Break a Leg!

I've always wondered why people say this to someone who is going to perform, usually on a stage.  Surely in this age of positive manifestations, it is not something you would want to bring on. However, I have been lying in bed contemplating this saying as I slipped rather quickly into 2015 and connected my knee with a piece of steel, consequently smashing my kneecap in two.  After surgery to wire my kneecap (patella) back together, a load of painkilling and other drugs, I am home from hospital with my leg in a brace for six weeks. So I thought I would share with you what I have done to a) detoxify my liver from the affects of the anaesthetic and other drugs, b) reduce swelling, pain and inflammation, c) aid bone healing and d) deal with the shock and tiredness, not to mention boredom and frustration! Day one after surgery I awoke with a massive migraine, possibly an after effect of the combination of drugs and anaesthetic. I was given more drugs to deal with this but I pleaded for magnesium, which I normally take. Eventually, two days later the staff gave in and gave me a magnesium supplement for which I felt an instant relief in pain. It also helped me sleep at night which, in a ward with three other people in various stages of pain, was rather difficult.

I also asked my partner to bring me in some homeopathic remedies and decided not to ask the staff for approval:

1. Arnica 200 - for shock and trauma, pain, bruising and inflammation. Two pills two to three times a day.
2. Hypericum 200 - for nerve pain after any surgery. Two pills two to three times a day.
3. Nux Vomica 30 - for headaches, nausea, indigestion and constipation. It is also a great remedy for liver detoxing. Constipation is part and parcel with heavy duty pain killers.

I did not feel much like eating for those first few days in hospital and since hospital food is designed to send you to an early grave, I lived mainly on fruit brought in for me. I also asked only for cups of hot water from the tea lady and put my own green or chamomile T bags in. Green tea of course was helping with liver detoxification and the chamomile was calming before bed. On arriving back home I have continued with the above homeopathic, alternating them throughout the day, plus I have added Symphytum 30 (homeopathic comfrey). I have comfrey in the garden so can also juice the leaves or make a tea. For any wound with blood stagnation, bruising, pain and swelling, comfrey is wonderful as a poultice. It's common name is boneknit and it can be grown easily in any garden. Mix the fresh or dried leaves with apple cider vinegar to make a paste, apply liberally and wrap the wound in a cotton cloth. This is only possible if you can easily get to the wound. It is also great for the pain of rheumatism and arthritis.

Once home I could also start on a vitamin regimen:

1. Magnesium Diasporal - 1 sachet twice a day. Essential for relaxing tight muscles, bone healing and helping with sleep, headaches and pain.
2.  Vit C Powder - 1/2 tspn twice a day to help the body recover from shock and to help ward off infection to the wound.
3.  Bioactive Calcium (with Vit D and other cofactors) for bone healing - 1/2 tspn twice a day.
4.  Multi Flora Probiotic Capsules - One before two meals a day - to recolonise the gut with good bacteria (I had also been on antibiotics) and boosting of the immune system.
5. Optimal Wild Fish Oils - anti-inflammatory, pain relief and blood thinning. I had been advised to take aspirin to help stop clotting as the leg would be still for a long time!
6.  Dr Vera's Activated B Complex - for energy and nervous system support.
7. Pure Innovations Zinc Citrate - one capsule twice a day for wound healing and immune system support.
8.  Gingko Biloba - 5 mls once a day as a circulatory stimulant and also for stroke/blood clot prevention.

Food wise everything tastes wonderful after a brief glimpse of hospital food. I am eating mainly organic with high amounts of salads and vegies, tempeh, beans, rice, biodynamic yoghurt and of course prunes were a life saver when I first arrived home. My blood pressure dipped rather drastically the day after I got back home which was very disconcerting as I could not get up on my crutches without fear of falling over from dizziness. I applied Himalayan Salt liberally to my meals and it came back to normal within 24 hours. I have been visualising my knee healing and me swimming and walking on the beach again as quantum science has proven this helps to reconnect the appropriate pathways and aid healing. It is now two weeks since the accident and I am weight bearing on my leg, managing to get up and about a little bit, though still resting a lot with my leg up. I'm off all pain killers and am feeling stronger every day. I'm reading and doing some small creative projects to ward off boredom and frustration. I hope this never happens to you or a loved one but if it does, may this information be beneficial.

Suzanne Staples, ND, DBM Naturopath, Herbalist, Homoeopath email info@heartandspirit.com.au Copyright Suzanne Staples