The King of Pop is finally free from pain, are you?

Are you in pain?

That is one of the first questions recovery room nurses ask their patients as they awaken after surgery. Those nurses can give narcotics intravenously to stop surgical pain. How do you treat your pain?

You have options to make good choices. Consider controlling  your pain with the help of  specialists.

We are all seeking relief from the physically disturbing symptom,  pain. Pain can be mild, moderate or severe. Severe, improperly managed chronic pain can lead to drug abuse. Self-administered poly-pharmacy can become the cause of a life destroying addiction or deadly  overdose.

This is a tragedy and  does not only happen to stars like the King of Pop,  Michael Jackson.

There are many complementary (CAM) methods of pain management,  massage, feedback (TENS) , hypnosis and aromatherapy to name a few.  Post surgical pain can be very severe requiring large doses of narcotics. Hospital are beginning to research and incorporate alternatives  modalities with conventional treatment. Research as shown that essential oils of lavender sp. can decrease the amount of narcotics required for pain control after lap gastric banding in recovery room.

Blocking  Pain Pathways

Remedies of essential oils, herbal medicines, and drugs should be dispensed fully aware of a person’s preexisting medical conditions. Essential oils have properties which cross cellular boundaries with powerful positive healing effects. For instance, I was fascinated as a physician to find medical references that prove oils of ginger, helichrysum, and frankincense are true dual inhibitors of inflammation. Meaning they block the pathways to pain by stopping the enzymatic synthesis of specific chemicals in your  body.  LOX and COX1-2 pathways  synthesize the  pro-inflammatory mediators, leukotriene B4 and thromboxane. Know there are natural methods of blocking these chemical in the cycle of pain.

Nutraceuticals block  free radicals

Essential oils have extremely high oxygen radical absorbance capacity, ORAC values, meaning they limit oxidation.  As true inhibitors of oxidation they actively block the  formation of free radical compounds, like F2-isoprostanes. The new prescription nutraceutical, Limbrel (flavocoxid), is indicated for treatment of osteoarthritis. It is derived from the bark and roots of specific plants that provide dual anti-inflammatory properties for pain relief.

Seek specialists in pain management and addiction medicine to avoid the pitfalls of self medication with poly-pharmacy.

James Tad Geiger MD

The oilMD

Dr Geiger is a board certified anesthesiologist and clinically certifed aromatherapist.