Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain management is vital for patients
with chronic Lyme disease and fibromyalgia and other disorders.

Chronic pain! No fun, right?

It wears on you.  It fatigues you.  It exhausts you.  You cannot get away from it.

Your head hurts.  Your arms and legs hurt.  Your torso hurts.  Even your bones hurt. Let’s face it – everything hurts!

You may have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and then learned that fibromyalgia is really chronic Lyme disease with other chronic infections.  Or you may have biotoxin illness from these chronic infections or from mold. Or you may have another reason for your chronic pain.  No matter – you want it gone.

So, what do you do for chronic pain management?

It is always best to get to the root cause of the pain.  And quite often that root is tissue congestion and lymphatic stagnation and cytokine production and inflammation accumulation from various microbiological agents and toxins.  Fortunately, Dr. Richey specializes in treatment of chronic infections and biotoxins! 

But, while you are working on these underlying causes, how do you manage your pain? 

If you are on treatment for Lyme disease already, first consider whether you may be experiencing a herx reaction (aka Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction) from killing off bacteria.  If you just started an antibiotic or natural antimicrobial product, then it is more likely than not that you are herxing.  Stop the killing compound and see if the pain improves.  If so, you were herxing.  Then, you just need to wean up even slower while continuing to detox.  (Dr. Richey explains herxing and herx management in great detail at appointments.)

In order to decrease the cytokines which are causing inflammation, Dr. Richey recommends Cytoquel and H2Absorb from Researched Nutritionals (use code RCHMD when ordering).

Dr. Richey always recommends detoxification through the four main detoxifcation organs: lymphatic, kidney, liver, and bowel.  Her favorite products are Lymphomax, Urinary Maintenance, Liver Cleanse Formula and Bowel Detox.  You can get these products at wholesale pricing at Nature's Sunshine.  Dr. Richey will provide you with her preferred dosing at your appointments. 

Dr. Richey has found that most of her patients have mutations in the MTHFR enzyme that works in the important methylation detoxification pathway.  She will check you for mutations at your appointments.  If you have such a mutation, she will discuss specific treatment for you so that you are detoxing properly and therefore reducing your chronic pain.

Chronic pain management does not need to be expensive.  For example, some people prefer the application of heat and other prefer the application of ice for their chronic pain.  Epsom salt baths especially with lavender essential oils also help to minimize pain.

Speaking of essential oils, Dr. Richey recommends several which can reduce inflammation and pain.  A huge benefit of essential oils is that they can be applied directly to the affected area with or without a carrier oil as needed. Her favorite is peppermint oil although copaiba, frankincense, helichrysum, and wintergreen are also effective and are often available in blends.

Neuropathic pain (pain from nerves) minimized with the above essential oils and also lavender and Roman chamomile.  Another idea is to use Biofreeze cold spray on the affected area.

Some people have pain resulting from issues with foods containing histamine and/or oxalates.  Even though these foods are “healthy” foods, they can cause pain in some people.  Because the testing is no accurate, it is best to avoid the foods with the highest amounts of histamine and oxalates and see if your pain improves. 

Mast cell disorders can cause either too many mast cells or the abnormal release of too much histamine from these immune cells (mast cell activation syndrome).  The increased histamine can contribute to pain.  Dr. Richey recommends HistaQuel from Researched Nutritionals for these disorders (use code RCHMD when ordering). 

Physical modalities are usually essential for chronic pain management.  Specifically, massage, cupping, reiki, chiropractic care, and acupuncture help to alleviate pain.  Some people need physical therapy.  Many of these modalities can be used together for a synergistic effect.

Gentle stretching can turn off the pain signal.  And exercising as tolerated can be quite beneficial.  Start of slowly with yoga, pilates, short walks, easy bike rides and work up as tolerated.  Some post-exercise discomfort may be experienced, but if it lasts for more than a few hours, then decrease your physical activity. 

Ibuprofen can be used for pain for many individuals, but check with your doctor first to make sure that you are a candidate for this medication.  If you need a stronger medication, please see your primary care physician or a pain doctor.

CBD Oil for chronic pain management is all the rage right now.  And rightly so!  Many people find that their pain is greatly decreased with oral or topical CBD Oil.  Generally, people start off with a low dose and gradually wean up to the effective dose.  CBD Oil does not contain THC so you will not get high from its use. 

Chronic pain management usually consists
of the application of many of these tools
while simultaneously working on the underlying cause of the pain.

Let food

be thy medicine, 

and medicine 

be thy food.  

~Hippocrates

DANDELION

Your word

is a lamp

to my feet

and a light

to my path.

~Psalm 119:105

ECHINACEA

The secret of health

for both mind and body

is not to mourn for the past,

worry about the future,

or anticipate troubles,

but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

~Buddha (paraphrased)

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