End Fatigue

Finally - Effective Natural Treatment for Pain

Sadly, pain relief has been a neglected stepchild in American medical education. When I was in medical school, we were basically taught to use either aspirin, family medications or narcotics—with the latter only to be used in cancer patients or for acute pain lasting less than one to two weeks. Even in the latter case it became a game of making sure no narcotics addict could fool you to get the medications. Except for hot compresses and ice packs, natural therapies were largely ignored. Fortunately, our understanding of pain management has now moved way beyond this “aspirin/narcotics” stage. By understanding that there are many different types of pain and thoroughly evaluating the patient for the pain’s underlying causes, we have found that almost everyone can have their pain eliminated or at least adequately controlled so that they’re comfortable. No longer do patients have to suffer from what seems to be some doctor’s motto that “all pain is tolerable – as long as it is somebody else’s.”

How Do I Get Rid of My Pain?

The first step is to determine what is the source of the pain. Although there are many different types, pain generally breaks down into several categories, each of which requires different treatments. The most common type of poorly treated pain comes from shortening of the body’s muscles and ligaments. This includes fibromyalgia (FMS), myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), tendinitis and other related pains. Our recently published placebo-controlled study shows that 91 percent of fibromyalgia patients get significant and often complete pain relief by treating the underlying metabolic factors that contribute to muscle shortening. The study was so effective that a recent editorial in the Journal of the American Academy of Pain Management notes that this treatment is “an excellent and highly effective part of the standard of practice for treating fibromyalgia and MPS.” Treatment of muscle pain’s underlying causes includes four key categories: 1) nutritional deficiencies, 2) poor sleep, 3) hormonal deficiencies (despite normal blood tests) and 4) underlying infections. Research has shown that the common denominator behind these problems is often a malfunction in a major regulatory system in the brain called the hypothalamus. Because these four broad categories include over 100 different problems,
a thorough evaluation is generally required. We see people from all over the world in our clinic
and research center in Annapolis, Maryland. Despite having effectively treated 2000 fibromyalgia patients, our new patient visit takes approximately four hours. As most physicians do not have the time or training to do this evaluation, we have also created a “computerized fibromyalgia/MPS specialist” program that can be found at www.endfatigue.com. This online expert can analyze a patient’s history and blood tests to create a complete medical record of his/her case and determine exactly which treatments are needed to effectively treat the problem. Although
prescription medications can be helpful, these problems can be treated entirely with natural remedies. All of this is discussed at length in my book From Fatigued to Fantastic! Avery/Penguin Putnam 2001).

Proper Nutrition and Adequate Sleep: A Good First Step

Supplying your muscles with optimum amounts of the nutrients they need is a critical start. This
can be done simply by using an excellent and good-tasting powdered formula which I created
(Daily Energy Enfusion). One drink replaces 25 vitamin tablets a day. For pain to go away, it is also critical that you get eight to nine hours of sleep a night. The best natural remedy for sleep is a mix of the six herbs that are found in “Revitalizing Sleep Formula.” One to four capsules are taken an hour before bedtime. These can be found in most health food stores or on my Web site. Taking the “Revitalizing Sleep Formula” with (or without) calcium, magnesium, melatonin (1/2 to 1 mg) and 5-HTP 300 mg (the 5-HTP takes 12 weeks to work) at bedtime can be dramatically effective in improving sleep and decreasing pain. Natural hormones in the form of glandulars (especially thyroid) can also improve vitality and relieve pain.

Effective Treatment for Other Types of Pain

Another type of poorly treated pain is nerve pain. Although there are many causes for this problem, they often also respond very well to treatment tailored to the cause. Carpal tunnel syndrome, for example, generally responds to using a splint that keeps the wrist in a neutral position, plus vitamin B6 (250 milligrams a day) and natural thyroid hormone or glandulars (despite normal blood tests). Unless it is being caused by continuingtrauma (e.g. typing or using a jackhammer), the carpal tunnel syndrome usually resolves within six weeks on this treatment without surgery. Disc pain also can be eliminated approximately 75 percent of the time without surgery by simply using an herb that was turned into a gout medication (colchicine). This has been demonstrated to be effective in several studies but is so inexpensive that no one has paid to make doctors aware of its effectiveness for disc pain (medical advertising is quite expensive). In addition, chiropractic, body work and osteopathic manipulation and acupuncture can be highly effective for this and many other types of pain. Other kinds of nerve pain respond to high dose vitamin vitamin B12, vitamin vitamin B6 (200 milligrams/day), lipoic acid and inositol (500–1500 mg/day). Other natural remedies are effective for the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative
arthritis and connective tissue diseases. For arthritis, glucosamine sulfate 500 mg three times
a day, special kinds of concentrated ginger (e.g. FlexAgility), proteolytic enzymes and MSM can
be very helpful. It usually takes six weeks to see the full effect of these four treatments. For Lupus, DHEA 200 mg/day has been proven to help significantly. As in all illness, the mind-body connection is important in pain relief. For example, work by Dr. John Sarno has shown that the mind can decrease blood flow to muscles to distract us from uncomfortable emotional feelings. When you feel pain, tell your mind you will use the pain as a signal to look for and feel uncomfortable feelings for 10–15 minutes—then do so. The pain will often leave within six weeks.
Although we have talked mostly about treating the underlying causes of pain, there are many other treatments for pain that can keep people comfortable while we go after the pain’s causes. Although space does not allow a full discussion of these, many of the more effective ones
can be seen in my book From Fatigued to Fantastic! or on my Web site at www.endfatigue.com. Click on “Treatment Protocol” and scroll down to the “Pain Treatments” section. In summary, it is unusual to have pain that cannot be eliminated or adequately controlled, if one takes the time to evaluate it thoroughly and treat it properly. When possible, we prefer to use a combination of natural remedies, saving prescriptions for symptomatic pain control when needed. Simply put, you don’t have to be in pain.

Jacob Teitelbaum M.D.

is a board-certified internist and director of the Annapolis Research Center for Effective CFS/Fibromyalgia Therapies (410-266-6958). Having suffered with and overcome these illnesses in 1975, he spent the next 27 years creating, researching and teaching about
effective therapies. He is senior author of the recently published landmark study, “Effective
Treatment of CFS and Fibromyalgia-A Placebo Controlled Study” (visit his Web site listed
below). Dr. Teitelbaum lectures and gives two-day practitioner workshops internationally. He is the author of the best-selling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! His newest book is Three Steps to
Happiness: Healing through Joy (Deva Press, 2003). For more information visit www.endfatigue.com