supplements for neuropathic pain

[joep]

Hi [USER=”2608″]dog[/USER] , i am using Arnica Montana 30C (3 times daily), Colocynth 30C (3 times daily) for pain.

please note that homeopathy in its strict sense is not “evidence based medicine”. nevertheless i decided to give it a try because of my history of side effects and allergies.

[Chaunce1234]

quote joep:

Thanks [USER=”1916″]Chaunce1234[/USER]; for that wonderful post, and taking time to write it. that was truly informative and kind.

Thanks [USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] …. i did consult a homeopath for my pain after this post, and i am now taking the prescribed remedies. Will see if the pain subsidizes, before going for consultation with a conventional pain specialist. reason why i want to avoid taking conventional medicines is because i have a history of gastrointestinal bleeding/ulcers and other allergies.

[USER=”2723″]joep[/USER] You’re very welcome. Please keep us updated on your case, what you are trying, and what specifically is working for you. Good luck.

[dog]

joep Please let us know what kind of remedies will you use ?

[joep]

Thanks [USER=”1916″]Chaunce1234[/USER]; for that wonderful post, and taking time to write it. that was truly informative and kind.

Thanks [USER=”935″]drtowfigh[/USER] …. i did consult a homeopath for my pain after this post, and i am now taking the prescribed remedies. Will see if the pain subsidizes, before going for consultation with a conventional pain specialist. reason why i want to avoid taking conventional medicines is because i have a history of gastrointestinal bleeding/ulcers and other allergies.

[drtowfigh]

I blogged about it a couple of years ago. Can read here.

http://www.beverlyhillsherniacenter.com/2016/10/28/getting-out-of-the-narco-business/

[dog]

Dear drtowfigh could you please let us know about your great holistic alternative solutions pain …after surgery. recovery .. Dr Brown gave you credits for that plan :}

[Chaunce1234]

quote joep:

HI is there any supplements for chronic neuropathic pain post surgery. Once confirmed the pain is neuropathic, the conventional mode of treatment is NSAID, antidepressant or anticonvulsants before going for more invasive methods. But these medicines have unwanted side effects.

A quick search will show that alpha lipoic acid, acetyl-l-carnitine, vitamin B complex, magnesium supplement etc and many more are given for diabetic neuropathy, periperal neuropathy etc. Could someone perhaps a doctor recommend which supplements to take and their dosage rate for chronic pain (neuropathic) post op.

I am sorry you are going through this. Just out of curiosity, is your pain related to a hernia, or hernia surgery, or something else? Can you describe your situation a bit more?

Here is some general information about managing chronic pain that may be a helpful starting point. Talk to your doctor(s) before trying anything or considering anything, but here are a few ideas:

– Daily alpha lipoic acid – evidence based to help nerve pain over time

– Daily vitamin C (500mg) – evidence based to help nerve pain over time

– Prescription strength NSAID daily for 2 months or so (assuming your general health can tolerate)

– Nerve block injections targeting the specific nerves with pain, if even somewhat effective then repeat several times. Ultrasound guided or CT guided nerve blocks can also be helpful and are much more precise.

– Targeted physical therapy / exercise / massage. If you can find any physical activity that helps slightly, or distracts, do it with frequency.

– Engage in mentally challenging / consuming tasks every day that involve learning something new and/or difficult. Examples would be learning a new foreign language, math puzzles, sudoku, word puzzles, learning computer programming, learning to play a musical instrument, producing art, memory recall games, memorizing complex poetry, etc. Make it something you enjoy and/or are interested in, so it fits well into your routine. You’re effectively aiming to use neural plasticity in your favor, and over time this can reduce the strength of pain signals.

– Try a TENS unit, you can get one on Amazon for about $50 and play around with one in the privacy of your own home. They send out little electrical impulses of an intensity of your choosing, and can be helpful to some people.

– Try initiating other distracting sensations in the general region or along the same nerve pathway. For example if you have pain in your right thigh, try using a hot water bottle, or ice pack, on that thigh, or elsewhere on that same leg.

– Visit a pain clinic and establish a relationship with a provider, preferably with experience managing your particular condition

– Consider meeting with a pain therapist / counselor / group who has significant pain management experience

– Medical marijuana – yes this is controversial, but there is actively ongoing research for chronic pain / nerve pain, with some compelling early evidence. For many there is significant stigma attached to this topic, but if you can overcome it might be worth investigating if you’re in a state that allows for medical marijuana (or recreational, like California).

– Ketamine infusion therapy – also controversial, ongoing research for chronic pain / nerve pain, with some compelling early evidence. Most insurance will not cover.

– Transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy – ongoing research for chronic pain, compelling early evidence. Some insurance will cover

Antidepressants and anticonvulsants are worth trying, they work for some people. Anticonvulsants tend to fall into two patient response groups; effective enough to continue, or ineffective with a host of side effects that are completely unworkable. The antidepressants/anticonvulsants cause dependency in a unique way, so if you later decide you want to stop taking them you will need to taper off slowly.

The other story of antidepressants specifically is that chronic pain can frequently cause a unique form of apathy / depression, and they can be helpful for treating that. Pain is not fun, so it’s easy to get down about being in pain. Pay attention to that by the way, because there is evidence linking pain to depression and vice versa.

Opioids – consider these a last resort – they work, they literally inhibit pain signals – but finding an appropriate dose can be a challenge, and they are a devils bargain of trading reduced pain for dependency to a pill or patch. Unfortunately opioids are currently demonized for even legitimate patients because of unrelated street drug abusers. Society is in a peak of moral panic about opioids currently, and the entire topic has been polluted by misinformation, media hysteria, political intervention, and political grandstanding. Tread cautiously, and try to find another solution.

Please keep us updated on your case and progress, and feel free to share what you are trying and what is working for you. Good luck.

[drtowfigh]

This is best answered by a pain management specialist. There are a lot of prescription and natural options. Some may interact with other medications, have side effects that are not tolerable, etc.