Even though pain is a symptom to let your body know there is something awry that needs to be addressed, it has become in our society an obstacle to happiness and productiveness. The information today is to give you practical ways to deal with pain, but it by no means is the end of your obligations to seek out a practitioner to help you get to the bottom of your pain, and cure it once and for all.
Pain is caused by inflammatory mediators, which are formed in your body to help it to wall off bacteria, kill a virus, hormone imblance, or some other pathogen. Toxins are another source of pain, which can be biological or come from a pathogen itself, but inflammation usually results from those as well. (See my blogs on Viruses, Bacteria, Parasites) So if pain is due to inflammation, why do standard doctors always turn to prescribing narcotics for pain? This is a loaded question which answer is money, greed, politics and just plain ol’ ignorance. This is the reason for our population overwhelmingly hooked on prescription pain medications like Oxycontin, but I digress…
Relief from pain should always be focused on decreasing inflammation. Prostaglandins are released in any area of the body which causes relentless throbbing, and it may take more than 24 hours for them to be metabolized once they are released. Tylenol (acetaminophen) does nothing for inflammation, it just turns off the brain receptor to pain and tricks it into believing there is no pain. This always seemed like a Frankenstein drug to me, and later it was found to cause severe liver failure in many people. It also is fatal to cats. Aspirin does little for reducing prostaglandins, but it is the most natural drug for inflammation. For mild pain, it does work for some people and I recommend its use if that is the case. For intense pain, Advil (brand name) is the best. For dogs, Rimadyl (carprofen) is proven best, and for cats, ketoprofen. Steroids are anti-inflammatory, but are not really pain relievers. Because of their action on the delicate adrenal glands, and therefore the entire endocrine system, they can create biological havoc, and should only be used in dire circumstances, and not repeatedly. (See “Adrenal Exhaustion” blog for more on the endocrine system) Narcotics are a great addition for temporary use to a pain regimen AFTER inflammation is dealt with and the pain is still so severe, that anxiety is a deterrent to rest and sleep.
The argument by doctors for not using NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is stomach upset. Because of the countless other drugs they prescribe so readily, that have thousands of side effects, I would find this laughable if were not so sinister. Big Pharma has brainwashed doctors into writing so many prescriptions, and giving kick backs for the deal, that you rarely find a doctor to suggest, let alone encourage use of OTC medications. They had recently made everyone believe that Advil is bad, and prescribed Cox-2 inhibitors (like Celebrex and others) which are now under lawsuit because of joint damage and even deaths. Advil has no lawsuits except by pregnant women, who should have known better. Every obstetrician tells pregnant patients not to take any medications without approval. Some people and animals do get upset stomach from the use of Advil (or the proper NSAID), but it is usually from not enough water and/or food taken with it, and doing that repeatedly. There can also be underlying and undiagnosed stomach disease as the cause. Either way, there are plenty of stomach remedies for ulcers. Gastrex by Standard Process, the drug sucralfate (Carafate), okra, and various natural products containing ginger, licorice, papaya can help. (See blog “Oh My Aching Tummy”)
As for the claims of kidney damage, this is just another scare tactic of the doctors to deter using Advil. The drug ibuprofen is halfway metabolized and cleared in 2-1/2 hours. I once had a dental infection so severe, that I needed to take 4 Advil every 2-3/4 hours for 5 days, while waiting for the correct antibiotic to finally be prescribed. The countless narcotics prescribed by the MD did nothing for my agony. When I revealed my anxiety and fear from taking so much ibuprofen, he calmly stated that it was no big deal, I would be fine, and to stay well hydrated.
I am still here!
Filed under: Medical Health Tagged: acetaminophen, Advil, carafate, Celebrex, Cox 2 inhibitors, Gastrex, Ginger, ibuprofen, inflammation, licorice, narcotics, NSAIDs, oxycontin, prostaglandins, sucralfate, tylenol
