HEALTH - MAGNESIUM for Pain Relief

Monday, 28 November 2011 02:05

MAGNESIUM for Pain Relief

Written by  Jacob Teitelbaum, MD

Clinical experience, as well as research in nerve pain conditions such as pancreatic cancer, has shown that magnesium can be an effective treatment for pain. Although it is clear why magnesium can decrease muscle pain (it makes muscles relax), why it would help nerve pain was less clear. A new study on rats printed in The Journal of Physiology confirms our clinical experience that magnesium decreases nerve pain—while also pointing to how it works.

A major mechanism of pain is the excessive stimulation of a brain chemical called “NMDA.” The few medications that help decrease and balance this pain-carrying neurotransmitter have the downside of causing significant side effects. Magnesium seems to settle down NMDA without the toxicity. The upside of magnesium is it is very inexpensive (pennies a dose). The downside is it hasn’t yet made it through the FDA approval process.

The good news is you don’t have to wait for the FDA. For those who get diarrhea from magnesium, try a sustained-release magnesium, very effective without causing the diarrhea side effect. In addition, magnesium oxide, though not as well absorbed, can be found for about a nickel per 500 mg tablet in most health food stores.

For an especially powerful effect, the magnesium can be used intravenously, and is an important tool used by most holistic physicians. Intravenous (IV) magnesium is the single most effective treatment to eliminate an acute migraine headache and has even been shown to ease the incredibly severe nerve pain that can sometimes be seen in pancreatic cancer. It is also very helpful for settling down fibromyalgia pain, which has a muscle and nerve component.

The authors of the study suggest that magnesium deficiency can be a major amplifier of pain. Because of food processing, most people are magnesium deficient. If you have pain, a dose of 250 to 500 mg of magnesium a day can start to decrease these deficiencies as well as the pain, after just several weeks—while also leaving you feeling more energetic and decreasing your risk of heart disease! (If you have kidney problems, do not use without your physician’s okay.)

How to get solid pain relief, almost always, using a mix of natural and prescription therapies.

Source: http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/features/mens-health/magnesium-for-pain-relief.html

HEALTH INFO - 7 pains you should never ignore

You can't let every ache, soreness or twinge worry you to the point you have your health care provider or local hospital on speed dial. But there are pains that come on suddenly or accompany fever that you should never ignore. Abby Cuffey of Woman's Day and pain management specialist Dr. Houman Danesh of Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York explain how to recognize when some pains, even if they seem small, need immediate attention.

A sharp ache between your shoulder blades

Could be: A heart attack

About 30 percent of people who have heart attacks don't get the classic chest pressure. Pain between shoulder blades is common in women, as is jaw pain, shortness of breath and nausea. If you have these symptoms (you'll likely have more than one), you need care ASAP.

A muscle pain is like a dull ache. A heart attack is more like a sharp sudden onset. Call 911. Do not drive yourself to the hospital. It's better not to have someone drive you to the hospital. Wait for the ambulance because they are set up to do triage immediately. 

A 'thunderclap' headache

Could be: An aneurysm, which is a balloon-like area in an artery

Most of us have experienced mild or moderate headaches — usually an over the counter pain medication makes the pain go away. But if you have the worst headache of your life and it comes on suddenly, call 911. Again, do not drive the hospital yourself.  

How do you know it isn't a migraine? With a migraine, you feel nauseous, are sensitive to light and sound and it's a gradual progression. 

Bleeding in the brain due to a ruptured aneurysm isn't all that common, but when it does happen, swift action is key. Surgeons can save your life by sealing off the weakened spot. If you aren't treated right away, you could die. The biggest risk is, if it does rupture, and you are bleeding into your brain, it becomes difficult to treat, if it can be treated at all.  

Don't take aspirin for such a sudden, intense headache — it can increase the bleeding.

Dull stomach pain to the lower right of abdomen

Could be: Appendicitis

The pain usually starts at the center of your stomach and gradually moves to the right. If the appendix does rupture, that can be a dangerous complication, with bacteria bursting into your bloodstream and infecting your entire body. If you feel this sensation, go straight to the ER. (Usually it gets more intense over a 24-hour period as it shifts location.) 

