Resource Guide for Nearly Any Type of Surgery...

If you or someone you care about is facing surgery you may have questions, concerns, and are seeking ways to improve your outcome and recovery quickly. A unique resource guide and companion website is available that offers a variety of tools and tips to assist you before, during, and after surgery.

Butternut to Bionic earned 4/4 star reviews from GoodReads and is listed as, “highly recommended reading” by Reader Views. This resource guide was nominated for the 2018 AARP Purpose Prize, 2018 Health Literacy Award, and the 2019/2020 Reader Views Literary Award.

Amazon reviewers like Lynn L., Registered Nurse states, “This book belongs in every doctor’s office. Every patient’s home.” Naturopath Physician Dr. Leslie P. commented, “Even though it is specific for those going through hip replacement, her advice is relevant for most any type of surgery.”

Butternut to Bionic is a story of personal triumph AND a resource guide unlike others, as it discusses how to incorporate alternative therapies into preparation for, and recovery from, joint replacement surgery. Alternative therapies such as Acupuncture, Reiki, Therapeutic Massage, Dietary Therapy, and Aromatherapy are widely used by patients during recovery from surgery but are topics not often addressed with their physician…though they should be. Butternut to Bionic introduces readers to author Tiffany Anderson and her personal experience of recovery from serious illness leading to dual hip replacement. Personal anecdotes, candid observations, and private details add to the unique approach of this guide. Drawing on her 22 years of professional experience in the field of health, she has written this book from the patient’s perspective to help others facing similar circumstance. Hip and knee replacement recipients, family members, caregivers, and healthcare providers will find this book intriguing, insightful, and useful. A companion website shares FREE wellness resources and a weekly health blog. Get your copy of this guide in paperback, e-book, or on Kindle here!

Live Well & Be Well!

The Anderson Therapeutics Team

Opioids: Store Them Securely...

After two hip replacement surgeries and one revision I was prescribed opioids for pain. These were medications that I used sparingly, not because I have a high tolerance for pain…it was simply because I have an aversion towards any numbing drug that is highly addictive and offers negative side effects.

Opioid addiction is a serious problem. Oftentimes, simply the presence of an addictive substance is a temptation for others. Immediately after my first surgery I experienced problems with a loved one who began stealing my medication. I shared the painful experience in my book (pg. 71-72), Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide for Hip Replacement Surgery.

An unfortunate event happened that I hope you don’t ever have to deal with. A person very near and dear to me betrayed my trust during my first week home from the hospital. They quietly and consistently broke into my pain medication. Pills were slowly stolen for addictive purposes. That indiscretion and the negative consequences that followed were tough to handle. My relationship with that person suffered greatly and eventually ended. Watching someone you love battle with any addiction is heartbreaking. With treatment and care, they can recover. However, relationships do not always mend from this experience.

I bring up this uncomfortable scenario to suggest caution when storing your medications. The temptation of such a powerful medicine can lead those with an addiction problem down a treacherous path. After my second and third surgery, I stored my medications in a secure space and asked my parents to keep the bottles at their home. When they visited, I would only keep a few days’ worth safely stored. Sometimes a home health aide or nurse can supply you with a locked cabinet to keep all medications secure and out of harm’s way. This is a good idea especially if you live in a busy household with young children, or have frequent visitors. Protect yourself and those you care about, it’s best to keep these potent drugs out of hands that shouldn’t have access to them.

Weaning myself away from opioid use was very important to me. As I share in my resource book, website, and blog, I have found much more effective ways to manage pain. Methods such as acupuncture, ice packs, exercise, meditation, and maintaining a lean weight keep me pain free.

Be Well. ~Tiffany

Feeling Achy and Sore? Reach for Ice...

Living with chronic conditions and artificial joints means that I experience aches and pains daily. I choose to manage my pain without prescription medication both at home and while I travel. One natural method to manage pain is soaking in natural mineral pools like the ones located Glenwood Springs, Colorado. If there aren’t any mineral springs near your home, reach for simple and more affordable options you can access at home such as Epsom salts.

To manage day to day aches, my preference is to reach for ice. I also pack instant cold compresses when I travel. The excerpt below from Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide for Hip Replacement Surgery, shares suggestions to use ice as a way to manage both pain and inflammation. On page 72, I share affordable ice pack options that you may have at home already such as frozen peas, juice cans, gel packs, and rice packs.

Chapter 4: Pain Management-Before, During, and After Surgery, excerpt pg. 72

"The thought of cooler temperatures may not spring to mind when you are in pain. Ice is your friend and is much more effective than dry or wet heat for inflammation and pain relief. I certainly wouldn't dissuade you from soaking in a hot tub or mineral bath for comfort and relaxation when you are able, though to decrease swelling and quiet pain, ice is by far the preferred method. Ice packs should never rest directly on the skin. To avoid skin damage such as frostbite, always place a boundary, such as a towel or blanket, between your skin and an ice pack. Ice packs come in a variety of sizes and forms to treat large and small areas. Ice brings quick relief--the rule of thumb is to use ice packs for a maximum of five to 15 minutes."

Be Well, ~ Tiffany

This post first shared and published July 30, 2020.

Where Vegans Get Their Protein...

