Chronic pain is an epidemic and affects approximately 50 million people. Over twenty percent of those affected are adults. It is somewhat of a silent epidemic because most people dealing with chronic pain do not appear to be sick. Chronic pain can wreak havoc in many areas of your life, from difficulty working to putting strains on relationships. Many with chronic pain will have to deal with some loss of function. Others will experience forms of anxiety and depression. As dismal as it may sound, several things out there can help. Please know that you are not alone! Some supplements for chronic pain have been found helpful. Before diving into what they are, I want to share the difference between vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, herbs, and supplements.
Types of Supplements
Vitamins are natural substances found in living things such as plants. The body can not produce vitamins and must obtain them from food or supplements.
Minerals are also found in plants. Plants obtain their minerals from the soil, which receives its minerals from the water washing over the rocks. Vitamins need Minerals to do their job, and minerals must also be obtained from food or supplements because they are not produced by our bodies.
Antioxidants are specific vitamins or minerals that protect body cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are very unstable atoms that can damage cells, cause illness, and are the primary cause of aging. Many free radicals are caused by smoking, ultraviolet rays, stress, chemicals, and pollutants, to name a few.
Supplements are vitamins and minerals extracted from a plant or created in a laboratory and put into a form (liquid, capsule, tablet) that our body can ingest. We can also get vitamins and minerals from eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and spices or through a vitamin/mineral supplement. Some vitamins are also obtained by eating meat since most animals eat plant food.
Helpful Supplements for Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain can deplete the body of many nutrients, just like stress can. The following supplements have been shown to support those dealing with chronic pain.
Vitamin D
Many individuals with chronic pain have been known to have lower vitamin D levels. This low level can be partially to blame for your increased pain. Several studies have shown that being deficient in vitamin D is associated with many unfavorable health concerns, including chronic pain, inflammation, mood disorders, and depression. It seems when pain is involved; the problem is concentrated on issues involving inflammation and musculoskeletal/joint pain, like arthritis and fibromyalgia. More studies are needed to determine how vitamin D functions in relation to chronic pain.
B Complex Vitamins
B vitamins help support the body by reducing inflammation and improving nerve function, which are often culprits when dealing with chronic pain. The most effective are B1, which helps with nerve pain; B6, which helps with inflammation and lower back pain; and B12, which can help improve nerve function. It is also important to note that B vitamins are water-soluble, so your body does not store them. You can also take them individually or together as a complex.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 essential fatty acids are found in cold-water fish like salmon, flaxseeds, chia seeds, eggs, and walnuts, to name a few. They are also known for helping to alleviate inflammation, especially found with arthritis. Many people do not get enough of these essential fatty acids in today’s diets, so supplementing them may be helpful.
Magnesium
Magnesium is helpful for neuropathic pain, chronic low back pain, and fibromyalgia. It also offers an antinociceptive effect (stops neurons from detecting pain) and possibly involved in the blocking of the NDMA receptors in the spinal cord, preventing central sensitization. Central sensitization is when the nervous system undergoes changes making you more sensitive to pain.
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Many dealing with burning pain or numbness have found taking 600-1800 mg of alpha-lipoic acid helpful.
Herbs
I have found several herbs with analgesic and antiinflammatory properties helpful as well. These include ginger, white willow bark, capsaicin, devil’s claw, curcumin, and boswelia. Ginger is a known analgesic and works well as a tea or applied topically as an essential oil. White willow bark contains salicin which is similar to aspirin when it comes to relieving pain. Capsaicin can be applied topically as a cream for muscle and joint pain.
Devil’s claw according to its historical use is helpful for arthritis and muscle soreness. You can take this internally or as a tea. Curcumin is a fantastic anti-inflammatory and has been beneficial for many inflammatory health concerns, including pain. It is usually used as a spice or taken as a capsule. Boswelia is helpful for joint pain topically or internally. I also love Lavender essential oil. It offers analegesic as well as sedative properties helping you to relax as well as relieve pain.
All or any of these supplements are worth trying, especially if you are dealing with inflammation and chronic pain. There are also many healthy living self-care practices you can try that can help. I do take several supplements and have found taking Nutricalm, Fibralgia, and Nerve Control or Nerve Eight help me with my chronic pain from RSD / CRPS. I feel I have more energy. Several other people who have taken these supplements have also found them helpful. You can learn more about them at my Nature’s Sunshine Website.