At some point in life, if one is adventurous, in a hurry, or both, accidents can happen. One of the increasingly common injuries (thanks to GM foods, toxic food additives, fluoridated water, and other heinous criminal actions perpetrated on an unsuspecting population) is torn ligaments. Ligaments are those fibrous cartilage bands of tissue that attach muscle tendons to bone. Since these attachments are not as elastic as skin or muscle, if they are stretched too much they break; sometimes completely away from the bone.
The problem with a ligament tear is that the ligaments, being cartilage, don’t get a lot of blood to help them heal. They grow very slowly; much slower than bone or muscle. If the ligament in question has become detached from its anchor point in the bone, surgery is required to reattach it. A long convalescence then ensures that the ligament will never be as strong again. Commonly known as a sprain, an overstretch or tear of the fibrous/cartilaginous ligament is quite painful and usually involves bruising and swelling in the area.
Beyond reinsertion, ligament repair requires rest of the joint in question; usually at least six weeks of it. It can take up to six months to fully heal, whereas a broken bone or strained muscle would take only a few weeks. Pain relief is also often necessary after a ligament tear, and the most common medication given is Tylenol with codeine, Percocet, Darvon-N, or other narcotic pain relievers. For those who refuse drugs, pain relief can be obtained with the topical application of capsaicin cream and ice packs to the area several times a day.
Treatments that can speed healing are somewhat complicated but very effective: a poultice of comfrey leaves several times a day and a nightly application of castor oil. The poultice is made with gauze and comfrey leaf tea: Boil the tea and place the soaked leaves in the gauze and apply to the injured area for about 40 minutes. Use a heat pack on top. Topical DMSO can also be applied first to help the medication go in faster. This poultice should be applied four times a day for at least the first two weeks.
The castor oil pack is used at night, four nights a week. First do alternating hot and cold compresses, always ending with cold, then apply a colorless natural fiber (cotton, linen or wool) that has castor oil. Cover with plastic wrap and then with an old rag or towel (make sure to secure everything so the castor oil pack doesn’t move…if you get castor oil on your sheets or furniture, it won’t come off and it will have a terrible smell when it dries). becomes rancid). Then place an old cloth over the area and further protect the furniture with an old towel. Remove the pack in the morning and wash the area well.
These natural treatments may seem like a lot of work, and they are, but they will speed healing and also help reduce pain from a torn ligament quickly. For those who have never had an injury of this type, think of the worst ‘charlie horse’ spasm you’ve ever had, multiply that by at least ten times and you’ll have an idea of the pain that comes with a torn ligament. Of course, it’s best to never have a torn ligament, but if you do, these methods will help you get over it much faster.
©2011 Dr. Valerie Olmsted All Rights Reserved