Hi. I’m Kathryn.
I’ve been helping people reduce their physical pain or become pain-free since 1993.
I specialize in natural pain relief.
Not “pain management,” but pain relief. Sometimes, the best the medical community can do is help you “manage” your pain. That’s what they learned in medical school.
But, sometimes there are other options. You will find them here.
Pain always happens for a reason. If we (you and I) can get to the root cause of your pain, you can have pain relief. Sometimes there are a lot of layers to peel away for complete pain freedom, but I will do my best to help you, one layer at a time.
Between my clients (over 30,000 therapeutic sessions!) and learning how to correct my own painful conditions (including scoliosis and migraine headaches) as well as the excellent instruction of geniuses in the field of bodywork, I’ve got a lot to share with you.
Even though I had my own physical pain, I don’t understand everything about how you feel. Everyone’s pain and perception of pain (how you feel about it) is different.
With simple, easy to understand language, I will help you discover why you hurt. When you understand why you have pain–the real reasons–then you will understand how to get rid of your pain, naturally.
There are logical reasons why you have pain and natural, simple ways to feel better. Your body follows natural laws, as all of our bodies do.
Muscles and soft tissues are the primary (and most overlooked) causes of physical pain. When your body hurts, it is because of something you are doing–or not doing.
I don’t know everything, but I know a lot.
I’m not a doctor, but I understand how bodies get into pain.
And, I have the time to share with you the true causes of physical pain.
I have one goal:
My goal is to help you feel better, to have less pain and discomfort and more energy and ability to do the things you enjoy.
I’ve been in your shoes. I understand. I’d be honored to walk with you on your journey to pain relief.
When you’re ready, I’m here to support you.
“Because You Deserve to Feel Better!”
You can also find me at http://KathrynMerrow.com
P.S. Contact me at Kathryn (at) Simple Pain Relief (dot) com. Just write it like a regular email address. I’d love to hear from you.
Hi Kathryn
Love your website! You’ve got a lot of great information here for people to check out. Good luck creating an almost-pain-free world! (Almost because of course if we don’t know what pain feels like, then how can we possibly experience the thrill when it goes away? 🙂 I would love to take a walk on that path by the river one day very soon!
Thank you, Elizabeth,
My goal is to have as many people become pain-free as I can possibly reach. While I know that I cannot help everyone, I can make a difference with all of the people who want to take responsibility for their own well-being.
Yes, the photograph of the river is very soothing, isn’t it.
Kathryn Merrow
The Pain Relief Coach
Hello Kathryn,
Bruce Bair recommended I check out your website for my wrist pain, which he thinks may be the result of my long-term, chronic neck pain! So I will give your blog a good read.
Take care,
Lee Bishpo
Hi Lee, Please go to http://CarpalTunnelPainReliefNow.com You will find much more info there for your particular issue with neck and wrist.
Thank you for letting me know,
Kathryn
Dear Kathyrn…. I’m so glad to see another health care professional like you on the world wide web helping and guiding people to natural pain relief. I wish I had started on the web sooner. Better late than never. You have simple logical information that is easy to understand.
I’m finishing up my second book, HANGING OUT PAIN FREE- 105 Natural Pain Relief Techniques, which will be available soon. I have 51 articles posted on my website http://www.hangingoutforthehealthofit.com which not only pain relief but Body, Mind, Spirituality, Inversion, Magnets, Lifestyle, Environment, Recipes and more.
We have a lot of work to do teach, educating and guiding people to a healthier natural drug free approach to health.
May you Always have Health to Spare, Friends that Care and Love to Share.
Dr. Carlos M. Gonzalez
Hi Dr. Gonzalez,
Thank you for your comments. Yes, better late than never. 🙂 I also enjoy “hanging out.” It helps make space in the joints.
Best to you,
Kathryn
Kathryn
I had a massage February 12 2010 (only second massage in my life) When I left I felt pretty good, however by the next day I could not move. I waited a few days to see if the pain (low back pain) would subside and when it didn’t I decided to make an appointment with my family doctor Feb 19, the result of which was pain and anti-inflammatory drugs and phsyiotherapy. I contacted the SPA (therapist was registered) to complain and they insist because I felt alright when I left it’s not their problem.
What are your thoughts ?
I think Therapist was over zealous with the kneading elbows, considering I brought to her attention a L4-L5 discotomy in 2002.
Hi Stephen, Good question. Here are my thoughts.
