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Managing Chronic Pain at Aspire
Chronic pain, however, is different. Instead of just alerting the body to possible injury, it causes pain signals to continue firing in the nervous system for several weeks, months or even years. If you’re living with chronic pain, you know just how persistent and disruptive it can be. Unfortunately, conventional treatments or medications aren’t always effective for certain types of pain and may cause unwanted side effects.
At Aspire Regenerative, we provide a number of integrative therapies to help you better manage your condition. Whether you’re suffering from autoimmune disease, inflammation, injuries or another cause of chronic pain, our practitioners can help you find symptom relief and improve your overall health, wellness and quality of life.
Chronic Pain Conditions Treated at Aspire
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that causes chronic, widespread pain all over the body. Often, this is accompanied by fatigue, trouble sleeping, memory problems and mood issues. While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unclear, experts believe that factors such as stress, genetics and previous injuries may cause abnormal pain perception processing in those who are affected. While there’s no cure for fibromyalgia, the condition can be successfully managed with medication, lifestyle changes and integrative therapies to improve symptoms.
Lupus
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs when the body’s immune system begins to attack its own tissues and organs. It can cause numerous symptoms that affect many different body systems, including the skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart, brain and lungs. Lupus can be mild to severe and many people experience flare-ups followed by periods of remission, making the early signs easy to miss. There’s no cure, so treatment is focused on managing symptoms and reducing inflammation. Medications and dietary changes can help reduce flares, while integrative therapies such as acupuncture, low-dose naltrexone and hormonal therapy may provide additional relief.
Neuropathy
Our nerves are like a vast network of cables responsible for carrying electrical impulses between the brain and the body. These impulses control movement and help us feel sensations like touch or pressure. However, sometimes our nerves become damaged or dysfunctional, resulting in tingling, muscle weakness, numbness and pain in affected areas. This damage is called neuropathy and it indicates a problem within the peripheral nervous system. Treatment involves identifying and managing underlying conditions (such as diabetes) that are causing nerve damage to prevent it from worsening. Often, this is combined with other techniques used to control symptoms and reduce pain.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that damages the insulating sheaths surrounding nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This disrupts the nervous system’s ability to transmit signals properly. With MS, inflammation and lesions occur that result in a number of symptoms such as fatigue, poor coordination, muscle weakness, tremors, double vision, slurred speech, cognitive difficulties and chronic pain. There’s no cure for MS, but treatments are available to help modify disease progression and activity. Complementary and integrative therapies can also ease stress and provide additional symptom relief.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a type of chronic pain that typically develops after injury or trauma in the affected area. However, the pain is disproportional to the severity of the original injury and may include stinging, burning, stabbing or tearing sensations. Most cases of CRPS are seen in the limbs, where nerve fibers aren’t covered by a protective myelin sheath. This makes them more prone to damage following a cut, fracture, burn or other types of wounds. Treatment often includes medication and physical therapy, but integrative therapies such as acupuncture, low-dose naltrexone and stress management can also relieve symptoms.
Whiplash
Whiplash happens when the head moves backward and forward with great force. This motion can harm the spine, ligaments, muscles, nerves and discs between the bones. Auto collisions are a common cause of this type of injury, but it can also occur for other reasons. Whiplash may result in pain, headaches, vision problems, dizziness and even neurological problems. More severe symptoms may indicate neck vertebrae that are fractured or out of alignment, putting strain on the spinal cord and nearby nerves. Acupuncture, manual therapies and relaxation techniques can help reduce symptoms and promote healing.
Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries are a broad category that includes things like carpal tunnel syndrome, slip and falls, neck strain, pulled muscles, overexertion and more. Depending on the nature and type of injury that has occurred, some people may experience acute effects that subside shortly after the incident, while others deal with chronic pain that lingers for months or even years. Because of this, treatment options vary but are often aimed at reducing pain and discomfort. Acupuncture, manual therapies and medications to reduce inflammation are beneficial in helping individuals recover from workplace injuries.
Sports injuries
Sports-related injuries are common among athletes and can occur throughout the body, affecting the joints, muscles, tendons and other structures. Some common sports injuries include torn cartilage, broken bones, concussions, dislocations, sprains and tendonitis. These may happen for a variety of reasons, such as accidents or a lack of safety equipment. Serious injuries may require medication or even surgery to repair the damage, but integrative therapies such as acupuncture, cupping, gua sha and KT tape can help relieve pain and speed up the recovery process by reducing inflammation.
Integrative Therapies for Chronic Pain at Aspire
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a time-honored healing practice of traditional Asian medicine in which thin, sterile needles are placed at specific points in the body. Modern research has shown acupuncture to significantly improve pain syndromes by boosting circulation, reducing stress levels, and inducing a state of relaxation and well-being. Evidence also suggests that acupuncture stimulates stem cell migration to the place of injury, helping to expedite the healing process.
At Aspire, our expert practitioners perform acupuncture to reduce chronic pain caused by a number of medical conditions or concerns, including fibromyalgia, lupus and CRPS. It has been shown to be an effective treatment for autoimmune disease and can work to reduce systemic inflammation. Additionally, acupuncture can provide relief from neuropathy and some MS-related symptoms without interfering with other treatments.
