Methods for Decreasing Physical Pain
July 2nd, 2007 Posted in Health Improvement, Newsletter
Pain is the necessary evil the body perpetuates against itself, not to torture it, but to warn the brain an injury has occurred. And, it’s a darn good warning signal too. Who’s going to walk on a broken leg, or allow an open wound to bleed and bleed? Without pain many people would do just that. Pain protects the body from further damage. But, the problem with pain is it is perpetual. There is no turn off switch once the signal has been received. Hence, the demand for pain relief is something 1 out of 5 adult Americans need on a daily basis.
The perception of pain is abstract. The relationship to pain and how it is felt depends on the preoccupation of the mind. The exact same thing can happen to two different people. While one is screaming in agony, the other may brush it off as a nuisance. Even the same person can experience similar events differently. Have you ever cut yourself, and not even been aware of it until you cleaned the area? And yet, another cut near the same area sends your mind reeling for a half hour. Pain has nothing to do with being courageous, or gutless. It all depends on how the brain is sensing impulses at the time of the incident.
The Biology Of Pain
Nociceptors are the nerve cells which respond to the trigger event that causes tissue damage in the body. Electrical signals are sent to the spinal cord where neurotransmitters forward the sensation to the brain. The brain analyzes, then reacts by sending to the area natural painkillers, like endorphins, endogenous opioids or norepinephrine to numb the feeling. Pain can stress the heart to such a degree the individual’s blood pressure jumps, which can lead to a heart attack, or stroke. Extreme pain can exhaust the body’s energy so much it can actually break down the immune system.
Creating An Off Switch To Pain
Recent testing by the European Neurological Society showed people with acute pain suffered less while in a hypnotic state, versus a non-altered state. Little change was noticed where the beginning pain was perceived to be slight. The perception of sharp pain is felt in four areas of the nervous system. While in a hypnotic state three of the areas respond significantly less to the pain stimuli. Only the primary somatosensory cortex continues to register pain in the usual fashion.
Chronic And Acute Pain Management
Promolife has focused a great deal of energy searching for non-drug pain relief devices which work without negative side effects.
The Infratonic 8000 is a device which uses infrasonic sound waves to stimulate the same meridians acupuncturists use. As pain is felt the cells begin to become traumatized by the experience. This creates a stress response which causes the body to frantically flood the area with excessive inflammatory chemicals. In an effort to battle the pain a fight readiness is created at the expense of the healing process. The Infratonic 8000 calms these chemicals, which then allows the body to produce the correct balance of chemicals needed to accelerate healing.
LED light therapy has been successful in reducing pain by increasing the blood supply to the affected area which reduces swelling, and stimulates the immune system. As light is absorbed into the body it contacts the acupuncture points and electrically stimulates them. In turn, this triggers the brain to send endorphins to the area which reduces the sensation of pain.
In human trials of the Warp 10 on the nuclear submarine, USS Salt Lake City, it was found healing time was cut in half. The Pain X is a derivative of the laser industry. Through photon energy cellular healing powers are stimulated.
Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Electronic Muscle Stimulant (EMS) devices have been used for years to relieve pain. They are similar devices, but each works a little differently. TENS units act on the nerve endings causing a deadening of the pain. An EMS unit works on the muscles to achieve the same results.
With both devices self-adhesive electrodes are placed near the affected area. A mild electric pulse is generated which blocks the pain signal being sent to the brain. With the body not having to fight the pain it can turn its resources to creating the hormones needed for healing.
For the lower back, shoulder or knee injuries Ortho-Therm braces add both support and temporary pain relief. Within each a heating pad is incorporated in to the brace. The added heat brings blood to the area promoting healing.
There is still a lot of mystery to pain. The brain plays a major part in how it is perceived, it plays a major part in how the body responds, and it plays a major part in how it heals. It isn’t much of a stretch to say pain is all in the brain. And, there in lies the mystery.
Article written by Cat Pippin Lowe for PromolifeNews.com.For more information on concepts and products used in this article, visit Promolife. If you like this, feel free to tell a friend.
Tags: acute, biology, chronic, ems, infratonic, led, light therapy, muscle, pain, pain management, Pain Relief, pain x, physical pain, pool, tens, tens unit
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