By Fred Cheng (R.Ph), Christine Cheng (R.Ph)
Pain. What a terrible 4-letter word. However, living pain-free may be more within reach than you think. Without trivializing it too much, pain is a perceived sensation with many potential causes. It is a subjective feeling triggered in the nervous system by a physical stimulus such as a blunt or shearing force, a chemical, a poke, a pinch, etc. So, we can feel “pain” when we get a trivial paper cut or, more seriously, suffer a car accident, shingles outbreak, pinched nerve, severed limb, etc. In a way, it is an evil game of “telephone” between the trigger site and your brain. Imagine if we can somehow interrupt this telephone game; the message would be lost and you will not have that sensation of pain anymore. Sound too good to be true? Read on!
First, we would need to find some kind of substance or medication that can interrupt this painful message and, literally, act as a “pain block”. There are many options that are available over-the-counter (OTC) at CLOVERDALE PHARMASAVE without a prescription, including (but not limited to) Traumacare gel or ointment, MSM Cream, Dynamint, Chapman’s Liniment, Arnica Tincture, DMSO Gel or Lotion, or even Rub A535. If you have tried those products already, but with limited success, consider SPECIALTY OTC COMPOUNDS that use substances such as dextromethorphan and guaifenesin. For those with more severe pain, PRESCRIPTION ingredients such as gabapentin, amitriptyline, baclofen, diclofenac, ketoprofen, and ketamine may be prescribed by your physician.
It is important to recognize that choosing the right ingredient is only one part of the puzzle. The next step is to somehow direct this substance to a specific location where it is needed to interrupt the communication of the painful stimulus to the brain. The best way to do this is by putting the pain medicine into a specialized, topical gel such as LIPODERM, which can drive the medication through the skin via pockets (or “micelles”) formed in the gel during its compounding process. Only a true compounding pharmacy such as CLOVERDALE PHARMASAVE would have the expertise in PERSONNEL and EQUIPMENT to properly create a gel containing micelles through the use of a MILL. Sounds like a lot of gibberish? Bottom-line is that a properly compounded product can deliver the pain medication directly to the site where it is needed, with very minimal risk of systemic (“wide-spread”) side-effects, interactions, or addiction/abuse potential.
Although pain is often thought of as a physical issue, it is important to recognize that in some cases, there is also a psychological aspect. In those cases where your physical pain is made worse by stress or anxiety, or if your pain is causing you stress and anxiety, you may find it helpful to address those issues concurrently.
If you are living in pain, we can help you put a damper on it. Come talk to our compounding pain experts. You can also discuss your pain history with us in a consultation setting by appointment. Let us work with you and your team of physicians to find a solution that is customized to you. Our pain services include a survey of your pain history and correspondence with your physician(s) as necessary to promptly arrive at a feasible, effective solution. We are passionate about finding solutions to your pain and wound problems. Let us help you revive that achy, breaky body.
(Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC. Their pharmacy celebrated its 30-Year Birthday last year. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore and OnLine. They would love to hear from you! 604-576-2888; www.cloverdalepharmasave.com. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)
