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Radiation-Induced Fibrosis and Brachial Plexus InjuryPosted By K.E. (USA) on 12/09/2020
As mentioned above, my son has Anaplatic Thyroid cancer, one of the deadliest cancers; once diagnosed it is too late to do anything people usually only live between 4-12 months, my son was diagnosed 5 years ago, what a blessing for us!!!!!!! He is the golden boy here at our cancer hospital, but it comes with a price, they have not done any research for this condition because nobody has lived this long.
Thank you all.
P.S. We have tried deep tissue therapy and Cold laser treatments, but to no avail.
Replied by Deirdre (CT) on 12/09/2020
So sorry to hear about your son.
I have written about healing a brachial plexus injury from karate that I got in 2016. It took me 8 months to figure out how to heal it and I ended up making the injury much worse in the process. Here's a post I wrote in 2017, copied and pasted below, with my suggestions. I hope it helps your son.
Source: https://answers.earthclinic.com/atrophy-of-muscles-and-strength-in-arm.html
Deirdre from Los Angeles posted on 09/11/2017:
Dear Cheryl,
I am so sorry to hear about your son's injury. I can relate because I had a shoulder injury from one particularly rough training at our dojo about a year and a half ago and had extreme pain and muscle atrophy like your son in one arm. It started to reach my hand too. It took a long time to heal. Months went by and it was never properly diagnosed by doctors or chiropractors. I finally was able to make the diagnosis of brachial plexus injury after I did extensive research online.
Here is my own list my do's and don'ts for healing from this injury:
1. Don't EVER let a chiropractor adjust you when lying on your stomach. I had chiropractors in both GA and CA adjust my back and ribs when I was laying on my stomach and this aggravated my pain and I think injured me more.
2. Vibrating machines and other tools used by chiropractors to the shoulder blade/point of injury felt great but made the pain much worse a few hours later.
3. Stretching the arm by pulling it across the body to relieve the pain only made the pain worse.
2. OTC pain relievers like Advil, Aspirin did nothing to help the pain. I never took or was prescribed any prescription pain meds, thankfully. I just lived with the pain.
3. No supplements helped. And I tried everything, one by one, month after month. That part was very frustrating! Turmeric, magnesium oil, epsom salts soaks, omega 3 oils, etc. etc. Nothing helped. Fish oil made the pain worse, interestingly.
3. Hot showers alleviated the pain for about 1 hour.
4. Sleeping with a heating pad on the lowest setting under my injured shoulder blade was the only way I could sleep. I used an infrared heating pad.
5. Stopping any torquing motion in the bad arm and shoulder that might aggravate the condition. In my case, walking the dogs was exacerbating my condition because my bad shoulder kept getting pulled back by one of my dogs who was stopping short to sniff and to say hello to folks on the street! I am quite sure this repetitive stress to the shoulder made my injury much worse. I switched to a waist leash once I figured it out and that stopped the progression of pain down my arm.
What finally healed after 8 months of extraordinary pain was:
1. First going to an osteopath who adjusted my shoulder and ribs while I was laying on my back. Started to get relief after the first session. I went back for 2 more.
2. Then seeing a myofascial therapist (John Barnes method) who slowly stretched me. She got rid of all of my remaining pain in 1 session. The pain went away a day later for good. It was the most amazing feeling ever!
3. It took another 6 months of weight training before I regained all my strength back in the arm.
From what I understand, nerves regrow slowly, at the rate of 1mm per day! So it takes time and patience to recover. But the good news is that people do heal and regain their muscle strength. I know of one other person who had the same injury as myself. He was able to recover in only about 3 months!
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Replied by Tessa (Okanagan) on 12/09/2020
Have you heard about systemic enzymes (such as serrapeptase, nattokinase lumbrokinase)? It might be something to look into.
Here is a very brief summary of the effect of enzymes on scar tissue. I believe serrapeptase has been used in Europe for some time so probably has the most studies:
However, since your son has such a rare cancer, it would be a good idea to work closely with a naturopathic doctor or a doctor who specializes in enzymatic therapy who would monitor your son and ensure there aren't any interactions with anything else he is taking.
I wish the very best to you and your son.
Take care.
Replied by Stuart (Dover, England) on 12/16/2020
Regards,
Stuart McKenzie
Replied by Art (California) on 12/16/2020
That's a tough situation for both you and your son and I am sorry to hear it, but I think there may be hope! It sounds like Deirdre has addressed the brachial plexus aspect of the issue very well and Tessa has made some excellent suggestions for the fibrosis issues!
For lung fibrosis and other fibrosis including radiotherapy related fibrosis, two things come to mind. One is N Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) a potent antioxidant and melatonin, a highly potent antioxidant through direct and indirect pathways as well as being a potent antiinflammatory while having antiapoptotic qualities. The other important point about melatonin is that it has anticancer effects in humans and animals, works synergistically with both chemo and radiotherapy and has a very good safety profile even at high and very high dosing over the longer term.
All of this is based on studies that your/his doctor's can review if needed. If needed, I can try and locate some of those studies for you, just let me know.
Another benefit of melatonin is that it may help protect your son from the many negative effects of Covid-19 which may be exacerbated in his current situation. So melatonin may be useful for him from multiple levels of protection!
