Pain Management

Resources

Pain Management

By Dr. Mitch Kennedy, ND

Pain is the most common symptom that brings people to the doctor’s office or hospital. Pain can be a symptom all by itself or a secondary symptom occurring from another disease or problem within the body. Treating pain can become a complex issue due to a person’s age, the number of other medications they are taking, the types and progression of diseases they are suffering from, or the lack of pain relief from conventional medicine. At these times alternatives are often sought by the doctor, the patient or concerned family members. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a new term for old therapies that have become popular once again. CAM, sometimes called “natural medicine” or “non-pharmacologic based therapies” plays an important role in pain management by offering alternatives that have fewer side effects and interactions with conventional therapies. The following are CAM therapies commonly used in pain management.

Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a 3,000 year old practice of using the body’s own healing energy, or Qi, to relieve pain, and resolve acute and chronic illnesses. It has been used by billions of Chinese as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Conditions treated with acupuncture include, migraines, osteoarthritis, low back pain, sciatica, tendonitis, rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulders and many more. A typical treatment involves the patient sitting or laying in a comfortable position, and the physician inserting and removing small, sterile needles into specific points on the skin, moving the body’s Qi. Treatments are generally painless, and relief can be quick or gradual depending upon the nature of the ailment.

Homeopathy. Homeopathy is a 200 year old therapy based on the principle of like-curing-like. Developed in Germany, its popularity has endured and spread across the globe, and is currently used by physicians in Europe, Russia, India, North and South America. Homeopathy is an energetic medicine, in the same category as acupuncture and energy healing. By matching the unique and highly specific symptoms of the individual patient, the practitioner chooses one remedy which best fits the case. For example, while ten people may have neck pain, each one will have unique aspects to the pain such as what it feels like, whether or not it travels to another part of the body, maybe it’s worse during the day or at night, or in cold weather or only when bending forward. All of these symptoms become important in choosing the remedy. Like many energy-based medicines, its exact method of action is still being studied. Current theories suggest it works on a quantum level utilizing the stored energy within molecules of water.

Botanical Medicine. Plants as medicine have been the foundation of healing since the earliest ages. Egyptian pharaohs have been found buried with medicinal herbs to heal them if they got injured in the afterlife. All cultures have used the plants in their native lands for both food and healing. Today we have the good fortune to also import plants from other parts of the world. There are many pain relieving herbs such as Devils Claw, Turmeric, Ginger, Boswelia and Bromelain. Some function as anti-inflammatories, others as analgesics. There is significant potential for interaction between herbs and pharmacologic therapy. It is very important for patients to tell their doctors about everything they are taking, or even better, give them a list.

Clinical Nutrition. Specific nutrients in foods can have an impact on pain as well. For example, night shade vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplant can increase inflammation in rheumatic arthritis. Vitamin B6 can be used to treat the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. Many people with osteoarthritis already know the benefits of Glucosamine Sulfate for pain relief. Here again, tell your doctor what nutritional supplements you are taking so you can work together to get the best and safest results.

Dr. Mitch Kennedy is a nationally board certified & licensed naturopathic physician who treats people of all ages. Dr. Kennedy is trained in three separate types of medicine: natural medicine, conventional medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This insures that health problems are identified before they become chronic diseases and the every treatment opportunity is explored. Dr. Kennedy is on staff at the University of Connecticut Health Center and has a private practice in Avon, CT. You may reach his Avon office by calling (860) 673-9954.

Mitch Kennedy, ND, P.C. | Tel: (860) 679-8899 | Fax: (860) 673-4063