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Living With Osteoarthritis: What Loved Ones Can Do
Living With Osteoarthritis: What Loved Ones Can Do 600 400 Relatyv

Receiving a diagnosis of osteoarthritis can be a life-changing moment. The symptoms of this condition can change how you interact with your loved ones, determine what activities you’ll be able to participate in, and impact your emotional health. 

However, being diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) does not have to feel like a condemnation. With the support of your loved ones, adequate lifestyle changes, and a treatment program designed around your needs, you can return to making the most of every minute in your personal and professional life. 

In this guide, we’ll explore the important role of family members, partners, and friends in helping people with osteoarthritis, and we’ll look at how new treatment options can magnify the life of patients battling a degenerative joint disease.

The Internal Struggle Of Patients With Osteoarthritis

Especially in the early stages of the disease, osteoarthritis can be considered an “invisible illness”, meaning that the pain, discomfort, and fatigue a patient experiences are not outwardly visible. 

Just because these symptoms aren’t noticeable to others, it does not mean that a loved one with OA isn’t struggling. The first step to helping someone in your family or group of friends with OA is to educate yourself about the causes and symptoms of this condition and attempt to understand what they are going through. 

Here are some of the ways in which OA pain can affect the life of your loved ones:

  • Persistent pain in the joints – Osteoarthritis is a “wear and tear” type of arthritis that breaks down the cushioning between bones, known as cartilage. Over time, the lack of lubrication can make the movements of hands, knees, ankles, and hips extremely painful. 
  • Stiffness and reduced range of motion – As the cartilage breaks down, the joints become exposed to friction and shock, which can damage bones and ligaments. This can lead to severe stiffness and mobility issues, especially after periods of rest (like in the morning or after sitting for a long time). 
  • Swelling – Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease, which means that the body sustains excessively high levels of inflammation for long periods. The inflammation increases the blood flow in the affected area, leading to the accumulation of fluids and often causing severe swelling. 

Mechanical issues – Osteoarthritis changes how the joints move, which can add pressure and friction to joint components that should normally be unaffected during movement. This can lead to deformities and misalignments that can make it difficult for a person with arthritis to move, maintain balance, or remain flexible.

Patients who suffer from osteoarthritis are all too familiar with persistent pain, bone spurs, stiffness, and aching in various joints throughout their body. While the conditions of osteoarthritis and its painful symptoms are very real, patients may not always consider the effect that their condition has on their loved ones. The burden placed upon loved ones who care for them is more than just the physical assistance required to help them. It’s the psychological stress of wishing there was more that could be done. 

Many patients take this to mean that they are a burden when in fact loved ones see a problem that they wish they could help with or take away from the patient, not that the patient is a burden themselves. Patients should see their condition as a problem that can and will be treated in partnership with their doctors and loved ones. 

If patients of osteoarthritis allow themselves to be defined by their condition, they will allow themselves to be seen as a burden. So, while loved ones can remind patients that their condition does not define them, they may also wonder what they can do to help.

Impact Of Osteoarthritis On Your Loved Ones

The symptoms of osteoarthritis can have a profound impact on a person’s professional, personal, and financial life. As the disease progresses, a person with osteoarthritis will begin to struggle even with the most natural daily activities, such as playing with their kids or enjoying their lifelong hobbies.

The first step a loved one can take to help a patient with osteoarthritis is to educate themselves on how the condition works and understand how their targeted intervention can mitigate the symptoms and bring physical and mental relief.

Below, we’ll look in more detail at the impact of osteoarthritis on a person’s life.

Chronic Pain and Relationships

On average, people with osteoarthritis live approximately 30 years with the disease. Although adequate treatment programs can prevent the progression of their illness, osteoarthritis is a degenerative and irreversible condition. This means that the pain they experience is likely to get worse due to stress, lifestyle choices, and aging. 

Here are just some of the ways in which this pain can affect their lives.

  • Interference In Sleep Patterns – There is a direct correlation between pain and sleep. In people with osteoarthritis, pain can become more noticeable at night due to fewer distractions, which makes it more difficult to fall asleep and get quality rest. This, in turn, can cause fatigue and inflammation, which worsen the symptoms of OA during the daytime. According to the Arthritis Foundation, up to 70% of people with osteoarthritis suffer from sleep disturbances. 
  • Inability To Perform Tasks And Routines – Joint pain inhibits even the simplest activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, and bending down. Additionally, stiffness in the knee and hips can hinder balance and mobility, increasing the risk of injuries and falls. Because of this, people with osteoarthritis might struggle with daily tasks such as bathing, cooking, or driving a car. 

Difficulty With Touch And Physical Intimacy – People living with OA might have a reduced interest in intimacy and a lower sex drive because of the distress, pain, stiffness, and limited mobility they experience. Since 31-76% of people with arthritis report having disturbances in their sex life, it is important for partners to understand how OA is impacting the other person. If intimacy has become difficult, Relatyv also provides treatments that support sexual health.

The Financial Burdens of Treatment

Living with a chronic and degenerative condition can put a strain on a person’s financial life. 

For example, the lifetime cost for a person diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis was $140,300 in 2016, a figure that includes an expenditure of $129,600 in direct medical costs. But the cost of living with OA goes beyond these figures. 

People with osteoarthritis spend a significant amount on specialist visits, medical tests, medications, and therapies. What’s more, looking at the non-medical costs, people with debilitating chronic conditions might be forced to miss days at work and deal with the consequences of lost wages. 

Other costs faced by people with OA include the purchase of special equipment, changes in living accommodations, and alterations to their house. 

Because of these costs, people with osteoarthritis might begin to experience a sense of guilt and start to see themselves as a burden for their partner or family. Understanding this can help loved ones create a budgeting plan and ease the financial pressure that derives from a diagnosis of OA.

Mental Health

Osteoarthritis can have a profound effect on the mental and emotional health of patients. This is because OA can put a loved one under significant financial stress and change the dynamics within their personal relationships. 

Additionally, the reduced mobility and constant distress might prevent patients from carrying on with their current job and impact their professional life or career. Chronic pain can also lead to social isolation and impact a person’s ability to enjoy their hobbies and daily activities. 

Over time, this can increase the risk of developing mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. For the loved ones of people with OA, it is crucial to look for signs of social withdrawal, depressive episodes, or isolation; ensure they are provided the necessary help.

What The Research Says About Living With Osteoarthritis

Initially identified as a specific disease in the 1890s, osteoarthritis has been researched in-depth in recent decades. Today, patients can access an unprecedented number of resources that can help them cope with their conditions. 

Here is an extract of what the research says about the impact of OA on a person’s life:

  • Reduced self-perceived quality of life – According to a 2015 study, people with OA have a low perception of their quality of life, especially in terms of functional capacity, pain, and functionality. 
  • Poorer mental health – Research published in 2017 shows that nearly 60% of those with osteoarthritis will develop a mental health disorder over the course of their disease. 
  • Increased risk of depression – A review published in 2022 reports that the prevalence of depressive symptoms in people with OA can be as high as 20%
  • Missed work days – A study published in 2022 shows that, on average, people with arthritis took an average of 93 days of sick leave in 3 years, accounting for an annual cost per patient of €2,594 ($2,747). 
  • A major cause of disability – According to the CDC, arthritis is the third cause of work disability among working-age adults. It is also the main cause of disability among older adults. 

Higher risk of sleep disturbances – Research published in 2016 shows that osteoarthritis is linked to sleep disturbances and sleep deprivation which, in turn, are risk factors for increased OA pain and depression.

Additionally, a 2019 study concentrating on the mitigation of knee osteoarthritis centered its arguments for treatment around six prevalent risk factors including: “(1) obesity and overweight, (2) comorbidity, (3) occupational factors, (4) physical activity, (5) biomechanical factors, (6) dietary exposures” (Georgiev 2019). While all these risk factors fall into the aforementioned categories (personal, clinical, and public), the most imperative factor for all of these risk factors is that they have the potential for mitigation to assist in the treatment of osteoarthritis. 

For example, the risk factor of obesity is a factor that can be mitigated to change the severity of osteoarthritis and it falls almost entirely into the personal category for, less so for education, and more so for intervention. If a loved one is aware and educated in the processes and responsibility, they can attempt to help maintain the OA patient’s weight, without personal intervention and action on the part of the patient, the risk factor will remain and get worse, and osteoarthritis pain will persist. 

While the study continues to address these risk factors and the importance of educating patients and their loved ones, doctors Tsvetoslav Georgiev and Alexander Angelov also conclude that “[i]n the era of age- and obesity-related diseases, the combined effects of local and systemic risk factors should be managed by combined measures”.

Patients and their loved ones should be made aware that the effective treatment of their osteoarthritis includes educating themselves personally and with the patient’s physician. At the same time, if patients do not make the right decisions and act for themselves and they do not use the “combined measures” to fight their osteoarthritis, it is likely that the condition will progress– and not in a good way. But what are these “combined measures”, specifically and how can loved ones help?

Can The Presence Of Loved Ones Help?

If a loved one has been diagnosed with arthritis, there is a lot that you can do to help them make sense of their condition and avoid complications such as isolation and mental health disorders.

Here’s what the research says:

  • Easing loneliness – A 2020 study shows that, people with OA often feel “lonely in their own loneliness” and are at greater risk of becoming socially isolated. Encouraging dialogue and being present for your loved ones with OA can help them feel understood. 
  • Feeling understood – A poll conducted by Creaky Joints shows that nearly 90% of people with arthritis feel that their friends and family don’t really understand their disease. For those with OA, having at least one person who understands what they are going through can help ease the burden of always having to explain and interpret how they feel.
  • Taking on a distinct role – A 2020 study explored the role of relatives in the management of arthritis. The findings highlight that it is important for relatives to have technical knowledge of the disease and take on a specific role to provide emotional, mental, and physical support. 

The 2020 study, which was published in the Patient Preference and Adherence journal, also highlighted the importance for relatives to participate in Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) programs and develop interventions to fine-tune the management of the disease.

While patients follow the advice of their doctors, they often conclude that even while they do so, the pain and inconvenience of osteoarthritis permeates too much of their life and they and their loved ones would like to do more. Doctors Georgiev and Angelov list the following interventions: “[f]emoral muscle-strengthening physical activities, complemented with proper diet, weight loss, vocational rehabilitation, management of comorbidities (especially diabetes and depression), and biomechanical support”. 

While education and intervention of these risk factors can help to lessen the symptoms of osteoarthritis, the study also concludes that, “[a]n individual risk factor modification program should be developed in accordance with patient preferences and habits, workplace, medical history, and overall health condition”. Patients and their loved ones should take heart in the fact that, with the advice of their doctor, maintaining their osteoarthritis and lessening its impact greatly depends on the individual choices they make related to their risk factors.

How Loved Ones Can Help Manage Osteoarthritis

No two people will see their lives impacted in the same way by osteoarthritis. Because of this, it is important to understand the unique challenges your loved one is facing. Relatives should learn to recognize the role they can play in supporting their loved ones by helping them manage their disease. 

According to research published in 2020, patients and relatives can use a joint approach to treatment and determine together how to better cope with arthritis. This approach includes clarifying everyone’s role, improving communication, and sharing information. 

Below are some practical examples that relatives can use as guidance to support their loved ones with osteoarthritis.

Building Acceptance For The Condition

Although a diagnosis of osteoarthritis can certainly be life-changing, it is crucial for patients not to be defined by their disease. Having a thorough understanding of their condition can help. 

According to a study published in 2021, the greater the disease acceptance is, the better patients will be able to adapt to their new life and cope with the psychological discomfort deriving from it. 

Relatives can help by normalizing the symptoms experienced by a person with OA, maintaining hope, and encouraging them to share their feelings. Looking at resources and treatment options together, and agreeing on suitable lifestyle modifications may also help.

Balancing Self-Efficacy With Physical Helplessness

For people with osteoarthritis, it is often too easy to be caught in a downward spiral. The trigger might be a negative outlook on life and a feeling of helplessness. However, this pattern can be broken by encouraging “self-efficacy”, or an “I can do this attitude”. A shift in mindset can help patients reduce perceived disabilities, prevent social isolation, and maintain a positive outlook. 

However, this should not be confused with encouraging your loved ones to “do it all” by themselves! Their symptoms are real, and providing them with the help needed can go a long way to help them maintain a normal life.

Acknowledging The Need For Help And Support

Beyond encouraging your loved ones to remain active and engaged, it is also crucial to seek the physical, medical, and mechanical help needed for them to remain independent in their daily lives. 

For example, you might suggest modifying the furniture or layout of their apartment to make moving around easier. Or, you can seek the help of home care providers who better understand the physical needs of someone with arthritis. If in doubt, consulting a specialized doctor can be an excellent starting point.

Seeking Professional Help Together

As we have seen above, people with osteoarthritis are at greater risk of developing mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Although you might be doing your best to keep them engaged, socially active, and healthy, it is important to know when professional help might be needed. 

Some resources you could look at to find professional support include the following:

  • Occupational Therapists – Occupational therapy can help your loved ones cope with the consequences of OA on their daily life, activities, and career. Occupational therapists can offer guidance on how to protect their joints and modify their favorite activities to allow for the limitations caused by arthritis. 
  • Mental Health Professionals – Mental health professionals play a vital role in supporting the psychological and emotional health of people with a chronic disease. They can help your loved one better cope with the impact of OA on their mental health and prevent the emergence of disorders such as depression. 
  • Support Groups – While your loved one might feel alone when battling OA, it is important to remember that this disease affects nearly 33 million people just in the US. Connecting with people who have the same disease can improve your loved one’s mood, ease loneliness, and equip them with new tools to cope with their disease. 
  • Medical Resources – Having a technical knowledge of what osteoarthritis is and how it manifests is the first step to finding adequate treatment programs and avoiding the feeling of helplessness.

Discussing Treatment Options

Discussing treatment options with your loved ones is certainly a delicate task, especially as both the benefits and the risks of each therapy should be taken into account. When looking into valid therapies, it is important to look beyond traditional approaches and explore alternatives to NSAIDs, opioids, pain relievers, or surgery.

Today, there are valid treatment options for osteoarthritis that are sustainable in the long term and can help your loved ones regain a high quality of life. Let’s look at the options in more detail below.

Encouraging New Treatments For Osteoarthritis

When dealing with constant pain, it is easy for your loved ones to resort to what’s easily available: usually non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pain-relievers. 

While these treatment options might ease pain in the short term, they are not a long-lasting solution and, when taken over long periods of time, they may cause severe side effects, including dependency. On the other hand, patients with advanced osteoarthritis whose disease has not responded well to pharmaceutical treatments might face the daunting prospect of undergoing surgery.

In the meantime, there are non-drug, non-surgical, non-invasive, and non-chiropractic treatments for osteoarthritis, and they are just a phone call away.

In the year 2000, a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of another nonsurgical treatment known as viscosupplementation was conducted. While the clinical trials of viscosupplementation were in their infancy, Dr John Watterson found that “. . . the lack of systemic side effects and the potential lasting effects make it an appealing option” (2000). The process of viscosupplementation is best described as a loosening and relaxing of the joints that feel stiff and rusted over. This nonsurgical option uses a safe compound called hyaluronic acid. 

Hyaluronic acid has been USDA approved for decades and Dr. Watterson attests to this benefit by stating that “[t]he US Food and Drug Administration approval of hyaluronic acid as a device has avoided the need for meeting the more stringent criteria for approval as a drug”. Decades later, the use of hyaluronic acid in viscosupplementation has remained an effective and affordable solution to treat osteoarthritis. 

Relatyv uses hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation treatment for osteoarthritis in conjunction with its pain-relieving treatment protocols rooted in the principles of Neurofunctional Pain Management. Relatyv operates a proprietary treatment protocols called Neuralgesia that use the principles of Neurofunctional Pain Management by relieving pain with high pulse electrical stimulation, and viscosupplementation in the case of osteoarthritis, and restoring health with specialized hydration therapy that restores nutrient deficiencies responsible for exacerbating the pain condition. 

While viscosupplementation relieves and loosens the joints affected by OA, Neurofunctional Pain Management treatments further reduce the pain by using high-pulse electrical stimulation to produce a sustained depolarization effect of the pain neurons associated with damaged tissues, in combination with specialized hydration therapy, this combination relieves pain, restores health, and magnifies the quality of life of our patients.

How Relatyv Can Help You And Your Loved Ones Manage Osteoarthritis

We fulfill our mission by providing each patient with a customized Neurofunctional Pain Management program that includes the use of viscosupplementation therapies, hyaluronic acid injections, electrical stimulation, IV therapies, and hydration therapy. 

We also provide each of our patients with tailored lifestyle counseling services, which can help them modify the aspects of their lives that are negatively impacting their health. In the case of osteoarthritis, we guide our patients in the process of finding a more balanced diet that supports health and lowers inflammation. We also provide specialized help for those battling risk factors such as obesity and diabetes, and we design exercise programs that help fight the consequences of a sedentary life. 

