If you or a family member suffer from chronic pain, you know that the search for relief is an ongoing process. Many times pain medications have serious side effects, or doctors are cautious about prescribing a large enough dosage due to legal issues. Whatever the case, people still suffer in pain.

This article will not really delve into the different pharmaceuticals available to treat pain, but rather with some new innovative, promising, but questionable treatments.

Vertebroplasty: For people who have experienced the prolonged and debilitating pain associated with compression fractures in their spine (usually resulting from osteoporosis) vertebroplasty may offer them some relief. This procedure involves injecting “bone cement” into the vertebrae where the compression fracture resides. This stabilizes the fracture thus relieving the pain.

Before undergoing the procedure the radiologist will use X-rays, bone scans and MRI’s to find the location of the fracture that is causing the pain. After locating and isolating the particular area, the bone cement is injected into the vertebrae using a hollow needle. The cement hardens within fifteen minutes and the patient remains on bed rest for a few hours.

The cost for a typical vertebroplasty is around $1,000 which is much less than the typical expenses involving skilled nurses, home care, loss of wages, braces, and long periods of bed rest.

A comprehensive management program for vertebral compression fractures can be found at the Mayo Clinic and also the University of Virginia.

Therapeutic Magnets: Therapeutic magnets are becoming a popular item in pain control, although the jury is still out on them. Research done at Baylor College of Medicine found that 76 percent of participants wearing the magnets did report significant pain relief, while only 19 percent wearing a placebo reported any pain relief.

In some circles magnets are growing in popularity as the pain treatment of choice. It is believed that they stimulate blood and speed the overall healing process, but neither the safety or the efficacy of these magnets have been proven.

However, according to the Illinois Pain Treatment Institute Newsletters, there is no conclusive evidence to show that magnets “don’t” work. Research is in fact showing some proof that magnets may:

1.Increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels and attracting oxygen.

Change migration of calcium ions to heal broken bones or move calcium away from arthritic joints.

Block pain signals sent by nerves to the brain.

Alter the pH balance of bodily fluids.

Attract iron in the blood to stimulate circulation.

For more information on magnets in pain control call: Illinois Pain Treatment Institute at 847-551-1212.

Ziconitide: From the ocean floor emerges an exciting new substance. Ziconitide is a manmade chemical, that is very similar to the substance a snail uses to paralyze its prey. The chemical is said to be 100 to 1000 times more effective in pain relief than what has been available up until now. It has been shown to ease pain that did not respond to any other drug treatments.

Testing is ongoing at John Hopkins Medical Institution for FDA approval.

Although these techniques are new, pain control is finally getting the attention it deserves, and slowly new methods for pain relief are in view! No one really understands, unless they have been in pain!