Pain is a familiar experience for everyone. Most pain is caused by inflammation, and most inflammation comes from tissue damage. Tissue damage may occur from different types of exposures. We have all felt the pain from sunburn, or putting our hand on a hot burner, or holding ice cubes. Additionally, there are inflammatory “triggers” that increase our propensity for experiencing pain.
We’re also very familiar with the pain caused by infection or abrasions. Pain can come from chemical irritations, or even radiation injury. So with that as background, what causes our pain sensations? Of what use are these sensations? And, from the standpoint of using healthy alternatives, how do we deal with pain?
First, a little physiology is in order. Pain comes about when tissue damage from any source triggers the release of specific chemical substances that cause blood vessel dilation, which permits leakage of blood vessel components into the surrounding tissue. These “specific chemical substances” include histamines, kinins, prostoglandins, complement, and leukotrienes. The leakage of the blood contents into the tissue causes local swelling, pain, and sometimes redness, all of which make up the inflammatory reaction.
Anti-inflammatory medications are frequently prescribed for pain. Some common ones include Bextra, Celebrex, Motrin, Naprocin, and Vioxx. While these address the inflammation, they do not address the root cause of the problem. Other common pain medications that are NOT anti-inflammatories are Hydrocodone, Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycodone. These will address the pain, but will not rid the body of the inflammation.
Unfortunately, all medications have side effects. Vioxx may have contributed to up to 139,000 heart attacks and strokes, forcing the FDA to withdraw it from the market in September 2004. Researchers testing the long term use of Celebrex indicate that it may increase the risk of cardiovascular events (strokes and heart attacks) by 2.5 fold. Naproxen (Aleve, Naprocyn) was linked to a 50% increase in cardiovascular events (compared to placebo), necessitating the suspension of a $26 million Alzheimer’s trial by the National Institute of Health. The uncertain outcome of using these drugs leads me to suggest that we look at the root cause of the inflammation and address it from that perspective.
Controlling Inflammation
Because inflammation is at the core of much of the pain we all experience, let’s review some other ways to control inflammation, or at least reduce it.
- Diet. Avoid inflammatory triggers, including caffeine, sugar, trans fatty acids and hydrogenated oils, and aspartame. Eat “real” food—wholesome, fresh foods that are organic—and avoid processed foods. Processed foods increase the amount of free radical production, leading to increased inflammation. Also, decreasing your red meat and dairy consumption may reduce inflammatory triggers.
- Supplements. The most critical supplements are the antioxidants C, E, and beta-carotene, which modify free radical damage in the body. If you increase intake of Omega-3 fatty oils, these oils encourage the production of anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.
- IV Colchizine blocks the leukotreine-induced inflammation in the tissue. Great care must be used in its administration, for if it is injected into tissue and not the bloodstream, it will cause significant tissue breakdown at the injection site. This treatment should be done only under the supervision of a trained physician.
- DMSO, which is a precursor to MSM, acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces damage to the tissue after a toxic exposure. DMSO is usually found in a cream or gel, and its aroma can be slightly offensive. MSM has no odor. Neither MSM nor DMSO has any gastrointestinal side effects, which tend to be a concern with all anti-inflammatory medications.
- Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) machines are extremely effective in reducing inflammation and pain. The amperage in these microcurrent machines falls in the millionths of amps range, so the current is very small. TENS units are typically in the thousandths of amps. Both the TENS units and the Microcurrent machines have been cleared by the FDA for use in pain. Studies done with FSM machines show reductions in four inflammatory markers: IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and substance P, to a greater extent than any anti-inflammatory medication available. [i] A corresponding reduction in pain, based on the VAS pain score, was also noted. ATP production (which is the energy currency of the body) was increased four times in the tissue receiving the current.
- Last—but this probably should be listed first—is exploring what emotional conditions may have triggered the pain reaction In the first place. Pain is an expression of discomfort, which usually begins in the emotional arena. Look carefully at your emotional state at the time the pain surfaced, or just before it manifested. Sometimes you can identify the stresses, heartaches, and emotional trauma and begin the healing process through recognizing and addressing these personal issues.
