Get Rid of Your Chronic Pain

July 11, 2009 by drhusbands · 1 Comment

Chronic pain afflicts a significant percentage of the population. The intensity varies from a minor irritant to debilitating pain. There are different pain solutions. I will cover them here under the following categories, and then give you real examples of people who got pain relief or got rid of their pain.

Pharmaceutical Therapies
Nutritional Support
Manual Therapies
Rest, Recovery and Energy Therapies

Pharmaceutical Therapies

The over-the-counter and prescription drugs for pain (pain killing or pain blocking) are widely used, primarily due to the mass-marketing of drug manufacturers. However, their side effects have to be dealt with sooner or later. The most commonly reported side effect is gastrointestinal bleeding caused by aspirin and ibuprofen-based drugs. These are also called NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). It’s estimated that 41,000 people each year are hospitalized from the side effects of NSAID’s and 6,000 people each year die from complications directly related to NSAID’s.

If you want to avoid drugs due to their side effects, consider the following effective solutions.

Nutritional Support

Foods

Chronic pain is very often associated with chronic inflammation. Anti-inflammatory foods are those which have the effect of being less acidic, and more alkaline. Examples of foods that are highly alkaline are: pumpkin seeds, lentils, brocoflower, sea vegetables, sweet potatoes, yams, garlic, asparagus, kale, mustard greens nectarines, and limes (yes, limes are also highly alkaline). To get the most effective pain-reducing diet consult a Certified Clinical Nutritionist.

Dietary Supplements, Nutrient Cofactors, Herbs

B-vitamins, inositol, zinc and antioxidants are critical for healing nerve-oriented pain (neuropathies). Magnesium, B-vitamins, antioxidants, zinc, iodine, selenium and malic acid are critical for muscle pain. Fish oil has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, therefore pain decreasing effects. Co-enzyme Q10 is critical for anyone taking cholesterol lowering medications which often cause muscle pain and weakness. D-Ribose is necessary for making energy in the cells and decreasing pain. Proteolytic enzymes are highly beneficial for decreasing chronic pain, as well as acute pain. Turmuric (Curcuma longa), Tetrahydro-iso-alpha acids from hops (Humulus lupulus), Boswellia serrata, Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum) are herbs very beneficial for pain. Arnica is a homeopathic remedy highly useful for pain relief. To safely and effectively use any combination of the above, consult a doctor trained in Functional Medicine.

Manual Therapies

Chiropractic adjustments, of various types, are one of the most effective manual therapies for pain relief. It accomplishes this through various mechanisms. Combined with massage therapy, chiropractic adjustments can significantly decrease chronic musculoskeletal pain. Body positioning, good posture, stretching and mobility exercises are also beneficial for chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Rest, Recovery and Energy Therapies

Sleep, progressive relaxation exercises, and deep breathing provide very powerful chronic pain relief. They work by decreasing inflammatory and pain-producing substances made by the body. Visualization techniques have been shown to decrease pain even with terminal cancer patients. Interferential current, Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and micro-current therapy are physical therapy modalities effective for chronic pain. Acupuncture can even block pain to the extent that it can be used during surgery without anesthesia in some cases. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps decrease chronic pain by providing oxygen to tissues with poor blood supply.

Examples of Pain Relief or Getting Rid of Pain

These examples are best presented in the own words of the patients where I applied solutions from the latter 3 categories.

“After several years and several different approaches to finding relief for neck and shoulder pain, I found Dr. Doug. With a new approach and better understanding of the source of my pain came new relief. To this day I can better manage the pain and my over all health has remained high. At 57 I still race motocross and play high level tennis three nights a week. Thanks again Dr. Doug.” -LC from Northridge, CA

“I’ll never forget how when I was in so much pain… We will always remember the considerate way you cared for us and the excellent treatment you always gave us. I tell the story all the time about how you diagnosed my (low back) disk problem, identifying the exact spot, with just an x-ray–something the doctors never did, until finally an MRI confirmed what you had already found! And how you gave me such relief from pain! Thank you very much.” -JB from Northridge, CA

“I have suffered from GI problems my entire life. It eventually got to the point where I wasn’t sleeping, couldn’t eat any raw food, and was generally exhausted all of the time. What I liked most about Dr. Husbands’ approach was that he conducted tests that identified the issues and put me on the path to resolution. With a combination of diet modifications and supplements I now sleep well every night, can eat raw food, and have significantly more energy.” -JB from Redwood City, CA

Contact me to assist you or a loved one for chronic pain relief or to get rid of your pain.

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.