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Physical Therapy: The Right Touch For Your Musculoskeletal Pain

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Pain can come in many forms; it can be the result of an injury, surgery, or an illness; it can be intense pain or a subtle ache; it may be acute or longstanding, localized or widespread. However it manifests, the bottom line for anyone in pain is: the sooner the recovery, the better the quality of life.

Pain is often an indicator of an imbalance somewhere in the musculoskeletal system. Our body’s magnificent framework is made up of bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments that work together to provide stability, put us in motion, and support the proper functioning of all our vital organs and their systems. When there is an imbalance the body overcompensates, eventually causing fatigue, inflammation, and dysfunction in the area.

Physical therapy offers undeniable value when treating musculoskeletal pain. With extensive training in manual skills and a comprehensive understanding of body mechanics, physical therapists can treat a wide range of musculoskeletal pain problems. For example, there are physical therapists who help patients recover from sports injuries or strokes, others who work primarily with patients suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction, and those who specialize in Craniosacral Therapy, which may provide symptomatic relief from chronic neck and back pain, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJS), and traumatic brain injuries, among many other conditions. While some physical therapists specialize in working with children and infants, others work primarily with adult or geriatric patients.

“Physical therapy is a dynamic profession with an established theoretical and scientific base and widespread clinical applications in the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function.” – American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)

Fundamental benefits of PT

Encourages physical activity

PT requires movement! The inclination may be to take time off from exercise when in pain. However, physical therapists are able to “prescribe” exercise programs appropriate for a patient’s specific medical condition. With the right program and under the right guidance, the body continues to move, which promotes heart health, bone health, mental health, and more. In other words, staying active is critical for healing and for lowering the risk of other illnesses in the future.

Promotes natural healing

PT, like other alternative therapies, promotes the body’s natural healing process and does not come with the cost and risky side effects of powerful pain medications and invasive measures like surgery and injections. Because of the massive opioid crisis, in 2016 and again in 2022, the Centers for Disease Control changed its clinician guidelines to recommend physical therapy and other nonpharmacological therapies as a first line of treatment for chronic, non-cancerous pain conditions. While there is an appropriate time to consider opioids for acute pain management, physical therapy should be the first line of treatment for musculoskeletal pain, and, depending on your condition, may very well be the only treatment you need.

Restores function

PT teaches individuals about body mechanics for sitting, standing, and lifting. Patients are educated about their body’s limitations and given an individualized program that will gradually improve their range of motion, muscle strength, and stability for a faster and more complete recovery so they can reengage in life.

Teamwork makes the dream work!

Teamwork is defined as “the combined actions of a group of people working together effectively to achieve a goal.” Working with a physical therapist will provide instruction, encouragement, and consistency in your healing process.

In sum

Fundamental health relies on a healthy musculoskeletal system so that other critical systems, like the neurological, circulatory, and hormonal systems, can function properly too. Physical therapists are expertly trained to locate and rehabilitate deficiencies in the musculoskeletal system for a more complete recovery.

If you have a pain problem, your physician should take a thorough medical history, including asking questions about the special characteristics of your pain, including its duration and the particular sensations you are experiencing. This will not only help to accurately identify the cause or causes of your pain problem but will also eliminate other possibilities. If physical therapy is in order, your doctor can help you find a physical therapist with the right set of skills to meet your medical needs.

To schedule an appointment with a Kaplan Center physician to see if physical therapy is appropriate for you, please call 703-532-4892. Physical Therapy orders from non-Kaplan physicians can be used for treatment here.

We are here for you, and we want to help.

Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2

This article was originally published in October 2018. It was reviewed and updated in October 2023.

treating chronic pain

Treating Chronic Pain

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The number of patients diagnosed with chronic pain conditions continues to rise in the United States, topping 51 million in 2021. 1

Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for more than 3 months, a time frame that under normal circumstances should accommodate the body’s normal healing process. But when the body doesn’t respond how we expect it to, lives can quickly be interrupted, and for many, it can be life-shattering.

Chronic pain is treatable and there are many effective options available, so why are millions of people being left behind?

