful Noise

10 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by yeloros in health, mind/body

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Alzheimer's, arthritis, bone marrow transplant, brain chemicals, brain injuries, music keyboard, music therapy, Parkinson's disease, skin graft, stroke, WPLongform

4997454_sThe day I sat down to write this post, I couldn’t concentrate because of the excruciating pain from a tooth that needed a root canal. Nothing worked to relieve that pain. Consequently, I turned to my best pain-killer–music. Yes, music! I put on my old school CD’s, meaning songs with a melody and lyrics you don’t have to decipher. For about three pain-free hours I had a wonderful time singing along with the artists just as if I had been there when they were recording. Now there’s nothing mysterious about this.  It’s nature’s way of releasing pain-relieving and “feel good” brain chemicals (endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine) resulting in temporary relief. It must be music that you like. Hearing music you don’t like has negative results. We are all blessed with these remarkable brain chemicals. But keep in mind, music doesn’t eliminate the cause of the pain and music won’t work on that need-to-get-to-the-hospital type of pain.

Music lets us–makes us–allows us to FEEL, it touches our soul.  Research has proven that music can excite the brain whether we’re singing, listening, dancing, playing an instrument, humming, whistling.

These same pain chasers also pull me through while playing the keyboard or organ. The challenge of practicing to play a song without making mistakes, rearranging a favorite piece of music, or trying to play a song by ear, makes pain run and hide while sending my mood skyrocketing. (By the way, don’t let a little kid hear you say that you can play by ear!)

Every human responds to music, even at a very early age. Children have a natural love of music. It’s no doubt about how soothing lullabies help babies relax and sleep better. It’s even been shown that premature infants have gained more weight and have lower blood pressure and a stronger heart when exposed to music. We have all probably watched those toddlers, smiling and clapping their hands, bobbing and weaving, while trying to dance with those little chubby unsteady legs.

"Watch this!"

“Watch this!”

"This is fun!"

“This is fun!”

"Start the music."

“Start the music.”

“Monkeys on the Bed” and “Old MacDonald’s Farm” never fail to bring squeals of delight from preschoolers, and flash cards take a back seat to singing the “Alphabet Song”. Remember how excited those teenagers were on Dick Clark’s “American Band Stand”? And Don Cornelius provided the “joy spotlight” for those showing off their dance moves on “Soul Train”.

Music not only makes us happy and reduces pain, it helps us cope with many situations and has a powerful effect on our body as well as our brain. No one is claiming that music cures anything or that it should take the place of medicine or treatments, but it can be a helpmate for all who need help. This is where music therapy comes in. With individualized care plans, trained therapists use music in a variety of ways to aid in the healing and rehabilitation process, in an effort to improve a patient’s quality of life. It’s not always meant to just entertain, and a musical outcome isn’t the goal. No sheet music, musical ability, or prior music lessons required.

Music therapy has been around since ancient times demonstrating that music seems to be good for what ails us. It’s used in many settings, including schools, hospitals, community clinics, nursing homes, substance abuse treatment centers, hospice care, and prisons.  From what I witnessed, it seems to have the power to transform some harden criminals into genteel gentlemen for a while.

Music can even change our brain by creating new pathways around areas damaged by stroke, tumor, or other brain injuries. In other words, the incredible brain can make a way when there is no way, as seen in patients with brain injuries or brain tumors who can’t talk, but with music therapy, they can sing! (See “The Wonders of Music”.) It helps stroke victims learn to walk, and some veterans with one limb find it beneficial in their effort to walk. Several VA hospitals are also using music therapy to help vets cope with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Walter Reed Army Medical Center recently added a music therapy program.

In patients with cancer, music can help them cope with some of their symptoms and side effects of their treatment, as well as reduce pain and anxiety, according to the American Cancer Society. Music can be a calming outlet for heart patients and decrease their blood pressure, heart rate and improve their breathing as stated by the American Heart Association. It’s been shown to even benefit autistic children by helping them communicate and develop social skills, giving them an opportunity to express themselves.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAPlaying the keyboard can be a godsend for the blind as they eagerly find the keys to make music. It’s been shown to calm the shaking, trembling hands of people with Parkinson’s disease. Easing the pain and stiffness in the hands of those suffering with arthritis has been demonstrated. An individualized care plan involving the keyboard can help a burn victim recovering with painful skin grafted hands.

Alzheimer’s patients, in every stage of the disease, can benefit from participating in all forms of music. Those who don’t even recognize family members and can no longer speak clearly, have been known to play the piano or sing their favorite songs–just like they did before their lives were derailed by the dreaded brain robber. (My mother was one of them.) Some can even be seen doing what’s called “the wheel chair boogie” when listening to their personalized iPod playlist while wheeling down the hall. It’s like they are being transported back to happier times when they hear what has now become those oldies but goodies. (See “The Wonders of Music”.)

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The TV program “Nightline” featured a woman who had a double hand transplant. I would think music therapy could play a crucial role in her healing process. Robin Roberts, co-anchor on ABC’s “Good Morning America” said that music helped her through the painful, debilitating bone marrow transplant.