Thanks to Relatyv’s holistic approach, patients can experience a long-lasting reduction of pain and can begin to restore the full functionality of their joints affected by osteoarthritis.

It is worth noting here that Relatyv is dedicated to relieving pain and restoring health. The mission of Relatyv is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify the quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures.

Many patients experiencing the symptoms of OA report relief after only one session with Relatyv. Patients experience greater mobility, strength, and motor skills they used to enjoy in their daily life. 

Hundreds of patients experience relief from pain that is almost instant, and treatment is simple. Patients who suffer from chronic pain often report relief after starting our treatment sessions with even a single treatment event. Given a full course of treatment, patients may experience pain relief for several months without drugs, surgery or invasive procedures. I personally have seen patients experience pain relief that has lasted over twelve months, and many patients experienced relief ranging from six to twelve months.

By relieving the pain deriving from osteoarthritis in the long term, Relatyv can ease the physical and psychological burden of patients with OA and their relatives and help them return to enjoying their lives.

Don’t Let Osteoarthritis Be A Burden To You And Your Loved Ones

If you have noticed that a loved one is struggling with the symptoms of osteoarthritis, finding a solution to ease their pain and mobility issues is of paramount importance. However, at Relatyv, our goal is to look beyond simply easing the symptoms of chronic conditions – we also strive to help patients magnify their lives, regain mobility, and return to the activities they have always loved.

Give Relatyv the opportunity to relieve your pain without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures so that you can return to your daily tasks without interruption. The mission of Relatyv is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify the quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures. We have a vision that we will be the first thought, first choice, and first step in the journey of chronic pain relief.

Chronic Pain From Osteoarthritis & Osteoarthritis Treatment Options
Chronic Pain From Osteoarthritis & Osteoarthritis Treatment Options 600 400 Relatyv

Nearly ten percent of adults in the United States suffer from osteoarthritis (OA). Similar to other chronic conditions like osteoporosis and peripheral neuropathy, osteoarthritis is a chronic pain condition largely affecting older patient populations. However, patients who suffer from OA can expect to experience its symptoms in most joints throughout the body. In an effort to understand the conditions of pain, such as OA and peripheral neuropathy, medical science has determined that pain emerges from a variety of factors and causes. 

However, it has been well-established that pain is a communication delivered by neurons along the routes of nerves that trace back to the brain. It is because of this understanding of the nature of nerves that we can determine the condition and its effective methods of treatment. While conditions like peripheral neuropathy, OA, and any other objective development of pain share the same network for communicating that pain, the cause of pain associated with diverse conditions vary. And so, physicians must delineate between conditions of pain because of the variation of causes throughout the body and the pain they exhibit.

Osteoarthritis Is A Condition That Affects The Joints

For example, the symptoms of OA, when compared to peripheral neuropathy, are not entirely the same and patients who are familiar with the nonsurgical treatments for peripheral neuropathy often must look elsewhere to treat the conditions of OA. While peripheral neuropathy causes tingling, burning, and numbness in the extremities, OA manifests itself with symptoms of bone spurs, stiffness, and pain specifically targeting the joints.

Similar To Peripheral Neuropathy But Has Different Symptoms

Unfortunately, there have been cases where patients suffer from peripheral neuropathy in conjunction with OA. While there are varying treatment options for both of these conditions, both surgical and non-surgical, the options differ between the two. Patients suffering from both may wish to look for one solution that will treat the pain they experience on a daily basis.

Those With Osteoarthritis For A Long Time Often Consider Surgery

Those who have suffered from OA for years will often consider more drastic and surgical solutions to the pain of this diagnosis without considering nonsurgical options. One of the most prominent surgical solutions for OA was discovered in the 1950’s and 60’s by Dr. John Charnley who successfully treated the condition with an invasive procedure called arthroplasty. The procedure was widely successful and continues to be the preferred method for surgical treatment of osteoarthritis. However, surgical options such as arthroplasty are not considered for patients who have had success maintaining their OA pain through non-surgical treatment.

On Invasive Procedures Such As Arthroplasty

In a medical assessment and survey of advancements in treating OA, Professor K.D. Brandt of the Indiana University School of Medicine found that “[r]ecommendation of total joint arthroplasty for the patient with OA, however, is tantamount to an acknowledgement of the failure of medical management. The surgical procedure is often performed after the patient has experienced years, or even decades, of pain and disability” (2004). 

Patients who have sought treatment for their OA who are familiar with the “medical management” referred to by Professor Brandt may not have even considered that arthroplasty is only considered for patients who have suffered from its symptoms for years and even decades. This means that even patients who would choose to undergo drastic surgery to relieve their pain may not have the same recommendation from their doctor before years of living with debilitating pain.

Some Are Disappointed That Surgery Is Not A Cure-All For Their Pain

While this news may not be surprising to some who have sought immediate and lasting relief for their pain, it is no less of a disappointment. Still, there are those who are wary of surgical procedures to cure their OA and have lasting relief from pain and understandably so. 

Elective, non-emergency surgery is a heavy decision that would weigh on the mind of any patient. Naturally, most patients will seek more mild solutions that will not require surgery, solutions that will help them manage the pain without necessarily treating the problem.

When Osteoarthritis Symptoms Interferes With Your Quality Of Life

Given the fact that osteoarthritis causes severe chronic pain and reduced mobility, it isn’t surprising that studies have been able to confirm a direct correlation between OA and a lower perceived quality of life. 

Beyond simply preventing you from moving freely as you used to, OA can lead to a withdrawal from social activities, reduced work performance, and inhibited productivity. 

To understand the magnitude of the impact of OA, it’s enough to look at a few statistics. Today, over 43% of those with arthritis aged 18 years or older report arthritis-related activity limitations. This percentage accounts for nearly 24 million adults. Additionally, in the US, OA is the third most influential cause of work disability, after back problems and mental health disorders. A review published in 2022 also shows that nearly 20% of those with osteoarthritis experience depressive symptoms. 

So, what can you do when the symptoms of OA start interfering with your life?

Firstly, it is important to understand that osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints. This means that, while symptoms might seem mild in the beginning, they are likely to become exponentially worse. However, the degenerative nature of OA also means that introducing preventive measures early on can limit the intensity of symptoms and prevent serious complications. 

For those patients who are already suffering from severe osteoarthritis, the most important step to take is to educate themselves about the treatment options available. 

This is because when you suffer from chronic pain, it can be tempting to resort to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroid injections. While they might be short-term solutions, patients and healthcare providers should be aware of the physiological and psychological side effects of these pharmaceutical treatments, which include dependency. 

What’s more, patients with OA live an average of 30 years with the disease, which makes it of paramount importance to find alternative options to medications and surgery. Both patients and doctors should look at therapies that are drug-free, non-invasive, and do more than simply temporarily ease the symptoms of OA. 

In particular, regenerative medicine options are able to help each patient regain mobility, ease pain, and magnify their lives, without surgery or medications. Let’s look at alternative methods of pain management.

Alternative Methods Of Pain Management

With the fear of surgery weighing on the minds of many who suffer from OA, alternative methods of pain management accumulate and are tested for their efficacy. Below, we’ll look at the reasons why NSAIDs can’t be considered a long-term strategy for pain management and explore alternative methods of treatment.

The Use Of NSAIDs And Its Dangers

NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) such as Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen and even high-strength opioids. With the addition of NSAIDs into a patient’s lifestyle as a method of pain management, the tolerance for these drugs increases relative to the size of each dose. 

As patients acclimate to a higher dose of NSAID, their dependence on these drugs for more frequent temporary pain relief increases and unfortunately, the efficacy of these drugs declines. In many cases, patients will turn to the next level of pain relief which will likely take them down the track of opioid use, ultimately ending in high-strength opioids, which present a very real risk of addiction and potential overdose.

Can Cause Serious Side Effects

Nearly 60% of people in the US affected by chronic pain resort to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as a way to manage their pain in the long term. But while these medications are easily accessible as OTC drugs and often affordable, they don’t come without side effects. 

Some of the ones patients with osteoarthritis should be aware of include the following ones:

  • Neurological effects – High doses of NSAIDs can be neurotoxic, meaning that they interfere with the functioning of the central nervous system. In turn, this can lead to a cascade of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, vertigo, disorientation, and an increased risk of falls. 
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and peptic ulcers – NSAIDs can inhibit the functioning of prostaglandins (hormone-like chemicals that protect the gastric mucosa) and platelets (the blood cells responsible for healing wounds). In the stomach, this can lead to lesions of the mucosa that lines the gastrointestinal system, while also preventing healing. GI ulcers and bleeding can cause shock, anemia, holes in the stomach walls, and stomach cancer. 
  • Increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke – NSAIDs interfere with the chemicals in the body responsible for preventing blood clots. In turn, this can lead to obstructed arteries that should supply blood and oxygen to the brain and heart. Additionally, these drugs can cause vasoconstriction or the narrowing of blood vessels, thus inhibiting blood flow. A sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain or heart can lead to a stroke or myocardial infarction, respectively. The risk of these complications increases significantly even after just 7 days of taking the drug.
  • Impaired kidney function – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the blood flow to the kidneys which, in turn, can lead to the accumulation of salt, excessive water, and waste material. If not addressed this can cause improper kidney function and, in severe cases, Acute Renal Failure.

Can Interact With Other Medications

Although most NSAIDs are available as over-the-counter medications, they shouldn’t be used carelessly – nor by everyone. 

In particular, it is important to notice that combining NSAIDs with blood-thinning medicines can lead to an increased risk of bleeding, especially in the digestive tract. This is because both medications interfere with the normal functioning of platelets, thus reducing their healing power and preventing them from forming blood clots when needed. 

Additionally, combining NSAIDs with diuretics (medications used to remove fluids in excess) and drugs used to lower blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors, can have serious side effects:

  • By restricting blood flow to the kidneys, NSAIDs can make diuretics inefficient, thus causing a serious risk in people with congestive heart failure treated with diuretics. 
  • NSAIDs can cause the narrowing of blood vessels (vasoconstriction), thus inhibiting the effect of ACE inhibitors, which aim to lower blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels. This can increase the risk of heart problems. 

Given the increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and high blood pressure associated with NSAIDs, these medications should be avoided by people at a higher risk of kidney failure and heart problems.

Carries Potential Risks For People Taking Them

Perhaps one of the greatest risks of NSAIDs is that those who take them regularly to manage chronic pain are unaware of the risks and side effects they are exposing themselves to. 

In a study conducted in 2011, nearly 55% of people taking NSAIDs chronically to manage knee osteoarthritis were not aware of their toxicity, and 80% were not informed on the side effects of COX-2 inhibitors – the main compounds in common NSAIDs such as Celecoxib (Celebrex®).

So, if surgery and painkillers are out of the question, where can patients turn for an effective treatment for their osteoarthritis?

The Discovery Of Viscosupplementation

In the year 2000, a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of another nonsurgical treatment known as viscosupplementation was conducted. While the clinical trials of viscosupplementation were in their infancy, Dr. John Watterson found that “. . . the lack of systemic side effects and the potential lasting effects make it an appealing option” (2000). 

The process of viscosupplementation is best described as a loosening and relaxing of the joints that feel stiff and rusted over. This nonsurgical option uses a safe compound called hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic Acid In Viscosupplementation

Hyaluronic acid has been USDA approved for decades, and Dr. Watterson attests to this benefit by stating that “[t]he US Food and Drug Administration approval of hyaluronic acid as a device has avoided the need for meeting the more stringent criteria for approval as a drug”. 

Decades later, the use of hyaluronic acid in viscosupplementation has remained an effective and affordable solution to treat osteoarthritis. Relatyv uses this treatment for osteoarthritis in conjunction with its proprietary pain-relieving protocols known as Neuralgesia. 

While viscosupplementation relieves pain by cushioning and loosens the joints affected by OA, Neuralgesia treatments further reduce the pain through a combination of high-pulse electrical stimulation and specialized hydration therapy. 

Many patients experiencing the symptoms of OA report relief after only one session with Relatyv. Patients experience greater mobility, strength, and requisition of the motor skills they used to enjoy completing their daily tasks.

Relatyv: A Breakthrough Discovered

Relatyv is a non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical, non-invasive, and non-chiropractic pain treatment program. The mission of Relatyv is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures. It is also our vision to be the first thought, first choice, and first step in the journey of chronic pain management.

Relatyv Treats Chronic Pain As Its Purpose And Foundation

At Neurganex, we understand how easy it is to rely on NSAIDs to manage the debilitating pain deriving from osteoarthritis. However, we are also fully aware of the catastrophic consequences that these therapies can have on a person’s life – from causing exposure to side effects to creating dependency. We also don’t underestimate the psychological impact that seeing your everyday life tied to taking medications can have. 

That is why our mission is to look beyond simply easing the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Thanks to a combination of highly advanced treatments, we are able to provide the highest quality care along with personalized attention – each and every time. This means that our patients receive treatment programs that are designed around their unique symptoms, lifestyle needs, treatment preferences, and, above all, health goals. 

By delivering innovative therapies such as viscosupplementation and electroanalgesia, we can help you free yourself of drugs and chase away the fear of needing surgery. But beyond this, we are dedicated to helping you regain control over your health and mobility, relieve pain, and return to living your life to the fullest.

Get Pain Relief Without Medications, Surgery, Or Invasive Procedures

Thousands of patients have found pain relief without medications, surgery, or invasive procedures using Relatyv treatment protocols. Many patients experience relief from pain after just one treatment. Patients who suffer from chronic pain, including pain from chronic neuropathy and osteoarthritis, report relief after starting our treatment sessions.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms: Everything You Need To Know
Osteoarthritis Symptoms: Everything You Need To Know 600 400 Relatyv

As we know, osteoarthritis (OA) affects around 33 million adults in the United States alone. Much like other chronic pain conditions, such as peripheral neuropathy and osteoarthritis symptoms, OA is a chronic and ongoing pain condition that is exacerbated by poor health and metabolic disorders.

Pain prevents the motivation to exercise and creates a downward spiral of less physical activity and increasingly poor health outcomes. Osteoarthritis often manifests in large joints like the knee, where weight and pressure are persistent causes of the wear and tear effects of osteoarthritis, but it can also present initially in the fingers and toes of patients who have been diagnosed with it.

Over time, people with OA can expect to feel its symptoms in most of their joints all over their bodies. The symptoms of OA, when compared to peripheral neuropathy and other chronic pain conditions, are not entirely the same, and patients who are familiar with the nonsurgical treatments for peripheral neuropathy often look elsewhere to treat the conditions of OA.

Most Common Symptoms Of Osteoarthritis

To understand how osteoarthritis (OA) manifests itself, it is first important to clarify what OA is and how it affects the joint. 

Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is the most common form of arthritis, an inflammatory condition that wears down the soft tissue in the joint. Over time, the excessive inflammation produced by the body breaks down the cartilage, which is the “cushion” responsible for keeping joint movements lubricated and friction-free. Osteoarthritis might also damage other tissues such as bones, tendons, ligaments, and the connective layer that lines the joint (synovium).

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but it’s more common in the hands, neck, lower back, and weight-bearing joints such as knees and hips. The symptoms a person diagnosed with OA experiences are unique and can vary in intensity depending on how advanced the disease is.

Just like in the case of neuropathy, the pain caused by osteoarthritis isn’t immediately visible.

Peripheral neuropathy causes tingling, burning, and numbness in the limbs. On the other hand, OA causes joints to hurt, be stiff, and throb constantly. Unfortunately, it is common to suffer multiple chronic pain conditions at the same time, such as peripheral neuropathy and osteoarthritis.

While there are varying treatment options for both of these conditions, both surgical and nonsurgical, the options differ two so much that patients suffering from both may wish to look for one solution that will treat the pain they experience daily.

Some of the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

Persistent Pain In The Joints

Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms of osteoarthritis, affecting over 70% of older adults. The pain mostly derives from the fact that the high levels of inflammation the body produces wear down the cartilage.

Although the joints are constantly exposed to low levels of damage, the body is able to self-heal to maintain the joints lubricated and protect from shock. However, osteoarthritis breaks down cartilage faster than the body can heal. Over time, this causes the loss of the protective layer between the joint components, causing bones, ligaments, and tendons to rub against each other during movement.

Additionally, if the cartilage breaks down in certain areas, osteoarthritis can alter joint mechanics. When this happens, bones and other components that should normally be unaffected during movement come into contact and begin to suffer the effects of shock and friction.

Less Flexibility Or Stiffness

As seen above, osteoarthritis can lead to abnormal joint mechanics. Misalignments in the bones can pull the ligaments and tendons during movements, or stretch them in the wrong direction. This effect, coupled with a loss of cartilage and synovial fluid (a thick liquid that lubricates the joints), can lead to stiffness and reduced range of motion.

Stiffness in the joints in people with OA tends to get worse in the morning or after long periods of rest. This is because during sleep or rest the muscles and tendons around the joints tighten up.