One of the biggest challenges in diagnosing and managing chronic pain is the fact that providers have to rely almost exclusively on the individual’s description of their pain and the disability it causes. Pain is subjective – there is no biomarker, blood test, or imaging study that can objectively detect the presence and severity of pain.

However, research that looks at the way our brains and nervous systems initiate and sustain severe chronic pain continues to point to the same conclusion – that chronic pain, in and of itself, is not the problem to be treated. Instead, chronic pain should be seen as a symptom of an underlying medical problem, and it is to this underlying problem that treatment must be targeted.

Specifically, chronic pain is a symptom of inflammation in the brain, or what I call “a brain on fire”. This inflammation is triggered by the body’s own immune system, which is designed to respond to any kind of assault. For example, physical injury, infections (such as Lyme disease or COVID-19), exposure to environmental toxins, concussions, celiac disease, loss of oxygen to the brain caused by sleep apnea, and even long-term emotional trauma, can set off an inflammatory response in the brain and central nervous system. Identifying the source(s) of inflammation is critical to breaking the cycle of chronic pain; and frequently, the sources are multiple, compounding, and cumulative.

To accurately diagnose and treat the causes of neuroinflammation that manifest as chronic pain, providers must:

  • Take a comprehensive medical history of each individual.
  • Work to correctly identify and treat the underlying root cause(s) of chronic pain.
  • Educate people about their relationship with chronic pain. Like all relationships, how this is managed can make life substantially better or worse.

Pain Management Programs

Intensive pain management programs can be an extremely important tool in helping patients manage their pain and live a better life. They typically involve a treatment schedule that spans several weeks, during which time attendees are typically seen by a team of healthcare providers with a variety of specialties. Although programs vary somewhat from one to another, each is likely to include:

  • Initial consultation with a provider who has pain management experience.
  • Specialized lab tests.
  • Nutritional intervention, including anti-inflammatory elimination diets and consultations with nutrition experts.
  • Behavioral health techniques, such as meditation and relaxation therapies.
  • Acupuncture.
  • Movement therapies, such as yoga (especially restorative yoga and yogic philosophy training), and physical therapy, including core strengthening and biomechanics.

The goal of this type of intense programming with an emphasis on education is to help individuals think differently about their pain while providing them with new tools to manage their pain and re-engage in their lives. Additionally, if the programs are designed to approach pain as a symptom of an underlying medical condition and the treatment aims to resolve the root cause of the pain, there is a very good possibility that the pain will go away.

The Bottom Line

  1. Chronic pain is not a disease but a symptom.
  2. The way we treat pain now has, for the most part, been a costly, abysmal failure. Opioids are the most pressing issue but there are also serious concerns about the number of unsuccessful and unnecessary procedures (surgeries in particular) and the proliferation of the use of dorsal column stimulators (implanted electronic devices placed near the spinal cord to treat chronic pain), and the overutilization of spinal blocks (injections of anesthetic into the spine). The research evidence for these approaches for the treatment of chronic pain ranges from fair to poor. 2,3,4,5
  3. Behavioral health programs have some of the strongest data and the greatest success in treating chronic pain conditions. And, more importantly, when these programs are not successful, they don’t make the situation worse (unlike surgery and other invasive procedures).

What Needs to Happen

Individuals suffering from chronic pain must, in every single case, be offered a comprehensive workup with an individualized treatment approach.

We need to continue with research into the causes of inflammation in the brain, while also working on developing a treatment for brain inflammation that leads to chronic pain. We also need to develop testing that will provide us with an objective indicator of the chronic pain/underlying disease and its response to treatment.

In the interim, we should focus on improving the lives of our patients by using targeted therapies that address the biology of the pain, rather than its symptoms; anything short of this is like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet hole.

–Dr. Gary Kaplan

Sources:

1. Rikard SM, Strahan AE, Schmit KM, Guy GP Jr.. Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:379–385. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7215a1.

