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Some Painful Truths

Health Products | Health | Pain Alternatives

Some Painful Truths by Dr. Melissa Carr

All of us have suffered from pain at some point in our lives. Some of us have been fortunate to overcome that pain and heal on our own. Others suffer from chronic or recurring pain. While pain is certainly an important sensation, signalling to you that something is wrong, no one wants ongoing suffering! The key is to work on the cause of the pain, allowing the body to heal, and retraining the body to avoid unnecessary inflammation, tight muscles, and pain.

There are a multitude of drugs available to relieve pain. Watch tv, check the pharmacy shelf, take a look in people's vanity cabinet (you'll find mine drug-free!), and ask around...painkillers are abundant. This one is designed for headaches, this one for migraines, this one for arthritis pain, this one for menstrual pain, this one for muscle pain, this one for nerve pain, this one for babies, this one for adults, this one for all of the above!

Address the Fire

So, why not just pick one for yourself and be done with pain? First of all, perhaps the pain is there to warn you of something and you should address the cause. You wouldn't turn off your smoke alarm and ignore the smoke, would you? Simply muting the pain does not resolve the cause and when the drug ultimately wears off, you will be back to square one; back to the pain again.

Side Effects

Do you really want to be "all Advil", as their ad encourages? The second reason why you might consider other options for killing the pain is that all pharmaceuticals have the possibility of side effects. Some side effects are minor and the good outweighs the bad. For long-term use, the bad often outweighs the good. Information about risks of the use of prescription painkillers came in 2004 with Cox-2 inhibitors (Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra) being linked to an increased risk for heart attacks. It is, however, not just the Cox-2 inhibitors which can be problematic.

Other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs like ibuprofen can also contribute to heart problems. Carl Lavie, MD, medical co-director of cardiac rehabilitation and preventative cardiology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation warns not to forget the OTC painkillers also have risks:

"Doctors don't think anything of giving patients these NSAIDs that raise blood pressure, inhibit the aspirin they need for heart disease prevention, and increase the risk of heat attacks and strokes. And now this paper, like others before it, shows higher heart failure risk. Doctors have to recognize that all these drugs have risks -- not just the ones advertised by the lawyers."

And for those taking blood pressure pills, these drugs increase the risks, and they are suggested to take acetominophen, which is not antiinflammatory, instead, when appropriate. Alternatively, Ochsner Clinic cardiologist Homeyar Dinshaw, MD, tells patients who need an NSAID to keep a sharp lookout for telltale signs of water retention.

"Recently, I have started telling patients that if they take an NSAID, they should watch out for fluid retention," he says.

"They do this by checking their weight at the same time every morning. And at other times, I have them check the skin just below the sock line. If you press over the bony surface just a bit above the ankle and get an indentation, you are retaining water."

Another side effect recently come to light is the possibility of birth defects when NSAIDs are used during the first trimester. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Remicade and Humira, caused a three-fold increase in cancer and a doubling in serious infections. And finally, do you think that clinicians are influenced by pharmaceutical ads? Check out what MDs, nurses, and pharmacists have voted: WebMD

Pain is not an Island

A third reason is that pain is more than the physical sensation of discomfort. Pain can lead to depression, insomnia, fatigue, loss of concentration, and so on. Pain needs to be addressed on many levels and painkillers alone cannot address that, nor is it ideal to have other drugs added to address each issue: an antidepressant, a sedative, a stimulant (such as caffeine), and so on, each with their own buffet of side effects.

Solutions:

Acupuncture

You shouldn't be surprised to hear that one of my suggestions for pain relief is acupuncture! Don't just take my word for it. Watch these video clips from Oprah and WebMD.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of health conditions, but is most widely recognized in the west for its effectiveness in treating pain.

How does it work? We don't really know how yet. We know that acupuncture causes a release of endorphins--natural "feel good" hormones. Acupuncture has also been observed to trigger natural morphines (the same painkillers found in opium) and other biochemicals related to eliminating pain. It also stimulates the body to signal nerve impulses that interfere with the transmission of pain signals, in a mechanism known as the "pain gate theory". As a Dr. of TCM, I know that the TCM explanation is that pain is caused by impaired energy flow and that acupuncture stimulates the smooth flow of Qi, thus relieving both the cause and the symptom. In addition to seeing pain reduced or eliminated after acupuncture treatment, I also see swelling come down, improved range of motion, and an improvement in a sense of well-being.

Still sceptical based on the fact that science continues to leave us unclear as to how acupuncture works? Let me ask you this: do you believe that acetominophen (Tylenol) is a painkiller? Well, we still don't know the full mechanism of action (i.e. how it works) for that very common drug.

A Hug or a Kind Word

What else can you do? Check out this interesting article from my own university on how kindness and love can reduce pain in animals: University of Guelph study.

We are not truly that different from our animal counterparts, as reducing stress and increasing social networks and positive attention improves healing and reduces pain in us as well as them.

Silkworm Saliva?!

Yes, that is the basis for a natural supplement called Serrapeptidase. While we no longer use silkworm spit--the enzyme in it that helps to break down the cocoon that encases the silkworm has been copied--this supplement is effective at breaking down scar tissue, decreasing inflammation, and reducing water retention.

No Shellfish Glucosamine

Glucosamine is one of the most recognized supplements for joint pain. Studies have demonstrated that 1500mg daily over a minimum of 3 months helps rebuild cartilage and increase synovial joint fluid (like oil in a rusty hinge). But for those who are vegetarian or have shellfish allergies, glucosamine many not have been appropriate. You now have the option of a vegetable source glucosamine.

Muscles to the Mag

If you are having problems hearing because your shoulder muscles are so tense that your shoulders are up around your ears, or if it feels as if your headband is too tight and you're not wearing a headband, or if your massage therapist comments that he/she should charge you double because you are that much more work, then perhaps you should look at alternatives to relaxing your muscles. Muscle relaxants are one option, but can you afford to feel drowsy? My favourite solution is as simple as a well-absorbed magnesium.

Copyright 2007 Dr. Melissa Carr, B.Sc., Dr.TCM, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Active TCM -- Helping You Help Yourself.