pain medication

Pain Supplements and Their Processes, Part 1

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Joint SupplementsJoint pain affects millions in the United States. The CDC estimates that over 50 million people in the US have arthritis, or about 25% of the population. The vitamin and supplement business in the United States is a multi-billion dollar enterprise.

The proof for the effectiveness of any of the compounds is very limited. In general, the best that can be said is that they may be helpful, and the only harm that is likely is possibly a hole in your pocket book. Today, we take a look at some supplements, their common dosages and what they treat. Be sure to check back in later in the week for more information on other pain supplements.

Supplement Guide

Glucosamine is one of the top supplements recommended for joint health. This is a chemical that can be found naturally in the human body. As we age, the levels tend to decrease. It is used by the body in helping build tendons, ligaments, cartilage and the synovial fluid in and around joints. Most commonly it is recommended for those with osteoarthritis. Knee pain is the most common location. In rare cases, side affects have included increases in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugars. The dose that has been studied is 500 mg three times a day.

Mixed with glucosamine is chondroitin, and this is also normally found in the cartilage of joints. It is manufactured from animal sources, commonly cow cartilage or shark cartilage. Chondroitin is supposed to help with arthritis pain and may help with osteoporosis. It is supposed to work by slowing down breakdown of joint cartilage. A caution is recommended if you have asthma or are on a medicine to prevent blood clots since this may interfere with both conditions. The typical dose is 200 to 400 mg two to three times a day, but it may be all taken at once.

Omega 3 fatty acid supplements are used for a variety of conditions. It has been recommended for blood pressure control, cholesterol, depression, ADHD, diabetes, osteoporosis and inflammatory conditions causing pain including arthritis. Omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil are not made by the body, so ingesting them is necessary, and they reduce pain and swelling. For any condition, this supplement is said to help, but literature also indicates there is a possibility it may also worsen that condition. The dosing for arthritic conditions is about 4 grams a day.

Ginger root is commonly used for muscle and joint pain along with stomach pain. The chemicals in ginger root are thought to work in the stomach and intestines as well as the nervous system to affect inflammation. There is a definite interaction with blood clotting medications, like Coumadin, increasing bleeding problems, so if you are on those, do not take ginger root. There are various ginger extracts on the market and suggested dosing is 170 mg three times a day to 250 mg four times a day.

That’s all we’re going to cover today. Swing back on Wednesday for more information on supplements.

Supplements For Joint Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic joint pain plagues many of my patients, and oftentimes this condition is caused by arthritis. Because so many people suffer from joint pain and arthritis, a lot of pharmaceutical companies are trying to cash in on the demand for vitamins and supplements. But which supplements are the best, and what else should you do to combat arthritis pain?

Vitamins and Supplements

The first thing you’ll want to do is understand that there is no magic pill to fix arthritis. Some supplements may alleviate some symptoms in the short term, but they won’t provide a full on cure. You need to take proactive steps and focus on all aspects of your health if you really want to see results. That means you need to get off the couch and start exercising. We already know that 30 minutes to an hour of moderate to intense activity is great for your body, but it can also help alleviate symptoms associated with arthritis.

Diet is another area of focus. Foods with Omega-3 fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatories, so ditch the pizza and soda for fish and leafy greens. Combined with exercise, a balanced diet can help you lose weight, which means your body won’t need to bear as much weight. Losing weight is a natural way to take some stress off your joints.

Paired With Pills

If you are going to take a supplement to combat your osteo or rheumatoid arthritis, be smart about what you put in your body. First and foremost, you should follow your doctor’s instructions. Ask them what supplements they’d recommend, especially if you are taking other medications to manage pain. Stick to your doctor’s instructions, and never take more than the recommended amount, even if you’re in more pain than normal.

Again, discuss these options with your doctor, but some good vitamins and supplements to consider include:

  • Calcium
  • Vitamin D3
  • Ginger
  • Turmeric
  • Omega-3
  • Vitamin E
  • Green Tea

Paired with diet and exercise, supplements can be a key component in keeping your arthritis under control.

What It’s Like To Be Young And Have Chronic Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Young and in PainChronic pain is a debilitating condition at any age, but we naturally slow down a bit as we get older, so dealing with constant pain at a young age isn’t something most can relate to very easily. People in their 20’s and 30’s often feel misunderstood or that they have to hide their condition from friends.

Recently, the Huffington Post ran an article titled “15 Things No One Tells You About Chronic Pain As A 20-Something.” The article makes some good points, and we decided to take the five most relevant points and expand on them in today’s blog.

5 Things They Don’t Tell You

Here’s a look at five things most people don’t know about dealing with chronic pain in your 20’s and 30’s.

1. The idea of going out and maintaining a “normal” 20-something social life is laughable.

Chronic pain takes a lot out of you, so some people just won’t understand why you don’t want to paint the town for hours or go hiking on a Saturday afternoon. You want to go out and hang with friends, but sometimes your body just isn’t up for it, or you’re afraid of a flare up in a group setting. Sometimes people take your decision not to attend a function as a personal slight, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You’d love to join, but your pain makes it nearly impossible.