Usually with appendicitis, when pressing down on your stomach it doesn't hurt as much as when you let go quickly. Another test is where you use the muscle underlying the gall bladder: Bring your knee to your head and have someone push down with resistance. If that hurts, that's a sign of an irritated appendix, which would need to be evaluated further. 

Tooth pain that wakes you up

Could be: Teeth grinding

Frequent clenching can cause the nerve within the tooth to become inflamed and the protective enamel to wear away. You might even end up cracking teeth down to the root, which leads to extraction. Call your dentist so he or she can figure out the problem. The complications from grinding, which is often brought on by stress, can be prevented by wearing a night guard.

There are a lot of people who grind their teeth at night. At your annual checkup, your dentist can tell you if you need a night guard, for example, as an intervention. 

Mid-back pain with fever

Could be: A kidney infection

Don't assume that your temperature, nausea and back pain are just a stomach bug. This condition develops when bacteria that infiltrate the urinary tract spread to the kidneys, making the infection much more severe. You might start with urinary tract infection symptoms, like pain during urination, but some people don't notice anything until later. You'll likely need antibiotics ASAP, so call your doctor.

Women are more susceptible to getting UTIs, which is precursor to kidney infection. If a kidney infection is untreated, your kidneys can shut down. But it's usually so painful, people don't ignore it. 

Menstrual cramps that don't get better with medication

Could be: Endometriosis

If over-the-counter meds aren't helping, this condition — in which the lining of the uterus grows somewhere else — might be to blame. Endometriosis impedes fertility, and it's common. Forty percent to 60 percent of women whose periods are very painful may have it. 

Unless you're trying to conceive, your doctor can start you on oral contraceptives. If pain persists, you may need to have the tissue surgically removed.

A tender spot on your calf

Could be: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

If one small area of your leg is painful, you could have DVT, a blood clot in the deep veins. The spot may also be red and warm to the touch. DVT is more likely if you use birth control pills or recently took a long car or plane ride. Unless your leg is very swollen or the pain is getting worse rapidly, you can probably wait a day to see your doctor instead of going to the ER, but don't delay any longer. The clot could increase in size or break off, move toward the lungs and stop blood flow.

It can go to your heart and give you a heart attack. It can go to your brain and give you a stroke.

As a preventive measure, if you're on a long car ride or plane: 

• get up every 1 to 2 hours and stretch or move around.
• write out the alphabet with your toes on the floor. Take your toes up and down, left to right. As you write the alphabet you squeeze the muscles, the veins, and pumping the blood back up, so it won't clot.
• drink fluids and stay hydrated.

Source: http://www.today.com

HEALTH INFO - Forget pills... The power of positive thinking eases pain: Five minutes of behaviour therapy can reduce discomfort by up to 60%

Forget pills... The power of positive thinking eases pain: Five minutes of behaviour therapy can reduce discomfort by up to 60%

• University of Reading gave a group 'pain-training' therapy before tests
• Those who were 'mentally prepared' rated the heat probes less painful
• Medics claim the approach could help chronic back pain sufferers
• 
  

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 14:55 GMT, 18 July 2014 | UPDATED: 23:43 GMT, 18 July 2014

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Solution: A study claims people with chronic back pain should alter the way they think about it to ease the pangs

Positive thinking can ease pain by altering how you experience it, a study claims.

Just five minutes of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) led to a reduction in pain of nearly 60 per cent.

Scientists at the University of Reading used thermal probes to apply heat to the arms of 34 volunteers, generating pain similar to experiencing a burn.

When the participants were asked to rate the pain’s severity, those who had undergone ‘pain-training’ therapy beforehand gave scores 58 per cent lower than a control group.

The finding suggests CBT could help treat conditions such as chronic back pain.

A total of 34 men and women aged 21 to 38 took part in the 'mind over body' study. In a series of hour-long sessions, a thermal probe was used to apply heat to their forearms and evoke pain.

The stimulation generated secondary hyperalgesia, or enhanced pain sensitivity beyond the site of an injury - a common feature of burns.

