The Hindu Business Line : Help for chikungunya woes

Inflamed joints need heat to experience relief. So, make sure you have a hot bath in the morning to get you off to a good start; then another at night to help you sleep.

Reality bites: Fever and joint pains set in with chikungunya, which is caused by mosquito bites. - MOHAMMED YOUSUF

Little is known about chikungunya except that it is caused by mosquito bites. It starts with fever and joint pains; then follows a rash. The fever subsides with antibiotics; the rash fades with antihistamines. But the "debilitating joint pains" remain, says Panna who is still hobbling around painfully after two months. "Even picking up my purse hurts!" she grimaces, pointing at her swollen hands and ankles.

Rashmi, another victim, says her joint pains disappeared only after six months. Living in a duplex bungalow made life difficult for her, as the bedrooms are on the first floor. "I slept downstairs on the living room floor rather than brave the stairs," she says.

The good news is that once you've recovered, there are no other side-effects. So what we've got to do is make those six months as pain-free and easy as possible. Remember, there is no safe painkiller. At best, you can have it for 10 days. Painkillers destroy the kidneys and liver in the long run. That's why this column offers 10 handy, alternative tips and remedies:

Keep out mosquitoes: Cover water containers. Don't allow stagnant water to collect anywhere. Put all garbage in plastic bags and close them with a rubber band. Arm yourself with mosquito-repellent creams, coils, etc. Cover your windows with a fine mesh.

Lose weight: Excess weight puts pressure on the ankle joints and increases the intensity of inflammation, swelling and pain. Work out a personalised diet plan with a nutritionist. You may not be able to walk, but do stationary cycling wearing thick-heeled open slippers while pedalling. Shoes confine the feet and hurt. Cycling banishes the blues and weariness from being constantly in pain. It also reduces the swelling in the joint.

Let go stress: Tension contracts muscles and intensifies pain. Let go creating stress for yourself. Don't like doing something? Don't do it. Don't like somebody? Stop socialising with her/him. Feel your secretary is sloppy? Stop being a perfectionist. This is a good time to let go unimportant `small stuff' and become a better, kinder and more accepting person.

Breathe deeply: Inhale and exhale deeply four times an hour daily. Raise your eyebrows to ease the tension from your temples. Open your mouth to unclench your jaw. Sitting on your seat, close your eyes and relax all your muscles while breathing deeply.

Chant to re-train the brain: Chanting for half an hour daily sends a healing rhythm through the brain. This helps break old resistance patterns that cause pain and re-trains it to control pain messages.

Eat to heal: Some foods may help ease the pain. Dark red raspberries, cherries, and strawberries contain pain-fighters called anthocynanins. Soya (RDA: 40 grams a day) contains an anti-inflammation agent called isoflavone. If you don't have diabetes, eat a chikoo to sweeten your feelings and bring a vein of comfort to your discomfort. Munch two teaspoons of flaxseeds daily. They contain omega-3 fatty acids that bring quick relief. Cut out all cooking oils. They contain omega-6 that worsens joint-pains.

Juice up: Drink plenty of water to clear toxins and excess salt in the body that may cause water retention at such times. Drink carrot or tomato juice daily. Anecdotal evidence suggests having only carrot/tomato juice for one full day — and no other food — reduces joint pains to almost zero.

Click on copper cuffs: The ancient copper bracelet for joint pain relief may yet find its way into modern medicine. Research shows that some people cannot digest and metabolise copper from food. It's also been found that copper-deficiency can increase joint inflammation. So, don that copper bracelet. Yes, the copper can dissolve and enter the body through the skin and ease the joints.

Have a hot bath: Inflamed joints need heat to experience relief. So, make sure you have a hot bath in the morning to get you off to a good start; then another at night to help you sleep. Deep sleep is imperative to avoid getting grouchy from the continuous undercurrent of pain. Also, apply a muscle ointment before sleeping. It will alleviate the morning stiffness. Rub eucalyptus oil on the joints and wrap a warmed towel around them. It definitely decreases the pain.

Stretch away stiffness: Initially it may hurt, but the ensuing relief that comes finally through stretching is invaluable. Rotate joints of shoulders, ankles and wrists. Press a rubber ball for finger joints. Stretching is important to help maintain your posture and prevent future problems. When stiff, you tend to alter your posture and walk gingerly, move askew and end up with a back problem. If you can't go it alone, ask a yoga teacher for help.

At a psychological level, joint pains are said to represent latent resentment against some life circumstances and an inability to move with changes in life directions. Be honest, be understanding, and be forgiving. Let those resentful thoughts arise. Do not judge them or get involved in them. Now, let them go. Soon, they lose their power to hurt because in letting go, you grow in inner strength. Open your mind to changes. Flow with; don't fight them. As the mind relaxes, the body heals.

(The writer is co-author of the book Fitness for Life.)

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