Submitted by Penrose & Associates Physical Therapy
One hundred-thirty people die every day from Opioid overdose and 2 million people a year have an Opioid use disorder. We need to engage in meaningful conversations about pain!
There are real options for pain management besides pain killers and injections: CBD & other natural supplements, TENS units, acupuncture, meditation, yoga, physical therapy, massage therapy – just to name a few!
Did you know that if you have chronic pain 6 months or longer your brain does start to change? In fact, this will sound odd but neuroscience research shows that the brain loses the ability to discriminate between right and left (called left right discrimination). In fact you can go to Graded Motor Imagery and test your own ability to discriminate left vs right. If you cannot get the answers accurate in 2 seconds and less than 80 percent accuracy the pain is starting to make some changes in your brain. This is something we can help with in physical therapy. Working on right left discrimination will decrease your pain and start to help with “re-setting” nerve pathways.
Another successful method is a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit. The electrodes applied to your skin send electrical impulses along nerve pathways. These electrical impulses flood the nervous system, reducing its ability to transmit pain signals to the spinal cord and brain. The same electrical impulses also stimulate the body to produce natural pain relievers called endorphins. We can show you how to use a portable TENS unit safely and effectively.
We believe in giving people options for pain management and we also want to help problem solve movements/activities that hurt and give you tips on how to move with less pain. It is amazing when you learn the right exercises and how to move with less stress to the joints how much better you feel! We are here to listen to what you want and find multiple approaches to solve that with you.
What is CBD? Cannabidiol (CBD) is a type of cannabinoid, a chemical found naturally in cannabis (marijuana and hemp) plants but it does not cause the “high” feeling often associated with cannabis. That feeling is caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a different type of cannabinoid.
How does CBD work? Everyone has a cell-signaling system known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). CBD interacts with a core component of the ECS — endocannabinoid receptors in your brain and immune system. Receptors are tiny proteins attached to your cells. They receive signals, mostly chemical ones, from different stimuli and help your cells respond. This response creates anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects that help with pain management.
However, if you can’t eat grapefruit than you can’t use CBD. Go to drug.com to see if your medications interact with CBD and talk to your doctor and pharmacist.
CBD does have an inverted horse shoe shaped response curve with increasing levels; so higher amounts is not necessarily better. ou also want to make sure you choose a reputable company that does perform third party testing and ensures quality control and offers a certificate of analysis with each batch showing less than .3 percent of THC in the CBD product.
One CBD oral product that we stock and recommend is through a company called Nutrametrix product named Cannabiquin. It is “full spectrum hemp oil” with 10 mg of CBD and Black cumin seed extract (Thymoquin). These two combined make a very powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant. Research has shown the two combined decreases inflammation by 7.7 times! The “full spectrum hemp oil” does allow for other natural CBDs and their benefits of relaxation and improved sleep to help you as well.
If you are struggling with pain management then please reach out. If you want to have a FREE pain discovery visit to go over options like CBD topical and oral, Joint support: Glucosomine & Hylaronic Acid, Pcynogenol, Curcumin (Tumeric) & other products, TENS units or if physical therapy or massage therapy would be the right step schedule a FREE pain discovery visit with us! Call us at 360-456-1444. Penrose & Associates Physical Therapy. 1445 Galaxy Dr. NE Suite 301 Lacey, WA 98516. www.penrosept.com.