Rich Roll is an ultra-endurance athlete, and like me, follows a plant-based diet. Vegans are often asked about their protein sources. Rich answers this question perfectly:

“Proteins consist of twenty different amino acids, eleven of which can be synthesized naturally by our bodies. The remaining nine — what we call essential amino acids  —  must be ingested from the foods we eat. So technically, our bodies require certain amino acids, not protein per se. But these nine essential amino acids are hardly the exclusive domain of the animal kingdom. In fact, they’re originally synthesized by plants and are found in meat and dairy products only because these animals have eaten plants.”

Read more about Rich Roll here and watch the strength and fitness abilities of Frank Medrano…another plant-based and plant strong athlete. Experience the results yourself by following the McDougall free program. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Be Well! ~Tiffany

*Blog post first published January 10, 2019

Managing Seasonal Allergies...

As a child I was plagued with respiratory concerns ranging from asthma to bronchitis to hay fever. Living with parents who were heavy smokers added to my breathing difficulties. A physicians my parents took me to conducted the dreaded ‘scratch test’ which determined which types of plants that I was allergic to. This test was incredibly uncomfortable and left my back full of raised welts. After receiving allergy shots and taking a number of medications to manage my allergies I felt doomed to a life bound to medication or the alternative of sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. Unfortunately, during the 70’s the medical community failed to inform my parents that tobacco smoke was dangerous to our health.

Thankfully my maternal grandfather stepped in and encouraged my mother to take me off medication told her to add local bee pollen to my diet. My grandpa was a beekeeper. He knew that by ingesting local pollen I would build up a natural immunity. Within a few months I was, and continue to be, allergy free. Removing dairy from my diet also helped tremendously. Speak to your doctor about this remedy and if bee pollen could help you manage seasonal allergies.

Be Well! ~Tiffany

*Blog first published April 25, 2019

Accelerated Healing Using Cell Salts...

Both my Naturopath, Dr. Leslie Peterson, and homeopath, David R. Card, stressed the importance cell salts for better health. According to Card, “Cell salts, also known as tissue salts, exist in every human body. They are the inorganic biochemical elements found in the blood and tissue. They are the builders and the catalysts for many processes, including assimilation and detoxification.” Cell salts were a crucial part of my recovery after each of my hip replacement surgeries. In my resource guide I describe the supplemental support I used (pg 36) post surgery as prescribed by my physician. This support included the homeopathic Hyland’s Bioplasma cell salts to stimulate my body’s natural healing mechanisms and to satisfy any mineral imbalances.

There are a number of cell salt combinations you can put together to support the specific needs of your body. These salts provide tools the body needs for healing. An easy to read introduction to cell salts has been written by David R. Card, homeopath and nutritionist. Check out the pocket guide, 12 Essential Minerals for Cellular Health, to learn more about both the internal and external therapeutic uses of cell salts.

Be Well! ~Tiffany

*Blog first posted June 27, 2019

By 2030, Nearly 11 million Americans Could be Bionic...

Did you know that hip and knee replacement surgeries didn't begin in the United States until 1969? These type of procedures have improved dramatically and are one of the most common elective surgeries. Why do people need to have a joint replaced? Degenerative osteoarthritis…which is also the most common joint disorder, is typically the culprit. By the year 2030, it is estimated that 11 million Americans will have either artificial hips, knees, or both. Joint replacement recipients are a diverse group of people - younger adults can and do receive artificial joints, though most recipients are age 50 and over.

The founder of Anderson Therapeutics received her first hip replacement in 2011…at age 45. At that time her orthopedic surgeon shared that he and his colleagues were anticipating a high demand and to soon treat much younger patients. Joint replacement is very prevalent and becoming commonplace, it offers relief and a solution for patients who are in pain and experiencing limited mobility. Though joint replacement surgery is not without risk, is costly, and patients undergoing this surgery often manage multiple chronic conditions.

Currently there is a gap in follow-up care. Significant percentages of recipients experience pain and a poor quality of life long after receiving an artificial joint. Longitudinal studies among such a unique population are lacking. Hip replacement used to be a last resort procedure since the new equipment rarely lasted for 10-12 years. Our Founder had this to say about receiving artificial joints at such a young age:

The joints I currently house are improved models. My surgeon promised me that as long as I was a proactive patient, led a healthy lifestyle, avoided injury, and maintained a lean weight that my artificial joints would work well for 25-30 years.

- Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES

This is sound advice for everyone of course, whether you have artificial or natural joints.

Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide for Hip Replacement Surgery offers a holistic approach to living well with any type of artificial joint (hip, knee, or shoulder). Bionic people like our Founder seek resources enabling them to lead active lives (that are relatively pain free), and can ideally outlive their implants. Repeating a very painful surgery and even more painful recovery is something patients hope to avoid. Butternut to Bionic shares insights from a personal journey and is the resource guide that our Founder wished for prior to her three life-changing procedures (dual hip replacement and one revision surgery). This resource guide was nominated for the 2018 AARP Purpose Prize, the 2018 Health Literacy Award, and has received rave reader and editorial reviews (Online Book Club, GoodReads, Reader Views).

Learn more about the author here.

Be Well! ~The Anderson Therapeutics Team

Through the first week of July discounted copies of Butternut to Bionic are available on Kindle.

First published on March 12, 2020.