2. PMID: 24308846
3. PMID: 25840040
4. PMID: 26824399
5. PMCID: PMC3777049

Long-COVID Recovery Program

Our Long-COVID Recovery Program provides comprehensive care to patients who still have COVID-19 symptoms more than six weeks after recovering from the initial infection. If you are experiencing symptoms beyond six weeks of being diagnosed, please give us a call at 703-532-6302.

More Info

 

We are here for you, and we want to help.

Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2

 

This article was originally published in September 2016. It was reviewed and updated in September 2023.

Chronic Back Pain with Acupuncture

Relieve Your Chronic Back Pain with Acupuncture

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Back pain affects 70% of Americans in their lifetime and is currently the leading cause of disability. With the limited options typically offered for pain management by medical professionals, many of those who suffer from back pain find themselves depending on prescription painkillers, despite their many negative side-effects and the risk of addiction with long-term use. Acupuncture, on the other hand, is a non-narcotic and VERY effective treatment for chronic back pain – and it’s a treatment method that we use frequently at The Kaplan Center.

Acupuncture involves the placement of fine needles on the body for the purpose of reducing pain and treating various physical, mental, and emotional conditions. It is thought to work by blocking pain messages to the brain with competing stimuli through the release of endorphins – the body’s natural painkillers – and the secretion of neurotransmitters, which affect one’s perception of pain.

Questions? Give Us a Call!

703-532-4892 x2

While acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years, it is also standing the test of modern research. In 2007 the results of a large study of over 1,100 patients with chronic back pain was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. After 10 treatments, the group that received acupuncture had a 47% improvement in pain and functioning after six months, compared to a 27% improvement among those who received more conventional care involving medications and physical therapy. (Unfortunately, while there are also studies focusing on spinal lumbar stenosis, they are inconclusive due to poor methodologies and research biases.) The American College of Physicians Clinical Practice Guidelines in 2017 and the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain in 2016 both recommended acupuncture in place of opioids as non pharmacological interventions along with massage therapy, spinal manipulations, and yoga.

At The Kaplan Center, a patient’s initial visit includes a complete health assessment covering the history of the pain, as well as other potential health concerns such as sleep, digestion, and additional musculoskeletal issues. A holistic approach is used to provide maximum pain relief and healing – even in complex cases of postoperative pain and arthritis. It is recommended to do a course of at least 8 acupuncture treatments, which may include adjunct treatments, such as heat therapy or “moxibustion,” Chinese herbal medicine, and electro-acupuncture. Most patients report benefits after a few sessions though many notice changes immediately following the initial visit.

In sum, acupuncture is a low risk, nonpharmacological intervention that is effective in reducing pain, helping to improve the quality of life for chronic pain sufferers.

– Rebecca Berkson, L.Ac, Dipl. O.M.

We are here for you, and we want to help.

Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2

Moving Forward with Back Pain

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Has living with chronic low back pain affected your productivity, mobility, and overall ability to enjoy life?

In the United States, it’s estimated that nearly 16 million adults experience chronic back pain, making it one of the most costly health expenses annually and one of the most common complaints heard in doctors’ offices. Causes can include injury, disease (i.e. arthritis, cancer), obesity, poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, even infection.

Patients with acute and sub-acute cases (pain that goes away within 3 months) may find that their pain improves over time without treatment of any kind. But not everyone has the ability to simply wait it out. In these cases, and when the pain becomes chronic, the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends that non-invasive and non-drug therapies like exercise, acupuncture, massage, yoga, and other mind-body therapies should be the first line of treatment over surgery and narcotics, and we agree!

Remember, chronic pain, including low back pain, is a symptom of inflammation. Without targeting the root cause of the inflammation and treating it, your pain symptoms will not improve. Mind-body therapies help calm the inflammatory process in the body, promote healing, and present little to no risk to the patient.

Here are a few common misconceptions about treating back pain that can contribute to a slower recovery.

Myth: Exercise makes back pain even worse

Putting the brakes on exercise may seem like a good idea when you’re feeling pain symptoms, but research shows that the opposite is true. Strengthening and stretching exercises combined with aerobic activity will improve back pain symptoms by increasing blood flow, improving range of motion and flexibility, and strengthening core muscles.