2. Some people are really open and kind about your chronic pain. Some are just the worst.

You likely have a close circle of family and friends who truly understand your condition and how it affects you, but you also probably know some people who are less than empathetic about your condition. They say things like “Oh you’re just faking it,” “You’re lazy” or worse “You’re just doing it for attention.” It’s best to just ignore these people and distance yourself from them if possible. They simply can’t comprehend what you’re going through, and their negativity only makes things worse.

3. There are good days and bad days.

Some days you feel like you can conquer the world, other days it’s an accomplishment if you can just get out of bed. You’ll have good days and bad days, just like everyone else, but what a lot of people don’t understand is that you never know what type of day it’s going to be. You can’t plan around chronic pain. Sometimes it flares up at the worst time, while other times your pain subsides at the perfect time.

4. Chronic pain is a full-time job.

Chronic pain fills up your daily and monthly calendars. Between seeing doctors and specialists, refilling your medications and getting in your daily exercise and physical therapy, chronic pain is a full-time job. When you throw in other activities, like work and social activities, you can start to feel overwhelmed by the condition. Be sure to make time for yourself, even if that just means marking off an hour to watch a few episodes of your favorite TV show on Netflix.

5. Get a Pain Guru.

Lastly, it’s important to find a professional who understands your condition and who helps you TREAT the symptoms, not just manage them. Any old doctor can prescribe painkillers and call it a day, but you need to find a specialist who believes in you, takes time to understand the condition and who works to help you get better.

The Benefits Of Changing Your Diet

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Diet and painMost people struggle with their diets. Eating healthy is always a challenge. With the typical American diet, the food is tasty, quick, and unfortunately, not the best for our bodies. The typical diet is high in carbohydrates, the wrong fats and not enough protein. The diet leads to obesity, anxiety, depression, heart disease, stroke, cancer and mental decline. If we could change our diet slightly, we may be much more healthy. Our diet only became bad over the last 100 years when switched from whole grains, vegetables, and meats to highly processed food.

Diet Options

The Mediterranean diet has been one of the better choices recently. The diet is high in fish oils, nuts and grains. Vegetable proteins are also a large part of the diet. It has been shown to be good for weight loss and to reduce cardiovascular disease. Recently it has also found to be beneficial for depression and anxiety control.

The paleo diet is another diet that earned praise of late. This diet was said to mimic the food choices of our hominid ancestors. The diet concentrates on nuts, berries, and meat. The protein may be red meat or seafood. A lot of the seafood is high in Omega 3 fats that are also good for the brain.

Healthy brain food includes seafood, greens, nuts, and beans, with some dark chocolate and wine. The healthier diets improve brain focus, energy and often lead to weight loss. Seafood is packed with protein and Omega 3 fatty acids, the latter is beneficial to maintain neuronal membrane structure. Seafood also has vitamin D and trace nutrients including iodine and chromium. Leafy greens are sources of fiber, folate, and multiple vitamins. Nuts provide protein, fiber, minerals, and healthy fats, and legumes can provide a healthy alternative source of protein.

Eating a healthier diet has many benefits. Combine a good diet with exercise, and one will move toward a better life with less disease, controlled weight and a brighter outlook with more energy. Change is difficult, but has many benefits.

Chronic Pain Is All About Being Resilient

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Resilience is defined as the ability to weather adverse events and circumstances. When one has pain, resilience is the ability to cope with the pain and move forward in a positive direction. There are people who have chronic pain and who thrive in their lives. Others spend their time concentrating on every aspect of their pain and how their lives have changed and is controlled by the pain. The ability to be resilient is a skill, and an ability to deal with stress. Those who learn the skill of resilience can better survive the tough challenges life throws at them.

Resilient

The people I see on a daily basis have a varying degree of resilience. The most difficult people to treat are those with little resilience and ability to cope. The people who seem to do the best are those who have a high degree of resilience. Resilience takes some physical skills and a lot of mental capacity. Developing the mental ability may be natural, but is a topic many benefit from and can be taught often by psychologists.

New Research on Resilience

The newest research on resilience focuses on mindfulness. This is an area of psychology that has a person become aware of how they are responding to various situations and trains them refocus on appropriate responses and helpful approaches to problems. It also tries to diminish the emotional and irrational thoughts on a subject and replace them with practical solutions to a problem. In a way, focus on what you can change, and avoid becoming bogged down by your emotions.

A recently article in Time magazine listed ten expert tips for resilience. They are interesting guides in life and if put to use, may help improve the ability to handle stress and pain. Below are listed the tips from the Time article.

  • Develop a core set of beliefs that nothing can shake.
  • Try to find meaning in whatever stressful or traumatic thing has happened.
  • Try to maintain a positive outlook.
  • Take cues from someone who is especially resilient.
  • Don’t run from things that scare you: face them.
  • Be quick to reach out for support when things go haywire.
  • Learn new things as often as you can.
  • Find an exercise regimen you’ll stick to.
  • Don’t beat yourself up or dwell on the past.
  • Recognize what makes you uniquely strong and own it

Take these tips to heart, and you’ll notice that you’ll be better prepared to handle chronic pain.