Lead researcher Dr Tim Salomons, from the University of Reading, said: 'Of the 34 participants given secondary hyperalgesia, half were trained to control negative thoughts related to the pain, the other half was given training unrelated to the pain stimuli.

'We then examined the groups' secondary hyperalgesia. The results were striking. The 'pain-trained' group achieved a 38 per cent reduction in secondary hyperalgesia, while the control group reported an increase of 8 per cent.

'We know that pain feels more debilitating when it signals illness or injury compared to when we are undertaking an activity we feel is beneficial - we go through the pain barrier.

'However we didn't know whether our beliefs simply changed the emotional response to pain or if the mind actually changed sensations that arise from the body - until now.'

The CBT-trained group also reduced the self-reported 'unpleasantness' of the eight pain sessions by 58 per cent, said Dr Salomons. This indicated that CBT changed the emotional response to pain as well as the sensitivity of skin around the burn.

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Change of tact: Experts claim a 'mind over body' approach is the way to overcome feelings of pain

Each year more than five million people in the UK develop chronic pain. Back pain alone is believed to cost British business 4.9 million work days a year as a result of employee absenteeism.

The kind of CBT used, designed to alter 'distorted and unhelpful' pain-related thoughts, was adapted 'almost entirely' from a commonly available manual, said Dr Salomons.

'At-home cognitive treatments, working in tandem with other treatments, could make a difference to NHS finances and waiting times as well as improving the lives of chronic pain sufferers,' he added.

He conducted the research, published in the journal Pain, while working at the University of Toronto in Canada.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

PAIN MANAGEMENT - Adults

Summary

Pain may be caused by medical conditions, injury or surgery. Management strategies include pain-relieving medicines, physical or occupational therapy, complementary therapies (such as acupuncture and massage) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Always see your doctor for diagnosis, treatment and advice on the best pain-management option for you.

Pain is a very common condition. Around one third of Australians are in pain, with one in five reporting that their pain is constant. The occurrence of pain rises as people get older, and women are more likely to be in pain than men. Pain management strategies include pain-relieving medications, physical or occupational therapy, and complementary therapies (such as acupuncture and massage).

Studies suggest that a person’s outlook and the way they cope emotionally with long-term (chronic) pain can influence their quality of life.  Counseling can help support you to manage the emotional and psychological effects of chronic pain. Understanding the causes of your pain can help reduce your fear and anxiety.

Causes of pain

Pain may be anything from a dull ache to a sharp stab, and can range from mild to extreme. Pain may be located in one part of the body or it may be widespread.

Causes of pain in adults include medical conditions (such as cancer,  arthritis and back problems), injuries and surgery. The most commonly reported pain is back pain. Pain involving the limbs, shoulder, neck and head is also common. 

See your doctor if pain continues

Seven out of 10 people seek professional help for their pain, mostly from a doctor. For some people, the cause of the pain won’t be found or there will be no available treatment for it. In other cases, the cause may be remedied, but the associated pain lingers on. Always see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment of persistent pain.

How pain affects the body

There are two types of pain. Acute pain is a normal response to tissue injury, which starts suddenly and is usually short lived. Chronic (ongoing) pain persists beyond the normal time of healing and generally lasts for longer than three months.

The vast majority of people with chronic pain have it for more than a year. This type of pain is usually the result of an injury (for example, a sports or work accident), illness or other health problem. The cause is unknown in around one third of cases.

The body’s reaction to unrelieved pain includes:

·         Increased heart rate and blood pressure

·         Changes to blood gases, namely reduced oxygen and increased carbon dioxide

·         Higher levels of stress hormones including cortisol and adrenaline

·         Gastrointestinal problems such as slowed digestion

·         Musculoskeletal problems such as tension and fatigue

·         Emotional problems such as anxiety and depression.

Pain receptors

Pain receptors are attached to two main types of nerves – one relays messages quickly (resulting in a sharp, acute pain) and the other relays messages slowly (resulting in a dull, throbbing pain). Some areas of the body have more pain receptors than others. For example, the skin is loaded with receptors that can give specific information on the exact location and type of pain, while the relatively few receptors in the gastrointestinal tract (gut) means it is harder to pinpoint the precise location of a stomach ache. 

