Lupus WARRIOR

Exercises to Help Manage Back Pain

 Source: Exercises to Help Manage Back Pain

When we suffer from back pain all we want to do is sit still in a position that doesn’t cause pain. But in fact, this is liable to worsen it. Strengthening the muscles in other areas helps support the body and takes weight off the spine, leading to better posture and less pain. SomTetimes when we begin exercising and we have back pain, we can feel a pinching or another slight pain. But as your muscles grow in strength back pain and pain while exercising should decrease. If you feel a significant pain lasting for longer than 15 minutes during the routine call your physician.
Be sure to stretch and warm up a little first. Avoid toe touches however. This exercise stresses the ligaments and disks in the spine and could make your pain worse. If you have lower back pain, partial crunches are good. They will strengthen the muscles in the back and stomach. Here you lie on the floor crossing your arms in front of you. You tighten your abdominal muscles and lift yourself up. Take a breath every time you rise and breathe out as you descend. Don’t use your elbows or arms to lift up. Make sure your feet are flat and that your tailbone never leaves the mat. Do eight to 12 of these and slowly increase as you get used to doing them.
Sit-ups are actually not so good. They put pressure on the spine and only really exercise the hips. Hamstring stretches are good for the back. Lie down and take a towel about the size of a hand towel with you. Put it on the middle of the bottom of your foot. Extend your leg out slowly and hold on to each end of the towel, guiding the leg up. Hold for 30 seconds then bring it down again. Do each leg two to four times. Practice these and you’re bound to notice the difference.
Talk to your doctor before taking on a new regimen of exercises for your condition, and see which ones are right for you. For serious conditions a physical therapist may be necessary. For others, a personal trainer who knows how to accommodate back conditions also proves helpful. Exercises that are not recommended for your condition could actually make it worse, so make sure to discuss the issue at length with a professional.

Avocado Spinach “Pasta” Sauce – AIP/Paleo/Gluten Free/Vegan IN SEARCHOF SIMPLICITY: by MY JOURNEY WITH LUPUS

Originally posted on The Bumpy Road To A Simple Life:

Avocado’s are delicious but they have a very short shelf life. When they are ripe you need to eat them right away as they go bad really quickly. The other night I had an avocado that needed to be eaten before it went to waste. It was already too soft to put on a salad so what should I did with it?

I’ve used avocado in many different things – icing, smoothies, mayo, muffins, but never in a sauce but I new it’s creamy texture would be perfect. I searched the web and found a few interesting recipes but they either all had a lot of fresh basil or ingredients I am not currently allowed to eat. So I decided to make my own.

This was so yummy even my son ate it and he does not like avocado. It will become a staple in our house moving forward.

So here is the recipe:

Avocado Spinach “Pasta” Sauce

1 ripe avocado

a big handful of spinach (around 1 – 2 cups)

3 cloves of garlic

juice of half a lemon

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp basil

1. Start by cooking your spaghetti squash.I do this by cutting it in half, scooping the seeds, and placing them inside down in a pan with a bit of water. Then I cook at 375 F for about 30 – 40 minutes.
2. Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor, I use a vitamix. Blend until smooth.
3. Heat a pan on medium heat with a little oil – coconut, avocado, etc… Add the squash and saute slightly. Pour sauce over squash and heat through stirring often. This only takes about 5 minutes. This step means you’ll have a nice warm dish and prevents any leftovers from browning the next day.
4. Serve and enjoy.

Hope you enjoy!

Sabrina

Back to School With Lupus: For the Parent

Back to School With Lupus: For the Parent Posted on ctlupus by ctlupus

It can be hard enough as a parent finding the time and energy to send your child off to school every day. For lupus patients, this challenge is even greater. 

Last week on the blog we discussed helping your child with lupus transition back into the school year. However, what if it’s not the child who has lupus, but the parent? If you are a parent with lupus getting ready to send your kids back to school make sure you’re prepared. Here are some tips to help you lower stress and stay healthy this school year.

Make your health a priority

Listen to your body and do what’s best for you. Move at your own pace and be willing to say no. You may feel guilty putting your health first, but if you don’t you will end up wearing yourself out making you more susceptible to a lupus flare.

Tell your family how you’re feeling

Communication with your family is key with lupus, especially when one day can be great and the next not so great. Let everyone know exactly how you are feeling each day. A number scale is a good way to express the discomfort and pain you may be having. This can help your family understand better and adjust expectations accordingly.

Stay organized

Help prevent unwanted stress by staying organized! Check out some tips on the blog at https://ctlupus.wordpress.com/2015/08/18/time-to-get-organized/  and be sure to take a look at our “Organizational Tips” Pinterest board, https://www.pinterest.com/ctlfa/organizational-tips/

Ask for help

Don’t be afraid to seek out help when you need it! Get into a routine of having scheduled help come throughout the week. This will help lower your stress and give you some rest time if needed so that you stay healthy! Ask family members to watch the kids or hire a neighborhood teen to be a mother’s helper after school!

For more information on parenting with lupus visit http://www.lupus.org/resources/15-questions-dealing-with-stress-of-being-a-parent-with-lupus

ALL TREATMENTS

Originally posted on Lupus In Color:

All treatments will be different for every lupus warrior. Lupus warriors, make sure you don’t put one another down because you chose a different route to treat your lupus. We need to be each other’s support not each other’s nemesis. It’s important to share, but it’s just as important to understand that everyone’s treatment will be different and that everyone will need to do what works for them.

Anti-Inflammatory Berry, Watermelon, and Ginger Smoothie

Yield: 1 large or 2 small servings

Ingredients

1 heaping cup watermelon chunks (be generous!)

1 1/2 cups frozen mixed berries

1 inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped (if you’re using a conventional blender, you may wish to grate the ginger before adding it, so that it blends more easily)

3/4 cup coconut water

2 teaspoons chia seeds

1/4 Hass avocado

Instructions

Blend all ingredients and serve.
Whether inflammation concerns you or not, hopefully you’ll find a way to incorporate this cooling treat into your day soon. It’s a new favorite for me, and I’m excited to share it with you.

Lupus Blood Tests

98% of all people with systemic lupus have a positive ANA test, making it the most sensitive diagnostic test for confirming diagnosis of the disease. The test for anti-nuclear antibodies is called the immunofluorescent antinuclear antibody test.