Art
Replied by Daniel (Tx) on 12/16/2020
Replied by Jan (Ca) on 12/16/2020
So sorry your son is suffering!
There is a therapy called Fascial Counterstrain, developed by Brian Tuckey, a Physical Therapist in Frederick, MD. This treatment essentially evolved from strain/counterstrain in which the objective was to loosen a tightened muscle by gently holding it at its origin and insertion points and pushing the ends together. As science has evolved since that time, it is now recognized that this treatment is not actually working the muscle, but the connective tissue, called fascia.
Fascia essentially covers and lines most of the body. Sheets of fascia actually have their own anatomical names. In fact, recently an announcement was made that a new abdominal organ in the abdomen had been recognized called the biliary tree, made up of branching fascia which holds all the organs in place within the abdomen.
When an injury occurs, the fascia in that area can become torn and misshapen, causing ongoing problems leading to issues with pain and immobility. This tightened Fascia can especially happen around areas where nerves, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels must pass thru a narrowed opening. Fascial counterstrain therapy releases the tightened fascia and allows movement in that area again.
We have the good fortune to have a local physical therapist who has trained with both Brian Tuckey and Timothy Hodges, PT, of Portland, OR, who teach this technique. Our PT has told me many stories of people who came to him with a certain problem, and were not only relieved of that problem but also of other long-term problems often decades old! He has told me that Brian and Tim have phenomenal talents in this technique. He took his own son to see Tim for treatment of issues arising from time in the military, which issues resolved after two sessions.
If possible, it would be ideal for your son to see either Brian or Tim, depending on your location. This website lists the info for both of them, as well as helping to locate a practitioner closer to home if your son is unable to travel. At the very least, contact either of them personally to find out what can be done.
Good luck to you both!
Jan
Replied by Jj (Australia) on 12/16/2020
Replied by Jill (Colorado Usa) on 12/16/2020
https://drjoedispenza.com/
Also youtube and Gaia.
Many have healed with his knowledge.
Check it out.
Replied by Sweet Orange (Mediterranean) on 12/17/2020
Best of luck!
EC: Please go ahead and tell us the name of the product for KE! Thanks.
Replied by Reina (Groningen, Netherlands) on 12/17/2020
Replied by Echosyn (Texas) on 12/17/2020
Though it is more effective when used in conjunction with serrapeptase, you must be vigilant to guard against bleeding from use of serrapeptase. NOW brand is among the best quality low cost brands of nattokinase. I have not done extensive study of serrapeptase brands. I advise all to do a deep study of both enzymes before launching your recovery program.
The best way to benefit from nattokinase is to make it yourself because it is the product of the Japanese dish natto, which is fermented soy beans.
The Now brand nattokinase capsules are a convenient alternative to fresh homemade natto that some people cannot tolerate. I repeat, do a deep study of the subject.
https://pulmonaryfibrosisnow.org/2019/10/04/serrapeptase-nattokinase-what-you-need-to-know/
Replied by Cheryl (Ny) on 12/23/2020
Hoping you can find something to help. My friend was scheduled for surgery having fibroid tumors but was cancelled due to covid. She called to ask what might help and I suggested holy basil to balance her hormones and serrapatese along with prickly pear. Now October ,rescheduled surgery along with pre-op, she called me very excited announcing her Dr.called and said not in her 30 years had she ever had a patients fibroids disapear. Truly amazed. When I asked her what she had been taking, she replied: holy basil, prickly pear and collodial silver. I am not sure what exactly dissolved them but feel it was the combination. My thinking for your son's situation would be serapatese, ALA, along with a castor oil neck sock at night maybe with a few drops of comfrey. Good luck.
Replied by Tom (Currently Yuma, Az) on 12/25/2020
I am in my mid-60's.
Mornings, since 2016, I already take two 40,000 unit capsules of Swanson Serrazimes for stroke protection.
In 2016, someone in their mid-70's had recovered nicely from a stroke by taking 3 capsules per day of the Doctor's Best 120,000 unit serrapeptase.
I think I prefer the Swanson Serrazimes product because of the momentary, observable result that I got, so I believe that Serrazimes may be stronger than other serrapeptase products.
So in 2016, I briefly felt/heard Serrazimes clearing my carotid arteries on the first evening of having taken it. A brief turbulence went up through my carotids when I laid my head on the pillow that evening after having taken two 40k unit Serrazime capsules that morning.
But for scar tissue, serrapeptase might be worth a try as it is said to cleanse the circulatory system.
The search also mentioned an earthworm enzyme, lumbrokinase, that is 100 times stronger than serrapeptase, although I have never seen lumbrokinase as a supplement.
For inflammation or swelling, it mentioned the proteolytic pineapple enzyme, bromelain.
Replied by Lisa (Hi) on 12/27/2020
Replied by Romina (Fort Lauderdale ) on 01/22/2021
Look into Dr Joe Dispenza work ( books, lectures, youtube ) especially You are the Placibo Book. It comes with instructions and very in debt explanations on everything you need to do.
If you have any questions, would be happy to help in any way I could â¤ï¸
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