The pain message relay

Pain receptors in the body relay the sensation of pain along the nerves to the spinal cord, which sends it to a structure in the brain called the thalamus. The thalamus also contributes to mood and arousal, which helps to explain why our interpretation of pain partly depends on our state of mind. The pain message is then delivered to the brain’s cerebral cortex.

Interestingly, some people who have injuries to areas of their cerebral cortex still experience pain, but don’t care so much about it.

Pain-relieving medications

Pain relievers (analgesics) are common medicines that many people use at some time in their lives. There are two broad categories of analgesics:

·         Non-opioid – such as aspirin and paracetamol, mainly used for mild to moderate pain

·         Opioid – such as morphine and oxycodone, mainly used for severe pain.

Medications available for the management of pain include:

·         Paracetamol

·         Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen – these medicines reduce inflammation (redness and swelling)

·         Opioid drugs, such as codeine and morphine – these medicines treat moderate to severe pain

·         Local anaesthetics.

How pain-relieving medications work

Analgesics work in various ways. For example, opioid analgesics alter pain messages by influencing brain chemistry, which is why these drugs can be addictive. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work by blocking an enzyme in the body needed to create prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that trigger physiological changes such as increased temperature and dilation of blood vessels. They also cause an increased sensitivity to pain.

Blocking the action of prostaglandins reduces fever, inflammation and pain. However, prostaglandins also help the stomach lining to resist gastric acid, which is why aspirin and NSAIDs can cause stomach irritation and bleeding in some people.

Choosing the right pain-relieving medication

The right choice of medication for you will depend on your pain. Issues you need to discuss with your doctor include:

·         The location, intensity and type of pain

·         Any activities that ease the pain or make it worse

·         The impact your pain has on your lifestyle, such as how it affects your appetite or quality of sleep.

Your other medical conditions and the medicines you take can also determine which pain-relieving medication is right for you. You should discuss these with your doctor so that you choose the safest and most effective option. 

Managing your medications effectively

Always follow instructions for taking your medications safely and effectively. By doing so, your pain is more likely to be well managed, you are less likely to take larger doses of medication and you can reduce your risk of side effects.

Medications for chronic pain are best taken regularly. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if your medicines lose their ability to reduce your pain or are causing you other problems, such as side effects. These are more likely to occur if you are taking pain-relieving medications for a long time.

People can lower their levels of felt pain by learning self-management skills, such as coping with depression and stress. Some studies have shown that medication can undermine the value of developing these skills. It is important to learn the skills you need to cope with your pain and not rely on medications alone to do this.

Side effects of pain-relieving medicines

Some of the side effects of common analgesics include:

·         Paracetamol can cause skin rash, liver and kidney damage (if used in large doses for a long time).

·         Aspirin can cause stomach irritation, allergic reactions in susceptible people (such as triggering an asthma attack), tinnitus (ringing in the ears), kidney damage (if used in large doses for a long time) and reduced blood-clotting ability.

·         Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause headache, nausea, stomach irritation and upsets, skin rashes, fatigue, dizziness and sleep problems.

·         Combination analgesics such as preparations that contain paracetamol and codeine can cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, liver and kidney damage (if used in large doses for a long time).

·         Opioid analgesics such as morphine, oxycodone and codeine can cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, and reduced physical coordination and balance.

Non-drug pain management

Many non-drug treatments are available to help you manage your pain. A combination of treatments and therapies is often more effective than just one. Understanding the causes of your pain can help reduce your fear and anxiety. Ask your doctor to suggest other pain-management strategies that might work for you and complement your current regimen.

