Pain - Biochemical Changes With Diseases & Management

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/pain-promotes-disease-state.html

Pain Promotes Disease State

If you understand that any condition ending is "itis" means inflammation, this report is reasonable. Arthritis means inflammation of the joints.

It doesn't go far enough in terms of identifying what creates the state and degree of pain.

Pain is interpreted individually based on socialization, culture, education and many other variables.

Some researchers have identified emotional states associated with arthritis and other health issues. Perhaps this is a step beyond the physical and mental components of health and moving forward toward the recognition of emotional and spiritual factors in today's industrialized medicine.

Study: Pain causes osteoarthritis
Sept. 30, 2008 ROCHESTER, N.Y., (UPI) -- Pain is not just a symptom of osteoarthritis, it causes the disease, say researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

A study, published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, revealed that pain signals originating in arthritic joints -- and the biochemical processing of the signals as they reach the spinal cord -- worsen and expand arthritis, causing disease at both ends.

In addition, the researchers found that nerve pathways carrying pain signals transfer inflammation from arthritic joints to the spine and back again.

"Until relatively recently, osteoarthritis was believed to be due solely to wear and tear, an inevitable part of aging," said Stephanos Kyrkanides, an associate professor of dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

"Recent studies have revealed, however, that specific biochemical changes contribute to the disease, changes that might be reversed by precision-designed drugs. Our study provides the first solid proof that some of those changes are related to pain processing, and suggests the mechanisms behind the effect."

Furthermore, if joint arthritis can cause neuro-inflammation, it could have a role in conditions like Alzheimer's disease, dementia and multiple sclerosis, the researchers suggest.

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http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/pain-relief-short-cahnges-women.html

Pain Relief Short Changes Women

I am not surprised that this type of bias still exists after so many years and so many more women in health care.

It tells me that we really need a greater overhaul of medical education and the medical industry that people are willing to address.

And I am sure that it isn't an issue just for people with cancer.

There are many natural options for people experiencing pain that are as, if not more, effective that pharmaceuticals that may also promote addiction. The key to this, however, remains making the relief of pain tailored to the person's needs and also to include properly addressing the emotional component of what they are facing and living with every day.

Sex bias seen in control of cancer pain Fri Sep 26, 2008

How well pain is managed in people with cancer apparently differs between men and women, new research hints.

Dr. Kristine A. Donovan, of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, and colleagues examined pain severity and the adequacy of pain management in 131 cancer patients newly referred to a multidisciplinary cancer pain clinic.

Men and women did not differ significantly in terms of worst pain scores, least pain scores, or pain interference. However, average pain in the last week and pain right now were significantly higher in women.

In addition, the average total daily dose of pain-killers was significantly greater for men (130 versus 66 milligrams morphine equivalent value).

Women were also significantly less likely than men to receive prescriiptions for high potency opioids (33 percent versus 51 percent).

Women were also significantly more likely than men to report inadequate pain control, as indicated by scores on a standard pain management scale.

These findings, Donovan and colleagues conclude, highlight the need to improve the treatment of pain in cancer patients and to "more closely examine physician and patient-related factors that may hinder adequate pain management."

SOURCE: The Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, August 2008.

Copyright © 2008 Reuters Limited.

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This is a good article on NSAIDs

http://www.vrp.com/articleprinter.aspx?a=2444

"Combining SSRIs with NSAIDs, aspirin or corticosteroids is the equivalent of playing a game of gastrointestinal Russian roulette. For anyone taking SSRIs, a combination of natural pain relievers that includes DL-phenylalanine, turmeric, Boswellia serrata, and nattokinase can prove to be a safe alternative. Furthermore, using a supplement that contains glutamine, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), N-acetyl glucosamine, marshmallow, berberine, cabbage, slippery elm, phosphatidylcholine, and gamma oryzanol is an effective way to strengthen the GI tract for individuals who continue with SSRI treatment. Individuals planning to stop SSRI treatment should always discuss their plans with their physician before doing so."

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Depending upon what is causing your pain acupuncture could be something to look into -- few people would consider acupuncture for pain therapy because needles are involved, but I've used it many times and it works with a good practitioner. My first try of this therapy was about 25 years when I had a slip & fall and injured my back. Pain pills weren't helping and I was in terrible pain; after the first treatment by a Chinese doctor I was amazed at the relief and healing powers. This is becoming more popular with allopathic practitioners (slow on the uptake) who have recognized the clinical applications along with the benefits; acupuncture has been included on some insurance plans.

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/consider-acupuncture.html

Consider Acupuncture

I was pleasantly surprised when I received this article from a young Korean fellow who seems to often read Natural Health News.

I hope it helps readers and please share the information, as I encourage you to so with all articles on this BLOG.
My thanks to Albertus for the article.

The Benefits of Ancient Chinese Health Remedies
With increasing concern over the use of pharmaceuticals, more people are turning to alternative therapy such as the ancient Chinese practice of compunction to find relief from certain health problems. Acupuncture has become so popular, in fact, that many insurance companies provide coverage for treatments.

Acupuncture is known to have been used by ancient cultures thousands of years ago, and the practice was first described in a medical text known as the Classic of Internal Medicine, published somewhere between 305 and 204 BC.

The Chinese have already impressed the world with health remedies such as the popular green tea and the somewhat-obscure red yeast rice, and the acupuncture is in no position to be overlooked. The theory behind Chinese medicine, and acupuncture itself, is based on holistic principles which involve treating the whole person, rather than a single organ or condition. Ancient Chinese medical theory states that diseases are caused when four factors—called Yin, Yang, Qi, and Blood—become imbalanced. Traditional Chinese medicine involves redressing the balance to improve health.

Acupuncture involves the use of fine needles along the body's pressure points to improve the balance and flow of these four factors. There are approximately four hundred defined pressure points on the human body, and treating any given condition involves stimulating a specific set of pressure points.

A wide variety of conditions can be treated using acupuncture, including the following:

• Neck, shoulder, back, or hip pain


• Headaches and migraines


• Arthritis and arthritic pain


• Sports injuries


• Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and stress disorders


• Weight problems, and smoking addiction


• Menstrual problems and menopause

In particular, acupuncture is a safe, natural way of relieving symptoms of pain, anxiety, and stress. It can provide physical and physiological benefits for people who have not been able to obtain relief from symptoms using medication, and it does so without the use of any type of medication. Just as important, when carried out by a skilled acupuncturist there are no harmful side effects of this treatment.

The way in which acupuncture works isn't yet known, but there's no doubt that it does work, and provide considerable benefit, for many people.

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