Pain Management

Pain results from many causes, particularly tissue injury. It may also result from physical or emotional discomfort. It may be acute or chronic, mild or severe.

Pain is a protective mechanism of the body: it occurs whenever tissue is being damaged or altered in any way, causing the individual to react and attempt to remove the stimulus.

An ophthalmologist called to consult about a 75-year-old male patient who had severe shingles around one eye and extending into the scalp. The physician wanted to try a formula that he had seen in our Rx Triad newsletter. We prepared the formula of Ketoprofen 20%, Gabapentin 5%, Lidcaine 2% in a PLO gel. The patient rubbed this into the shingles area carefully, not too near to the eye, and into the scalp, twice a day. The following week he reported significant relief.

Nerve Pain and Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy is a complex of disorders in the peripheral nervous system resulting from damage to the nerves’ protective coating or from damage to the nerves themselves.

Peripheral neuropathy seems, in most cases, to initially occur at the extremities of the longest nerves farthest from the spinal cord and brain. Consequently the feet, being at the end of the line, are usually the first to be hit. Frequently the hands are next. Over time the affliction can spread to ankles, legs and arms if the underlying cause is not addressed. Underlying causes include diabetes, AIDS, some nutrient deficiencies and unknown causes.

Compounded pain medications are available by prescription in many different dosage forms: transdermal gels, creams, suppositories, suspensions and capsules.

Pain Formulations

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (also known as Fibrositis or Myofascial Pain Syndrome) is a complex, chronic condition which causes widespread pain and profound fatigue, as well as a variety of other symptoms. Its effects are felt primarily in muscles, tendons, and ligaments throughout the body. Unlike arthritis, however, no inflammation accompanies fibromyalgia, and the joints of the body are not directly affected.

The pain of fibromyalgia syndrome is usually described as aching or burning and is unpredictable in nature. Its severity varies from day to day, and different parts of the body tend to be affected at different times. In some people, fibromyalgia pain can be very severe and disabling, while in others it may cause only mild discomfort. Likewise, the fatigue which often accompanies fibromyalgia syndrome ranges from a mild, tired feeling to all-consuming exhaustion.

The sharp stabbing pains associated with this condition often appear in the neck, in the head and in the shoulder blades and arms. The pain may also be felt in the chest muscles and lower back, and sometimes in the jaw. Fibromyalgia may also result in dull aches in the thighs, hips and shoulder muscles.

The condition is commonly aggravated by a number of factors, including emotional stress, fatigue, unaccustomed exertion and even damp and cold weather. There is also growing evidence that fibromyalgia is hereditary and, therefore, passed on from generation to generation.

In addition to pain and fatigue, individuals with fibromyalgia may experience some of the following symptoms:

Arthritis

Arthritis is among the oldest known afflictions of human beings. It has been found in the mummies of Egypt and in skeletons in excavations of other ancient civilizations.

The word "arthritis" literally means joint inflammation, but it is often used more broadly to indicate any of the more than 100 so called rheumatic diseases. Such disorders can affect not only the joints but other connective tissues of the body. These include important supporting structures, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as the protective coverings of internal organs.

The rheumatic diseases vary greatly from person to person and from one disease to another. Their effects vary from a slight pain, stiffness, and swelling to crippling and disability. Therapies range from a warm bath and massage, to changes in lifestyle, to combinations of antiarthritic drugs or surgery.

Today, about 15% of Americans-some 37 million-are afflicted with arthritis or a related disorder. Although medical science has not yet found a cure for all forms of arthritis, scientists have achieved major advances in understanding these diseases and in controlling and preventing them.

Treatment

Treatments for pain are diversified. One approach is to modify the pain by distraction. Psychiatry, surgery, electrotherapy, exercise, hypnosis, massage, meditation and medications such as analgesics and anesthetics are often recommended by pain clinics.

Heat, cold, change of position, resting affected part, counterirritants, biofeedback, behavior modification or chiropractic procedures may also be prescribed. More treatment options include: pilates, physical therapy, yoga and stretching.

Broadway Apothecary offers a variety of helpful treatments for fibromyalgia, arthritis, and many other pain problems.

References

Broadway recommends the following books about pain management, arthritis, and fibromyalgia:

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