According to recent statistics, nearly 24 million people (43% of adults with OA) report experiencing activity limitations due to arthritis.

Popping Of Joints With Simultaneous Pain

Popping joints is something that occurs without pain in healthy individuals. Although the causes for popping joints are still under debate, two hypotheses show that the cracking noise might be caused by the release of air bubbles in the area between the joint (cavitation) or by the creation of a small space between the joint’s components.

While popping joints without pain should not be a reason for concern, if you are experiencing discomfort and pain, or you have a diagnosis of arthritis, you should not let this sign go untreated.

In people with OA, this sound is a symptom often referred to as crepitus, and it might indicate mechanical problems in the joint. The “popping” noise might derive from the bones rubbing against each other or from soft tissues (i.e.: ligaments and tendons) sliding off a bone structure and snapping onto another.

Although not everyone with OA has crepitus, a 2019 study showed that this symptom is associated with lower physical function, reduced quality of life, and higher pain.

Swelling In The Affected Area

Swelling is part of the body’s inflammatory response. When there is injury or infection, the body produces inflammation and increases the blood flow to the damaged area to provide healing blood components, such as platelets and white blood cells. The increased blood flow, coupled with a build-up of fluids in the surrounding tissue, leads to swelling.

However, in people with inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the body sustains excessively-high levels of inflammation for long periods. Beyond degrading the tissues in the joint area, such high levels of inflammation also lead to prolonged swelling.

Bone Spurs

Bone spurs – also known as osteophytes – are the overgrowth of bone material near the joint area, often caused by osteoarthritis.

Bone spurs occur when the body attempts to repair the damage caused by arthritis to the cartilage. These bony growths might be asymptomatic at first but, over time, they can compress nearby nerves, inhibit movement, create mechanical problems, and rub against other bones.

Some of the symptoms associated with bone spurs include stiffness, reduced range of movement, tendon and ligament damage, and pain. Bone spurs most commonly happen in the hip, knee, neck, shoulder, spine, foot, or hand.

Common Treatment Options For Osteoarthritis Pain

As we discuss in other articles, common treatments for osteoarthritis pain are over-the-counter supplements, hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation injections, corticosteroid injections, pain medications, and of course invasive procedures and surgeries like knee placements.

However, these therapies mostly focus on addressing joint pain, not its underlying cause. While they might be efficient in the short term, these therapies alone are not enough to support the body’s healing process and keep away the advancement of degenerative joint disease.

Below, we’ll look at the most common treatment options prescribed for OA and their implications.

Over-The-Counter Supplements

If you have been looking for a natural way to ease the symptoms of osteoarthritis, the chances are that you’ve come across over-the-counter supplements. However, it is important to understand that the majority of these supplements are ineffective, while some can unnecessarily expose you to severe side effects.

For example, nutraceuticals such as fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids), Vitamin D, and curcumin can have valuable effects such as strengthening the bones and reducing inflammation, but they have been found inefficient in treating OA.

On the other hand, well-known supplements such as chondroitin and glucosamine are not just ineffective; they can also cause side effects and interact with other drugs such as blood thinners. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Rheumatology recommends against using these supplements to treat OA.

Pain Medications

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can help you deal with osteoarthritis flares up in the short term. These include:

  • Capsaicin cream – This topical pain reliever contains capsaicin (the active compound in chili peppers) and can help relieve pain in an area affected by OA by stopping the local nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
  • Pain relievers – Drugs such as acetaminophen don’t ease inflammation but reduce the sensation of pain in the short term.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – These are pain-relieving medications that ease pain by reducing inflammation and swelling.

Although these might seem like suitable solutions to manage the pain deriving from osteoarthritis, it is important not to underestimate the side effects of these medications. NSAIDs can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches, and can increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks, and stomach ulcers. Additionally, if taken over long periods, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also lead to dependency.

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can help you deal with osteoarthritis flares up in the short term. These include:

  • Capsaicin cream – This topical pain reliever contains capsaicin (the active compound in chili peppers) and can help relieve pain in an area affected by OA by stopping the local nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
  • Pain relievers – Drugs such as acetaminophen don’t ease inflammation but reduce the sensation of pain in the short term.
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – These are pain-relieving medications that ease pain by reducing inflammation and swelling.

Although these might seem like suitable solutions to manage the pain deriving from osteoarthritis, it is important not to underestimate the side effects of these medications. NSAIDs can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches, and can increase the risk of stroke, heart attacks, and stomach ulcers. Additionally, if taken over long periods, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also lead to dependency.

Hyaluronic Acid Viscosupplementation Injections

Viscosupplementation therapies involve injecting hyaluronic acid into the joints to replenish the synovial fluid (the thick substance that keeps the joints lubricated). This gel-like liquid not only decreases pains and inflammation, but it can also make joint movements more fluid and friction-free.

In the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, viscosupplementation therapies have been seen to be effective in delaying the need for knee replacement surgery by up to 3 years, according to a 2015 study.

Although hyaluronic acid injections can be an efficient solution to manage the symptoms of OA for several months at a time, it is important to keep in mind that the lubricating effect is only temporary. To be effective, viscosupplementation should be coupled with other pain management strategies such as lifestyle counseling.

Corticosteroid Injections

If you have a type of osteoarthritis that does not respond well to other treatments, you might consider taking advantage of corticosteroid injections. Steroids are the man-made version of natural chemicals that are already found in the body and are efficient in reducing inflammation and pain for up to six months.

Nonetheless, these medications come with a range of side effects, including causing high blood pressure, digestive issues, and, in the long term, mood swings and muscle weakness.

Invasive Procedures

Joint replacement surgeries might be prescribed for patients whose arthritis has reached an advanced stage and has caused significant damage to the joint’s components. Also called arthroplasty, joint replacement surgeries involve reshaping or replacing one or more of the joint’s components to reestablish proper mechanics.

These procedures are highly-invasive and require months of rehabilitation and downtime for a patient to fully recover.

An Effective Treatment For Osteoarthritis Pain: Neurofunctional Pain Management

Relatyv offers a non-medication, non-surgical, and non-invasive solution to osteoarthritis and other forms of chronic pain. Through the Relatyv treatment program, thousands of patients have experienced relief from chronic osteoarthritis pain and reduced quality of life.

Relatyv uses a proprietary treatment protocol to help people with a wide range of chronic pain conditions feel better and get their health back. Relatyv has created a new category of medicine called Neurofunctional Pain Management, which is a combination of high-pulse electrical stimulation and specialized hydration therapy to reduce chronic pain and restore health and quality of life.

Here is how these therapies work as part of our proprietary pain management program, Neuralgesia:

  • Electrical stimulation – the high-frequency electrical pulses act by “flooding” the nervous system, thus preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. The electrical current also stimulates healing blood flow in the area affected by OA and triggers the release of endorphins.
  • Hydrotherapy – Custom hydrotherapy sessions can relax the muscles, ease the stress on weight-bearing joints, and provide long-lasting hydration to the joint structures affected by osteoarthritis.

How Neurofunctional Pain Management Can Help

Relatyv is the fastest-growing pain management group specializing in Neurofunctional Pain Management and is pioneering the concept across the nation. Chronic pain management without medications, surgery, or invasive procedures is the preferred option for nearly all patients suffering from chronic pain.

Given the choice, most patients and their doctors would choose the least invasive and non-pharmaceutical route to manage chronic pain. We provide this option by combining a range of pain management strategies that leverage the body’s healing ability. These therapies include:

  • Viscosupplementation
  • Hyaluronic acid injections
  • IV therapies
  • Natural therapies such as high-dose Platelet-Rich Plasma and high-dose Bone Marrow Aspirate.

We also provide each of our patients with personalized lifestyle counseling services to help keep risk factors at bay that might cause or worsen arthritis. In particular, we focus on providing guidelines to live an active lifestyle, manage obesity, reduce exposure to toxins such as nicotine and alcohol, and follow a nutritious, well-balanced diet.

Relatyv Aims To Better Your Life

The mission of Relatyv is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify the quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures. This mission statement says it all. It’s what patients want, and it’s what doctors want for their patients. The vision of Relatyv is to be the first thought, the first choice, and the first step in the journey of chronic pain management.

This is what Relatyv is working to accomplish across the nation as the creator and pioneer of Neurofunctional Pain Management. We believe that every patient should have the option to try non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical, non-invasive, and non-chiropractic options first.

Nonsurgical Shoulder Pain Treatment
Nonsurgical Shoulder Pain Treatment 600 400 Relatyv

Statistics show that shoulder pain will affect more than 25% of adults at some point during their lives. In some cases, shoulder pain can be a temporary issue that causes mild discomfort; however, most shoulder problems are chronic and related to conditions such as arthritis, ligament and tendon tears, pinched nerves, and inflammation. 

When it comes down to ease chronic pain, patients tend to be offered two undesirable treatment options: pain medications or surgery. 

Fortunately, there are other non-surgical, non-pharmaceutical, and non-invasive treatment options worth exploring. Below, we’ll look at the nonsurgical treatments available today and learn how Relatyv’s Neurofunctional Pain Management program can help.

What Is Shoulder Pain?

Shoulder pain is one of those problems that you can’t ignore for long. It affects everything you do and even just walking around can trigger waves of pain down your arm and chest and up your neck. Large joints are often the most noticeable joint pain problems and are one of those crucial joints that we use every day for basic quality-of-life activities. Because of the natural anatomical reliance on our hands, anything that impairs our abilities has a significant impact on our quality of life. If the joints in our hips are not functioning properly, the gait and balance of our walk will be affected. In the same way, if the shoulder joints experience pain, the consequences of this pain will extend to our hands and ultimately our quality of life in general. 

Healthy shoulder joints provide for a highly flexible range of motion, permitting the movement of our arms by nearly three-hundred and sixty degrees, depending on shoulder joint health and practiced flexibility. The rotation and flexibility of our arms depend on our body’s aptly named rotator cuff, which is a group of muscles and tendons that keeps our shoulders in their sockets. As we get older and acquire more risk factors for chronic shoulder pain, the range of motion in our shoulders decreases drastically.

What Causes Shoulder Pain?

The most common cause of shoulder pain can be tied back to the inflammation of the rotator cuff as it presses against the bones of the shoulder. In an equal yet distinct way, bone spurs (which occur largely in the elderly) can grow on the shoulder bones and press against the rotator cuff. Other causes of shoulder pain include arthritis, dislocation, overuse, and even bad posture.

Nonsurgical Treatment Options For Shoulder Pain

When it comes down to finding the right treatment option for shoulder pain, a lot depends on the underlying cause of the condition. For example, if the pain and discomfort are caused by arthritis or other inflammatory conditions, a healthcare provider will work to manage the body’s inflammatory response to reduce swelling, stiffness, and discomfort. 

On the other hand, if shoulder pain is caused by mechanical issues such as bone spurs or impingements, physical therapy might be the recommended non-surgical line of treatment. 

Given that some conditions causing shoulder pain and reduced range of motion can last for 3 years or longer, it is important to seek an accurate diagnosis and a pain management option that is sustainable in the long term. Let’s look at some options below.

Ice Packs And Warm Compresses

Using heat or ice to ease shoulder pain is one of the most common natural remedies out there, and it is one of the steps of R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Rest) therapies. 

When choosing to use either cold or warm compresses, there’s a rule of thumb worth keeping in mind:

  • Heat – Heat stimulates blood flow in the injured area, which delivers nutrients and oxygen needed for healing. Warm compresses should be used to ease stiffness, relax tight muscles, and improve the range of motion of aching joints. 
  • Ice – Ice packs slow down the blood flow to the injured area, which relieves the swelling and build-up of fluids that often follow inflammation.

Generally, heat should be used for lingering injuries and chronic pain, while cold compresses can be used to ease the inflammation arising from a new injury and prevent pain flare-ups after exercise. 

When addressing shoulder pain, cold therapies are best for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis, and bursitis. On the other hand, heat is best to relieve the pain of injuries such as muscle strains and sprains once the initial inflammation has resolved.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often prescribed to manage chronic pain.  Today, nearly 30 million Americans take these medications regularly to treat their conditions. 

NSAIDs work by blocking an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX), which is responsible for the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are chemicals in charge of triggering the body’s inflammatory response to injury. By blocking the production of these chemicals, NSAIDs can prevent the symptoms associated with inflammation, such as pain, swelling, build-up of fluids, stiffness, or fever. 

Some common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib, and high-dose aspirin. In the case of shoulder pain, NSAIDs may be used in the short term to ease the discomfort and swelling arising after an injury. However, they should not be taken within 48 hours of the trauma to avoid interfering with the natural healing process of the body.

Corticosteroid Injection

Steroids are the man-made version of a chemical already present in the human body, which is capable of reducing inflammation, swelling, and redness. Corticosteroid injections contain slow-release crystals of steroids, which might have a longer-lasting pain-relieving effect on shoulder injuries.

Drawbacks Of Nonsurgical Treatments

Although the therapies above are available and come with minimal side effects, it is important for patients to understand the risks they are exposing themselves to when selecting the wrong line of treatment. 

Below, we’ll look at the drawbacks of the nonsurgical treatment options seen above to help you make the best treatment choice for your shoulder pain.

  1. Ice Packs And Warm Compresses

Ice packs and warm compresses are typically safe to use at home, even without much experience. However, there are some risks worth keeping in mind before proceeding with this treatment:

  • Regulate the temperature of the compresses to avoid burning the skin or exposing it to extreme cold
  • Avoid applying ice packs and heat directly onto the skin
  • Only use heat and cold compresses for 20 minutes at a time
  • If you have an infection, warm compresses might increase the risk of the infection spreading
  • Applying ice packs for too long can cause nerve damage

If your swelling increases or you suffer from cardiovascular diseases, make sure to speak to your doctor before applying cold and warm compresses to your shoulder.

2. NSAIDs

NSAIDs are predominantly safe and therefore readily available to most of the population and while these drugs can provide temporary relief, other effects should be considered by patients. While NSAIDs are not directly addictive to patients who take them to deal with shoulder pain, the risk of dependency cannot be dismissed. 

By their very nature, NSAIDs have a temporary effect, just like putting ice on pain. The effects of NSAIDs, while often effective at treating pain, are ephemeral and do not last long enough for patients to experience relief over a long period of time. Anyone who has experienced the effects of shoulder pain for long periods of time will know that NSAIDs are not going to be a lasting treatment for their pain. 

However, when used in conjunction with other treatment methods, NSAIDs may provide relief long enough for patients to work through those treatment methods, some of which will be mentioned later on.

For many patients, the minor efficacy of NSAIDs can cause dependency and even overdose. We must make it clear that we use the term ‘overdose’ not only to signify death or even comatose but more often the overuse of medication resulting in an adverse effect. Some patients make the mistake of assuming a technical overdose always results in death or comatose, but we aim to make it clear that an overdose by definition can also refer to milder, albeit negative, side effects. With that in mind, the mild nature of NSAIDs often leads to patients desiring heavier doses outside of the recommendation, which is a dangerous step that should not be considered when treating shoulder pain.

3. Corticosteroid Injection 

In addition to the use of NSAIDs and regular application of ice to diminish swelling in the rotator cuff, doctors may rely on the use of a treatment called corticosteroid injection. The primary purpose of corticosteroid injection, much like the use of NSAIDs and ice, is to reduce inflammation. 

However, unlike NSAIDs and the application of ice, the intention of corticosteroids is to provide lasting anti-inflammatory effects. One could see the benefits of these injections, especially due to their lasting efficacy. One other benefit of corticosteroids is that they closely resemble a natural hormone produced in our bodies called cortisol. 

Furthermore, we must not view the injections of corticosteroids as a natural remedy, even if they do resemble something that is naturally produced in our bodies. In reality, corticosteroids are more often referred to by their condensed term, steroids,which are already surrounded by controversy. 

It is widely known that steroids have a litany of side effects and are often viewed, perhaps with prejudice,as drugs that should not be considered to treat minor conditions. Needless to say, steroids are a divisive method for treatment. Many patients who have used steroids for treatment, including treatment for shoulder pain, will either experience the numerous side effects or appreciate how the treatment with corticosteroids makes them feel. 

Regardless of the opinion of patients and their experience with steroid treatment, side effects are undeniable and sometimes deadly. In a 2019 study conducted by doctors Dara Grennan and Sheila Wang, it was confirmed that steroids “. . . reduce the ability of the immune system to function (immunosuppression). 

Patients taking steroids are not only more susceptible to infections but more likely to have severe or unusual infections”.  These medical professionals continue to explain the severe side effects of steroids by comparing them to the aforementioned cortisol, your body’s primary and natural stress hormone. 

Grennan and Wang conclude that “. . . because steroids are so similar to cortisol, prolonged use of systemic steroids at higher doses can cause the adrenal glands to stop making cortisol. If the systemic steroid is stopped suddenly, this adrenal suppression and the resulting lack of steroid can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as dangerously low blood pressure.” 

