By Dr. Thomas S. Lee, NMD
Pharmaceutical pain medications work very well for severe
pain -- for awhile, anyway. But before you become dependent or get a
full-blown addiction to those pain pills, be aware that there are other
options.
If you are just starting to use a prescription opiate for
pain, consider using some "tough love" along with it to avoid dependence or
addiction.
Pain is a normal survival message to the brain to
change our behaviors, activities, or thoughts. It can direct healing
energy to an injured or ill part of the body. When anyone gets the pain message,
they first act to lessen the severity and duration of pain. I know I do.
When you use an opiate that blocks this pain message, you
must still act to remove the cause of the pain and repair any
damage. Otherwise, the masking of pain with even the most excellent
medicine will not remove its cause.
If your pain returns when you stop your medication, it indicates
that the cause has not been repaired.
If you've been using an effective pain medication for awhile, the pain coverage decreases and doesn't last
as long. Sometimes people can adjust to a very precise schedule and
minimize their pain for a long time. That is the best use of these
medicines, and it's certainly the ideal for chronic pain patients. However,
quite frequently if you stop the medication, the original pain will return,
and then some.
The cause of your pain is not being healed or removed by the
medication, but it has been blocking the signal of pain to your brain.
There is nothing wrong with merciful relief, and we are absolutely blessed
to have access to these medicines in many cases.
The main point is that the pain message is actually needed
to alert the brain to repair the damaged tissues or organs. So act to
spare yourself the worst of acute pain, but know that you must heal the
source of your pain for it to return to pain free normal.
The concept of "tough love" is about using discipline and
healing strategies to decrease the need for pain medication while treating
the cause of the pain with natural medicines. By controlling inflammation
and supporting the organ functions that have been weakened by the original
injuries—as well as by side effects of some pharmaceuticals—you can notch
down the need for and use of pain pills.
Here are some products and concepts my patients have found
effective in this process of "tough love."
Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation,
and Work-hardening
Specialists and trainers are available to return your
injured body to its pain-free, pre-injury state. This can be tough and will
take discipline to accomplish, but good results can be obtained, and good
health is worth a lot to most people. Work with the most experienced and
well-trained natural health professionals. In many communities, physical
therapists accumulate the most experience. In some, naturopathic physicians
and other professionals do a more respected service. You must judge from
your own experience how good they are.
Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
These help the body make PG-3, a prostaglandin that
decreases inflammation in the body. The best-quality fish oils work
well for this. Don't overdo them, though, because too much can
cause stress and damage. Stick with 1-2 capsules with the meal once
a day. We are hearing good things about Krill Oil as an ideal source
of Omega 3's, but since it's new, it's more expensive than other sources.
Also, decrease the intake of vegetable oils and
processed, rancid oils in your diet. Use virgin coconut oil for all
high-heat cooking, and use olive oil for room-temperature salad
dressing. With patience, your body will move away from chronic pain
if you eat in this manner.
Metabolic Enzymes
Serrapeptase, nattokinase, and lumbrokinase (Boluoke) are
natural enzymes that break down tissue proteins like fibrin which are
associated with pain and circulatory obstruction. The result is that
some types of arthritis and muscle aches will lessen and fade away, and
improvements in circulation and joint flexibility have been observed.
MSM and DMSO
MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) and DMSO
(Dimethylsulfoxide) are bioavailable forms of sulphur that decrease
many aches and pains associated with arthritis and overtraining, including
repetitious stress injuries. Build up your use
of MSM over a week, starting at 1 gram (1000mg) daily, up to 2 with
meals, totaling 6 grams per day. This will take a couple weeks, and
then there will be a noticeable relief.
Herbal Anti-inflammatories
Curcumin and Boswellia will both decrease the intensity of
pain if taken regularly as 1-2 between meals. These Ayurvedic products
come from the herbs Turmeric and Frankincense, respectively, and they are
very safe and helpful when used over time to decrease the pain associated
with a defective inflammatory process.
Magnesium Malate
This form of the soothing mineral Magnesium
decreases chronic pain, such as from fibromyalgia and other
autoimmune and inflammatory ailments. Excessive use can cause a laxative effect,
but given the nature of opiates to constipate, that effect may not
be entirely unwelcome.
These are just some introductory ideas for those
seeking non-addictive pain medications. Any products from the
beautiful poppy plant are a miracle in
the hospital Emergency Room, but their long-term use has been a catastrophe
to many American families.
You can read through the product offerings on this site or
www.naturodoc.com, but do word searches on
the search engines. Inform yourself further about these and other
materials to help you make your best strategic decisions.
Using this tough love, your love affair for pain medications
or any powerful pharmaceutical drugs will be safer, more affordable, and a whole lot healthier.
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Related natural products available
in the PainHelpers Store:
are already dependent upon a pain-killing drug, consider alternating
non-opiate pain medications or nutrient-based medicines along with periodic
use of no medication. This will train your brain down from the
miserable and expensive edge of addiction.