Pain is a problem; Chronic pain however is the mother-head of problems. Many Americans suffer from chronic ongoing pain for many reasons. Cases of migraines, fibromyalgia and pain following surgery or injury continue to rise every day. Along with these, is over the counter pain medication prescriptions and addictions.
For a long time and currently, pain is treated using NSAIDS such as ibuprofen and Tylenol. These painkillers, while being effective carry with them the risk of gastric and duodenal ulcers. This is because they inhibit the formation of the mucoid layer that coats the gastrium. When this mucosal layer is breached, ulcers form that are not only painful but progress to upper gastrointestinal bleeds and potentially gastric cancer.
NSAIDS also cause vasoconstriction of splanchnic and renal vessels contributing to kidney damage. In addition to this, NSAIDS and paracetamol, the active ingredient in Tylenol, also damage the liver irreversibly.
With this problem at hand, more and more doctors choose to prescribe opioids for chronic pain. Opioids are fast and effective when used properly. The problem however, is that in chronic pain, opioids tend to cause addiction and abuse. When abused, opioids have been known to cause painful constipation and respiratory depression.
How then do we handle the problem of pain without having to deal with organ damage, addiction, and even death? PEMF may potentially be the solution.
What is PEMF?
PEMF is a form of therapy that works using different techniques and devices to produce electromagnetic fields. The differences in the devices are based on the intensity of the magnetic field, its waveform and the frequency.
While PEMF has only gained fame in the recent years, it is an old form of therapy that has been in use in countries in Asia for many years. The western world has only recently tapped into PEMF as a potential therapy form for many medical conditions that have proven difficult or challenging to treat for doctors.
The premise behind PEMF is that damaged or dying cells lose their neuronal communication through reduced voltage transmission. PEMF amplifies the transmission voltage in a bid to promote the process of healing and to reduce/reverse the process of inflammation and the release of inflammatory mediators.
Different organs require different voltage transmissions for healing. There has been no current consensus on the actual requirement of the different organs as at now. Massive research is still ongoing in a bid to find the exact transmission frequency and reduce trial and error in the use of PEMF.
Why PEMF Is a good alternative Today
Opioid addiction is a pandemic. Every day, thousands of lives are lost to opioid addictions which began as prescription medication use for the temporary relief of pain. Oxycodone and its many derivatives are proving difficult to eradicate from the market. There is a dire need for alternatives whose harmless use will not lead to death.
People with conditions such as migraines are often put on medication such as Imitrex which is expensive especially for people with no insurance covers. These group of people, who have pain continuously, eventually opt to take opioids due to their affordability and fast relief. It is these groups of people that would benefit greatly from relief through PEMF.
Despite FDA approval, many OTC pain relief drugs still have serious side effects even when used according to physician guidelines. This is largely because they were not made with long term use in mind. For this reason, it makes a lot of sense to find alternatives that offer relief without organ damage to people with ongoing pain.
Groups of People who Would Benefit from PEMF Therapy
Chronic pain
There are many reasons why anyone would suffer from chronic pain. Conditions such as fibromyalgia present with chronic pain without any obvious cause. Other spinal deformities as well as congenital conditions may also cause chronic pain. Poor posture and weight can also contribute to chronic pain.
All these conditions may be corrected. In cases where there is no form of relief to these conditions, PEMF is a great alternative that would offer ongoing relief to these individuals.
Diabetes
Patients suffering from diabetes suffer from neuropathic pain. This type of pain is due to damage to the nerves. The high sugar levels found in the blood of diabetics also accelerates damage to the cells and nerves.
PEMF is especially beneficial to patients with diabetes because it offers relief from their neuropathic pain. It also has the benefit of promoting regeneration of cells damaged by the high blood glucose levels and slowing the progression of end organ damage.
Osteoarthritis
This is a condition that is caused by repetitive damage to the joints. It is characterized by joint stiffness and constant pain. It is common in older people who are overweight or have familial disposition.
PEMF therapy in osteoarthritis can help slow the progression of the disease all the while offering relief from the pain and stiffness associated with the disease.
PEMF is and continues to be revolutionary in the field of medicine. Consult us if you would love to learn more about how PEMF therapy can be beneficial to you or anyone you know.