Because pain and inflammation are caused by many different sources, this is merely a starting point for recognizing and treating other specific pain patterns. Headaches will be addressed in a soon to be released article. Fibromyalgia is a whole topic by itself, as are rheumatoid arthritis and all arthritis conditions. Stomach pain is a huge topic (sometimes that depends, though, upon the size of the stomach :)). I will address all of those topics individually in later articles.
My doctor says I can get all the vitamins and minerals I need from my food. What is your opinion on this?
I used to say the same thing to my patients, back in the days before I studied healthy alternatives. It is the party line of allopathic medicine, although that is starting to change. Here's the bottom line, and I'll follow up with some info on what allopaths are now doing:
10 responses so far ↓
1 susan allport // Jul 20, 2008 at 8:30 am
Thought you’d be interested in this short omega-3 video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIgNpsbvcVM
2 Maija-Liisa Årsnes // Jul 25, 2008 at 4:41 pm
What do you think about noni products? Especially nitroFX enliven or kynäni.
3 Cara Patterson // Jul 26, 2008 at 1:39 pm
For an herbal anti-inflammatory, we have recommended and used turmeric therapeutically for years. It is a fabulous anti-inflammatory that also has many other wonderful benefits. It has been studied for its anti-cancer properties. It cleans the liver and gall bladder. It inhibits platelet aggregation, so is helpful in stroke prevention. It is also being studied for use in clearing brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s, as it crosses the blood brain barrier. It is available in bulk for $6.00-$9.00/lb online. It should be organic and have standardized curcumin levels. The down side: it tastes bad. At therapeutic levels (I take about a tablespoon at a time), it is bitter. I mix it with warm water and cinnamon. Honey is helpful. It can be mixed in juice, but I really avoid that kind of glycemic load. If you really can’t stand the taste, supplements are available. You want to make sure that it is a full spectrum extract. Supplements are also much more expensive. I firmly believe that taking turmeric on a regular basis will greatly benefit my health as I age.
4 Josie // Jul 27, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I think I posted something here in when the website was first launched, but I can’t find it. Anyway, I have questions about arthritis and hope they will be addressed here. First, is it possible to rebuild joints that have been eaten away by arthritis and to arrest damage that is no doubt occurring in other joints? At a young 57 I have been told that I have no ankle joints due to severe arthritis. Surgery and dangerous drugs, and a wheelchair are not options I wish to consider. My doctor says it is most likely a genetic issue and that the joints cannot be rebuild and that we will just have to figure out how to reduce the pain that I will have to live with. I live alone and support myself and I am not ready to accept that getting better is not an option either. What can I do to help myself get better? Did the arthritis create inflammation or did the inflammation cause the arthritis? I’m being very careful about what I eat and trying to eat lots of organic fruits and veggies and very little meat with mostly fish. A new Earth Fare store nearby is helping is definitely making it easier. There’s a dairy nearby where I can purchase raw milk and that seems to help, but I’ve also read that milk can create mucus. Anyway…I could sure use some help (the truth!) here and I’ll do whatever I need to do to get better. Oh…and I’m doing water aerobics almost daily.
5 Lisa Love // Jul 28, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Often I wake up in the night with my legs feeling like they want to move; they are jittery and it’s like I’m being forced awake. I can feel myself being pulled out of sleep and I can’t get back to sleep for 2 hours. That happens a couple of times a week, especially if I am pregnant. Is that restless leg syndrome? Or is there something I can do for it? Thanks!
6 Dr. Stan Gardner // Jul 28, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Maija-Liisa, There are a number of excellent nutritional substances, of which noni and goji juices are excellent. They have items that are not in a basic vitamin and mineral program, but should not take the place of a good vitamin and mineral supplementation. The nitroFX apparently is a concentrated piece of the noni juice that increases nitric oxide in the blood stream. If it does this, then it becomes a vasodilator (a substance that can relax and dilate blood vessels) and generally healthy to the body, and the body has the mechanism to reduce the substance through normal physiologic processes.
Cara, turmeric (or its cousin curcumin) is exactly as you describe it. We use it in our cancer program. Thanks for your comment.