Some non-drug pain-management strategies include:

·         Heat or cold – heat packs can aid relief of chronic musculoskeletal injuries and associated pain. An icepack can be used to help reduce swelling immediately after an injury

·         Physical therapies – walking, as well as stretching and strengthening or aerobic exercises, may help relieve pain, depending on the cause. Physical activity can also help you stay active and improve your mood. Ask a physiotherapist or osteopath to design a program specifically for your pain condition

·         Massage – this is better suited to soft tissue injuries and should be avoided if the pain originates in the joints

·         Acupuncture – a component of traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the skin and is believed to restore balance, encourage the body to heal itself and release natural pain-relieving compounds within the body (endorphins)

·         Relaxation and stress management techniques – including meditation and yoga

·         Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy – a minute electrical current is passed through the skin via electrodes, prompting a pain-relieving response from the body

·         Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – this form of therapy can help you learn to change how you think and, in turn, how you feel and behave about pain. This is a valuable strategy for learning to self-manage chronic pain.

Always be guided by your doctor or other healthcare professional and follow their instructions carefully to avoid making your pain worse.

Chronic non-cancer pain

Sometimes, pain will persist and cannot be relieved. Some suggestions for how to emotionally handle this difficult and distressing situation include:

·         If all medical avenues have been exhausted, it may not be helpful to continue to raise false hopes by searching fruitlessly for a cure.

·         Accept that your pain may not go away and that flare-ups may occur. Talk yourself through these times.

·         Find out as much as you can about your condition so that you don't fret or worry unnecessarily about the pain.

·         Enlist the support of family and friends. Let them know what support you need, find new ways to stay in touch that are less painful for you to handle, and maintain healthy relationships with people in your social networks who may be able to support you.

·         Take steps to prevent or ease depression by any means that work for you, including talking to friends or professionals.

·         If pain-relieving medications can't ease the pain, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first about what you should do. Increasing your dose may not help your pain and might cause you harm.

·         Improve your physical fitness, eat healthy foods and make sure you get all the rest you need.

·         Don't allow the pain to curtail your life more than necessary. If you miss activities you used to do before the pain, try reintroducing those activities in a gently paced way. You may need to cut back on some activities if pain flare-ups occur, but it may be possible to increase slowly again as you did before.

·         Concentrate on finding fun and rewarding activities that don't make your pain worse.

·         Seek advice on new coping strategies and skills from a healthcare professional such as an occupational therapist or psychologist.

Be cautious when taking pain-relieving medications

Over-the-counter analgesics need to be treated with respect and caution, just like any other medication. It’s always a good idea to discuss any medication with your doctor.

General suggestions include:

·         Don’t self-medicate with analgesics during pregnancy – some medications can reach the fetus through the placenta and potentially cause harm.

·         Take care if you are elderly or caring for an older person. Older people have an increased risk of unwanted side effects. For example, taking aspirin regularly for chronic pain (such as arthritis) can cause a dangerous bleeding stomach ulcer.

·         Always tell your pharmacist about any prescription medicines you are taking so they can help you choose a safe analgesic. Over-the-counter medicines can interact with other medicines, possibly by stopping them working correctly and sometimes dangerously.

·         Don’t take more than one over-the-counter medicine at a time, or you may unintentionally take an overdose. For example, many ‘cold and flu’ tablets already contain paracetamol, so it is important not to take any other paracetamol-containing medicine to avoid an overdose.

·         See your doctor or healthcare professional for proper treatment for sport injuries. Don’t use pain-relieving medications to ‘tough it out’.

·         Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any over-the-counter medicine if you have a chronic physical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes.

Where to get help

·         Your doctor

·         Pharmacist

·         National Chronic Pain Information Line Tel. 1800 218 921

·         NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 60 60 24 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)

·         Medicines Line (Australia) Tel. 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) – for information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines

·         Adverse Medicine Events Line Tel. 1300 134 237

·         Austin Health Acute Pain Service Tel. (03) 9496 3485

·         Physical therapist

·         Occupational therapist

·         Counsellor or psychologist

Things to remember

·         At any given time, around one third of Australians are in pain.

·         Management strategies for pain include pain-relieving medications and complementary therapies (such as acupuncture and massage).

·         Studies suggest that a person's quality of life is influenced by their outlook and by the way they cope emotionally with chronic pain.

·         Seek advice on new coping strategies and skills from an occupational therapist or psychologist.

Source: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au