· Physical Therapy is a great place to start if you’re concerned about further injuring or straining your back. Physical therapists have outstanding manual skills with a comprehensive understanding of body mechanics. They can work with you to decrease pain, improve movement, and provide instruction on how to continue moving safely in your everyday life.

· Going for a walk is one of the easiest ways to stay active. Try taking a short walk every day to keep your heart pumping and blood flowing.

· The poses, controlled breathing, and meditation involved in the practice of yoga can not only improve symptoms of chronic low back pain but can lower instances of depression and use of medication. As reducing back pain requires improving core strength, yoga is great for increasing core stability and strength while increasing awareness of other areas that may need stretching and strengthening.

Watch: Sun Salutations A & B with Dr. Lisa Lilienfield

Questions? Give Us a Call!

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Myth: NSAIDs can’t hurt

Occasional use of NSAIDs can certainly be helpful if patients have seen little improvement with non-invasive treatments. But a big misconception about these OTC (over the counter) painkillers is that they’re completely safe and harmless. Regular use of NSAIDs can lead to problems with gut ulcers, liver damage, and kidney damage. Ironically NSAIDs can even heighten one’s sensitivity to pain. People who take them more than once a week should discuss this with their physician.

Myth: Mind-body therapies are unscientific

Dismissing the benefits of mind-body therapies is at the least, misguided. There is a mountain of evidence that supports the use of alternative therapies for pain management.

· Acupuncture: This 2000-year-old practice is thought to work by blocking pain messages to the brain with competing stimuli that cause an increase of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and the secretion of neurotransmitters, which affect one’s perception of pain.

In 2007 the results of a large study of over 1,100 patients with chronic back pain were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. After 10 treatments, the group that received acupuncture had a 47% improvement in pain and functioning after six months.

Read: Relieve Your Chronic Back Pain with Acupuncture

· Massage Therapy: A 2011 study concluded that people who were treated with massage therapy, whether relaxation massage or structural massage (deep tissue massage), for their chronic back pain, saw benefits that lasted at least 6 months.

· Meditation: A study reported in the Journal of Neuroscience showed that patients who had received only a little more than 60 minutes of meditation training were able to dramatically reduce their experience of pain. Patients experienced a reduction in “pain intensity” of about 40 percent and a reduction in “pain unpleasantness” of 57 percent. According to the lead author of the study, Fadel Zeidan, “Meditation produced a greater reduction in pain than even morphine or other pain-relieving drugs, which typically reduce pain ratings by about 25 percent.”

Bottom line

Whether you have an acute, sub-acute, or chronic case of low back pain, the first line of treatment should be a therapy that can help calm the body’s inflammatory process naturally and safely. While there is unquestionably a time and a place for surgery or narcotics, medical evidence indicates that conservative treatment of low-back pain is often as effective.

If low back pain is interfering with your quality of life, please give us a call to learn more about how we can help with these wonderful and science-based therapies that can benefit your mind, body, and soul.

We are here for you, and we want to help.

Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2

Opioid Epidemic: Class Action Lawsuit Expected to Heavily Impact U.S. Pain Management Industry

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A class action suit filed against opioid manufacturers and drug distributors in the United States is expected to have an enormous impact on the pain management industry as we know it.
To what degree are drug companies responsible when opioids are being used for reasons other than their intended use?

Healio Family Medicine spoke with Dr. Kaplan and other experts in the field of pain management about the significance and possible repercussions of this historic case. Click here to read the article.

 

opioids

The Problem With Opioids for Chronic Pain

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Nor shall any man’s entreaty prevail upon me to administer poison to anyone; neither will I counsel any man to do so. – Hippocratic Oath

When it comes to the treatment of chronic pain, the medical profession may be in violation of what can be regarded as the first medical ethic: First do no harm.

In 2015, a report – The Role of Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Pain – published by an independent panel of experts convened by the National Institutes of Health, stated:

    Together, the prevalence of chronic pain and the increasing use of opioids have created a “silent epidemic” of distress, disability, and danger to a large percentage of Americans. The overriding question is: Are we, as a nation, approaching management of chronic pain in the best possible manner that maximizes effectiveness and minimizes harm?

