- The alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has analgesic and anti-inflammatory action; it is naturally produced by our cells to counteract inflammation and the substances that keep it active causing pain.
- The palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a substance produced by our body that binds to cannabinoid receptors, acting on neuropathic pain at different levels and has proven to be a formidable ally in our fight against pain!
Medications: allies or enemies?
There are many drugs we use for pain. Some are those commonly taken for transient aches like headaches or other minor ailments which fortunately disappear quickly.
These drugs are NSAIDs, undisputed allies for temporary problems but not suitable for long periods because they can cause serious issues and damage organs such as kidneys, stomach and liver.
For conditions such as chronic pain, which instead persist for long periods, different drugs are used that act through different mechanisms and do not simply inhibit inflammation to switch off pain
Chronic pain, how do we fight it?
Pain medications are diverse and it is necessary to identify the right one for each disorder, or the right combination at the lowest possible dose to provide benefit with fewer side effects.
These drugs belong to the category of opioids, antiepileptics, antidepressants and local anesthetics. They are able to act directly on the nervous system and block pain pathways.
Do drugs always have side effects?
All medications interact with our body and can have side effects. Often, however, if the drug is initially taken at a low dose, the side effect is not felt or quickly disappears, leaving only the pain relief.
If I start taking the drug do I have to continue forever?
It is essential to search for the cause of the pain. Once identified, you need to act to resolve it.
If used promptly, the drug can help prevent the establishment of mechanisms that lead to chronic pain.
It should be discontinued just as promptly when it is no longer indispensable.
A drug is an ally, it can accompany us for a period in solving the problem, but only as long as it is necessary
Are drugs the only therapeutic option?
Today, integrated medicine allows me to combine several disciplines and techniques to identify the most suitable treatment for a specific problem and, above all, for each individual patient.
Drugs can certainly be an important and often fundamental component of therapy but thanks to integrated medicine they can be used at lower doses, and therefore with fewer side effects, because combined with other techniques suitable for the specific case.
A thorough consultation will allow me to identify your specific need and start the most suitable therapeutic path for you
How do nutraceutical drugs help us?
Nutraceutical substances are natural molecules, often endogenous (that is, produced naturally by our body) and they can become part of pain therapy, integrating medications and any other techniques in use.
These substances can also be micronutrients that today's diet, largely composed of processed industrial foods, does not provide. This can lead to a condition of “hidden nutritional deficiency” which in turn can cause disorders and chronic diseases often accompanied by pain. To prevent this, it is possible to supplement the diet with natural substances such as Vitamin D, Omega3, Magnesium, Selenium, Zinc, B group Vitamins and many others.
Personalizing therapy is essential in pain management and having more tools available allows us to give patients increasingly precise answers.
Nutraceuticals are certainly a weapon at our disposal!
Nutraceutical substances act on the same receptors as drugs. For example, with an anti-inflammatory and/or analgesic action they improve pain and often also the cause generating it, perhaps allowing the dose of medications to be reduced.
Some examples:
Integrating these “friendly” substances means acting on the mechanisms of the various types of pain and reducing it by acting on the cause, without side effects, without adding other drugs and protecting our intestinal microbiota: another irreplaceable ally in the fight against pain!