Although steroids can act as a powerful anti-inflammatory treatment for shoulder pain and many patients enjoy how they feel while corticosteroids are active, patients with shoulder pain must carefully consider these treatment options concerning their condition.

Relatyv: Neurofunctional Pain Management

Regardless of the cause of shoulder pain, a patient’s primary concern is their ability to perform daily tasks without pain. Any painful condition associated with the peripheral nervous system can be effectively treated and when it comes to shoulder pain, treatment options with Relatyv should be your first consideration. 

Along with a solution to many other painful conditions, Relatyv offers a solution to most shoulder pain issues. Because many conditions are a result of pain neuron agitation and constant pain reporting to the CNS, combined with persistent inflammation, Relatyv’s proprietary treatment protocols and development of Neurofunctional Pain Management are the ideal starting point for pain relief. Relatyv developed Neurofunctional Pain Management as a means to offer a safe and healthy pain management option. The proprietary protocol is called Neuralgesia and is a combination of high pulse electrical stimulation and specialized hydration therapy that work together to produce an enduring pain relief effect that also improves health for the patients. 

Patients often report pain relief after the first treatment and many patients can get out of pain for the first time in years. One of the surprising effects of Neurofunctional Pain Management is the mental relief that patients feel knowing that they can get pain relief without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures and implants, all while improving their health and quality of life. in their shoulders and less pain from many other conditions.

Live A Pain-free Life With Relatyv

The mission of Relatyv is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify the quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures. Relatyv is aiming to be the first thought, the first choice, and the first step in the journey of chronic pain management for millions of patients across the nation.

Relatyv - Knee Joint

Knee Joint Pain Explained: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment Options
Knee Joint Pain Explained: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment Options 2560 1708 Relatyv

We can all attest to the vital importance of joint movement and flexibility, especially in the lower extremities, and there is no denying we all heavily rely on our larger joints like the knee, hip, and ankle joints to accomplish regular activities that matter to us. 

The knee joint is one of the most – if not the most – crucial joints that we use every day as we rely on our legs to accomplish even the most basic daily tasks. A healthy knee is highly flexible, permitting full range of movement in the legs. The movement is supported by the group of muscles and tendons that surround the knee, maintaining normal joint alignment.

As we age, the risk factors for knee pain increase. Flexibility may gradually decrease, reducing range of motion in the knee and making movement more rigid. If the knee joint becomes painful, the consequences of this pain can extend to the rest of our body as we accommodate the pain by walking differently or adjusting our posture and balance. Or worse, we just stop moving around altogether. Ultimately, quality of life is greatly affected by knee pain and our health continues to go downhill because of chronic knee pain.

Symptoms

With over 100 million Americans struggling with acute or chronic knee pain, there is little doubt that this condition is among the most widespread musculoskeletal issues in the U.S. It is important to understand “knee pain” and to understand the cascade of symptoms related to pain in the knee area. 

A lot of the complications of knee pain are directly linked to what part of the knee is injured or damaged. For example, a locking, popping, and catching sensation is common for torn ligaments, while stiffness and grinding noises are telltale signs of arthritis. 

Some of the symptoms most commonly associated with knee pain include:

  • Swelling: Swelling is a common symptom associated with knee pain and inflammation, caused by increased blood flow, fluids, and white cells that accumulate around the injured area. 
  • Stiffness: Stiffness is often a consequence of torn and overstretched ligaments, but it can also be a complication of swelling or indicate mechanical problems in the knee. 
  • Tenderness: Inflammation or tissue damage can be caused by a buildup of fluids that may extend to other parts of the knee and can press on surrounding nerves. This interferes with the ability of nerves to carry motor or sensory signals to and from the brain, thus leading to sensations of numbness, tingling, or pain. 
  • Reduced range of motion: Commonly associated with torn ligaments and tendons, degenerative joint diseases (i.e.: arthritis), and bone fractures, reduced range of motion happens when one or more components in the knee area are injured and unable to support the motion of connected muscles or bones. 
  • Instability: Instability and impaired balance are often caused by diseases and injuries that wear down ligaments and tendons. However, this can also be caused by mechanical issues and deformities. 
  • Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds: Torn knee cartilage or damaged ligaments (i.e., the anterior cruciate ligament) can cause a popping or clicking sound at the time of injury or during certain knee movements. Grinding noises are more often associated with arthritis, which wears down the “cushioning” in the joint that keeps movement lubricated. 

Visible deformities: Although rare, knee pain and injuries can cause visible deformities and bulges, such as in the case of kneecap fractures or Baker’s cysts.

Common Causes Of Knee Joint Pain

There are several other conditions that can affect knee joint health, including overuse and dislocation. The severity and location of the pain largely depends on the knee structure that is affected. The following are some of the common causes of knee joint pain:

Arthritis

Knee arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease that affects over 14 million people in the U.S., making it one of the leading causes of knee pain. Arthritis is currently one of the major causes of disability in the elderly in the U.S. There are several different types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis can be caused by several factors, including overuse, degenerative diseases, excessive quantities of uric acid in the body, or autoimmune conditions. 

Over time, arthritis causes breakdown of the cartilage in the knee joint – the soft tissue in the joint that “cushions” movement and protects against friction and stress. As a result, arthritis can lead to pain, grinding sounds when moving, reduced range of motion, and, if left untreated, soft and hard tissue damage.

Dislocation

A dislocation occurs when the bones in the knee joint – the thigh bone (femur) and the shinbone (tibia) – shift out of place and become misaligned. The dislocation might also affect the kneecap (patella) if it gets knocked out of place. 

Knee dislocations are often a consequence of direct trauma, injury, or collisions that involve the knee. They can be extremely painful and can affect the surrounding structures (i.e., ligaments and tendons).

Overuse

Repeated stress to the knee joint can lead to painful overuse injuries, such as tendinopathy or strains. For example, overuse injuries can affect the tendons and ligaments in the knee. 

You might be at greater risk of overuse knee injuries if you perform repeated movements or activities such as jumping, skiing, or cycling. Being obese or overweight might also put excessive stress on the knee when walking, standing, or jogging, thus leading to the wear and tear of soft tissue.

Bad Posture

Posture impacts how external forces such as stress and gravity affect the knee joint. Bad posture can affect how your body bears its weight, thus affecting the neck and hips, which adds unnecessary strain to certain areas of the knee. This can lead to mechanical issues, such as knee valgus (knock-knees) and knee varus (bowed legs). 

These difficulties cause stress and friction to the knee joint during certain movements, thus affecting the cartilage and bones over time. If left untreated, bad posture, misalignment, and mechanical issues can make knee movements painful and restrict the range of motion.

Diagnosing Knee Joint Pain

There are many different causes of knee pain, from overuse to dislocation. As a result, an accurate diagnosis is critical before starting any treatment to ensure the underlying cause of the pain is addressed. Healthcare providers will often complete a multitude of tests to thoroughly assess the knee before making a diagnosis. 

These include:

  • Reviewing the patient’s medical history: A patient’s medical history can offer valuable insights into the potential cause of the knee pain. Doctors often begin an examination by assessing the patient’s reported symptoms, family and medical history, and mechanism of injury. Patients might also need to provide information about symptoms other than pain, such as fever, swelling, fatigue, or unexpected weight loss. 
  • Carrying out physical examinations: Physical examinations aim to assess whether the patient has swelling, sounds or noises when moving, and stability issues. Doctors also use specific tests to determine how the pain is affecting the range of motion, strength, and whether it is causing knee locking (the inability to extend or bend the knee properly).
  • Imaging tests: To assess the accuracy of their diagnosis, healthcare providers might carry out imaging tests such as X-rays. These tests offer a clear picture of the health of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons in the knee area. 

Blood tests: Blood tests might also be required to exclude causes such as autoimmune diseases.

Common Treatment Options For Knee Joint Pain

The best treatment for knee pain is often determined by a thorough assessment. However, in most cases, patients are recommended one of the treatment options below (or a combination of them):

  • At-home self-care treatments: For conditions such as a mildly sprained ligament, doctors tend to recommend conservative treatment strategies such as R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). These therapies work by reducing the blood flow to the injured area (which limits swelling) and preventing further injury. 
  • Physical therapy: Physical therapy helps those with knee pain caused by mechanical issues, trauma, or degenerative diseases. A physical therapist will strive to improve the range of motion and muscle strength in the knee with exercises, passive modalities, or manual therapy techniques such as massage. 
  • Over-the-counter medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) can be used to alleviate pain caused by inflammation, such as arthritis or tendonitis. 
  • Surgery: Knee replacement surgeries might be required in the case of a ruptured tendon or ligament, knee fractures, infected joints, or degenerative diseases. 

Some common knee conditions, such as osteoarthritis, can affect the daily life of a patient for 30 years or more, making it of paramount importance to look beyond NSAIDs as a long-term treatment solution for knee pain. 

Regardless of the cause of the knee pain, patients can be assured that there are a range of treatment options that can help mitigate the pain, increase flexibility, and restore function in the knee.

The Drawbacks Of Common Pain Treatments

Because one of the most common reasons for knee pain is the inflammation of muscles, tendons, and ligaments, the most apparent solution is to reduce the inflammation. 

Any patient familiar with muscle soreness will know that icing the affected area can result in a temporary decrease in inflammation and pain. 

However, the natural next step for managing inflammation is NSAIDs. When these two treatment options are used in tandem, they can provide a welcome relief for patients suffering from knee pain. However, these two treatments are not without drawbacks and limitations.

The Risks Of Using NSAIDs

When it comes to the use of NSAIDs as a supplement to other forms of treatment, there are several side effects that should be considered and understood by patients. 

NSAIDs are predominantly recognized as a safe treatment option in the short term, and are therefore readily available to most of the population. In fact, NSAIDs can be helpful for a short period of time whilst undergoing other treatments, such as Neurofunctional Pain Management.

However, while these drugs can provide temporary relief, NSAIDs should not be used as a long-term treatment for pain, as the risk of developing a dependency on these drugs should not be dismissed.

Dependency

The term ‘dependency’ is often associated with illicit drug use and fatal outcomes. However, dependency is also used to describe overuse of medication leading to other forms of medical distress. In fact, a dependency may not always be life-threatening, although the adverse effects can be serious enough that hospitalization is necessary. Understanding this definition can help patients mitigate their risk and identify warning signs before care becomes critical.

The mild nature of NSAIDs can lead to a stronger desire for increased quantities of drugs. In a 2020 study, Dr Sharma and associates concluded that “although NSAIDs are among the most commonly used drugs, their use is associated with a broad spectrum of side effects, which may include gastrointestinal and cardiovascular toxicity” (2020). 

There are several pros and cons of NSAIDs treatment. As we move on and explore additional treatment options for knee pain, patients should consider them objectively, recognizing both the pros and cons of each treatment. While patients may experience the positive effects of NSAIDs, they should also consider the potential side effects.

How Relatyv Approaches Knee Joint Pain: Neurofunctional Pain Management

Relatyv offers the best treatment for knee pain with its Neuralgesia treatment program.  Neuralgesia is the unique protocol used by Relatyv to treat a wide range of chronic pain conditions. Relatyv is the founding medical group that is pioneering the field of Neurofunctional Pain Management. 

Neurofunctional Pain Management is a specialized treatment program that uses high-pulse electrical stimulation in combination with specialized hydration therapy to relieve pain through multiple combined physiologic effects. Pain neuron sustained depolarization and reduced chronic systemic inflammation are two of the core components of chronic pain relief under the Neurofunctional Pain Management treatment model.

Many patients experience symptom relief after only one treatment session and report that life is markedly better after only a few weeks of the Neuralgesia treatment protocol. Relatyv is pioneering the field of Neurofunctional Pain Management with the mission to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify the quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures.

Get The Best Treatment For Your Knee Pain

When it comes to knee pain, treatment options with Relatyv should be your first consideration. Understanding that you have non-surgical, non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical, and non-chiropractic treatment options will be the greatest ally in your journey of pain relief. Our vision is to be the first thought, first choice, and first step in the journey of chronic pain relief.

 

Is Knee Joint Pain Treatable with Neurofunctional Pain Management?
Is Knee Joint Pain Treatable with Neurofunctional Pain Management? 1000 667 Relatyv

Many who experience knee joint pain will attest to the frustration that accompanies the lack of effective treatments. After the application of treatment and ingestion of drugs, patients are left with short-term relief from pain and wait for the pain to resume while the condition causing it gets worse. Many patients simply want a solution to the pain—or, to put it more simply, they want to know that knee joint pain is treatable without invasive procedures and surgeries. The short answer is that there are options to treat knee pain of various causes, but the root cause of the problem is likely to continue, and the overall condition of the knee will likely get worse while temporary relief efforts get shorter and shorter.

That is why it is critical for both patients and doctors to look beyond short-term solutions and provide sustainable therapies that directly address the source or sources of knee pain. 

Below, we will explore the common treatments prescribed for knee pain and their side effects – and we’ll look at the more valid alternatives provided by a comprehensive Neurofunctional Pain Management approach. Let’s get started.

The Importance Of Targeting The Cause Of Knee Joint Pain

Today, an estimated 25% of the US adult population suffers the consequences of chronic and acute knee pain – a percentage that accounts for nearly 6.5 million people. But despite how widespread this condition is, no two individuals will have the same experience with knee pain. 

For some, mild discomfort deriving from a minor ligament strain in the knee joint is nothing more than a temporary inconvenience that can be addressed with at-home therapies such as R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). 

However, for those affected by chronic conditions such as severe trauma or degenerative joint diseases, knee pain can cause a cascade of debilitating consequences. From mobility issues and increased risk of injuries to constant pain and productivity loss, knee pain can certainly have an impact on all aspects of a person’s life. 

But when it comes down to treating long-term pain, patients often find themselves at a loss. Without having a thorough understanding of what’s causing their condition, it is often too tempting to simply rely on short-term treatments, home remedies, and over-the-counter painkillers or steroids. 

At best, these treatment options will provide short-term relief without solving the underlying cause of pain. At worst, therapies such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids can lead to dependency and complications such as stroke and nerve damage. 

The sections below offer a greater understanding of why choosing short-term treatments and OTC medications to treat knee pain isn’t just inefficient – but can also be dangerous. Let’s get started.

Why NSAIDs And Home Remedies Are Not Proper Treatments

Most patients are familiar with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, and other over-the-counter medications that give a short window of pain relief, dull the pain and cause the patient to rely on heavier and unhealthier doses. But what else can patients with knee joint pain do to effectively treat the pain? In addition to the use of NSAIDs, other home remedy efforts include regular kneading and massaging of the knee, and regular application of ice to diminish swelling in the muscles. A patient who simply deals with the pain on their own is less likely to experience any long-term or moderate-term pain relief because all their efforts and home-use medications will get less and less effective as the knee gets worse and worse over time.

The Side Effects Of NSAID Dependency

Out of around 50 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain, 29 million use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) chronically to manage their knee and joint pain. 

But while medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and Celebrex are widely available (often over the counter) and affordable, it is important to not underestimate the risks they pose to a patient’s health – starting with dependency. 

Developing a dependency on drugs such as ibuprofen can cause patients with knee pain to crave their medications, take more than prescribed, and develop a high tolerance to the analgesic effects that NSAIDs produce. In turn, this can create a vicious circle and cause patients to become always more reliant on drugs in every aspect of their lives. 

Below are the complications of developing a dependency on NSAIDs to treat chronic knee pain.

Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding

Taking high doses of NSAIDs over long periods to treat knee pain may lead to several gastrointestinal adverse effects, including lesions and bleeding. This happens because these medications cause topical injury (on the surface) of the mucosa that lines the upper, mid, and lower digestive tract. 

Additionally, according to 2005 studies, some NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can temporarily inhibit the healing function of platelets (the blood cells in charge of regenerating damaged tissue). This makes it difficult for ulcers and lesions in the GI tract to stop bleeding and begin healing. 

Among the most severe complications of GI bleeding are anemia (lack of hemoglobin and red blood cells), shock, and insufficient blood circulation. It is estimated that around 1-2% of people who take NSAIDs over long periods will develop gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and lesions.

Myocardial Infarction

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs taken to ease knee pain can have a range of effects on the cardiovascular system and increase the risk of myocardial infarction (a heart attack). This is especially true in people who are already at risk of heart problems but can affect anyone. 

Some of the negative effects of NSAIDs on the cardiovascular system that might lead to a heart attack include:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can inhibit the chemicals in charge of reducing the likelihood of blood clots, thus making them more likely to manifest and block arteries in the heart. 
  • NSAIDs can reduce the blood flow to the kidneys, which causes the body to retain more water and salt. This, in turn, can increase blood pressure and make a myocardial infarction more likely. 

The risk of myocardial infarction increases significantly in as little as seven days of taking the drug.

