Environmental Medicine Department

Chronic Pain and Toxicity

What is the association between chronic pain and toxicity? 
It may be helpful to consider for a moment what physiological processes can result in chronic pain.
 

   Chronic pain can be associated with the following:

• Acute injury causing mal-position of vertebrae or slowly healing tissues, such as might occur from an automobile accident.

• Overuse injury, such as “tennis elbow” or other tendonitis

• Autoimmune inflammation of tissues, as in rheumatoid arthritis

• Degeneration of tissues, as in osteoarthritis

• Overgrowth of tissues, as in bone spurs, uterine fibroids, and tumors

• Lack of adequate oxygen to chronically tense or contracting muscles

• Pressure on soft tissues, as from chronic intestinal gas or overgrowth of other tissues

• Inflammation caused by allergic or sensitivity reactions, as in joint pain associated with eating tomatoes,

• potatoes, and peppers (foods from the nightshade family)

• Reactions to toxic substances such as mercury, lead and other “heavy metals”

• Chronic viral disease such as viral hepatitis, Epstein Barr virus

Other poorly understood biochemical processes resulting in inflammation, inadequate production of cellular energy, and other interference with cellular function.  These may be due to micronutrient deficiencies or the presence of toxins.  Fibromyalgia is an example of a condition with this sort of mechanism.

 For every mechanism listed above, there can be a direct or indirect association made with toxicity in the body.  Many of you who have been to the office have heard us talk about the relationship between toxicity and low stomach acid.  We find low HCL (hydrochloric acid) to be an almost inevitable result of toxicity.  What then follows is the inability to break down proteins and absorb amino acids, poor mineral absorption, and loss of the “sterilizing pool” effect of HCL on killing ingested microorganisms. Low stomach acid then causes altered signals to the pancreas, leading to decreased production of other digestive enzymes, and decreased B vitamin absorption.  Food then tends to ferment rather than be digested.  The fermentation encourages growth of unfriendly microbes, which produce gas and toxic byproducts.  The intestinal lining can be damaged in the process, so that it is no longer as effective at screening what should and should not be absorbed.  Improper absorption leads to increase allergic reaction and a stressed immune system.  Associations have been made between inappropriate intestinal microbes and certain autoimmune conditions.

 Overall, the effects of low stomach acid are “functional malnutrition” and “altered immune function.” The relationship of toxicity, low stomach acid, and immune function for the conditions listed above can be summarized as follows:

• Slow healing from injury can be related to toxic insult to the immune system or to the nutrient deficiencies that follow low stomach acid.

• Overuse injuries are associated with repeated micro-injuries and chronic inflammation.  Healing from both are slowed by nutrient deficiencies.

• Autoimmune diseases affecting connective tissue (muscle, muscle sheaths, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, etc.) involve inflammation and tissue degeneration, which again are worse from nutrient deficiencies.  Additionally, reaction to a particular poison in the body often leads to cross-reactivity to the body’s own tissues.  A well-known example is the body’s reaction to silicone implants. 

• Tissue degeneration and overgrowth can be the result of impaired regulatory mechanisms at the cellular level.  Toxic materials are often involved in this process, by interfering with enzyme systems, using up valuable nutrients, causing mutations in genes, which regulate activity, and other complicated mechanisms.

• Along with stress, a common cause of muscle tension and spasm is magnesium deficiency.  This is a common result of low stomach acid.  Low oxygen delivery can occur in iron deficient anemia, another problem resulting from low stomach acid.

When we see patients who complain of  “wandering” pains, we often find that lab tests show high levels of mercury and other heavy metals.  Almost invariably, these pains are resolved when these toxic substances are removed from the body.

Tissue cleansing can be very helpful for many people with chronic pain.

How can you find out if toxicity is involved in your health problems?

During a medical consultation at the clinic, we seek to understand your health and exposure history. We determine whether it is recommended for you to pursue testing, and which tests are appropriate.  Testing can be done for heavy metals, pesticide residues, solvents, PCB’s, and any number of individual substances to which you may have been exposed.

What is done if your tests are positive for toxicity?

We use an effective combination of therapies to help your cells release stored toxins, support your liver in processing them for elimination, and removing them from the body.  For people who are largely incapacitated by their condition, or who are at risk of very serious complications, four to six weeks of full time cleansing at the clinic is often recommended.  Oral chelation therapy, in combination with weekly hydrotherapy and colonic irrigation, is sufficient for many people whose heavy metal levels are high.

We also provide high quality supplement in our dispensary to support your body’s detoxification process.  The supplements are an important part of cleansing, to be used in combination with the physical therapies we provide at the clinic.