PajMon Information Blog

Posts Tagged ‘pain’

Dangerous Painkilling Drugs.

Many people find they cannot tolerate the pain of arthritis without the use of painkillers. Those most commonly used are anti-inflammatories and narcotics. Regular, sustained use of these drugs can have serious side effects and can be potentially fatal.

Several authoritative websites, such as the US Food and Drug Agency carry warnings of the dangers posed to arthritis sufferers who regularly take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The main serious side effects are heart attacks, strokes and life-threatening intestinal bleeding.

“Based on the currently available data, FDA has concluded that an increased risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events appears to be a class effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)”

An alternative painkilling drug is Codeine. This does not pose the same dangers as anti-inflammatories but it can cause addiction and constipation and more importantly, drowsiness.

It is obviously a good idea if you can find other remedies to alleviate your arthritis pain, in view of the serious dangers inherent in the anti-inflammatories. There are other ways to tackle the problems of pain relief.

Plan Your Diet to Beat the Pain.

Some foods can exacerbate the symptoms of arthritis, while others can be a great help in reducing the pain. Identify which is which and plan your meals accordingly. The World Health Organisation has information on what constitutes a balanced diet.

The Benefits of Exercise.

Even the thought of exercising can be intimidating for someone who is already in pain but if joints are not moved gently every day, the stiffness and pain will just get worse. The muscles, tendons and ligaments supporting the joints will gradually get weaker and movement will become even more painful.

Swimming, cycling and walking are all excellent for improving mobility, without causing harmful impact on joints. This applies to knees and hips in particular. Swimming, or water aerobics are excellent, because the water supports you and makes movement much easier.

Your Weight is Important.

If you adopt a combination of sensible diet and gentle exercise, it is likely that your weight will stabilise at an optimum level for you and this will not only benefit your all-round health but will also reduce the strain on your joints.

Additional Dietary Help.

Supplements to your normal diet can be useful in helping to strengthen arthritic joints and relieve pain and stiffness. There are many products out there, some of the most popular being Omega 3 Fish Oil, Glucosamine, Cider Vinegar and Flax Seed Oil.

In our modern world many people are plagued with chronic pain. For some it is a mere annoyance, that aching feeling. Many tune it out, only to realize when they release the pain of how much pain they had hidden away.

When we turn to the cause of our subtle or chronic aches and pains, we find many directions. Is it dietary, or chemical exposure? Is it overuse of the body through hard work? Is it abuse caused by substance addition, like drugs, alcohol or even sugar? There is no single answer, and no solitary solution.

There are many programs available these days for the treatment of chronic pain conditions. Traditional therapies include physical therapy, occupational therapy and medications. Holistic program include acupuncture, yoga, nutritional changes, and breathing exercises.

A study was conducted in Toronto Canada to show the benefits of naturopathic modalities in the treatment of chronic low back pain. This study, conducted at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, included modalities such as acupuncture, breathing exercises, and dietary supplements such as calcium and magnesium.(1)

In the study traditional physiotherapy was used for half the test group, and the naturopathic treatment program was prescribed for the other half. The results showed that there was a greater decrease of chronic back pain in those who were treated by the naturopathic methods.

When we delve into the nutritional value of minerals such as magnesium, we find that there are over 300 body functions that are dependent on magnesium. Unfortunately half of our population is deficient in magnesium. Low magnesium levels can lead to many health issues, such as muscle cramps and chronic pain. (2)

We can take simple steps to improving our health and decreasing chronic pain. Improving our nutritional storehouse is one easy way to provide the body with the tools it needs to heal. Magnesium and other trace elements can be introduced into our system through transdermal absorption, such as a magnesium bath or magnesium oil rubbed into those aching muscles.

References: (1)Naturopathic Care for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Trial. PLoS ONE. 2007; 2(9): e919. (2) ScienceDaily (Dec. 27, 2004)