Music can benefit you, too.  It doesn’t have to be tunes from yesteryear and you don’t need to have a problem to reap the benefits.  How do you feel when you hear your favorite music? It has the power to lift your spirits, calm nerves, help you sleep, chase depression, move you to dance.  How about dancing with your kids or grandkids? They’ll get a kick out of your old-timey moves, and the joy and laughter won’t come from any medication. Do you include music in your daily life? Let us know what music means to you.

I love music–country, gospel, jazz, soul, rock and roll, R&B.  It’s as nourishing as food and essential vitamins. Every day music allows me to enjoy the wonderful benefits of nature’s medication prescribed by the Great Physician–possible side effects: toe tapping, laughter, dancing, singing, happy tears.

bigstock_Woman_portrait_silhouette_with_13427765

Watch music therapy in action–Click here “The Wonders of Music”

Resources:

*type music therapy in search box at site

  • *Cleveland Clinic (http://www.clevelandclinic.org)
  • http://www.newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2011/04/21
  • Center for Music Therapy (http://www.centerformusictherapy.com)
  • American Music Therapy Association (http://www.musictherapy.org) find certified music therapists
  • *American Cancer Society
  • *American Heart Association
  • Institute for Music and Neurologic Function
  • *Everydayhealth (http://www.everydayhealth.com)
  • *(http://www.healthline.com)
  • *Alzheimer’s Association (http://www.alz.org)
  • *The Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com) healthy living section

Images:

  • 123rf.com
  • Bigstock.com
  • istock.com

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Goodbye Arthur

03 Tuesday Apr 2012

Posted by yeloros in mind/body

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

aches and pains, arthritis, body talk, celiac disease, couscous, daily food journal, fatigue, gluten-free, nuts, pasta, seeds, semolina, wheat additives, wheat-free

green round headsHave you ever noticed how your body is really good about talking to you, hoping you will be wise enough to listen?

I was all set to go to the doctor to get medication for what I thought was arthritis and dreading the possibility of having a knee or hip replacement.  However, I was pretty sure that arthritis is not “sometimey”.  So, because I’m used to listening to my “body talk”, I knew I had better pay attention.

In really bad times, the pain was so intense in my legs, knees, thighs, and hips, I thought they would actually break.  It was an effort to walk, sit, stand or even get in and out of the car or bed. Trying to raise my arms in exercise class was so painful I had to stop the lessons.  I was also extremely tired most of the time.  Consequently, I decided to look back through my Daily Food Journal to see if this pain could be caused by something I was eating.  I’ve been keeping a journal for a very long time, ever since I had similar symptoms years ago.  At that time, I was surprised to discover that two of my favorites,  nuts and seeds, were the offenders, so I have carefully avoided them at all cost.

Looking back through the journal this time, I noticed that I was eating a lot of whole wheat bread and many other wheat products.  Sure enough, when I went wheat-free, the symptoms stopped.  But then they would start again, even though I had stopped eating all wheat–or so I thought.  Much to my dismay, there it was in black and white.  The aches and pains came back in spades when I ate couscous or pasta, yes, good ole PASTA.

How could this be?  Well pasta, couscous and a variety of other foods are made from something called semolina.  Without hesitation, off I went to Google and what do you know?  Semolina is the granular product made from durum WHEAT!  Needless to say,  I stop eating the obvious wheat products.  In the process, I learned that lots of foods you might never suspect contain wheat additives and there are many gluten no-no’s to watch out for.

My doctor ruled out celiac disease well before I eliminated gluten; however, I am gluten sensitive and will regret it if I eat anything with gluten. Coincidentally, the biggest revelation came in the form of ENERGY!!!  The extreme fatigue vanished with the elimination of gluten.  For me, being tired was normal, just one of the many “pains” that come along in life.  I thought everybody was tired.  Well apparently not.  Now I can walk from one end of the mall to the other, go up to the next level and do it again, which was totally out of the question before.

Could there be something in your diet destroying your well-being?

Maya Angelou says that when you know better, you do better.  Doing better in your case could be as simple as keeping your own food journal to help pinpoint problems you may be having. For instance, my sister started keeping one and discovered that her “hay fever” was caused by the type of honey she was putting in her tea!

We are victims of so many ailments beyond our control.  Why suffer needlessly from our self-made conditions, when all we have to do is be more attentive when our body is telling us that something is wrong?  Look for the root cause and not merely treat the symptoms!

Since we are all aiming for longevity, wouldn’t it be wonderful to live many more years in optimal health?

Incidentally, I thanked my body for telling me to investigate the cause for so much pain, and oh yeah, Goodbye Arthur Ritis.

Read the posts “Tips-Gluten No-No’s” and “No Wheat, No Weight?- Part 1”and “No Wheat, No Weight? – Part 2”

Click on “Fannie’s Kitchen” for “Savory Gluten-Free Muffins” recipe

I am anxious to hear your story.

More information see:WebMD.com/gluten-free

Images from: 123RF.com

Check with your health care provider before making any major dietary changes.

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