Not long ago, I was biking the back villages of Cambodia and hiking the temples of Angkor Wat in 100-degree heat – sweaty, sun-soaked, and completely alive. We hiked for hours through jungle trails, feeling strong, free, and unstoppable.
Then I flew home to the deep February chill of negative temps in upstate New York. Within days, I couldn’t walk without excruciating pain. What the heck?
What was to follow was one of the hardest chapters of my life.
A Sudden Spiral
What started as soreness in my hip turned into a full-blown health crisis. I tried to fix it naturally (as I’d always been able to heal myself), but my usual go-to treatments didn’t dent the pain, and my increasing immobility progressed. I ended up needing two hip surgeries – and a subsequent fracture of my upper leg and hip pocket substantially added to my recovery time.
For months, I couldn’t do yoga. I couldn’t hike. I couldn’t even walk properly. And I was scared I’d never travel again. Never move with ease. Never feel like “me” again.
Physically and mentally, I was at a low point. But a voice deep inside me finally spoke: Don’t give up – there are answers… somewhere!
Becoming My Own Experiment
I had time to research – and I dove deep. I learned how inflammation, toxins, and energy imbalances all contribute to joint pain and stiffness.
Here’s what I did:
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
I cleaned up my meals and focused on foods that reduce swelling and nourish joints, and I stopped drinking alcohol.
Gratitude and Goals
I started a fresh journal. I’ve been writing goals for over 20 years, but these ones felt different, more urgent and more sacred.
Supplements and Therapy
I invested in top-tier joint-repair formulas and endured intense shockwave laser therapy (the same used by the Buffalo Bills). Brutal and expensive – and it didn’t help at all.
Colon and Liver Cleanse
Clearing out toxins helped reset my system and reduce joint stiffness.
Lymphatic Drainage Protocol
Using gentle movement, breathwork, and natural herbs, I supported my lymphatic system – the body’s waste-disposal network – to keep healing flowing.
An Infrared Sauna
Still one of my favorite tools for deep tissue detox, pain relief, and circulation – I use it 2-3x a week.
But it was the newer therapies that truly surprised me – and ultimately changed the direction of my healing.
⚡ The Wellness Tech That Gave Me My Life Back
Here are the tools I now use daily and share with my clients:
Magnetic Insoles
They stimulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, and improve balance. Great for feet, knee, and hip pain – and even help with energy and stability.
Red Light Infrared Wraps
I use red-light therapy to reduce joint stiffness, increase flexibility, and speed up tissue repair. I still fall asleep with it on my back (20 Minute timer).
Grounding Mat
Using a grounding mat simulates walking barefoot on the earth helping to reduce inflammation and pain and increase flexibility. I enjoy my morning coffee with my feet on the mat daily.
Stem Cell Activation Patches
These non-invasive patches help your body regenerate naturally. I still use them daily for support with my back, hips, skin, hair and more. On for 12 hours then off for 12. Couldn’t be easier.
My New Chapter
Today, I’m pain-free. I’m back to advanced yoga and recently returned from hiking the rice fields of Vietnam and Bali. We’re off to Italy and Thailand this fall. Life is good.
My mind is sharp, my body strong, and my heart full. I don’t take this lightly – I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.
And I believe many women over 60 can experience the same with the right tools!
Why This Matters
According to the CDC, over 53 million Americans suffer from arthritis, and that number is growing. Two out of every three people over 60 are living in chronic pain. But so many don’t realize there are natural, science-backed, non-invasive ways to feel better.
If this speaks to you, I’ve created a free guide to the tools that helped me most.
💜 Your Free Gift: The Wise Woman’s Guide to Natural Relief for Pain
Discover the powerful, modern wellness tools that helped me get out of pain, recover from surgery, and return to vibrant, active living.
Get the full list – including what each tool does, how to use it, and where to start – inside this beautiful, inspiring PDF: The Wise Woman’s Guide to Natural Pain Relief.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What type of pain have you suffered lately? Any surgeries you’re recovering from? Do you use any of the relief methods or tools mentioned in the article?
