Wondering if you should use RICE, NSAIDS (Alleve Ibuprofen), or get a Cortisone shot? Let me tell you why you should run from any provider offering these choices!

7/21/2016

Some info from Holly, the owner of MpowerD.
IMPORTANT: Myths die hard; we all know that. here are some myths debunked and further explanations as to why we choose MEAT.

CORTISONE: I have been preaching this for so long! I have been doing my best to promote natural healing but so many people want that "immediate relief." They do not understand that a little bit of guidance, soft tissue work, corrective movement, strengthening, and kinesio tape can go very far and actually HEAL them. Until orthos move away from fear of liability, which has them choosing immobility, ibuprofen, and cortisone for almost every strain and sprain and inflammatory response in the body, we will never see healing the way it can truly happen in our country! I am so saddened how many people suffer needlessly with lingering pain that becomes chronic as well as further damage done to a tendon, ligament, or joint because it was covered up by cortisone. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW ANY DOCTOR TO GIVE YOU A CORTISONE SHOT! Read here for an in depth explanation about what really happens when cortisone is put in the body!
LACTIC ACID: One big myth is that massage can remove lactic acid. This is not true AND lactic acid is NOT a bad word. It is supposed to happen and is a normal response. Massage CANNOT remove lactic acid. However receiving a massage within 2 hours of a vigorous workout has been shown to reduce inflammation; measuring less NFkB, and increase the gene, PGC-1 Alpha, that helps muscle cells build mitochondria. This matters because mitochondria turn a cell's food into energy.
ICE: Another myth is that we should ice injuries. There is absolutely NO SCIENTIFIC proof that ice helps an injury. Inflammation is needed to heal any injury, if the area is iced and the inflammation process is halted or slowed down then things take much longer to heal. RICE was redacted by the man who actually coined the phrase many, many years ago along with an apology because he knows it further injured people.
IMMOBILIZATION: Another myth is to stop moving. You're hurt! Wear a brace, boot, etc. Immobilization is NOT your friend for low grade strains and sprains. Come see us in the first 24 hours so we can resolve it super fast!
NSAIDS: Take an NSAID as soon as you hurt! Not true! Using NSAIDS can slow healing. The doses are often wrong and have their own implications as well!

3 Comments

Melissa link

7/23/2016 11:59:14 pm

Wow great advice! I have worked with doctors over the years and this is their protocol! Its always about the $ and not really caring about a patient well-being! Truly sad! Its time we as massage therapists stick together and educate the public! Thankyou for caring! :)

Dan Stroup

8/16/2016 02:07:34 pm

I have to slightly disagree on the Cortisone comments you have made here. Both the personal anecdotal evidence of personal experience and even the article referenced in your blog. Personal experience: Herniated Diss L2-5, with resulting heavy pain and muscle weakness. With proper placement of the injection, The reduction in painand decreased pressure on the nerves, allowed both greater freedom/Range of movement. Allowing an ability to once again have movement and begin physical therapyand exercise. No Instant recovery or full return to work was expected, but allowed me to return to some form of productivity during the recovery period.
Based on the articles next to last paragraph, "There are, of course, times when healing won’t occur and cortisone can be symptomatically helpful, but our job is to figure out how to promote healing in those tough situations as well as the more straightforward overuse cases" WE see that cortisone has a place in the healing process, just not the first choice as other options may be of greater value, depending on the particular circumstance.
Always best not to use, fear as motivation for chosing which treatment to use or reject. For fear is the basis of myth, rather than facts and reality.

Holly Patterson link

8/16/2016 03:32:06 pm

Hi Dan, Thanks for your thoughts. I am so glad cortisone helped your disc issues so you could start and complete PT. If you take another moment to read the article again, I never mentioned cortisone in relation to disc disease or disc issues and neither does the article I mention. My rant is always about strains and sprains. I do however have many thoughts on cortisone and disc issues and may one day soon find the time to post about it.
I, too, personally have had my own back injury from a motorcycle accident and years later when I started medical school (I switched out of the program because of liability issues that physicians endure), I remember one of my professors calling cortisone the "Lazy Doctor's Choice." That was 20 years ago! I did not really understand cortisone back then but I was glad that I had met a bodyworker who helped me chose to deal with my dozens of fractures and 7 herniations naturally. I never had surgery and did not use steroids and thankfully have gone on to live an amazing life doing all of the things they said I would never do (carry children, go back to basketball, hike, and ride). THE BODY IS SO AMAZING! So, I teach what I know to people, as I find that is what I am best at doing.
Thank for the post! Hope you are staying cool!

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Wondering if you should use RICE, NSAIDS (Alleve Ibuprofen), or get a Cortisone shot? Let me tell you why you should run from any provider offering these choices!

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