Advice for those here with chronic pain

[johnthomasmacdonald]

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/dxrates

see above for a summary of most of the large studies done on vegetarianism and disease - another excellent study is "the china study" - from wiki:

The China Study (2005) is a book by T. Colin Campbell, Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, and his son Thomas M. Campbell II, a physician. It examines the relationship between the consumption of animal products and a variety of chronic illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancers of the breast, prostate and bowel.[2] The book had sold 750,000 copies as of January 2013.[3] It is one of America's best-selling books about nutrition.[4]

The China Study of the title is taken from the China-Cornell-Oxford Project, a 20-year study that began in 1983 and was conducted jointly by the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Cornell University, and the University of Oxford.[5] T. Colin Campbell was one of the directors of the project, described by The New York Times in 1990 as "the Grand Prix of epidemiology".[6]

The study examined mortality rates from 48 forms of cancer and other chronic diseases from 1973 to 75 in 65 counties in China, and correlated them with 1983–84 dietary surveys and bloodwork from 6,500 people, 100 from each county. It concluded that counties with a high consumption of animal-based foods in 1983–84 were more likely to have had higher death rates from "Western" diseases as of 1973–75, while the opposite was true for counties that ate more plant foods in 1983–84. The study was conducted in those counties because they had genetically similar populations that tended, over generations, to live in the same way in the same place, and eat diets specific to those regions.[7]

The authors conclude that people who eat a plant-based/vegan diet—avoiding animal products such as beef, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, and milk, and reducing their intake of processed foods and refined carbohydrates—will escape, reduce or reverse the development of chronic diseases. They also recommend adequate amounts of sunshine to maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D, and supplements of vitamin B12 in case of complete avoidance of animal products. They criticize low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, which include restrictions on the percentage of calories derived from complex carbohydrates.[8]

[archangle]

Re: Acetaminophen

People really need to understand Tylenol/acetaminophen.

Once you get above a certain dose, acetaminophen suddenly gets much more toxic. Read the wikipedia entry if you're interested in the details.

The important thing is that 3x the dose may not be 3x as harmful to your body. 3x the doses may be 300x as harmful to your body. The recommended dose may be safe. Things can go bad really quickly if you overdose without any real warning signs before it's too late.

It's especially important to check all your meds and don't OD because you took a nighttime cold remedy and your usual Tylenol tablet without realizing they both have acetaminophen.



Re: Glucosamine and Chondroitin.

Your body needs certain chemicals to maintain its normal operation, including building and maintaining your joints. If your body doesn't have enough of the right chemicals, your joints may degrade.

If you aren't getting enough of the chemicals that glucosamine and chondroitin contain in your diet, it might be a miracle cure. If your joint problems aren't due to a dietary deficiency of those chemicals, eating more glucosamine and chondroitin won't do anything for you. At best, GAC contains nutrients you need, it's not magic "make your joints better" juice.

It's like getting enough vitamin A in your diet. If you don't get enough of vitamin A, you'll have vision problems. Vitamin A can be a miracle cure, sometimes literally curing you overnight. However, if your diet provides enough vitamin A, taking extra vitamin A pills won't do a thing for your vision. If your vision problems aren't cause by vitamin deficiency, vitamin A won't do anything for you.

[VVV]

The authors conclude that people who eat a plant-based/vegan diet—avoiding animal products such as beef, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, and milk, and reducing their intake of processed foods and refined carbohydrates—will escape, reduce or reverse the development of chronic diseases.

Do they factor in exercise?

In my family, we have elders passing away in their nineties without chronic diseases. Many of them had office jobs and partook in no regular physical activity. They ate pretty well - old style - traditional breakfast of eggs/bacon/sausage/toast/whole milk and other meals were traditional fresh meat and vegetables, white flour bread, cake, pie, tea and coffee with lots of sugar .....

There were a couple of smokers who died of emphysema/lung cancer in their early sixties and one who became a heroin abuser after injuries in WW1 and died at age 70.

[Thewino]

Re: Acetaminophen

People really need to understand Tylenol/acetaminophen.

Once you get above a certain dose, acetaminophen suddenly gets much more toxic. Read the wikipedia entry if you're interested in the details.

The important thing is that 3x the dose may not be 3x as harmful to your body. 3x the doses may be 300x as harmful to your body. The recommended dose may be safe. Things can go bad really quickly if you overdose without any real warning signs before it's too late.

It's especially important to check all your meds and don't OD because you took a nighttime cold remedy and your usual Tylenol tablet without realizing they both have acetaminophen.

This is a really, really important message. If you are on pain medication that includes Tylenol as an ingredient or you consume large quantities of Tylenol, as the Angle mentioned, you need to watch very closely the ingredients of medications, especially cold medications, that you ingest so you don't go over your physician's recommended daily dose of Acetaminophen.

In addition, if Tylenol is in your pain medications, drinking alcohol can very easily damage your liver with this combination.

If the damage is irreversible, there is no fix for this. One would the have to be put on the liver transplant list and be hopeful that one becomes available.

