Chronic Pain Today

Axis Media Group

09/07/2008

Region : AllIf you’re looking for pain relief you may want to open your kitchen cupboards rather than your medicine cabinet.

Research shows that there is a direct link between the foods we eat and chronic pain. Now a new centre in Glasgow is offering its services to local residents seeking pain relief.

According to Paulo Quadros, founder of the Intlife Pain Management and member of the Scottish Parliament’s cross party group on chronic pain, the foods we eat can directly affect the level of pain we experience.

Quadros said: “We know that for our bodies to work efficiently they mustn’t have too much or too little of anything. This can be applied to our bodies’ pH levels which increase or decrease according to what we eat.

“We all need an ideal pH of 7.4 in order to efficiently combat disease and inflammation. If you’ve ever jammed your finger, scraped your knee or sprained your ankle, you’re probably familiar with inflammation and the pain that comes with it. It’s part of the body’s response to nearly any type of physical injury and there are ways to reduce this inflammation and the pain.”

He added: “Our bodies are more prone to inflammation if acidity levels are particularly high (PH7 or below), however it has nothing to do with how the food tastes – for example lemons, vinegar and oranges are actually alkaline and can help reduce inflammation and pain.”

Sugar is terrible news for those with a sweet tooth – it’s one of the worse foods for inflammation.

Intlife Pain Management runs a full range of conventional and alternative pain relief treatments at its Glasgow City Centre clinic. The centre aims to fill gaps currently existent in the NHS pain management service by taking a logical approach to pain management. Prices range from £68 - £120.

The diet

Quadros says that making good food choices can help control the inflammatory process, strengthen resistance to pain and even reduce the need for medication.

Good foods

• Fresh fruit and vegetables act as a tonic and strengthen the body

• Green vegetables such a broccoli and spinach are especially beneficial. They contain B-complex vitamins (often deficient in people with chronic pain), magnesium (which helps relax smooth muscles and possibly ease stress)

• Berries, red grapes, leafy greens, carrots, pumpkins, tomatoes and peaches all contain phytochemicals which reduce inflammation

• Water-cooked eggs contain fortified with omega-3 fatty acids

• Herring, Mackerel, Salmon, Sardines

• Pumpkin seeds 

• Hot chillies

• Olive oil

• Walnuts.

• Soy

• Turmeric

•  Brazil nuts

•  Potatoes

Bad foods

• Sugar

• Butter

• Corn oil

• Ice-cream

• Whole Milk and other full-fat dairy products

• Lentils

• Liver

• Chicken

• Veal

• Rice

• Peanuts

Notes:

Paulo Quadros is available for interview. Please contact Sabina Kadic. Case studies are available on request. Examples include:• A self-employed bricklayer who was forced out of work due to chronic pain. He was left in severe pain and depression. Misdiagnosed by his GP, sent from pillar to post by NHS specialists. Following treatment he was able to return to work and has had no reoccurring pain.

Images of Paulo and the Intlife centre are available on request. Contact: Sabina Kadic
Phone: 0141 889 68 68
Email: sabina@axismediagroup.co.uk
Website: http://axismediagroup.co.uk

When I ran my Pet Therapy contest I got many good entries, some stood out more than others. When I got a cartoon from Chato B Stewart that runs the Mental Health Humor blog I knew I’d make a post out of it. Chato has been great to shine a light over the humor aspect of mental health and ailment, and anyone can find something to giggle about over there.

Chronic pain and mental health go hand in hand. Many people with one will  have the other. Depression (as the commercial tells you) hurts. You will have all over body pain from it. The mind is a powerful thing. Stress and other harsh realities of life will cause your body pain. In the same sense those with chronic pain already studies have shown are more apt to commit suicide than their non chronic pain counterpart. The stress and factor of living day to day with pain, without hope of betterment, can sometimes drive those with chronic pain to the breaking point.

Pets make great companions, however for people with mental health or chronic pain issues, they are even better. Many times individuals suffers from either condtion (or both) will have days when they don’t even want to get out of bed, it is those days that many will pull themselves from the covers just to feed or walk their dog, or to spend time with their cat. Studies have shown that pets will boost mood. (I’m wondering if one of my cats should be called Lithium). If you have a mental health illness or have been diagnosed with a chronic pain condition, ask you doctor if you are healthy enough to take on the responsibility of a pet. Chances are it’ll be the light at the end of your tunnel.

Chato B Stewart can also be found on Myspace.