Tough Love for
the Lover of Hydrocodone
Natural Options
for Controlling Pain
By Dr. Thomas S. Lee, NMD
Hydrocodone works very well for severe pain -- for awhile, anyway. But before you get a full-blown
addiction to Hydrocodone or other opiates, be aware that there are other options.
If you are just starting to use an opiate such as
Hydrocodone for pain, consider using some "tough love" along with
it to avoid tolerance and addiction.
If you are already dependent upon a pain-killing drug,
consider
alternating non-opiate pain medications or nutrient-based medicines along
with periodic use of no medication ("cold turkey").
This will train your
brain down from the dangerous and expensive edge of addiction.
Pain is a normal survival message to the brain to
change our behaviors, activities, or thoughts, or to direct healing
energy to an injured or ill tissue. When we get the pain message,
we act to lessen the severity and duration of pain. I know I do.
When you use an opiate that blocks this pain message, it's still
important to act to remove the cause of the pain and repair any
damage. Otherwise, the masking of pain will not remove its cause.
If your pain returns when you stop your medication, it indicates
that the cause has not been repaired.
If you have been using a pain killer like
Hydrocodone for awhile, the pain coverage decreases and doesn't last
as long. Stopping the pain killer often causes the original pain to
return, and then some. The cause of your pain is not being
treated by the opiate, but the opiate has been blocking the signal
of pain to your brain. This pain message is actually needed to
alert the brain to repair the damaged tissues or organs causing the
pain.
The concept of "tough love" is about using
discipline and alternate strategies to decrease the opiate use,
while treating the cause of the pain with natural medicines. By
controlling inflammation and supporting the organ functions that
have been weakened by the original unrepaired injuries -- as well as
by side effects of pharmaceuticals -- you can notch down the need
for and use of Hydrocodone.
Here are some products and concepts my patients have found
effective in this process of "tough love."
Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation,
and Work-hardening
Specialists and trainers are available to return
your injured body to its pain-free, pre-injury state. This can be
tough and will take discipline to accomplish, but good results can
be obtained, and good health is worth a lot to most people.
Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
These help the body make PG-3, a prostaglandin that
decreases inflammation in the body. The best-quality fish oils work
well for this. Don't overdo them, though, because too much can
cause stress and damage. Stick with 1-2 capsules with the meal once
a day.
Also, decrease the intake of vegetable oils and
processed, rancid oils in your diet. Use virgin coconut oil for all
high-heat cooking, and use olive oil for room-temperature salad
dressing. With patience, your body will move away from chronic pain
if you eat in this manner.
Metabolic Enzymes
Serrapeptase, nattokinase, and lumbrokinase
(Boluoke) are natural enzymes that break down tissue proteins like
fibrin which are associated with pain and circulatory obstruction.
The result is that some types of arthritis and muscle aches will
lessen and fade away.
MSM and DMSO
MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) and DMSO
(Dimethylsulfoxide) are bioavailable forms of sulphur that decrease
many aches and pains associated with arthritis and overtraining, including
repetitious stress injuries. Build up your use
of MSM over a week, starting at 1 gram (1000mg) daily, up to 2 with
meals, totaling 6 grams per day. This will take a couple weeks, and
then there will be a noticeable relief.
Herbal Anti-inflammatories
Curcumin and Boswellia will both decrease the
intensity of pain if taken regularly as 1-2 between meals. These
Ayurvedic products come from the herbs Turmeric and Frankincense,
respectively, and they are very safe and helpful when used over time
to decrease pain.
Magnesium Malate
This form of the soothing mineral Magnesium
decreases chronic pain, such as from fibromyalgia and other
autoimmune and inflammatory ailments. Excessive use can cause a laxative effect,
but given the nature of opiates to constipate, that effect may not
be entirely unwelcome.
These are just some introductory ideas for those
seeking non-addictive pain medications. Hydrocodone is a miracle in
the hospital Emergency Room, but its long-term use has been a catastrophe to
many American families. These natural materials are safe and
available in natural food stores or online. Inform yourself further
about these and other materials to get your best strategy together.
Using this tough love, your love affair with Hydrocodone or any
opiates will be safer, more affordable, and a whole lot healthier.
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