I think that medications certainly has an awful lot to do with this but also just the very fact we have constant pain means that we are stressing our adrenal glands. Add that to our lifestyle and diet choices and we can end up totally exhausted before we know it. Loretta hit the nail on the head about the importance of diet and anti-oxidants. I've been on this road for the past year adjusting my diet and have added many supplements to help support total health. Overall I feel healthier and that does help the pain somewhat. It doesn't stop the pain but it does helps to support my body and brain to better deal with the pain.
Below is an excerpt from the Intractable Pain Patient Survival Guide by Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH, I posted it just before Christmas. In it he describes what happens to our adrenal glands when in constant severe pain.
Quote:
COMPLICATIONS OF INTRACTABLE PAIN
Severe, constant IP, causes the mid-brain area known as the hypothalamus to over-activate the pituitary and adrenal glands, which in turn produce excess blood levels of adrenaline, cortisol (the bodies natural
cortisone), and related chemicals. Excess adrenaline causes the pulse rate and blood pressure to rise, and excess cortisol, overtime, causes loss of bone and teeth, osteoporosis, weight gain, hypertension, diabetes, and immune suppression among other complications. IP patients MUST find out if they have this syndrome, because it causes too many serious complications
if it is not controlled. For example, a pulse rate or blood pressure that remains high, over time, may cause any one of several cardiovascular complications including arteriosclerosis, angina, heart attack, and stroke. It is the author's belief that most IP patients die prematurely of heart or stroke complications.Due to these complications, IP patients must obtain the pain control they need to keep their pulse rate and blood pressure in check.
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I don't believe that just because one may have an over active adrenal gland that all the complications he lists here will happen to us but it is a good warning of what may come if it goes unchecked.
Warm wishes to all,
MsL