More recently, the Centers for Disease Control in an attempt to address the massive public health crisis identified by the NIH issued a new set of twelve guidelines aimed at reducing the risk of opioid over-prescription and over-use. Although these recommendations are not yet mandated, they are a necessary first step in rethinking how we look at chronic pain treatment and how narcotics are prescribed.

A Brief History of Opioid Medication Use/Misuse

In 1997, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, in an acknowledgment of 1) the severity of the suffering of patients with chronic pain, and 2) the medical profession’s inability to provide many of these patients with acceptable treatment solutions, issued a consensus paper endorsing the use of opioid medications for the treatment of chronic non-cancerous pain. The Academy openly acknowledged that one of the problems with the long-term use of opioids is addiction. In response, the medical profession began making the distinction between addiction and dependence. Addiction was defined as a craving for opioids with the intention of getting “high” consistent with drug-seeking behavior. Dependence, on the other hand, was defined as any situation in which an opioid medication was prescribed for medical reasons, with a dosage sufficient to control the pain, and a significant improvement in the quality of life of the patient. While the intention was noble, the consequences have been quite disastrous.

Since the release of the AAPM’s paper, the sales of prescription opioid medications measured in grams has skyrocketed. Between 1997 and 2007, sales rose by 866% for oxycodone, 525% for fentanyl, 280% for hydrocodone, and 222% for morphine. As reported in Pain Physician in July 2012, “Gram for gram, people in the United States now consume more narcotic medication than any other nation worldwide.” The report goes on to document that over 90% of patients taking opioid pain medications were prescribed these medications for the treatment of chronic pain.

In 2011, approximately 17,000 drug overdose deaths involved prescription opioid medications. The CDC also reported that “In 2007 there were more opioid analgesic deaths than overdoses involving heroin and cocaine combined.” While a significant number of these drug overdose deaths are associated with diversion of the medication to people who were not originally prescribed the medication, 60% of the deaths occurred in patients that were given prescriptions based on the prescription guidelines by medical boards.

Furthermore, significant side-effects from opioid medications include increased risk of birth defects, falls and fractures, addiction, constipation, heart attacks, a decrease in the production of testosterone, and in some cases, hyperalgesia, an actual worsening of the pain.

Deciphering the Problem

While the NIH report and recent CDC guidelines offer a number of important policy and institutional points to address, I believe that the fundamental basis of our problem comes from a lack of understanding of what we’re treating. Acute pain and chronic pain (not associated with ongoing tissue damage such as in cancer) are two very different phenomena in the body.

1. Chronic pain is not a thing but one manifestation of a complex physiological process that frequently impacts many body systems, including sleep, gastrointestinal, psychological, and endocrine. Thus, we must take a whole-person approach in our diagnosis and treatment, which requires looking at multidisciplinary treatment options.

2. Unquestionably the evidence supporting the use of long-term opioids in the treatment of chronic pain is insufficient. We need better studies to help us understand when long-term use is beneficial.

3. Physicians need to be better educated about the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain. Ultimately the use of long-term opioid medications is an admission of treatment failure. The recent CDC guidelines are a step in the right direction in this regard.

As a pain specialist, I believe there is an important role for opioid medication, but that role should be limited. Opioids should only be prescribed with close monitoring by the diagnosing physician, for the purpose of relieving pain and improving quality of life when all other medical approaches have been exhausted.

First, do no harm. Opioids should be medications of last resort.


Dr. Kaplan explains how treating the symptoms of chronic pain is contributing to a system of mismanagement in this country. He discusses why we must shift the way chronic pain is treated by addressing its root cause – inflammation of the Central Nervous System.

Is It Safe to Keep Taking Your Pain Reliever?

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Why No Pain Pill Is Totally Safe

By Julia Westbrook

We break down the hidden side effects of three common pain meds.

