Rabina shares her experience of coping with Bursitis and how the herb Curcumin helped her recovery.
Rabina Khan is the author of My Hair Is Pink Under This Veil and is a regular columnist. She has written for The Independent, The Guardian, HuffPost, The Washington Post and The National UAE and regularly appears in the media. She has delivered lectures at the University of Cambridge and on BBC Radio 4 and has just been nominated for the Positive Role Model (Gender) Award at The National Diversity Awards 2021
As a writer, writing from pitches, features, opinion pieces to writing my political memoir My Hair is Pink Under This Veil I’m often jotting down ideas, words, and sentences into my notebook. My left shoulder is often tense from putting pressure on my right side when I’m writing as I travel during my everyday activities.
I never expected this tension to develop so rapidly that it effected my everyday life. I was forced to go to the doctors after experiencing excruciating pain on my left shoulder. The pain had begun slowly but soon it was increasing daily leaving me exhausted from it, the only relief I use to find was strangely when carrying heavy bags, sleeping at night on my left side and having to rely on painkillers.
Following my scan the doctor explained my diagnosis as Bursitis which was caused by build of inflammation- I was shocked. I had heard of inflammation and knew somewhat of it but never realised it could lead to something so severe that at times I could not even lift my arms and needed help getting changed.
What is Bursitis
Bursitis (bur-SY-tis) is an aching and very painful disorder that affects the small, fluid-filled sacs known as (bur-SEE). This cushions the bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints. Bursitis transpires when the bursae become inflamed commonly affecting in the shoulder, elbow and hip. Frequent repetitive motions near joints can result in Bursitis.
Things got worse as during the lockdown I was unable to access treatment under the NHS and eventually I was left with a Frozen Shoulder. This is one of the most painful conditions in the shoulder affecting to the point I was unable to put my left arm through the sleeves of my dresses, coats, cardigans, and even washing and brushing my hair.
Inflammation is the biggest cause of this and yet it was something that I had never bothered to prevent or even pay attention to.
It became a mission for me to manage my inflammation and prevent my health from becoming worse. I began researching holistic/ natural approaches as I was fed up with all the prescribed medication. I did not want to continue filling my body with strong painkiller drugs.
During my research I came across the herb Turmeric which I was very familiar with, a common spice I used in most of my dishes and something that was part of my cultural upbring. I was fascinated how a spice that I commonly used could be the answer to my problems. I learnt that I needed Curcumin which was the active compound in Turmeric it was with this active ingredient that I began my healing journey.
3 Ways Curcumin can help Bursitis
It is Anti-Inflammatory
Curcumin, the bioactive ingredient of turmeric and is helpful in many chronic diseases due to its anti-inflammatory property. It prevents the activity and manufacture of inflammatory mediators, which ultimately can support in regulatory inflammation in bursitis.
It is more effective than painkillers
I was fed up with all the pain killers I was having and knew that long term this was not helping my body. I learnt that Curcumin is recommended as a natural anti-inflammatory agent for pain relief and began to include it as part of my pain management of my Frozen Shoulder.
It can help treat causative factors of bursitis
Arthritis (something I had I thought I avoided) is held as one of the causative factors for bursitis.
I came across in my research a clinical trail that had some very persuasive results which was more than I need to know I needed to start taking Curcumin.
“Chandran et. al conducted a clinical trial where 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were involved. They received either 500mg curcumin, 50mg diclofenac sodium or both. Patients in all three groups showed significant improvement but the group treated with curcumin showed better response than those treated with diclofenac sodium.
Also, curcumin consumption did not cause any side effect. (Read Turmeric for arthritis) Bursitis can occur as a result of Systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune condition.
Autoimmune disease is one in which the body’s immune system attacks the body’s tissue as a pathogen. Curcumin is proven to inhibit such unfavourable reactions of the immune system.”
Super Curcumin helped me to manage the pain and inflammation whilst I arranged for longer term treatment for my condition. It has become an important part of my daily health plan; I now know I need to manage my inflammation and for me this is the most effective and natural method.
Super Curcumin uses Curcumin C3 Complex and Ginger Extract, it contains 95% curcuminoids compared to 1-5% of your standard turmeric supplement. It also uses zero artificial binders or preservatives keeping 100% natural- not only am I getting the best curcumin in my opinion but also without the nasty additives.
