Trigger Tendons...How I Managed My Own

Let me tell ya lil story bout a messed up thumb...

As a Massage Therapist, having my hands hurting constantly with fingers locking in pain, unable to work, is not conducive to making a living...paying bills, or even being somewhat effective at work. I struggled with trigger tendons for a year. I kept working and tried various therapies and was prepared to take  a several month break to have surgery. But no...

Trigger Tendons can be painful. They can often just be annoying or even a cool trick to show friends. The anatomy involved is, of course, tendons, but as there is inflammation on the tendon as it passes through a sheath or crosses a pulley at the joint. It can lock. The release of this locked tendon is visible with a snapping twitch, painful or not. I still have one trigger tendon that has never been painful. And it does not go away. I ignore it except to show it off at parties. I have had four other trigger tendons that brought tears to my eyes and made me articulate my feelings about said pain using colorful metaphors and choice expletives. , sometimes during treatment with a client on the table.

I sought help first from an orthopedic doctor. I received injections which took away my pain 100%, until I went back to work a week later. Pain and inflammation returned w a vengeance, this time in an additional digit. I then sought help from my massage therapists, Mariam Samha and Marlene Turner. Both were able to give me some relief as they were thorough in treating all the way up to my elbow. Mariam performed myofascial release and pin and stretch methods to include each digit and short muscle of the hand as well as longer muscle in the forearm. Marlene then applied a new treatment technology using  a combination of frequency-emitting wearable sticker discs, ANF therapy. I realized some relief from both but it was only temporary. I see their work as valid, yet the intensity and measure of reoccurring debilitating pain had me willing to undergo surgery. 

But then a funny thing happened. This guy proposes to my daughter. My baby girl will be married come May 2019. Other than joy and happiness for both of them, I also experience fear and sadness. "I got to get my butt in better shape so as to be present at the wedding...to give my daughter away." I knew what I must do. Lifestyle changes that include diet and exercise. As I started I was intentional about eliminating all foods and beverages that cause inflammation. So sad. I also added items that combat inflammation. So, hello healthy food, goodbye processed food, sugar, alcohol. "Hey, my hands dont hurt anymore."

What? I got rid of my trigger tendons even while increasing the volume of my massage practice by

• putting turmeric and black pepper in everything I ate or drank
• quit alcohol...in moderation of course
• ate healthy fat on purpose as I turned the food pyramid upside down
• got my carbs from greens
• quit eating all processed foods
• quit using vegetable oils for cooking, I only use coconut oil or Ghee...even in my coffee :)
• watching people exercise while contemplating my best approach

It took 4 weeks to restore the strength and health of my hands and fingers without taking a break from work. Im at 90%.
My therapists could have done more over time, but the root cause was an inflammatory state due to what I was consuming. Input equals Output.

​Ive done Adkins when Keto wasn't cool. I discovered Ketogenic research 7 years before it became a fad. 
Ive done Primal and Paleo. Ive lost 800 pounds over the last 15 years. Minus 50 plus 60, minus 70 plus 80, minus 20 plus 25 ...etc.

Im not saying Ive arrived and have the answers to anything. Dont follow me. Im just saying my hands don't hurt. I lost weight. Im going to a wedding. Im giving my daughter away. 

Oh, bacon is its own food group.