Stroke

The majority of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase the risk of stroke ( a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain) and other cerebrovascular events. This is because these medications inhibit the functioning of prostaglandins, or the compounds responsible for widening and relaxing the blood vessels. 

In turn, this can cause vasoconstriction (the narrowing of blood vessels) which can lead to reduced blood flow to the brain. NSAIDs also promote the retention of sodium and increase blood pressure, which is an additional risk factor for strokes.

Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcers are lesions that occur in the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or in the first part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers). NSAIDs can lead to ulcers by causing a reduction in the levels of prostaglandin, a chemical that is essential to protect the gastric mucosa. 

In severe cases, peptic ulcers can cause gastrointestinal obstruction, stomach cancer, internal bleeding, and holes in the stomach wall. According to a study conducted in 1999, NSAID-induced peptic ulcers account for 10% to 30% of all peptic ulcers.

Acute Renal Failure

As seen above, NSAIDs reduce the blood flow to the kidneys by reducing the amount of prostaglandins secretion in the body. In turn, this can lead to a reduced ability of the kidneys to filter blood, thus causing a range of consequences, including:

  • Accumulation of waste product
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Difficulty processing salt and water in the body
  • Deterioration of the renal function

Over time, an excessive accumulation of waste in the kidneys can lead to what’s called “Acute Renal Failure”. Acute kidney injury or failure might be reversible, but it is a serious condition that requires immediate medical care. Using high doses of NSAIDs for a month or longer can increase the risk of acute kidney failure fourfold.

The Downside Of Corticosteroid Injection For Knee Joint Pain Treatment

Some doctors may rely on the use of a treatment called corticosteroid injection. The primary purpose of corticosteroid injections, much like the use of NSAIDs and ice, is to reduce inflammation. However, unlike NSAIDs and the application of ice, corticosteroids intend to provide lasting anti-inflammatory effects, which can last for several months. However, the growing consensus in conventional care is leaning in the direction of less and less corticosteroid use overall. Many reports and publications are coming out with evidence that long-term use of steroids to reduce inflammation and pain is facilitating the continued destruction of the damaged tissue causing the pain, essentially making the condition worse at the expense of short-term relief. However, one could easily see the benefits of corticosteroid injections especially due to their lasting efficacy, typically several weeks to several months of pain relief. One other benefit of corticosteroids is that they closely resemble a natural hormone produced in our bodies called cortisol, which is the source of health deterioration associated with stress. However, we must not view the injections of corticosteroids as perfectly safe and effective, even if they do resemble something that is naturally produced in our bodies. It is widely known that steroids have a litany of side effects and are often viewed as having a short-term effective use range, meaning a doctor would see steroids as a solution for a few years but not for decades.

The Side Effects Of Corticosteroid Injection

Steroids are the artificial version of hormones that are naturally produced in the human body by the adrenal glands. This family of drugs is efficient in temporarily reducing excessive inflammation, which is caused by the body as a response to injury, infection, or bacteria. In turn, steroids can reduce swelling and pain, but they won’t cure the underlying reason for knee pain.

Although today they have a wide range of uses, steroids are commonly prescribed to ease the symptoms deriving from a range of inflammatory conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Although they can be taken orally, corticosteroid treatments for knee pain are usually delivered in the form of intra-articular (inside the joint) injections.

According to a study conducted in 2004, steroids can successfully reduce the symptoms of arthritis for up to 2 weeks, but much higher doses are needed to ease pain in the long term. However, when taken over long periods of time, steroids can cause addiction and lead to physiological and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

Today, the rate at which steroids are prescribed for knee pain is ramping up, and around 8-14% of patients with knee osteoarthritis are likely to receive steroid injections as part of their treatment. Because of this, it is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers to understand the risk of this therapy and opt for alternative treatments.

Many patients who have used steroids for treatment, including treatment for knee pain, will either experience the numerous side effects or appreciate how the treatment with corticosteroids makes them feel. Regardless of the opinion of patients and their experiences with steroid treatment, side effects are undeniable and sometimes deadly.

Some of the most common side effects include:

Cortisone Flare

Although temporary, a cortisone flare is a common side effect of steroid injections for knee pain and can be severely debilitating for around 48 hours. A cortisone “flare” – or a sensation of intense pain in the injection site – is caused by the slow-release crystals of corticosteroids contained in the injection.

These crystals work by releasing the drug into the system over time, which helps the analgesic effect last longer. However, when injected, they can trigger temporary irritation and inflammation of the injection area.

A cortisone flare is likely to appear within a day or two of the shot and can last 2-3 days. Although inflammatory flares happen in just 1-2% of people receiving a steroid shot, over 35% of patients tend to experience post-injection pain around the knee area.

Fat Atrophy

Fat atrophy refers to the loss of fatty tissue in a certain area of the body (i.e.: the knee). As the fat mass degrades, it might leave marks such as pitting, scarring, and a sunken appearance. In severe cases, when there is a major loss of fat tissue, nearby fat mass might redistribute, which can make underlying bones and other structures more visible.

Fat atrophy due to steroid injections affects around 1% of patients, appears 1-4 months after the injection, and resolves itself in 6-30 months.

Tendon Injury

One of the most severe complications of repeated corticosteroid injections is tendon damage and ruptures. Although the mechanisms of this side effect are not well-understood, a 2016 article hypothesizes that steroids can lead to soft tissue fragmentation and cause changes in the biomechanics of the knee, such as stopping the production of collagen in the tendons.

Beyond simply injuring a tendon, steroids can also inhibit healing and repair, which is something worth considering for those whose knee pain derives from a tendon injury.

Nerve Damage

Studies conducted in 1982 have confirmed that some steroid agents commonly in use are neurotoxic – which means that they cause damage to the nerves in the peripheral nervous system (the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord).

The damage is caused by the toxic effects of steroids on nerve fibers. Steroids can also disrupt the functioning of the blood-nerve barrier, which should keep materials from the plasma and the nerves separate.

Although steroid-induced nerve damage is sometimes reversible, you might experience motor difficulties, abnormal sensations, and changes in how your body reacts to stimuli (i.e.: you might feel pain when doing something that should be painless).

Cartilage Damage

In the knee, the cartilage plays the fundamental role of absorbing shock and friction, thus protecting bones from damage during movements. In most people with joint diseases, knee pain is caused by the degeneration of this “cushion” of soft tissue in the knee joint. 

However, if you are taking steroids to ease joint pain, you should be aware that this kind of therapy can lead to further cartilage degeneration. This happens because cortisone can prevent the release of growth factors and stop or slow down the production of new collagen (a thick fluid that makes up around 60% of the material in the cartilage).

Compromised Immune System

One of the reasons why steroids are so effective in easing knee and joint pain is that this category of drugs works by modulating the response of the immune system. In patients with inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, this can prevent the body from causing excessive inflammation, which can be damaging to the joint tissue. 

However, this effect can go both ways: over time, steroids reduce the volume and activity of the immune system. In healthy people, this might be a temporary side effect. In people with a suppressed or weak immune system, compromised immune functions can increase the risk of infections and complications.

In a 2019 study conducted by doctors Dara Grennan and Sheila Wang, it was confirmed that steroids “… reduce the ability of the immune system to function (immunosuppression). Patients taking steroids are not only more susceptible to infections but more likely to have severe or unusual infections.” These medical professionals continue to explain the severe side effects of steroids by comparing them to the aforementioned cortisol, your body’s primary and natural stress hormone. Grennan and Wang conclude that “… because steroids are so similar to cortisol, prolonged use of systemic steroids at higher doses can cause the adrenal glands to stop making cortisol. If the systemic steroid is stopped suddenly, this adrenal suppression and resulting lack of steroid can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as dangerously low blood pressure.” That said, knee pain is such a problem for patients and their doctors that they are willing to get on a steroid regimen to resolve the immediate pain with the understanding that a knee replacement or other surgery is the ultimate result.

The Complexities of Treating Knee Pain

We can’t forget that many other risk that there are many factors that may contribute to knee pain and that most of the treatments for knee pain only remediate inflammation, which is the driving force behind most chronic pain conditions. As we have mentioned before, many conditions contribute to chronic knee pain, including bone spurs, arthritis, dislocations, bad posture, and referred pain from the hip and back of the foot and ankle. It should then be assumed by patients seeking treatment that if these alternative risk factors apply to them, the use of NSAIDs, icing and corticosteroid injection will not be a very lasting treatment. If their risk factor for knee pain does not include inflammation of the muscles, the aforementioned anti-inflammatory treatments will do little to help the pain. It is therefore crucial that patients experiencing knee pain get an accurate diagnosis and identify the source or sources of their knee pain.

At Relatyv, our goal is to look beyond treating just the symptoms and address the root causes of knee pain. Thanks to our proprietary Neurofunctional Pain Management, we are able to provide tailored treatment programs customized to each patient’s needs. This allows patients to enjoy long-lasting relief while also taking a step towards living a life free of medications and debilitating joint conditions. 

Below is an overview of our approach to treating knee pain.

What Is Neurofunctional Pain Management?

When it comes down to addressing knee pain, looking beyond the symptoms a patient might be experiencing is key to finding a solution that isn’t only long-lasting, but also sustainable. 

Our Neurofunctional Pain Management approach does just that: it takes into account factors such as lifestyle choices, medical histories, and long-term goals to help patients live free of pain. 

Our pain management programs are entirely customized around a patient’s unique needs. Here are some of the treatments and therapies we use to provide long-lasting relief and kickstart the body’s self-healing mechanism:

  • Electroanalgesia – Our MDs will deliver high-frequency pulses of electrical current to the knee area using an FDA-cleared device. The electrical current acts in the joint area by “flooding” the nervous system and preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. Additionally, electrical stimulation can trigger the production of pain-relieving hormones, such as endorphins, and improve blood circulation around the knee area, thus boosting the supply of oxygen and nutrients in the joint. 
  • Viscosupplementation and hyaluronic acid injections – Viscosupplementation refers to the practice of injecting hyaluronic acid (HA) into the joint area. This thick fluid will replenish the body’s reserves of HA, thus keeping the joint lubricated and protected against friction and shock damage. We offer an innovative injectable gel designed to alleviate knee pain and improve joint mobility. 
  • IV therapies – Some nutritional deficiencies can trigger or worsen knee pain. Our custom IV therapies aim to provide a renewed supply of nutrients that can reduce inflammation, support the healing of damaged tissues, and ease pain. 
  • Lifestyle counseling – Even when knee pain isn’t directly caused by lifestyle choices, some factors can worsen joint conditions. For example, being obese or overweight can add stress to the knee joint, thus making the complications of arthritis more likely. At Relatyv, we maintain a holistic approach to all knee conditions, and we provide our patients with the guidelines and support needed to make better lifestyle choices for their health. 

Thanks to our expertise and availability of treatment options, we can help patients design a Neurofunctional Pain Management program that fits their medical history, lifestyle needs, and goals.

How Does Neurofunctional Pain Management Help With Knee Pain?

Regardless of the cause of knee pain, a patient’s primary concern is their ability to perform daily tasks without pain. Pain is a nervous system condition, with pain neurons referring pain to the brain and the brain interpreting that pain and creating responses. It’s a feedback loop that is supposed to be a healing mechanism, but if there is no healing occurring, then it simply becomes a negative feedback loop with the pain neurons referring to pain and the brain reacting to that pain and triggering inflammation, which causes more pain, and the cycle continues. Neurofunctional Pain Management is an effort to relieve pain while also restoring health so that the conditions causing chronic pain can be resolved as much as possible in the effort to relieve pain overall. Relatyv is the pioneering medical group bringing Neurofunctional Pain Management to the nation. The premise of Neurofunctional Pain Management is to use high pulse electrical stimulation to relieve chronic pain and to apply health restoration efforts such as specialized hydration and nutritional deficiency restoration, in combination with robust patient education and lifestyle counselling to produce a pain relief effect and a health restoration effect that will enhance the pain relief effect, making the entire pain relief process last longer for the patient and producing an enhanced quality of life that is more than just being out of pain, but being out of pain and being healthier than they were before.

Relatyv’s Knee Joint Pain Treatment

Relatyv offers a Neurofunctional Pain Management solution called Neuralgesia which is a combination of high-pulse electrical stimulation and specialized hydration therapy that fits the very definition of Neurofunctional Pain Management. Relatyv can apply this protocol to any chronic pain condition to achieve the effects of relieving pain and restoring health to magnify the patient’s quality of life. Because many chronic pain conditions are musculoskeletal-based pain problems, like bone/joint/muscle pain issues, the high pulse electrical stimulation component of Neurofunctional Pain Management is an effective therapeutic application for relieving pain. The health restoration effort may include several components depending on the patient’s specific conditions and issues, but ultimately the foundation of the patient’s health restoration is in specialized IV hydration therapy that balances and restores the nutritional deficiencies that are a primary component of chronic systemic inflammation and overall chronic pain. Relatyv can effectively treat chronic pain conditions like peripheral neuropathy and chronic knee pain using Neuralgesia treatment protocols and the overall concepts of Neurofunctional Pain Management.

How To Treat Osteoarthritis With Neurofunctional Pain Management?
How To Treat Osteoarthritis With Neurofunctional Pain Management? 722 406 Relatyv

Nearly 33 million adults in the United States alone live with the effects of osteoarthritis. 

Much like other conditions of pain which affect the extremities of the body, osteoarthritis is a condition that often manifests in the knee, fingers, and toes of patients who have been diagnosed with it.  

The causes of osteoarthritis are fairly distinct and must be treated as an entirely separate type of chronic pain condition because osteoarthritis is a wear-and-tear condition that happens over time with joints. 

Unlike other conditions that have a specific starting element or trigger event like an infection, osteoarthritis develops over time and there’s no effective solution to prevent this from happening. 

However, there are effective solutions for treating the symptoms associated with this condition.

Relatyv has pioneered the field of Neurofunctional Pain Management to do just that—bring an effective treatment solution to patients suffering from chronic osteoarthritis pain and who are looking for options before going down the path of surgery.

Is Osteoarthritis A Treatable Condition?

The question which must first be answered by patients is whether osteoarthritis is a legitimately treatable condition, or will it simply be a situation for management of symptoms where the patient is going to be seeking a pain relief solution for life. Can a chronic condition so elusive and misunderstood have an effective treatment? 

The fact is, just about any pain condition is treatable, to some degree, with a range of therapies. Whether a treatment is safe, effective, or affordable relies on the subjectivity of the patients and their physicians. 

However, for osteoarthritis, treatment efficacy and safety vary depending on the patient’s willingness to explore and procure said treatments. 

For many, invasive surgeries like knee replacement is out of the question, and most will turn to nonsurgical options for treatment before turning to surgery. The reality is that there are many treatments and therapies that can last a long time and successfully manage the chronic symptoms of osteoarthritis. 

At the very least, it is a solid strategy to put off surgery and knee replacement as long as possible.

The Lack Of Nonsurgical Treatments Available

When we speak of nonsurgical options for treatment, we must consider that these treatments are not always effective (nor recommended) for many patients who suffer from the pain of any condition. 

However, for osteoarthritis, seeing how it has affected, and continues to affect, millions of adults in the United States alone, there has been comprehensive research done in search of a treatment or a cure that does not involve extensive and invasive surgery. 

Unlike many other conditions of pain, cases and prevalence of osteoarthritis have remained steadily increasing among American adults and is still one of the top health concerns among patients and providers. 

The growing number of cases has contributed to a steady and persistent level of research into a treatment for the condition and this should be a welcome relief for anyone seeking said treatment. 

Unfortunately, research within the medical community concludes that effective treatment for osteoarthritis is elusive and often lacks the efficacy desired by both patients and their doctors. 

There are newer regenerative options in recent years that are starting to gain repute among physicians, but for this article, we will stick to the concept of Neurofunctional Pain Management as a treatment model for osteoarthritis.

Why Is The Effectiveness Of Treatments So Crucial?

To this day, osteoarthritis remains a clinically challenging condition to diagnose and treat. Because of this, it is important for healthcare professionals and patients to assess the impact that a certain treatment will have on the life and health of individuals before prescribing it.

And, to do so, it is crucial to make a distinction between the efficacy and the effectiveness of treatment:

  • Efficacy refers to the capacity of a treatment to produce an effect in ideal conditions (i.e.: when the patient follows the treatment perfectly and under the supervision of a doctor)
  • Effectiveness refers to how well a certain treatment will work in a real-world scenario.

In the case of osteoarthritis, healthcare professionals might recommend a therapy that aims to ease the symptoms a patient is experiencing, mostly basing their decision-making on research findings and studies. However, to understand whether that treatment will be effective for each individual, it is also important to account for lifestyle factors and the level of commitment the patient has toward the treatment. 

For example, NSAIDs and opioid-based treatments might be efficient in reducing a patient’s symptoms, but they are not effective in boosting a patient’s life quality and treating the pain’s underlying condition. 

Additionally, determining the effectiveness of a treatment for osteoarthritis before recommending it is essential to safeguard patients from unnecessary exposure to risks, complications, and side effects, such as dependence, digestive issues, fatigue, and dizziness. 