It’s time to reevaluate how we deal with pain. Pain meds, even the ones that are easily available or ones we think of as safe, can have unintended consequences that take a toll on your body.”We think they’re safe because they’re available over-the-counter, and we consume them like they’re candy,” says Gary Kaplan, DO, author of Total Recovery: A Revolutionary New Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Pain and Depression. “But we need to be much more thoughtful in how we handle our aches and pains.”

Before you reach into the medicine cabinet, consider these lesser-known side effects of pain pills.

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (the ingredient found in Tylenol) seems to have the fewest drawbacks, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfectly safe. “It’s OK as long as you do not exceed the recommended dose,” says Dr. Kaplan. “When you exceed the recommended dose, the real risk becomes liver toxicity and damage to the liver.” He stresses that this is why you cannot drink alcohol when taking acetaminophen.

In addition to risks of liver toxicity, new research suggests that acetaminophen blunts not only your pain but also your emotions. In a study from Ohio State University, those who took acetaminophen did not experience the same emotional highs or lows as people taking a placebo.

Pregnant women should also be wary of acetaminophen. “What we thought were OK medications for pregnant women to be taking probably were not,” says Dr. Kaplan.

He explains that boys exposed to acetaminophen in the womb are at higher risk for undescended testes, leading to a higher risk for low sperm count and, potentially, in the long term, testicular cancer. The highest risk for this is during the second trimester of pregnancy, and it can occur with even low, intermittent use.

NSAIDs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs are easily available over-the-counter, but they come with a long list of health concerns. “These medications that we’ve been told are completely safe, and we take them without a second thought, are, in fact, not completely safe and need to be used with great discretion,” says Dr. Kaplan. “They need to be taken only when needed.”

“The thing that everyone thinks about is the risk for gastric ulcers and bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract,” says Dr. Kaplan. “But the bigger risk is that, with regular use of these medications, we see small intestine ulcers that occur in upwards of 80 percent of people taking these medications regularly. This is going to cause a massive disruption of the gut flora.”

Dr. Kaplan points out that more and more research is coming out showing the impact of the gut on the brain. “So a healthy gut is absolutely essential to having a healthy brain,” he says. “If we’re taking medications that are causing ulcerations in the small intestine, completely screwing up our gut flora and completely screwing up our ability to absorb proper nutrients, when all is said and done, these are not good medications to be taking on a regular basis.”

Heart disease is another health concern associated with NSAIDs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that NSAIDs can increase the risk for heart attack or stroke, even in otherwise healthy individuals.

Dr. Kaplan says that using these medications less than three times per week is probably safe, but more than that and you are taking a real risk.

And if you have a heart condition and are taking meds for that condition, definitely consult with your doctor about the potential for drug-drug interactions. For instance, Dr. Kaplan explains that if you’re taking aspirin to prevent a heart attack and then take ibuprofen for pain, the ibuprofen will negate the aspirin.

NSAIDs may also interact with antidepressants, increasing the risk of bleeding in the brain, or hemorrhaging, Korean researchers found.

Other risks of taking NSAIDs include increased sun sensitivity and potential kidney damage.

NSAIDs also have risks for pregnant women and babies during all three trimesters, says Dr. Kaplan. Taken during the first trimester, NSAIDs increase the risk for miscarriage. During the second trimester, NSAIDs can have similar effects on baby boys as acetaminophen. And during the third trimester, taking NSAIDs can lead to congenital heart issues in the newborn.

Opioids

The health impacts of prescription opioids are more well known, yet there are people who do take them regularly. “There is a time and a place for opioid medications, but it needs to be very limited and very thoughtful,” says Dr. Kaplan. “There are those with chronic pain on opioid medications, but this is really an admission of failure on our part in our ability to solve the problem because the opioids don’t fix the underlying problem, they just cover up the pain.”

Problems with opioids include constipation, low testosterone, and, since opioids are addictive, withdrawal. During pregnancy, they increase the risk for neurotube defects by about 2.2 times and can lead to withdrawal symptoms in the baby as well as preterm birth.

