Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain

Nothing is more debilitating than chronic pain. Accident or physical trauma is a cause of long term pain. Conditions such as fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are also associated with chronic pain.

Most of the time patients who go to a doctor for pain NOT associated with a trauma or accident are disappointed when no clear diagnosis is given. We see patients who commonly believe or are told that “the pain is in their head”.

Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain – Research

Traditionally, NSAIDS or narcotics may be prescribed for managing chronic pain. Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain alleviate these symptoms by getting to the root cause.

In fibromyalgia muscle fatigue is very common along with chronic pain. In a research study it was found that muscle fatigue was dependent upon testosterone levels (see Am J Physiol Regul Intgr Comp Physiol. 2008 April; 294(4): R1347-R1355). The researchers were able to mitigate fatigue in female mice by administering testosterone. In women the amount of testosterone that is produced competes with the production of the adrenal hormone cortisol. Clinically, we find that adrenal stress and fatigue causes a lower amount of testosterone production. Therefore, re-balancing adrenal function is one of the Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain.

Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain should also include stress management. In a study of 53 fibromyalgia patients half were treated with standard medication while the other half participated in an eight week Yoga program. Significant results were shown in the Yoga group: pain was reduced 24%, fatigue was reduced 30%, depression was reduced 42% (see Pain, 2010; 151 (2): 530 DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.08.020).

A study published in Nature Neuroscience suggests that back pain after an injury may be in the head. Researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine demonstrated that emotional patterns established in the brain after an injury predicted the persistence of chronic pain (see Nat Neurosci. 2012 Jul 1 ;15(8):1117-9. doi: 10.1038/nn.3153.).  However, because of the plasticity of the brain these patterns may be reversed by utilizing the energy of the heart. A well-researched biofeedback technique developed by neuro-cardio physiologists at the Institute of HeartMath has been shown clinically to reduce symptoms of stress including pain.  Similarly, mindfulness stress reduction has been shown to improve the symptoms associated with pain (see Pain. 2011 Feb ;152(2):361-9. Epub 2010 Dec 13).

Meditation, biofeedback, and adrenal support are Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain.

Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain– Areas we serve

Family and Environmental Medicine help patients with Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain by testing for salivary hormone levels. Additionally, Dr. Gary Gruber is a certified HeartMath practitioner. The information contained in this article is not intended as the only Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain but should be considered as part of a total program of healing. Dr Gary Gruber provides private appointments for patients from around the country who seek health and healing with Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The majority of patients are from the local area including Greenwich CT, Stamford CT, Darien CT, Norwalk CT, New Canaan CT, Wilton CT, Westchester County, NY, NYC, and Northern NJ. For additional Holistic Treatments for Chronic Pain please contact us at (203) 966-6360.