Turmeric Side Effects

I am sharing my personal experience with taking Turmeric as a nutritional supplement. For me, I've had several concerning side effects that made me stop taking Turmeric.

It was at my annual eye exam that my ophthalmologist mentioned Turmeric to me as a anti-inflammatory nutritional supplement. Then, I had a visit with my primary care physician and he too mentioned Turmeric. I got to thinking, I'll have to look for it at my local Publix the next time I go shopping!

Looking through the nutritional supplements at Publix, I saw more than one selection and checked the prices. I opted to purchase NatureMade Turmeric Curcumin 500mg 60 capsules. I started taking it that same day and took it every consecutive day until I had taken 53 capsules over 53 days. That's when I stopped taking it and discarded the 7 remaining capsules.

Quickly into taking the Turmeric, I started noticing that I was becoming extremely aware of my GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms. The worst symptom came with a difficulty swallowing with intense chest pain that made me stop and try to remain calm until the pain would pass. That would be accompanied with an acidy burning sensation or heartburn. Depending upon what I was eating, along would come the regurgitation of stuff which was pretty nasty.

Probably the most concerning side effect that I attribute to the Turmeric was joint pain along with muscle and possibly nerve pain. I was diagnosed with Trochanteric Bursitis over 9 years ago and suffered a severe attack in my right hip this past Summer. I allowed my doctor to give me a cortisone+ shot in my right hip and then things got really dicey! It felt like my nerves became inflamed in my lower back, right hip and thigh, down into my right knee. For several months I experienced crippling and limiting pain that seriously affected my mobility. As I have sleep apnea and now insomnia, I was having more difficulty trying to get quality sleep from my level of pain.

That pain from the bursitis and cortisone shot had finally started to wane before I started the 53 days of Turmeric. During the course of the Turmeric, I noticed that I started to feel more body aches and pain in my right hip, then in the front of my right thigh radiating down and surrounding my right knee. My left shoulder began to ache and soon so was my right shoulder. I had SLAP surgery in the left shoulder many years ago along with an episode of RSD, reflex sympathetic disorder, that required over 2 courses of aggressive pain management. My right shoulder was recently diagnosed with bursitis after I thought I tore a tendon from yard work.

I had thought I would have felt better from taking Turmeric, but I wasn't. To me, having such a combination of joint, muscle and nerve pain was beginning to make it difficult for me to perform my usual daily tasks around the house and garden.

Another interesting thing I was noticing was the amount of bruising on my arms and legs. I'd wonder what I was doing to have gotten such bruises.

Today I researched online the side effects of Turmeric finding a number of interesting online resources. I was wondering what side effects have been reported and if anybody can be allergic. For the most part, it has been reported that Turmeric / Curcumin supplements are generally safe. However, there can be some additives like black pepper extract (piperine) which can cause issues for some people.

I am hoping to report in about 30 days on all the side effects I have been experiencing to gauge if I have returned to a state pre-Turmeric. Fingers crossed!!

A Fork in the Road Finally

So today I am readying myself for "A Fork in the Road, Finally!"  Today I am expecting that my neuromuscular massage therapy session will be my last official type PT session under the PIP coverage through my automobile insurance.  I also have a final follow-up appointment with my treating physician who has told me that the insurance claims adjuster has been "hounding" her to finalize my treatment and rate me.  I fully expect to be rated this afternoon -- Oh, we are not talking about stars folks.

I've never really heard about "rating" the patient, you know, assigning some point value for my perceived injury.  Like, I don't know, less than 10 points or something?  How does a doctor or insurance company achieve an objective and fair value of a patient's pain or long-term injury?

You know, there are certain "functions" and "things" that I am NOT able to do without feeling very specific pain(s) in my hand, wrist and forearm.  I don't know if I've got THAT now for the rest of my life.  But, I guess that is OK considering I am an old-timer, you know?

FLASHBACK:
It was on December 9, 2009 that a sort of fork in the road first "presented itself." I really thought that my hobby, my passion, my livelihood would come to an end in one abrupt tremendous moment of pain when those trunk hydraulic struts in my car failed and smashed my hand and forearm.  O-M-G!  People, some moments will stick with you forever; that is the type of moment I experienced.  I really thought my writing career had come to an end.

Why doesn't the MRI show everything? Good grief, that was a mystery to me. I've had MRIs in the past you know.  And, I've written about my painful adventures, something like trying to become the Six Million Dollar Wonder Woman or something?  You see, I've been there for SLAP Tear, Meniscus Tear, Morton's Neuroma, Achilles Tendon, and Percutaneous Discectomy! Yes indeed; ALL THAT!

FAST-FORWARD:  "A Fork in the Road, Finally!"
Well, like I said, one thing is coming to the end for me and it is like a fork in the road AND a passing of the baton, so to speak!  YOU see, I was diagnosed less than two weeks ago with trochanteric bursitis. Can YOU believe that?

Remember Gilda Radner's "It's always something!"  Yes it is.  And, how about our dear Bret Michaels, "every rose has its thorn!"  Yeah, it does.

P.S. Thanks my friends, followers, and fans for being there for the journey.  You mean the world to me.  And, I thank YOU for that.

What the Old HECK is Trochanteric Bursitis?

Ah, yes indeed! What the Heck is Trochanteric Bursitis? Oh, it is also known as Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome and that is a huge Oh My! Oh my for me; Oh my for YOU ... some day. Yes, my friends, some day you too can experience the oh no moments of Trochanteric Bursitis!

It was Thursday, June 10, 2010 when I first got the diagnosis of Trochanteric Bursitis from my orthopedic doctor, Dr. Hakim. I really LOVE my doctor as he's been there through thick and through thin with me. He was my crack, expert surgeon for a SLAP Tear major repair surgery on my left shoulder and the Meniscus Tear repair of my left knee.

Do you know something? The reason I am making a point to write this blog post today is to NOT waste any more time on getting this word out there. The word is this, do not hesitate on going to see your doctor at the first sign of hip pain! And, do NOT think because you have hip pain that it means a hip replacement ... you know ... that you would delay seeing your doctor because YOU are so sure it will be a major thing and it is a hip replacement that is part of your problem. That is the very reason I waited THREE years to see my doctor. I was so sure that because my mom has serious hip pain, coupled with my great aunt having to have had two separate hip replacements on the same hip. Well, I think you get what I'm saying, right?

So, I do hope that if you do have any hip issues, that you are fortunate enough to get treatment right away. And, I do hope, for your sake, that you do not need a hip replacement! But if you do, God speed to you in your recovery. And, if you'd like to celebrate a fabulous lady out there who obviously has great hips, stop by my humor page on Hips Don't Lie! Oh, you probably guessed it ... Shakira! Yes, Shakira Shakira ... for her, her hips definitely do not lie!