Working with a patient to understand what treatment will work best for their lifestyle and goals is the first step to increasing their chances of keeping at bay degenerative joint diseases.

Professor Brandt On The Lack Of Effective Treatment Options

With the need for effective nonsurgical treatment of osteoarthritis being sought by patients, even professionals in the medical community like Professor Brandt are frustrated at the lack of effective options available to their patients. 

Professor Brandt– after surveying the available options, their limited benefits, and many side-effects, states that “. . . we surely need better and safer drugs to treat OA [osteoarthritis] symptoms” (2004). 

The last thing osteoarthritis patients want to hear is that the symptoms they are attempting to treat with better and safer drugs are met with sometimes worsening side effects.

Throughout the survey of treatments, Professor Brandt also concludes that some drugs had little to no effect in a clinical trial when compared to the effects of a placebo. 

It is perhaps most disconcerting to hear this statement which sums up the entirety of Professor Brandt’s concern: 

“Despite enormous increases in our understanding of pain mechanisms and of the metabolism, biochemistry, and molecular biology of articular cartilage . . . our track record for the development of more efficacious drug treatment for OA [osteoarthritis] is discouraging”. 

This is not to say that treatments do not exist for osteoarthritis; in fact, there are several. The issue that Professor Brandt brings succinctly to the forefront is the issue of efficacy.

Nutraceuticals: A Common Nonsurgical Treatment

One of the most common and nonsurgical treatments for osteoarthritis is the use of nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals are dietary supplements that claim to improve the life expectancy and health care of an individual when used in tandem with healthy foods. 

The general assumption of nutraceutical efficacy works in tandem with the patient’s willingness to live a healthy lifestyle. The specific nutraceuticals that treat osteoarthritis include glucosamine and chondroitin methylsulfonylmethane. 

The efficacy of these treatments has been debated among peers in the medical community for decades. Notwithstanding, Dr. Begum Yurdakok Dikmen, a Turkish physician counters that nutraceuticals have been introduced as a form of treatment over the centuries and that many suffering from osteoarthritis look to them for a solution.

Dr. Dikmen On The Quality And Safety Of Nutraceuticals

In a study on nutraceuticals done in 2016, Dr. Dikmen grappled with the fact that “[r]egulations regarding the quality and safety of nutraceuticals are still being debated . . .” (2016). This is in part due to the medical community’s skepticism of nutraceuticals being seen as an alternative medicinal treatment for osteoarthritis. 

However, Dikmen states that nutraceuticals are still being considered by governmental bodies that will continue to “. . . develop strategies together with the public to enlighten the benefits supported by solid scientific evidence”. 

Understandably, skepticism continues to be a persistent hindrance for the use of nutraceuticals in the treatment of osteoarthritis. This skepticism lies not only in physicians with patients who suffer from osteoarthritis but in the patients themselves. 

Many would rather consider a lasting treatment that they know will work for them before ingesting a nutraceutical with which they are unfamiliar.

Dr. de Andrade On The Effect Of Nutraceuticals On Pain Management

A study conducted by Marco Antônio Percope de Andrade M.DPh.D. concluded that glucosamine hydrochloride, a nutraceutical, “ . . . had no effect on pain management” (2015) when it came to treating osteoarthritis. 

Dr. de Andrade confirmed that results from more familiar sources for nutraceuticals such as avocado and soybeans were less conclusive and “. . . may have positive effects on the knee and hip OA [osteoarthritis], but long-term results could not be confirmed”. 

These conclusions on the benefits of nutraceuticals are both disappointing and frustrating, especially for those who are seeking relief from pain. While some patients who suffer from osteoarthritis may feel a small amount of relief from the pain when using nutraceuticals, lasting relief will not be found.

Introducing Hyaluronic Acid Viscosupplementation

In the year 2000, a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of another nonsurgical treatment known as hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplementation was conducted. 

While the clinical trials of viscosupplementation were in their infancy, Dr. John Watterson found that “. . . the lack of systemic side effects and the potentially lasting effects make it an appealing option” (2000). The process of viscosupplementation is best described as a loosening and relaxing of the joints that feel stiff and rusted over. 

This nonsurgical option uses a safe compound called hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid has been USDA approved for decades and Dr. Watterson attests to this benefit by stating that “[t]he US Food and Drug Administration approval of hyaluronic acid as a device has avoided the need for meeting the more stringent criteria for approval as a drug”. 

Decades later, the use of hyaluronic acid in viscosupplementation has remained an effective and affordable solution to treat osteoarthritis.

Neurofunctional Pain Management By Relatyv

Beyond viscosupplementation, there are perhaps more nonsurgical options that will help, options that are made available through Relatyv and the use of Neurofunctional Pain Management.

Neurofunctional Pain Management refers to a patented, proprietary treatment protocol that is non-surgical, non-invasive, and opioid-free. This treatment program is entirely customized to meet the needs, goals, and medical history of a certain patient, and leverages the body’s own self-healing mechanisms. 

At Relatyv, Neurofunctional Pain Management is delivered as a combination of high-pulse electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, and massage therapies (Neurassage). These treatments, which promote tissue regeneration and pain relief, are coupled with lifestyle counseling and IV therapies to boost the overall quality of a patient’s life. 

In the case of OA patients, Neurofunctional Pain Management programs aim to reduce joint pain while also supporting the regeneration of damaged cartilage and bone tissue, strengthening the muscles, and improving a patient’s range of motion. 

In the sections below, you can learn more about the benefits that Neurofunctional Pain Management offers and how these are achieved through therapies such as viscosupplementation, electroanalgesia, IV therapy, hydrotherapy, massages, and lifestyle counseling. 

Long-Term Pain Relief

Relatyv uses the most advanced electroanalgesic treatments to deliver long-lasting pain relief to people with OA. Electroanalgesia – which refers to a treatment that uses electrical impulses to ease the pain – is administered through FDA-cleared equipment and performed by highly skilled MDs. 

Unlike weaker at-home TENS units, Nuragenex’s electroanalgesic treatments use high-pulse electrical stimulation. The high-frequency, high-accuracy electrical impulses provide longer-lasting results by modulating how pain signals travel to the brain and boosting the production of feel-good agents such as endorphins in the body. 

What’s more, high-frequency electrical stimulation can support improved blood circulation in the area affected or damaged by OA, thus reducing swelling and improving the supply of oxygen and essential nutrients, which contribute to tissue healing and regeneration. 

Addressing Nutritional Deficiencies 

Viscosupplementation alone won’t yield the expected results without the necessary lifestyle changes. At Relatyv, our team’s goal is to address all factors that might be worsening OA, contributing to pain, or affecting the overall health of our patients.

In particular, we value the role that nutrition plays in the prevalence and morbidity of conditions such as OA. For example, being overweight or obese is the single greatest modifiable risk factor for OA. Additionally, recent studies have shown the role that deficiencies of certain minerals and vitamins – namely magnesium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K – can play in increasing the risk of developing OA. 

Lastly, proper nutrition is linked to overall well-being, and, especially in people with musculoskeletal diseases and degenerative joint disorders, it can support the health and strength of muscles, blood vessels, and bones. In turn, the systems and tissues that surround the joint, when healthy, can counteract the effect of OA and delay the need for surgery. 

To prevent and suppress nutritional deficiencies, at Relatyv, we deliver custom IV therapies that have anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and hydrating effects. In our neurofunctional Pain Management protocols we also leverage hydrotherapy to provide high levels of hydration.

How We Use HA Viscosupplementation In Neurofunctional Pain Management

Since obtaining approval in 1997, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has taken the world by storm. Today, it can be found in a myriad of medical and consumer products, and research findings on its beneficial effects could not be more promising. 

So, why is HA viscosupplementation one of the main pillars of Neurofunctional Pain Management programs at Relatyv? 

As seen above, one of the most appealing qualities of HA at the time of the first clinical trials was that it didn’t seem to have side effects. However, thanks to the research available today, we know that not only HA is safe, but it also carries great regenerative potential. 

For Neurofunctional Pain Management therapies designed for people with arthritis, HA viscosupplementation can help replenish the declining synovial fluid, support the regeneration of cartilaginous tissue, and reduce pain in the long term. 

When freed from the pain deriving from OA, patients can begin to establish a healthier, more active lifestyle. And this lifestyle, in turn, can help them regain control of their life and boost their overall health. 

As a positive consequence of these changes, patients can rely on a stronger musculoskeletal and circulatory system, which can offset the degenerative potential of OA and ease its symptoms without resorting to NSAIDs, opioids, or surgery.

Relatyv incorporates the use of hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation in its Neurofunctional Pain Management program to treat knee pain. This treatment for osteoarthritis is an excellent therapy model for patients suffering from osteoarthritis. 

This treatment also operates in conjunction with the pain-relieving and health restoration efforts of Neurofunctional Pain Management protocols that use high pulse electrical stimulation, electroanalgesia, and specialized hydration therapies that address nutritional vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Neuralgesia And HA Viscosupplementation

When it comes down to treating the pain deriving from osteoarthritis, it is crucial to maintain a holistic approach. This is because joint pain and the degeneration of cartilage can affect all areas of the body and all aspects of life. From reducing the range of motion to affecting productivity, causing disability, and even triggering emotional and mental disorders, the symptoms and consequences of OA are truly varied. 

In turn, simply using intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, or relying on electrical stimulation alone might not be enough to help patients magnify their quality of life. However, an ad hoc combination of these therapies can – and that’s where the Relatyv approach comes in.

Relatyv has developed a proprietary treatment protocol called Neuralgesia, which incorporates the high-pulse electrical stimulation and specialized hydration therapies mentioned above, while also utilizing hyaluronic acid viscosupplementation for osteoarthritic knees. 

While viscosupplementation relieves and loosens the joints affected by osteoarthritis, Neurofunctional Pain Management treatments further reduce the pain and attempts to restore the primary and underlying health condition of the patient so the pain relief effect can last as long as possible. 

Many patients experiencing the symptoms of osteoarthritis report pain relief after only one session with Relatyv. Patients often experience greater mobility, strength, and requisition of the motor skills they used to enjoy completing their daily tasks. 

Hundreds of patients experience relief from pain that is almost instant, and treatment is simple. Patients who suffer from chronic pain from osteoarthritis report relief after starting our Neuralgesia treatment sessions.

Relieve Your Pain. Gain Quality Of Life.

If you are affected by OA, the chances are that you are experiencing a negative effect on all areas of your private and professional life. However, simply easing the pain deriving from your inflammatory condition might not be enough to return to living your life to the fullest. 

At Relatyv, our goal is just that – to help you magnify your life without invasive treatments, surgery, pharmaceuticals, and opioids. Thanks to our evidence-based, holistic Neurofunctional Pain Management protocol, we can help each of our patients go back to living in a body that is pain-free, mobile, and energetic.

This is why the mission statement of Relatyv is to magnify quality of life. It’s not just getting out of pain; it’s achieving a better quality of life, a magnified quality of life.

clove

Non-Pharmaceutical Non-Surgical Non-Invasive Treatment Options for TMJ Pain
Non-Pharmaceutical Non-Surgical Non-Invasive Treatment Options for TMJ Pain 800 571 Relatyv

We’ve covered a variety of conditions as well as their various nonsurgical treatments, highlighting the pros and cons of each in comparison to treatment with Relatyv. It is with certainty that we hold the treatments provided by Relatyv head-and-shoulders above the rest because of their non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical, non-invasive, and non-chiropractic application and lasting effects. That being said, patients weighing treatment options between Relatyv and other nonsurgical methods, may wonder if Relatyv is the right fit for them. 

It should be understood that because treatments with Relatyv directly target pain neurons and pain reporting system, with their high pulse electrical stimulation protocol called Neuralgesia, any musculoskeletal pain condition can and should be considered treatable using the proprietary Neuralgesia protocol by Relatyv. Patients suffering from these conditions chronic pain conditions often have no safe and effective or long lasting option for treatment. These conditions, several of which have been discussed in previous articles, affect the lives of tens of millions of Americans every day. The prevailing preference of all patients is that they are able to find a treatment that does not produce unfavorable side effects and has lasting results, and avoid the endless medications, surgeries, invasive injections and implants, and endless chiropractic sessions that may or may not bring relief or with questionable successful results. No matter the condition, its duration, or predisposition to cause chronic pain, Relatyv has a solution. 

With the subject matter of unique pain conditions in mind, we must now turn to a condition whose obscurity and lack of familiarity may preclude some from seeking treatment at all, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain. The two temporomandibular joints connect your jaw to the base of your skull, and you can think of them as the hinges that allow you to open your mouth when speaking or eating. Needless to say, the joints are crucial elements of everyday life. Patients who experience TMJ pain may even experience malnutrition, due to pain from chewing essential foods. The direct cause of TMJ pain is not easily determined and it can be due to multiple factors including injury, arthritis, or even the habitual grinding of teeth. The most common causation for TMJ pain is the arthritis that wears down the disk that lies between the TMJ and the base of your skull. Normally this disk would absorb the impact or shock from the chewing and sliding of the jaw. Much like the disks that lie between the vertebrae in our spines, the disks in our TMJ will wear out over time and due to the risk factors discussed. Regardless of the cause of TMJ pain, the hassle of living with this condition cannot be understated. 

Patients, when asked to explain their experiences with TMJ pain, will often cite their acquaintance with one or both joints increasing in pain. Patients, over time and without treatment, explain how the pain increases to the point where they will not or cannot open their mouths due to the locking of these joints. One unfamiliar with the condition of TMJ pain can only imagine the issues this would cause for patients who wish to eat, drink, and clearly communicate. However, TMJ pain, while painful and frustrating, is not unfamiliar or elusive to the medical community. And fortunately, nonsurgical treatments exist for the condition. However, the most important thing that must be considered by patients seeking treatment for any painful condition is that they consider the ramifications associated with each treatment option, both positive and negative.

 

Nonsurgical Treatment Options

In order to determine and fairly explicate nonsurgical treatment methods for TMJ pain, we must understand and recall the condition’s distinctive nature. A less understood condition such as TMJ pain will undoubtedly have its unique treatments and essential protocols for the application of those treatments. In a 2019 study published in AIMS Public Health, Doctor Ehsan Shoohanizad and peers determined that the “TMJ has unique features that distinguishes it from other human body joints. Cases of TMJ injury and TMD [temporomandibular disorders] require specific treatments. Therefore, early diagnosis of TMD is essential” (2019). Knowing that the early diagnosis of TMJ pain– or “TMD” as it is referred to here– is essential to treatment, we must understand that many go untreated because they may not know there is an available treatment for such an obscure condition. Patients experiencing TMJ pain may not even know they have a problem, much less options to solve that problem. And because of the ignorance surrounding the condition, many do not gain the treatment they need in time for full and lasting recovery. 

Shoohanizad, after pressing the importance of early diagnosis, lists the most notable treatment methods including, “. . . oral steroids, Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate 75 mg, and combination therapy with methotrexate”. However, these treatments, being the most widely accepted and understood by the medical community, are not without their side effects. 

We must make it clear that our intention is not to disparage the opinions of the medical community. Rather, our goal is to review treatments with objective reasoning through careful analysis of the efficacy, side effects, and lasting results of each recommended treatment and weigh our analysis of these treatments in contrast with the efficacy, side effects, and lasting results of treatment with Relatyv. With these parameters in mind, we hope to provide those seeking treatment for pain– particularly TMJ pain– an informed perspective which they can then use to find effective treatment. 

The first treatment for TMJ pain cited by Shoohanizad is the use of oral steroids. It is widely known that steroids have a litany of side effects and are often viewed, perhaps with prejudice, as drugs that should not be considered to treat minor conditions. Needless to say, steroids are a divisive method for treatment. Many patients who have used steroids for treatment, including treatment for TMJ pain, will either experience the numerous side effects, but still appreciate how the treatment with steroids makes them feel, since pain relief is the primary objective of these treatment protocols. Regardless of the opinion of patients and their experience with steroid treatment, side effects are undeniable and sometimes deadly. In a 2019 study conducted by doctors Dara Grennan and Sheila Wang, it was confirmed that steroids “. . . reduce the ability of the immune system to function (immunosuppression). Patients taking steroids are not only more susceptible to infections but more likely to have severe or unusual infections”.  These medical professionals continue to explain the severe side effects of steroids by comparing them to cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone. Grennan and Wang conclude that, “. . . because steroids are so similar to cortisol, prolonged use of systemic steroids at higher doses can cause the adrenal glands to stop making cortisol. If the systemic steroid is stopped suddenly, this adrenal suppression and resulting lack of steroid can cause a wide range of symptoms, such as dangerously low blood pressure”. Although steroids can act as a powerful anti-inflammatory treatment for TMJ pain and many patients enjoy how they feel while on steroids, patients of TMJ pain must carefully consider these treatment options in relation to their condition.

Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate, are a specific type of drug that purposely target the conditions that result from arthritis. TMJ pain, commonly a result of arthritis, would likely be a condition that DMARDs seek to ameliorate. DMARDs not only include methotrexate, but drugs like hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, and leflunomide. In a 2018 study conducted by doctors Benjamin Onecia and his associates, it was concluded that DMARDs, while often effective at treating conditions related to arthritis, have a shocking number of side effects. The study concluded that side effects of DMARDs include, “[g]astrointestinal distress (nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea), rash/allergic reaction, bone marrow suppression, hepatotoxicity, and higher incidence of common and sometimes serious infections are common adverse effects of all these agents. Both methotrexate and leflunomide can cause alopecia. Other adverse effects unique to methotrexate include interstitial lung disease, folic acid deficiency, and liver cirrhosis. Leflunomide can cause hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and weight loss. Sulfasalazine has a very high risk of gastrointestinal distress” (2018). With the wide array and variety of side effects plaguing the otherwise effective treatment for TMJ pain, most patients will likely seek an alternative. The survey continues to list several other side effects of DMARDs, the most concerning of which is, “. . .  an increased risk of common and serious infections, including bacterial, fungal, and viral infections”. And so, we are left with many of the same concerns we had with steroids as an effective treatment. The side effects of these treatments for TMJ pain are simply too numerous and too serious to consider. 

Finally, the third treatment for TMJ pain mentioned by Shoohanizad is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs. We have spoken at length about the effects, both positive and negative, of NSAIDs when used as a treatment for any pain. In our studies, particularly in relation to the use of NSAIDs as a supplement to other forms of treatment, we found that there are (again) several side effects that should be considered and understood by patients. We will, however, consider some of the pros related to NSAID treatment. 

NSAIDs are predominantly safe and therefore readily available to most of the population and while these drugs can provide temporary relief, there are other effects that should be considered by patients. While not directly addictive to patients who take NSAIDs to deal with pain, the risk of dependency cannot be dismissed. NSAIDs, by their very nature, have a temporary effect. The effects of NSAIDs, while often effective at treating pain, are short lived and do not last long enough for patients to experience relief over a long period of time. One who experiences the effects of TMJ pain for long periods of time will know that NSAIDs are not going to be a lasting treatment for their pain. However, when used in conjunction with other treatment methods, NSAIDs may provide relief long enough for patients to work through those treatment methods. 

For many patients, the minor efficacy of NSAIDs can cause dependency and even overdose. The mild nature of NSAIDs often leads to patients desiring heavier doses outside of the recommendation which is a dangerous step that should not be considered when treating TMJ pain. It must be communicated to those seeking effective treatment that NSAIDs, like all drugs, are not without their side-effects. In a study done in February of 2020, doctors V.K. Sharma and associates concluded that, “[a]lthough NSAIDs are among the most commonly utilized drugs, their use is associated with a broad spectrum of side effects, which may include gastrointestinal and cardiovascular toxicity” (2020). While patients may experience the effects of NSAIDs, both positive and negative, they may also question the efficacy of treatment options that they supplement.

 

Solutions with Relatyv

Any musculoskeletal pain condition may be effectively treated with our proprietary Neuralgesia treatment protocol, and when it comes to TMJ pain, treatment options with Relatyv should be your first consideration. 

Along with a solution to many other painful conditions, Relatyv offers a solution to the pain associated with TMJ pain. Because many chronic pain conditions are a result of the persistent pain neuron firing and nerve function, Relatyv’s method for diminishing this pain is based on multiple physiologic effects that combine to produce enduring pain relieve. Relatyv uses a proprietary treatment protocols called Neuralgesia, which is a combination of high pulse electrical stimulation, called electroanalgesia, to send consistent high energy pulses of electrical current deep into the tissue to activate and heal damages tissues, and to depolarize pain neurons, as previously mentioned, and creates a persistent sustained depolarization effect on the pain neurons, which creates a long-term pain relief. Reduced pain signaling results in reduces inflammation response, which results in better fluid dynamics through the affected area, meaning better blood flow and lymphatic flow to provide nutrients and remove waste more effectively from the damaged tissues, which in turn allows the tissues to health as best they can during this reduced pain period. Neuralgesia also involved the addition of specialized hydration therapy with a unique mixture of vitamins and minerals delivered via IV therapy to add fluid volume to the body and help the hydration effect that is needed to relieve the damaged tissues and help reduce pain. These two elements combined create the long-term pain relief that is associated with Neuralgesia therapy and is the hallmark of Relatyv. 

Many patients report pain relief after only one treatment session, and relief may continue to last for months if a patient completes the entire treatment program. TMJ pain and many other chronic pain conditions are treated with the Neuralgesia treatment protocol created exclusively by Relatyv. The mission statement for Relatyv is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify quality of life without medications, surgery, or invasive procedures. Our vision is to be the first thought, first choice, and first step in the journey of chronic pain treatment.

 

skull pain

Non-pharmaceutical Non-invasive Treatment Options for Migraine Pain
Non-pharmaceutical Non-invasive Treatment Options for Migraine Pain 790 450 Relatyv

Mild to intense throbbing pain that fluctuates for hours and sometimes days, debilitating nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines are more than a bad headache, and someone walking around talking about how they have a migraine is likely using migraine as a catchall term for headache and not actually experiencing a real migraine, as any patient who suffer from chronic migraines know the difference. To someone unfamiliar with the condition, let it first be understood that migraines are classified as a neurological disease that manifests from a litany of contributing factors. Luckily, self-diagnosis of a migraine and a patient’s ability to avoid the triggering of a migraine have increased along with our understanding of the condition. However, knowing when and how a migraine is triggered is not enough to treat the condition or reduce the pain. 

Frankly, the treatment of this chronic condition has been poorly executed, as some medical professionals view it as a latent or untreatable condition that will pass with time or the avoidance of triggering factors. For patients seeking lasting relief from migraine pain, hearing that the condition is often a result of their decisions does little to help the pain and in fact will cause understandable frustration. The objective of this article is to inform patients suffering from migraine pain of their treatment options in relation to solutions with Relatyv. Treatment options outside of Relatyv have their pros as well as their cons that will be discussed. Whether patients choose to seek pharmaceutical or natural treatment, our argument remains the same; migraine pain may be effectively treated.

We must make it clear that our intention is not to disparage the opinions of the medical community. Rather, our goal is to review migraine pain treatments with objective reasoning through careful analysis of the efficacy, side effects, and lasting results of each recommended treatment and weigh our analysis of these treatments in contrast with the efficacy, side effects, and lasting results of treatment with Relatyv. With these parameters in mind, we hope to provide those seeking treatment for pain– particularly migraine pain– an informed perspective which they can then use to find effective treatment.

 

Treatment Options for Migraine Pain

As we mentioned previously, the symptoms of a migraine can fluctuate from mild to severe. Patients experience and express feeling pain in their neck and head, sensitivity to light and sounds, and nausea in addition to several other symptoms. It is not enough for medical professionals to put the onus of the condition on the patients and tell them to avoid the triggering factors that cause migraines.

Though, in some cases, migraines can be a result of chemical reactions and hormone irregularities that in some cases can be preventable with effort from the patient. One patient in particular comes to mind who had a sensitivity to sodium nitrite found in cured meats. Anytime she had sodium nitrite she deteriorated into a debilitating migraine that lasted for up to three days and had to be in a room with no light or sound and her family knew to avoid her during these times. This was many years ago, but the fact remains that in her case her migraines were entirely preventable by her diet alone. Once she figured out the culprit foods, she avoided them and never had a problem. 

Regardless of a patient’s ability or willingness to avoid migraine triggers, the fact is that migraines will happen. However, for patients seeking treatment, we recommend along with medical professionals that the migraine triggers should be avoided as a preventative measure. Unfortunately, many of these triggers are simply unavoidable as a result of environmental factors and include loud sounds, strong scents, bright lights, hormone imbalances, and lack of sleep. Medical professionals should understand that while patients are aware of the conditions that can set off a migraine, avoidance of these triggers and the resulting inducement of a migraine are often unavoidable. In many of these unavoidable cases, patients will seek immediate relief. However, as we have found in many treatments for pain conditions, immediate relief does not always mean lasting relief. 

When a migraine strikes patients who are unable to avoid the triggering factors and environments, they often immediately turn to the quickest relief. Some of the fastest pain-relievers are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which include ibuprofen, Tylenol, and aspirin. In our studies, particularly in relation to the use of NSAIDs as a supplement to other forms of treatment, we found that there are several side effects that should be considered and understood by patients. We will, however, consider some of the pros related to NSAID treatment in addition to these side effects. 

NSAIDs are predominantly safe for limited short-term use and therefore readily available to most of the population and while these drugs can provide temporary relief, there are other effects that should be considered by patients. The use of NSAIDs is the most common form of “immediate” relief that patients will seek to treat their migraine pain. While NSAIDs are not directly addictive to patients who use them to deal with pain, the risk of dependency cannot be dismissed. NSAIDs, by their very nature, have a temporary effect, temporary enough to not offer sustainable relief over the hours or days of a migraine. The effects of NSAIDs, while often effective at treating pain, are short-lived and do not last long enough for patients to experience relief over a long period of time. One who experiences the effects of migraine pain for long periods of time will know that NSAIDs are not going to be a lasting treatment for their pain. However, when used in conjunction with other treatment methods, NSAIDs may provide relief long enough for patients to work through those treatment methods. They may also provide the relief needed to get through unavoidable migraine-triggering conditions. However, relying on NSAIDs as a staple to counteract the triggering conditions is not recommended.

For many patients, the minor efficacy of NSAIDs can cause dependency and even overdose. The mild nature of NSAIDs often leads to patients desiring heavier doses outside of the recommendation which is a dangerous step that should not be considered when treating migraine pain. Because of the convenience and availability of NSAIDs and a patient’s desire for immediate relief from migraine pain, the risk of overdose (while not always deadly) increases. In addition, it must be communicated to those seeking effective treatment that NSAIDs, like all drugs, are not without their side-effects. In a study done in February of 2020, doctors V.K. Sharma and associates concluded that, “[a]lthough NSAIDs are among the most commonly utilized drugs, their use is associated with a broad spectrum of side effects, which may include gastrointestinal and cardiovascular toxicity” (2020). While patients may experience the effects of NSAIDs, both positive and negative, they may also question the efficacy of treatment options that they supplement.

Another closely associated treatment for migraine pain is the use of analgesics which are an alternative painkiller. The difference between NSAIDs and analgesics is that analgesics stop the pain signals from traveling back and registering in the brain, while NSAIDs primarily target and decrease inflammation. When pain from a condition like chronic migraines increases and gets to a breaking point, stronger analgesics known as opioid analgesics are often prescribed. 

Opioid analgesics, if you haven’t already guessed, are a much more potent painkiller especially in comparison to NSAIDs. However, if we were to analyze the similarities between the two, we would likely find that the side-effects are somewhat homogenous, especially when analyzing the effects of these drugs on the digestive system. According to a 2017 study conducted by Paulin Jirkof of the University of Zurich in Switzerland, it was concluded that the side-effects of opioid analgesics are diverse and, “. . . include constipation, respiratory depression, nausea and urinary retention, as well as addiction, tolerance and hyperalgesia”. In a survey of side-effects related to the use of NSAIDs, we will find that according to a study conducted in 1993 by Dr. Bjarnason, the gastrointestinal effects of NSAID use range from diarrhea to ulcers, holes or perforations, and bleeding in the small intestine. Cardiovascular toxicity as a result of NSAID ingestion can also result in severe and irrevocable damage to the heart. 

In the 2017 study conducted by Jirkof, it was later found that tolerance of analgesic opioids, “. . . is characterized by a progressive lack of response to the drug that can be overcome by increasing the dose”. Patients should be careful and recognize that as opioids could be used to treat severe migraines, it is likely that dependency and addiction will increase, which is why it is considered a last course of action for medication managed migraines. Risk of dependency and addiction to analgesic opioids is much more serious and deadly when compared to the risk associated with NSAID dependency. 

In a recent study that analyzed the effects of opioids overdose in the United States, it was determined that, “[o]f the 70,237 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2017, approximately two thirds (47,600) involved an opioid” (2020) with the number of opioid-related overdose increasing year after year. With dozens of side-effects and potential for dependency and addiction weighing on the minds of patients with migraine pain, it is no wonder that popularity for the type of treatment that Relatyv supplies is growing every day. 

 

Solutions with Relatyv

Migraine pain is likely a result of a patient’s inability to avoid triggering circumstances and unfortunately, is often not solved with a simple head massage or change in routine. Just about any chronic musculoskeletal pain condition can be effectively treated with Relatyv should be your first consideration. 

Relatyv offers a proprietary treatment protocol called Neuralgesia as their treatment solution to the pain associated with migraines. Neuralgesia is a combination of high pulse electrical stimulation and specialized hydration therapy that produces an enhanced pain relief effect that can endure for months and months after a course of treatment. It is more commonly understood that migraines are at least in part, a result of muscular tissue inflammation that constricts blood flow and creates excess pressure on vessels and nerves that causes migraines. Many specialty migraine treatment centers actually treat migraines by performing injections or other procedures into the muscle bodies of the occipitoatlantal joint in order to reduce inflamed muscle tissue causing restriction. Other physicians rely on medications, and IV medications and fluids to help relieve pain. 

Relatyv created and pioneered a next generation pain management category called Neurofunctional Pain Management, which is the concept behind their proprietary Neuralgesia treatment protocol. This means that Relatyv is creating a new non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical, non-chiropractic, and non-invasive standard in the treatment of chronic migraine pain.

 

Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Options For Fibromyalgia
Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Options For Fibromyalgia 732 549 Relatyv

Four-million adults in the United States suffer from the effects of fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain and irritation in targeted points of the body. These pains can often cause patients to have nightly insomnia and reduced quality of life. However, while this condition affects roughly 2% of the United States adult population, diagnosis of this pain causing condition remains an elusive prospect for physicians who desire to find cause and an effective treatment for their patients.

Although this condition certainly has a psychological component, Fibromyalgia is a legitimate condition and can result in debilitating pain. Those who claim they’ve experienced the pain of fibromyalgia and seek medical attention or treatment are often met with skepticism from their physicians who have no clinical method of diagnosing the condition or finding the cause. 

Nonetheless, non-pharmaceutical treatment options that can efficiently reduce pain, tenderness, and discomfort exist. That is why it is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers to research the causes, symptoms, and therapeutic options available. 

In this guide, we’ll look at what fibromyalgia is, how it manifests itself, and how non-drug treatments such as Relatyv’s Neurofunctional Pain management programs can help.

What Is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is considered to be an “invisible illness” because its symptoms are not immediately outwardly visible. Nonetheless, for patients affected by this condition, fibromyalgia pain is real and debilitating.

Fibromyalgia is defined as a chronic disorder that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness. As a result patients also experience fatigue, muscle weakness, sleep disturbances, and alterations in mood and memory. 

While the causes of fibromyalgia are often unknown, this condition tends to derive from abnormalities in how the brain processes sensory signals. In turn, you may experience pain as a result of stimuli that should normally be painful or feel excessive pain from sensations that should only cause mild discomfort. 

In some cases, fibromyalgia arises as a spontaneous condition without an identifiable trigger.  It often develops after a traumatic event or injury. 

Below, we’ll look at the symptoms and causes of fibromyalgia, as well as the non-pharmaceutical treatment option available to today’s patients. Let’s get started.

Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Much like the condition of peripheral neuropathy, the symptoms of fibromyalgia pain may be widespread across the body, but all the pain is referred inward to the central nervous system. This creates an opportunity to treat that pain at a centralized location rather than spot check around the body. 

While peripheral neuropathy often manifests in adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes, we see that fibromyalgia manifests more commonly in patients who may have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression. 

However, these conditions affect the nerves of the body in different places and result in widespread pain that presents as multiple localized pain issues occurring at the same time.

Some of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

  • Pain that is spread across several areas of the body and lasts at least 3 months. This pain is continuous and may flare up occasionally. Patients describe their pain as dull, aching, burning, or stabbing. 
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch, which manifests itself as hyperalgesia (experiencing severe or long-lasting pain in response to sensations that should be mildly uncomfortable) and allodynia (experiencing pain in response to stimuli that should be painless, i.e.: brushing your hair).
  • Prolonged fatigue, often deriving from the fact that the pain causes sleep disturbances and insomnia. 
  • Impaired cognitive functions, such as memory loss, attention deficit, and problems with thinking, concentration, and reasoning. This symptom is commonly referred to as “fibro-fog” and affects over half of the patients with fibromyalgia.  

Fibromyalgia is likely to coexist with other disorders, including anxiety, depression, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, tension headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome. When this happens, you may experience other symptoms, including:

  • Frequent headaches
  • Mood swings and emotional imbalances
  • Digestive issues like constipation and diarrhea
  • Bladder conditions like interstitial cystitis
  • Pain in the face or in the jaw
  • Poor sleep quality

Where Does Fibromyalgia Hurt?