There are a few possibilities. Sometimes some clients do have soreness or tenderness or even feel bruised following a session but usually not until some time later. Drinking lots of water can help flush out the metabolic wastes that are “released” by massage. But I don’t think that was your complaint.
You have muscles that attach to your spine on the BACK side of your body and also on the FRONT side. The front muscles are accessed through the abdomen and at the top of the thigh. If the therapist only worked on the back muscles and did not also release or relax or treat the front muscles (iliopsoas) then possibly it created a little muscle instability–the back muscles were relaxed but not the front of the back. I’ve seen this before. It is possible that the tight short muscles in the front of your body led up to your discotomy. If they were never treated prior or since, they may have been waiting for the opportunity to cause pain again.
Sometimes massage therapists work do “spot” work, treating symptom areas or (hopefully) areas that cause symptoms. Sometimes we do a more general massage. It all depends on what is going on with the client and the skill and training of the therapist.
I might contact the spa again and offer this explanation for the possible cause of your pain if it seems correct to you. The spa, in turn, may offer to have you return and work on your iliopsoas muscles at no cost (assuming the therapist knows how to do this release). I would suggest that to them.
There is also the possibility it could have been a random event following the massage (I’ve seen that, too.)
I hope this helps. Oh, in the future, please pay rapt attention to the pressure of your massage and feel free to direct the massage therapist. You know your body best and how it responds. 🙂
Best,
Kathryn
kathryn,
Everytime i go to the dentist just about the next day my entire jaw on the side they worked on kills me. Recently got 2 top fillings done on left side, and now have pain on entire lower side of jaw. Its making it feel like my tooth on that bottom left hurts. The tooth is root canaled and crowned as well. Behind it there are a few missing teeth because the teeth under those crowns broke(not very good previous dentist) waiting for partial on that side, still have more dental work and that side is going to be last. the endo said he does nt see anything on xrays. That side did’nt bother me at all until dentist. Trying heat , moltrin, muscle relaxers. also have kyphosis, an buldging disc at c7. I go to pt and do peter egoscue exercises at home. What do you think? When i touch my jaw muscle it really hurts on that side. Help!!! Thanks in advance
Hey Wendy,
I’m sorry to hear about the pain in your jaw caused by dental work.
That’s great you are doing Peter Egoscue exercises! He is another great natural pain relief specialist. 🙂
There are muscles all around your head, jaw and neck. I suspect the dentist is holding or positioning your jaw and head in such a way that it aggravates the muscles of your jaw. Sometimes they really prop a jaw wide open.
If you were to hold your fingers and thumb stretched wide open for half an hour, the muscles in your hand would hurt, too.
Heat isn’t working so go with ice. I know it’s not as pleasant but heat can cause muscles to feel worse. You can ice your jaw, temple and neck.
http://simplepainrelief.com/2011/12/03/jaw-pain-can-be-caused-by-temple-muscles/
It’s good if nothing shows in the x-rays.
Muscles don’t show up on x-rays. But, as you know, they are most often the cause of pain.
My personal favorite over the counter muscle pain reliever is Aleve (sodium naproxin.) It lasts 12 hours and in my experience only one or two doses are required. I don’t like to take any type of medicine but that’s the one that works best for me when I have muscle injury. I would consider stretched jaw muscles a temporary injury.
With the kyphosis, your dentist should be sure you are propped comfortably in the chair. If he doesn’t, then you take care of it. Bring a neck pillow if that would help you feel better in the chair. It’s your body and you have more work to come so be proactive. 🙂 Make him seat you in the most comfortable position for your neck.
Did you see this article? It has a picture of jaw muscles on the outer side of your teeth:
http://simplepainrelief.com/2011/05/18/pain-in-your-jaw-and-teeth-can-be-caused-by-muscles/
But they are not the only jaw muscles. If you place your finger in your mouth and push the tip (gingerly) into the far corners of your mouth on the painful side on the outside of your teeth you will find tender areas. Those tender areas are muscles. Applying pressure with your finger tip will help them relax. Be thoughtful; you want it to be uncomfortable but don’t kill yourself. If you feel the discomfort lessening when you are still pressing (for about 12 seconds) that means the muscle is relaxing. You can go back to an area multiple times.
Press your finger tip right into the joint of the jaw. Muscles are there, too. And then explore the area on the inner side of your teeth on the gums and side of your mouth. More muscles!
There are even muscles if you press up under your jaw bone and you can work along the jaw bone, too.
Wendy, I hope these ideas will help you get rid of your jaw pain and not have it after your next dental treatments.
Kathryn
The Pain Relief Coach