integrative medicine

Understanding Knee Osteoarthritis and Your Nonsurgical Options

Understanding Knee Osteoarthritis and Your Nonsurgical Options

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common causes of chronic knee pain and stiffness as we age. It results from gradual wear of the joint cartilage, leading to inflammation, swelling, and reduced mobility. While surgery—like knee replacement—can help in advanced cases, many people manage OA symptoms effectively without it.

This blog explores when nonsurgical treatments are appropriate, who can benefit, and what evidence-based options are available.

Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Jelly for Your Joints!

Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Jelly for Your Joints!

Hyaluronic acid (HA) injections have become an established treatment option for managing joint pain, particularly in osteoarthritis. Understanding how HA works, the conditions it best treats, who should consider it, and the associated risks can help patients make informed decisions about this therapy.

Prolotherapy Injections: How Sugar Water and Anesthetic Might Help with Your Chronic Pain

Prolotherapy Injections: How Sugar Water and Anesthetic Might Help with Your Chronic Pain

Prolotherapy has been gaining attention in recent years as a treatment option for chronic musculoskeletal pain and joint instability. It is a regenerative injection therapy that stimulates healing by triggering the body’s inflammatory and repair processes. Understanding how prolotherapy works, which conditions it treats best, who makes a good candidate, and potential risks can help clarify its role in pain management.

Cortisone Injections: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Many Common Diagnoses

Cortisone Injections: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Many Common Diagnoses

As a naturopath, I always look for the most natural options for treatment. Sometimes this is looking at overall diet and lifestyle changes that can modify inflammation in the body. Sometimes this is looking at regenerative injections like prolotherapy or platelet-rich plasma. And other times, corticosteroids are the best option.

The dust has settled.

The dust has settled.

I couldn’t let this year pass without one hell of an update. So here it is!

WILY... May is Here!

WILY... May is Here!

As I reflected upon the idea of usefulness being found in uselessness, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by a recurring, negative, emotional experience I have had throughout my life. It is one centered around this idea of being useless and how that is tied to shame and guilt. There was this single moment, an instant, where I felt this sudden wave of relief. It was as if I was permitted to extend myself grace for all of those moments I had beaten myself up about feeling useless. I must admit, the moment was short, but recalling it now, I can almost feel what I felt at that moment. This inner knowing that being useless is in fact needed for being useful.