Fibromyalgia symptoms may vary from one person to another. This, coupled with the “invisible” nature of this illness, has made it a difficult condition to diagnose and treat. 

In an attempt to improve the diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia, in 1990, the American College of Rheumatology identified 18 spots in the body that tend to be painful or tender in people with this condition. 

These spots have been used as part of a diagnostic test for fibromyalgia until 2010. During this time, people who experienced pain in at least 11 of the 18 spots were diagnosed with fibromyalgia. 

These spots are located in the following regions:

  • Upper regions (left or right): arm (near the elbow), back of the shoulders, edge of the upper breast
  • Lower regions (left or right): knee, upper buttock
  • Axial regions: front lower neck, back of the neck, base of the skull, hip bone

Although this may vary from one patient to another, the points above indicate the areas of the body most often affected by fibromyalgia pain.

How It’s Diagnosed

Since the 1990s, the body of research surrounding fibromyalgia has grown considerably. Today, it is well understood that fibromyalgia pain moves around and varies in intensity. 

For example, when using the diagnostic criteria highlighted in 1990, patients were only diagnosed with fibromyalgia if, at the time of the appointment, they experienced pain when the doctor pressed on the different points. 

As the research on this condition expanded, the American College of Rheumatology changed the diagnostic criteria for this condition in 2010.

Today, fibromyalgia is diagnosed through several examinations, which include a thorough assessment of a patient’s medical history. Additionally, a doctor may recommend undergoing several laboratory tests to rule out other conditions or understand whether you are affected by more than one condition at once. 

These tests include:

  • Blood tests or a complete blood count
  • Rheumatoid factor
  • Thyroid function assessments
  • Tests to diagnose celiac disease
  • Tests to check for deficiencies, such as vitamin D

As the research around fibromyalgia grows, more accurate and efficient diagnostic tests emerge. Let’s look at what the research says about this condition.

What The Research Says About The Condition

The enigmatic nature of this disabling condition frustrates physicians across the United States. However, fibromyalgia is recognized and has an entry in the 10th edition of The International Classification of Diseases which is seen as one of the most reputable sources for diagnosis of disability.

The fact that this condition is real, serious, and debilitating does not change the fact that little is known about what causes it or how to treat it. Fortunately, new studies conducted internationally have started to show promising results. Let’s look at these below.

Theories On The Causes Of Fibromyalgia

Research on the causes of fibromyalgia has been carried out since this disease was discovered in the 1970s. However, to this day, many patients deal with an idiopathic condition, or a disorder that has no defined cause. 

So far, studies have shown that fibromyalgia may be connected to disturbances in how the brain processes pain signals. These abnormalities may be due to anomalies in the brain or spinal cord. Additionally, patients with a family history of fibromyalgia are more likely to suffer from this condition, which indicates that fibromyalgia may have genetic components. 

While this theory is generally accepted, new research is looking at other possible causes of fibromyalgia. 

For example, a 2020 study explored the connection between gut microbiome composition and the prevalence of this disease. Additionally, a study conducted in 2021 by the IoPPN at King’s College London has shown that fibromyalgia may be caused by abnormalities in a person’s immune response.

According to this theory, pain may be caused by antibodies that increase the activity of the sensory nerves in charge of delivering pain signals to the brain. This study has profound implications because it shows that the root cause of fibromyalgia is within the immune system and not in the brain as previously believed. 

In most patients, the development of fibromyalgia is triggered by other health events, such as trauma, injury, or mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.

Theories on The Nature of Fibromyalgia

A 2018 review analyzed the myths and facts surrounding fibromyalgia and looked at whether this condition can be considered a pain disease. While this condition certainly causes pain, the review highlights how the painful sensations may be the manifestation of somatic or psychological distress. At the same time, fibromyalgia is more than simply a mask for depression or somatic symptom disorder, and it is not a brain disorder or a form of neuropathy.

Theories on The Prognosis for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia may cause a range of symptoms, including constant pain, memory problems, sleep disturbances, and digestive issues. This is where obtaining an accurate diagnosis can help patients understand and accept their condition. 

According to guidelines published in 2017, patients may benefit from obtaining certain pieces of information, including:

  • The symptoms of fibromyalgia are based on functional disorders, not by an organic disease
  • Their disease is legitimate and real
  • The symptoms are persistent, and total relief from pain is only rarely achieved
  • It is possible for patients to adapt to their symptoms over time
  • It is possible for patients to manage the intensity of their symptoms with self-management techniques

Above all, patients should be offered an overview of what their prognosis will be like. Although total relief can’t always be achieved, fibromyalgia does not lead to disability and does not shorten life expectancy. Additionally, through treatment, patients can experience a reduction in symptoms and boost their quality of life. Let’s look at these treatment options in more detail below.

Fibromyalgia And Mental Health

Speculation for a psychiatric origin of the disability is not new and mental illness has been determined by some physicians to be the primary cause of this debilitating pain.  

Because the condition cannot be diagnosed by conventional clinical diagnostics, Dr. Bernstein concedes that, “ . . . it is possible that fibromyalgia is more psychiatric than musculoskeletal”, and that perhaps “ . . . patients have been encouraged to anchor their lives around their misery. Yet none of these factors make fibromyalgia any less real”. 

Dr. Bernstein’s claim that perhaps patients are “encouraged” to center their lives around the pain suggests that he may believe that the conditions of fibromyalgia are driven by psychosomatic means– psychosomatic meaning a physical manifestation of symptoms from mental distress. 

Perhaps it is the mental distress– the depression, anxiety, or stress– that is causing a manifestation of widespread pain. Physicians Fatmanur Kocak and Emine Eda Kurt have determined in a 2018 study that “[i]ndividuals with fibromyalgia often have comorbid anxiety, depression, and/or other pain syndromes[.]” 

These determinations suggest that some who suffer from fibromyalgia may wish to seek psychiatric attention. This does not detract from the physical pain that patients experience. While the search for the causes of fibromyalgia continues, doctors and patients look for effective treatment, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical.

For the patients, the pain is real; and for some doctors, the pain is a physical manifestation of poor mental health. Dr. Bernstein analyzes this relationship between the doctor and their patients and asks the question to his peers:

“Can we say that this illness experience is ‘in your mind’ without infuriating the patient? Not today, not yet, given the social construction of ‘in your mind’ and the social construction of ‘fibromyalgia’” (2016).

These “social constructions” are all too familiar with patients who suffer from the effects of fibromyalgia. They are aware of the stigma that surrounds the disability and will often turn from physicians who seek a scientific approach to treatment outside the medical community. 

Bernstein continues with his analysis of the affected doctor/patient relationship, concluding that this judgment, “ . . . drives these patients toward sectarian practitioners who have no proclivity to challenge them, and little if any success in returning them to their premorbid state[.]” 

But do patients wish to be “challenged” by their physicians, or would they rather have an effective and lasting solution to their pain, regardless of that pain’s origin?

Treating Fibromyalgia Without Pharmaceuticals

Doctors Kocak and Kurt, while discussing the possible causes of fibromyalgia and how they are possibly psychiatric in nature, discuss the nonpharmacologic treatment of the disease and its efficacy. 

One of the major nonpharmacologic treatments of fibromyalgia– which may come as a surprise to those seeking treatment– is simple exercise. Physicians Kocak and Kurt attribute pain, which in patients with fibromyalgia, “ . . . may be associated with the central nervous system . . .” (2018). 

They continue to expound upon the efficacy of exercise and that it will “ . . . contribute to improvements in pain. In addressing conditions experienced by FM [fibromyalgia] patients, exercise training was reported to be used successfully”. 

Many who exercise regularly can attest to its physical as well as mental benefits and will often turn to the use of heat and cold to relieve the muscles that have been overworked and are in pain. 

Because of this, many who suffer from fibromyalgia believe that the application of heat or cold to the affected area will relieve the pain they experience because of their condition. 

However, doctors Kocak and Kurt conclude that, “[a]lthough local cold therapy application with ice cubes or cooling sprays is useful in other muscle pains, they do not have any influence in FM . . . [t]here are no data available about long-term efficacy.” 

For the use of heat as a treatment for pain, the physicians conclude that the “ . . . real efficacy of both superficial and deep heat is still a topic for further studies”.

Can Fibromyalgia Be Treated?

Fibromyalgia may be a lifelong condition for which there is not yet a definitive cure. Nonetheless, as research progresses, patients are now gaining access to a wide range of fibromyalgia treatments that can help them prevent pain flare-ups, reduce the intensity of symptoms, and boost their overall quality of life. 

According to studies, one of the best ways to ease your fibromyalgia pain is to exercise regularly. Leading an active lifestyle can improve your mental health and reduce the symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Additionally, keeping active will lower the risk of conditions that represent risk factors for fibromyalgia, including obesity. 

However, when the pain becomes too much, exercising may not be desirable. In the event of flare-ups, patients often resort to the application of heat or cold compresses as well as over-the-counter pain relievers. 

While these solutions may seem efficient in the short term, there is a lack of research proving their effectiveness. What’s more, in the case of medications, patients taking pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for long periods of time may be exposing themselves to risks such as gastrointestinal ulcers, heart problems, strokes, and dependency. 

Naturally, both patients and healthcare providers are likely to feel frustrated at the lack of solutions. However, thanks to today’s advances in regenerative medicine, patients have a greater range of options available to them, which don’t include surgery or medications. 

Let’s look at why pharmaceutical treatments may not be effective enough and what non-pharmaceutical options are available today.

Conservative Pharmaceutical Treatment

Depending on what is believed to cause their fibromyalgia, patients may be prescribed several lines of treatment. Beyond cold therapy, light stretches, strength training, and therapies like sleep therapy, people with fibromyalgia often end up taking medications regularly to manage their pain. 

Two of the most common pharmaceutical treatments prescribed are:

  • Pain relievers – Pain medications and (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and Tylenol may work in the short term to relieve pain, but they come with severe side effects, including an increased risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, peptic ulcers, and dependency. 
  • Antidepressants – If fibromyalgia is related to mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression, patients may be prescribed antidepressants. These medications are also muscle relaxants and promote sleep. Antidepressants can cause changes in personality, mood swings, digestive issues, or headaches.
  • Antiepileptic drugs – One of the first drugs approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia is pregabalin (Lyrica), which is an anti-seizure medication. These drugs may seem to help ease the overactive transmission of pain signals that cause fibromyalgia pain and extreme sensitivity to touch. These medications may lead to severe side effects such as dizziness, sleepiness, mood changes, abdominal pain, or irritability.

While these therapies may seem effective in the short term, many who have learned to manage their pain through the pharmacy, experience dependency and even addiction from these methods and so a more natural, and applicable means of managing pain is all the more desirable. 

It is not surprising that many who experience this pain and wish to relieve it with the use of simple means, such as the application of heat and ice, may feel defeated to learn that these methods are ineffectual. 

Physicians also experience this frustration when there are little to no non-pharmacological solutions to manage the pain and will result in suggesting that their patients improve their mental health, hoping that it will alleviate the pain in time. However, these suggestions to patients often cause a rift between the doctor and their patients.

Available Non-Pharmaceutical Treatment Options

The inconclusive evidence for pain management may frustrate the many millions of adults suffering from fibromyalgia who wish to treat their pain, barring pharmacological means.

Fortunately, the body of research surrounding valid treatment options for fibromyalgia continues to grow and offer patients new, non-pharmaceutical, and non-invasive options. 

Below, we’ll look at the treatment options that patients with fibromyalgia are often offered.

Clinical trials are looking at the effectiveness of biofeedback to ease pain in patients with fibromyalgia. 

Biofeedback refers to a mind-body exercise that can help patients gain control over some of their body’s functions. During a biofeedback therapy session, patients are connected to specialized electrical pads that are used to monitor vital functions such as heart rate, breathing patterns, and blood pressure. A trained professional will then analyze a patient’s physical response to stressors and help the person in therapy control involuntary bodily responses. 

This technique can help you better manage stress and improve your quality of life and perception of pain.

Massage

Massages may help patients deal with painful sensations deriving from fibromyalgia. Massages can lower the levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and trigger the production of serotonin. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter in charge of promoting feelings of satisfaction, optimism, and happiness. 

In the context of fibromyalgia, massage therapy that helps the release of serotonin may act as an antidepressant, modulate mood, and reduce sensations of pain.

Trigger Point Injections

Another treatment offered by many providers is localized trigger point injections of various pain-relieving ingredients, some natural and some medication based. 

Though these trigger point injections are short-term options, it often is the only option available that isn’t a pain prescription or a more invasive procedure.

How Fibromyalgia Pain Is Managed

Fibromyalgia pain can be effectively managed through several therapies. Below, we’ll look at the options available to patients today.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy plays an essential role in helping patients ease their pain and regain their quality of life. According to a review published in 2000, physical therapy – coupled with regular exercise and cardiovascular fitness training – lowers pain levels, improves energy levels, and boosts work capacity. What’s more, physiotherapy can help reduce the overloading of the muscle system, improve posture, and strengthen weak muscles.

A physical therapist may also help people with fibromyalgia fight stiffness and pain through light stretches and strengthening exercises.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is an approach to pain management that allows individuals with fibromyalgia to cope with the symptoms of their condition. A 2017 review showed that a multidisciplinary intervention including cognitive-behavioral therapies, stress management, and emotional disclosure could help people with fibromyalgia reduce pain, depressive symptoms, and fatigue.

Stress Management

Stress management techniques work by lowering the levels of cortisol, which can help reduce inflammation, and promote the release of feel-good hormones, such as serotonin. Some relaxation techniques that may help people with fibromyalgia cope with their symptoms include progressive muscle relaxation, massages, acupuncture, autogenic training, breathing exercises, and body-mind activities like yoga or tai chi.

Patient Education

Patient education should be considered the first step to a successful pain-management approach for people with fibromyalgia. According to a 2021 review, patients who were educated about the basics of fibromyalgia, body practices, physical activities, and treatment options were able to better cope with their condition and its symptoms.

Improving Quality Of Sleep

Studies have shown that an estimated 96% of people with fibromyalgia are also problem sleepers. Among the most common sleep disturbances are insomnia, non-restorative sleep, and trouble falling asleep. 

This complication of fibromyalgia is often due to the increased sensitivity to pain and touch, which makes it difficult to relax at nighttime. In turn, a lack of sleep can decrease a patient’s pain threshold and worsen daytime fatigue. 

Some ways for patients to improve their sleep and better cope with the symptoms of fibromyalgia include exercising regularly, using relaxation techniques such as body scans and meditation, taking vitamin D supplements, and sticking to a structured sleep schedule.

Treating Mental Health Conditions

As seen above, fibromyalgia may arise as a symptom of other conditions, such as depression or anxiety. Patients who have received a differential or dual diagnosis for mental health conditions or fibromyalgia may benefit from working with a specialized mental health professional.

A Non-Pharmacological Solution For Fibromyalgia Pain

In the sections below, we’ll look at what patients should expect when choosing Relatyv’s Neurofunctional Pain Management approach.

The Phases Of The Neuralgesia Pain Protocol

Neurofunctional Pain Management is a proprietary and fully customizable pain management protocol that uses natural therapies to support the body’s natural healing process. Beyond providing pain relief in the long term, this approach helps patients boost their quality of life, regain mobility, and restore their health.

Here is how Neurofunctional Pain Management programs help with fibromyalgia pain:

  • Phase 1: High-Pulse Electrical Stimulation

High-pulse electrical stimulation is an FDA-approved treatment that involves the use of electrical current to ease pain. When applied to the area in need, the electrical current “floods” the nervous system and prevents pain signals from reaching the brain. Additionally, electrical stimulation boosts the supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the pain point, relieves inflammation, and supports the release of feel-good hormones such as endorphins.

  • Phase 2: Hydration Therapy

Through hydration and IV therapies, patients can address nutritional deficiencies that may be worsening their condition. After a thorough initial evaluation, IV therapies are designed around a patient’s unique needs. Hydration therapies may also help lower chronic inflammation, thus easing fibromyalgia pain.

  • Phase 3: Lifestyle And Nutritional Counseling

The team of specialized healthcare providers at Relatyv will also look at the lifestyle factors that may be worsening your condition, including a sedentary lifestyle, improper conditioning, poor posture, obesity, repeated stress, and nutrition. Based on a thorough evaluation, patients will receive tailored guidelines that aim to reduce these risk factors for fibromyalgia pain.

Find A Solution For Managing Fibromyalgia Pain

Fibromyalgia can have a profound impact on all aspects of your life and cause debilitating chronic pain. Fortunately, painkillers and medications such as antidepressants are no longer the only options to restore your health, ease pain, and return to living your life to the fullest.

Our mission at Relatyv is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify quality of life without medications, surgery, or invasive procedures. It is our vision to be the first thought, first choice, and first step in the journey of chronic pain management and health restoration.

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