Thanks to Archangle for this important message.

TheWino

[DreamStalker]

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/dxrates

see above for a summary of most of the large studies done on vegetarianism and disease - another excellent study is "the china study" - from wiki:

The China Study (2005) is a book by T. Colin Campbell, Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, and his son Thomas M. Campbell II, a physician. It examines the relationship between the consumption of animal products and a variety of chronic illnesses, such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancers of the breast, prostate and bowel.[2] The book had sold 750,000 copies as of January 2013.[3] It is one of America's best-selling books about nutrition.[4]

The China Study of the title is taken from the China-Cornell-Oxford Project, a 20-year study that began in 1983 and was conducted jointly by the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, Cornell University, and the University of Oxford.[5] T. Colin Campbell was one of the directors of the project, described by The New York Times in 1990 as "the Grand Prix of epidemiology".[6]

The study examined mortality rates from 48 forms of cancer and other chronic diseases from 1973 to 75 in 65 counties in China, and correlated them with 1983–84 dietary surveys and bloodwork from 6,500 people, 100 from each county. It concluded that counties with a high consumption of animal-based foods in 1983–84 were more likely to have had higher death rates from "Western" diseases as of 1973–75, while the opposite was true for counties that ate more plant foods in 1983–84. The study was conducted in those counties because they had genetically similar populations that tended, over generations, to live in the same way in the same place, and eat diets specific to those regions.[7]

The authors conclude that people who eat a plant-based/vegan diet—avoiding animal products such as beef, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, and milk, and reducing their intake of processed foods and refined carbohydrates—will escape, reduce or reverse the development of chronic diseases. They also recommend adequate amounts of sunshine to maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D, and supplements of vitamin B12 in case of complete avoidance of animal products. They criticize low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet, which include restrictions on the percentage of calories derived from complex carbohydrates.[8]

So ummmm ... I take it you did not like what the horse had to say? Now you want to divert attention to another flawed study ...

I have Campbell's book and I have read it and it is flawed if not a fraud. I won't spend the time pointing out the flaws since there are many who have done so more elegantly, plus I have things to do today rather than convincing a 30-year vegan that his ills stem from malnutrition..

See here ... http://www.westonaprice.org/thumbs-down ... N0dWR5Ijt9

here ... http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/10/09/heart- ... /#more-654

here ... http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/07/07/the-ch ... or-fallac/

and here ... http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/China-Study.html

and a whole bunch of other links if you just go and do some research. I've posted a lot about nutrition on this forum. Eat vegan if you want and complain about your ills if you want but all your reasons for doing so are rooted in ingnorance.

[ChicagoGranny]

http://www.upworthy.com/the-brutally-ho ... air?c=tkp1

[stage0]

I use the t.e.n.s. unit to help negate the pain. I found mine on qvc fo a hundred bucks.

[NateS]

I use the t.e.n.s. unit to help negate the pain. I found mine on qvc fo a hundred bucks.

Great suggestion for many here on the forum!

I had great success with my TENS unit for years, until I got a pacemaker. Then the cardiologist cited various studies insisting I had to stop using the TENS due to some risk of screwing up the pacemaker settings. Reluctantly, I complied due to my girlfriend's concerns over the doctor's warnings.
If it wasn't for her, however I'd probably still be taking my chances and using it because it was so good at pain relief.

Regards, Nate

[StuUnderPressure]

Can someone recommend a good Tens Unit?

Also, what is the minimum number of channels one should get?

Would such a unit help with the pain caused by lumbar stenosis and bulging lumbar discs?

From my limited research, it seems that the "supplies" run as much or more than the actual unit?

[squid13]

If your on Medicare get your doctor to write a prescription for it and Medicare will pay for it and your supplies. I use the 2 channel Empi.

[StuUnderPressure]

If your on Medicare get your doctor to write a prescription for it and Medicare will pay for it and your supplies. I use the 2 channel Empi.

What kind of pain & where is the pain that you use your unit for?

[squid13]

What kind of pain & where is the pain that you use your unit for?

I use it on both my shoulders, lower back and my left knee.

[StuUnderPressure]

This article (dated June 2012) seems to say that Medicare will no longer pay for a Tens Unit for lower back pain (which is what I have).

Can't seem to find anything more recent as to whether or not this is still the case.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/P ... ment/33210

[StuUnderPressure]

When Medicare does pay for a Tens Unit, do they buy it outright or do they rent it as they do with CPAP machines?

And, what it the useful life of a Tens Unit?
5 Years, like a CPAP machine? More? Less?

[NateS]

Can someone recommend a good Tens Unit?

Also, what is the minimum number of channels one should get?

Would such a unit help with the pain caused by lumbar stenosis and bulging lumbar discs?

From my limited research, it seems that the "supplies" run as much or more than the actual unit?

I looked for the one I bought from Amazon about 5 years ago which worked quite well and only $50 b it's no longer listed.

See favorable reviews on this one currently at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-cont ... B00AN8UOSC

Regards, Nate