Looking for Alternatives

“Before we pop a pill, we need to stop and think about what may be causing the pain and what we can do to relieve the pain,” says Dr. Kaplan. Rather than covering up the pain, therapies that include icing, stretching, heat, acupuncture, massage, and physical therapy, eating curcumin-rich turmeric, and taking glucosamine sulfate can help resolve the issue.

“We want to look at how we can fix the problems that have health effects not only at the joint but throughout the entire body,” he adds.

As first seen on RodaleNews.com.

Is Your Medication The Root Of Your Chronic Pain?

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5 Pills That Might Be Hurting You

By Julia Westbrook

It’s time to stop ignoring the aches and pains and finally live a healthy life.

More Americans are suffering from chronic pain than have diabetes, according to a panel of researchers at the National Institutes of Health. While 29 million people are diagnosed with diabetes, the panel estimated that 100 million Americans live with chronic pain.

While the statistics are staggering, the scary truth is that, despite the apparent universality of pain, there isn’t nearly enough research on safe, effective treatments.

“We learned that sufficient clinical research doesn’t exist to show physicians how best to treat chronic pain in adults, many of whom suffer from multiple health problems,” said panel member and founding director of the Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Christopher Callahan, MD.

Instead, our medical system is heavily reliant on painkillers, both over-the-counter and prescription, despite the fact that, according to the panel, clinicians recognize that pain narcotics aren’t the solution for long-term pain treatment. (Here are 5 reasons over-the-counter painkillers are a bad idea.)

Gary Kaplan, DO, author of Total Recovery: Solving the Mystery of Chronic Pain and Depression, explains that medication—either for treating pains or treating other conditions—can be at the root of chronic pain. “Because of the powerful, short-term effectiveness of many drugs, we’re beginning to experience polypharmaceutical problems, where patients end up taking one drug to treat the side effects of other drugs,” he explains.

“The rough guideline I give my patients about taking medications is this: A drug has to work better than the side effects it creates,” he says. “If it doesn’t, get rid of it.” Of course, it’s important to do so under the supervision of your doctor, he adds.

While it’s easy to tune out the side-effect disclaimer on pharmaceutical ads, you may want to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing chronic pain and are taking one of these prescriptions:

Statins

Statins are commonly used to lower cholesterol. “They can be the cause of cataracts and unexplained muscle pain. Some studies show they may increase your risk of developing diabetes,” says Dr. Kaplan.

Diet can have a big impact on cholesterol. Consider eating avocados, as research has shown that they’re a food that helps lower cholesterol.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

In the ultimate irony, your painkiller might be causing you more discomfort. “More than 70 percent of people chronically taking NSAIDs—such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), and aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin)—will get ulcers in their small intestines, creating a permeability problem (aka leaky gut syndrome),” says Dr. Kaplan.

Leaky gut is associated with all kinds of painful issues, including food sensitivities, joint pain, headaches, and psoriasis.

Antibiotics

Speaking of your gut, taking antibiotics may be causing more painful inflammation than the infection itself. “Multiple treatments of antibiotics for any reason can profoundly change the gut flora,” says Dr. Kaplan. “Those changes can then damage the intestinal tract enough to create leaky gut syndrome, which will result in inflammation and activate the microglia.”

While he doesn’t dismiss the lifesaving importance of antibiotics, Dr. Kaplan recommends balancing their use with a probiotic supplement. And be sure to support a your gut bacteria with healthy foods.

Opioids

Another counterintuitive finding: Dr. Kaplan says that opioids can heighten your sensitivity to pain. “Additionally, these painkillers—such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine (Avinza), and oxycodone (Percocet)—can lead to depression, constipation, and sexual dysfunction,” he says.

Instead of popping a pill for your pain, consider meditation as an effective treatment.

Sleeping Pills

Sleep is so important for your health, but popping a pill to get there isn’t the answer. “A chronic reliance on any type of sleeping pill—such as zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), or zaleplon (Sonata)—can, in the short term, make it hard to focus and, in the long run, even shorten your life span,” says Dr. Kaplan. Plus, you might be missing key warning signs of sleep apnea.
Article reprinted from www.RodaleNews.com, Jan/2015