Josie, I assume that you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). If not, let me know. In RA, the body has identified your joints as the enemy, like a bacteria, and is attacking it. The source of that attack needs to be found so that a solution can be pursued. Possible sources include ‘weird’ organisms (like Mycoplasma, Chlamydia [not the STD variety] or type IV allergic reaction to metals. Unfortunately, these can only be diagnosed with lab work. In the absence of resolving the basic problem, you may find the following useful: 1) MSM as a natural anti-inflammatory, 3,000 mg per day 2) high dose pancreatic enzymes taken between meals to enzymatically break down the ‘immune complexes’ contributing to the joint damage 3)keep up the water aerobics to keep the joint mobility as good as possible 4) keep up the good diet, including a good supplement program 5) a frequency generator (Frequency Specific Microcurrent [FSM]) has specific frequencies to assist in healing all tissue in the body, including joint, bone, capsular, connective tissue 6) energy work may open up blocked pathways to assist in healing, like acupuncture, Jin Shin Jyutsu, craniosacral 7) electrodermal testing may help determine cause of the condition, and may be able to prepare a homeopathic that may also prove helpful. The joints that are not yet affected or just starting to be affected will be much easier to preserve than the ones fixed and locked in position. Never give up.
maybe try physical therapy or massage therapy to ‘work the joints’. Let me know how it goes.
Lisa, What you describe certainly sounds like restless leg syndrome. Sometimes it is a vitamin B6 deficiency, and 50 to 100 mg per day have helped some people. Energy work, like acupuncture, Jin Shin Jyutsu, and craniosacral have also helped some people. Another reader, Paula May, says she has a product for restless leg syndrome–although I know nothing about it. Here is all she says ” I have developed a product made up of all natural ingredients that helps temporarily relieve the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome. It’s applied externally… and works! ” If you would like more info about it, or would like to try it, let me know and I will contact her for more information.
7 Josie // Aug 2, 2008 at 3:55 pm
My arthritis diagnosis came from 2 separate podiatrists, so it was not for a specific type of arthritis. I have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia by my family doctor. I’m struggling to find a doctor in my area, covered by my insurance, and who practices health care rather than sickness care and who can do the necessary testing. Can you tell me what specific kind of tests I should be sure of getting? Also, what are pancreatic enzymes and what is considered a high dose? I think I understand the rest of your comments and will study further. I am already taking turmeric but did not know how much to take so Cara’s comment is helpful. Thanks for your help.
8 Nancy Buckner // Aug 6, 2008 at 10:09 am
I have CVID, disseminated histoplasmosis and fibromyalgia. I receive iv gammaglobulins every 4 weeks. I have excruciating pain in my bones, leg arm and spine. (I had two surgeries in the past 24 months to address spinal stenosis and spondylosis, degenerative disc disease as well as ruptured discs as c-2 thru c7 and L5-6 , I have titanium plates and screws there.) I have been placed on oxycontin 60 mg daily, vicodin 30 mg daily ibuprophin 2400 mg daily. I have reduced the actual doses to oxy 40 mg vicodin and the rest as needed . I used a herbal spray I purchased at a flea mkt until it was gone that really helped although it only lasted for an hour and a half per spray. I can’t remember what it had in it. I would love to hear your suggestions.
I am IGA,IGG and IGM deficient, i also have a low cd19 level and akways a low sodium level regardless of my salt intake. All other blood work is normal except for the histo of course and constant infections.
9 Heidi // Aug 10, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I look forward to the post about headaches. I have suffered from them for years. Recently I had foot zonology combined with cranial sacral treatment. That promoted some emotional release, and my headaches have become less severe and less often. But I am always looking for more ways to treat myself, as I cannot afford to get treatments as often as I’d like.
10 Shirley & Bob Krans // Aug 12, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Dr Gardmer, I understand you have worked with David Ferguson recently. He and his wife, Rosie and family have been traveling around the country for a couple of years. I worked with Dave for many years and was saddened to know he was having problems.
My husband was dianosed with MS in 2003 and I believe Dave was having struggles about that time or shortly there after.
Bob is currently getting an Avonex shoot weekly and uses Neuronton (Generic form) for neuorogy pain.
What were you able to do for Dave?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions. - Shirley
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