Welcome to the current newsletter issue of
Advances in Medicine (AIM)- Take AIM against pain.
Feel free to send me an e-mail with your own thoughts
and experiences. Email: timsams@mypainreliefdoc.com.
Our intrepid staff is in the never-ending process of researching
strategies and products for pain relief. Recently, we have been
focusing on topical creams, gels, sprays, etc. that can provide
pain relief for a variety of painful conditions. Unlike oral
medications, these preparations essentially do not enter the
blood stream and so do not cause all of the side effect problems
associated with oral medications.
Let's review the main sources of pain in order of likelihood.
First is inflammation - the primary trigger and granddaddy of all
pain. Second is muscle based pain - from a pull, strain, tear, or
simple tension. Third is connective tissue as in joint or tendon
pain. Fourth is skeletal pain from bone or disc. Fifth is
vascular pain. Sixth is nerve-based or neuropathic pain. All pain
stems from one of these sources. Much chronic pain is triggered
by a combination of these sources.
No single cream can simultaneously address all of these pain
sources. In general, creams work through one of three strategies.
They can simply mask a particular pain sensation by providing a
different sensation. They can provide simple analgesia. Or, they
can attack the primary cause or trigger of a pain sensation.
Whenever possible, it makes sense to try a cream that attacks the
primary cause, though it may also have other analgesic or masking
agents.
The vast majority of creams are over-the-counter and don't
require a prescription. For inflammatory pain, using a local
application of anti-inflammatory cream is best (AsperCreme,
Miracle Relief Formula). For constricted painful muscles, a cream
that warms the skin and/or opens the capillaries near the surface
can be analgesic. Muscle-based pain and neuropathic pain,
especially a burning-type pain, responds well to menthol
(SuperBlue, BioFreeze, Tiger Balm), which cools the tissues. Many
creams contain capsaicin (from chile peppers) which helps with
many different types of pain. Some creams contain lidocaine
(Corprofen, Bioentopic), which can help several different types
of pain, including neuropathic and even migraine.
There are prescription creams that can be specially compounded
for a particular tissue type of pain. These compounds can consist
of medications that you would take orally but that could never be
in an over-the-counter cream. For instance, a neuropathic cream
could contain Neurontin, Ketamine; Clonidine or amitryptaline;
powerful treatments for neuropathic pain not available over the
counter.
Anesthetic creams can be a powerful weapon in the battle against
pain. We will soon be making the best over-the-counter pain
creams available on our web site. We are also considering making
the more powerful prescription creams available. We will keep you
posted.
As always, your feedback is welcome as are suggestions for future
newsletter topics.
Good light,
Dr. Tim
My Pain Relief Doc
http://www.mypainreliefdoc.com
Copyright 2006. Dr. Tim Sams and My Pain Relief Doc.
All rights reserved. http://www.mypainreliefdoc.com
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You may freely distribute a copy of this newsletter or
use it on your web site or RSS feed, as long as you
include the entire article, along with the web links
and copyright information. Thanks, Dr. Tim
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