We also perform manual therapies in conjunction with acupuncture to promote healing of the body, especially after an injury. This may include cupping, gua sha and kinesiology tape (KT). Our doctors will recommend the right approach for each individual depending on their unique needs and concerns, which may include a combination of these or other treatments.
Acupuncture is associated with few adverse reactions and can be performed alongside other treatments to provide additional pain relief. It also involves no downtime or recovery, so it can help you feel better without disrupting your normal routine.
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Autoimmune disease
- Chronic pain
- Neuropathy
- Widespread inflammation
- Sports and work-related injuries
Low-Dose Naltrexone
Naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence and opioid-use disorders. Recently, researchers discovered that low doses of the drug might be useful for other conditions, including autoimmune diseases and widespread inflammation. This off-label use is administered at a fraction of the standard dose and has been shown to have a positive impact on fatigue, fibromyalgia, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), neuropathy, chronic pain conditions and more. It has also become a popular treatment for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
While experts aren’t exactly sure why low-dose naltrexone works to relieve the symptoms of these and other medical conditions, ongoing studies continue to demonstrate its effectiveness while reaffirming its low side effect profile. Our doctors can help determine if low-dose naltrexone is right for you and how it fits into your current treatment plan.
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Autoimmune disease
- Chronic pain
- Neuropathy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Widespread inflammation
- Sports and work-related injuries
GI-Map Test
The gut is home to countless microorganisms that keep us healthy, but factors like poor diet, antibiotics and stress can disrupt the healthy balance. This can have widespread effects in the body and increase the risk of illness or disease. GI-map testing is a useful tool in the treatment and diagnosis of certain medical conditions to detect imbalances that may be contributing to or worsening your symptoms. For example, levels of some bacteria are linked to obesity, inflammation, metabolic dysfunction and multiple sclerosis. There is also a well-established association between fibromyalgia and IBD. The GI-map test looks at your gut flora to gain a better understanding of your symptoms and determine if harmful pathogens, viruses, bacteria or other microorganisms are acting as a trigger.
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropathy
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Autoimmune disease
Micronutrient Testing
Much like the GI-map test, micronutrient testing provides greater insight into your overall wellness. But instead of looking at gut flora, this test can determine if vitamin, mineral, antioxidant or amino acid deficiencies are contributing to certain medical conditions. For example, vitamin B12 and copper are essential for nerve health, so insufficient intake can make you more vulnerable to neuropathy. Nutrition is also considered to be important in the development and progression of diseases such as MS, and intervention studies suggest that dietary changes may be considered as a complementary treatment.
- Neuropathy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Autoimmune disease
- Chronic pain
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement (BHRT)
Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body, transporting instructions that stimulate different cells to carry out various functions. When our hormones fluctuate or decrease too rapidly, it can cause issues like pain, discomfort and fatigue while exacerbating other medical conditions. BHRT helps to restore balance to improve your symptoms.
Some hormones, such as progesterone, have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body and are associated with a lower experience of pain. Improving these hormone levels can be beneficial for those dealing with concerns such as fibromyalgia and neuropathy. In some cases, progesterone is even more effective than corticosteroids in treating injuries such as carpal tunnel. Other studies have found that progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may also relieve some symptoms of lupus but should be used with caution in women.
Additionally, a growing body of evidence shows the therapeutic potential of estrogens in the treatment of MS, which are thought to work through both immunomodulatory and neuroprotective pathways. No matter what kind of pain you’re dealing with, our experts can help determine if hormonal therapy can help you feel better. Before beginning treatment, a DUTCH test can identify imbalances that may be affecting your overall health and wellness.
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Carpal tunnel
- Neuropathy
- Chronic pain
- Autoimmune disease
- Complex regional pain syndrome
Custom Herbal Medicines
Chinese herbal medicine can also be incorporated into your treatment plan to further reduce your symptoms and improve your overall wellness. Complementary herbal medicines have a long history of traditional and clinical use in treating conditions such as lupus, MS, fibromyalgia, inflammation, chronic pain and more. Our providers can create a custom blend of herbal medicines to address your needs using high-quality products.
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lupus
- Neuropathy
- Widespread inflammation
- Autoimmune disease
Mental Health Treatments
Dealing with chronic pain can be mentally and physically exhausting. Sometimes, it can be hard to cope with the stress day after day. Mental health treatments such as psychotherapy can help you work through the difficult emotions that often arise as a result of living with chronic pain and improve your strategies for symptom relief. At Aspire, we can connect you with qualified mental health professionals that provide individual and group therapy for these and other concerns so you can feel your best in mind, body and soul.
- Fibromyalgia
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Chronic pain
- Autoimmune disease
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Neuropathy
- Sports and work-related injuries
Interested in learning more about Aspire Regenerative’s treatments for chronic pain? Book a consultation at our clinic in San Diego to explore your options and find out how our clinicians can help you achieve greater symptom relief. Together, we’ll develop a treatment plan tailored to your exact needs so you can feel your best again.