treatment of chronic pain, but I can offer suggestions that have helped many of my patients. First, pain is not the diagnosis. Even if you receive the diagnosis “chronic regional pain syndrome,” pain is a symptom, or a way your body is communicating that something is wrong. The answer to what is wrong varies; it could be an acute injury, such as a fracture, or it could be a chronic condition, such as migraine headaches. In either case, the place to start is to have a thorough evaluation to see whether the source can be identified.
Once the evaluation has been done, and in many cases, no actual diagnosis can be found, a number of pain-relief strategies can be tried. None work as quickly or as profoundly as opiates at getting rid of pain, but they lack opiates’ dangerous effects.
As always, the place to start is with diet and movement. Many people’s pain is a result of arthritis, inflamed soft tissues (tendonitis, bursitis, etc.) or simply weakness of the muscular-skeletal system. A “Nourishing Traditions”-type diet and a combination of strength training, stretching, and either walking or swimming will help most people live healthier, more pain-free lives. If you are not used to exercising, finding a personal trainer to guide you can be a wise investment.
The next modality I employ with many people with chronic pain, especially muscular-skeletal in origin, is the bio-photon or light therapy we use in the office. The theory and practice of bio-photon therapy is simple. A heat-sensing camera finds spots of congestion and inflammation, and different wavelengths of light, including far-infrared, are directed to these areas. The light exposure increases blood flow and improves cellular function and detoxification. The pain is not just blocked; the areas treated actually get healthier. Many of our patients report significant improvement after about six sessions of 15 minutes each, two to three times a week. Nothing is injected, and no side effects of any sort occur.
The treatment of pain almost always involves improving blood flow and detoxification. Oral medicines that help include liposomal vitamin C and glutathione, both of which improve detoxification; siliplant, an organic silica preparation for improving the strength and elasticity of the joints and muscles; and the anti-inflammatory herbs boswellia (in photo above) and turmeric.
The liposomal preparations, particularly those made by an innovative company called Quicksilver Scientific, means they put the desired substances in a tiny fat bubble (made from non-GMO sunflower oil), which ferries the nutrient into the blood stream. Using this type of preparation, we are able to obtain blood levels of glutathione (sometimes called the master detoxifier) and vitamin C that were previously obtainable only through IV use. Another useful liposomal preparation from Quicksilver is high-potency hemp oil. Hemp oil is rich in non-psychoactive cannabidiols, which often provide effective pain relief. Other helpful interventions include massage therapy, osteopathy and acupuncture.
We do have safe options for the treatment of chronic pain. Except in rare cases, and then only acutely or for end-stage cancer pain, the current pharmaceutical approach should be our last resort. |