Did you know that nutrient deficiencies can affect chronic pain? For some circumstances, integrated health care, such as functional medicine from our Toronto clinic and IV therapy, can help provide relief. When IV infusions and other supplements are united with additional treatment modalities and healthy living, they can support optimal health and functioning. 

Chronic pain persists beyond the standard process of recovery, which is an average of three months. It can result from an injury, and it may feel endless, with bouts of breaks or continuity. It can prevent you from enjoying exercise, relationships, and consuming optimal nutrients. It’s not uncommon to experience low mood and demotivation due to these lingering discomforts, which can trigger sleep issues (i.e. insomnia) and additional health concerns. 

Scientific evidence has suggested that chronic pain issues may be linked to the poor intake of nutrients. But this can be addressed with strategies from the integrative functional medicine model. 

In our clinic, for example, we would apply this to a tailored treatment plan, which would help pinpoint the root cause of your pain. Custom health plans may include functional and naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, cold laser treatments, Western medicine, herbal anti-inflammatories and/or the adjunct support of IV therapy. When blended with beneficial lifestyle factors and other previously mentioned therapies, IV drips can promote wellness improvements. 

For this post, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre (TFMC) highlights facts about chronic pain and how we would use adjunct therapies to help curb inflammation and foster relief.  

Understanding chronic pain and the role of nutrition

• • According to the Government of Canada, roughly 8 million people in the country are suffering from this achy issue. 
  • It can severely affect social lives. Loved ones of the pain sufferer may not believe or comprehend the severity, as chronic pain is unseeable. A lack of acknowledgement and support can lead patients towards isolation and not seeking proper treatment. 
  • Chronic soreness tends to heighten with age, confirms a Pain Research and Management article. Scientists estimate that 80% of long-term care residents likely experience chronic pain. 
  • The Western diet is composed mainly of processed, sugary foods – which lacks nutritious, antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies – and may boost proinflammatory mediators in the body. Inflammation may not necessarily ensue, but the human body’s defense mechanisms may be weakened for fighting free radicals. Therefore, supplementing with antioxidant rich nutraceuticals for additional support could help boost your intake of natural anti-inflammatories, while helping to ease any nutritional deficiency. 

Getting natural support for chronic pain and inflammation

When you consult the TFMC about our consolidated approach to health, we’ll discuss what you’d like included for customizing therapies. For chronic pain needs, we may request certain tests be conducted first, such as a food sensitivity test or personalized nutritional assessment. These results would help us tailor your integrative medicine therapies. For example, if functional lab tests show you’re lacking nutrients linked to pain levels (i.e. magnesium or certain amino acids), we would compound an IV drip to include these ingredients or teach you how to take oral supplements. We may also recommend lifestyle modifications for helping manage current symptoms and for practicing stress management (i.e. yoga, tai chi, etc.). 

With that, here are some examples of integrative medicine strategies for supporting chronic pain: 

• • PEA (Palmitoylethanolamide): The human body has several body systems, such as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS helps bring homeostasis to the body’s functioning by activating receptors called CB1 and CB2. PEA is a natural ingredient found in egg yolks and soy lecithin. Studies have shown that PEA supplementation can bind to both types of ECS receptors for activation, which has been shown to assist with individualized pain relief.  

• • Acupuncture: This is a Traditional Chinese Medicine tool that targets points on the body to promote the flow of energy or chi (pronounced as “chee”). According to studies, acupuncture for pain in the neck, back, or knee from post-surgical procedure or osteoarthritis “…is well-tolerated with little risk of serious adverse effects,” reports an article from the journal American Family Physician. 
  • IV nutrient therapy: This treatment modality can help foster optimal health when unified with a healthy lifestyle and functional medicine therapies. For some chronic illness symptoms and conditions, we may suggest adjunct IV drips to help with hydration, correct possible nutrient shortcomings, and support detoxification. This is because high-dose antioxidants can address unique biological needs; as a result, oxidative stress, as well as  its damaging, inflammatory properties, can be tackled in the body. 

Each chronic pain sufferer has a different root cause. Personalized IV drips may offer nutrients specific to your health needs. One example is the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid, which has been shown to combat free radicals while helping to reduce pain and numbness in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. 

If you’ve been struggling with chronic pain, a personalized treatment plan could help target individual symptoms and the root cause. Please reach out to learn about our compassionate approach to health care. 

Inspiring Toronto patients to achieve their health goals

At the TFMC, we help untap your potential for optimal wellness. We recognize that not every patient can benefit from the same solution for symptom relief – which is why our functional medicine practitioners recognize individual needs (i.e. medical history, environmental factors, lifestyle factors, and health goals). 

Our wellness centre’s IV Lounge is open to patients who require intravenous treatments for adjunctive support. Drips are freshly compounded with natural ingredients without added preservatives! Sessions are monitored by our team, which includes a medical doctor, naturopath, nurse practitioner and registered nurses. Therapeutic doses of infusions are made  in line with integrative functional medicine philosophy, and a plethora of drip nutrients is available including major minerals, a medley of amino acids, magnesium, folic acid, amino acids, additional B vitamins, and high-dose vitamin C.

Keep in mind, we personalize health strategies. Tell us about all your current health issues so that we can effectively tailor your comprehensive treatment plan! Our functional medicine practitioners can adapt therapies for numerous health issues, such as those related to immune function, cellular health, sexual health, autoimmune disease, body aches, irregular periods, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, chronic symptoms, digestive issues, poor energy levels, and more. 

Suggested Reading: How Toxins Affect Autoimmune Disease: A Functional Medicine Toronto Discussion

Discover a wide variety of potential health benefits in our functional medicine Toronto clinic. Tailor your clinical experience to improve your quality of life – request your initial consultation today. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

 

References

Artukoglu BB, Beyer C, Zuloff-Shani A, Brener E, Bloch MH. Efficacy of Palmitoylethanolamide for Pain: A Meta-Analysis. Pain Physician. 2017 Jul;20(5):353-362. PMID: 28727699.

“Chronic pain” from the Government of Canada, modified June 12, 2023, viewed on October 2, 2023. 

Dragan S, Șerban MC, Damian G, Buleu F, Valcovici M, Christodorescu R. Dietary Patterns and Interventions to Alleviate Chronic Pain. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 19;12(9):2510. doi: 10.3390/nu12092510. PMID: 32825189; PMCID: PMC7551034.

Elma Ö, Brain K, Dong HJ. The Importance of Nutrition as a Lifestyle Factor in Chronic Pain Management: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2022 Oct 9;11(19):5950. doi: 10.3390/jcm11195950. PMID: 36233817; PMCID: PMC9571356.

Guida F, Luongo L, Boccella S, Giordano ME, Romano R, Bellini G, Manzo I, Furiano A, Rizzo A, Imperatore R, Iannotti FA, D’Aniello E, Piscitelli F, Sca Rossi F, Cristino L, Di Marzo V, de Novellis V, Maione S. Palmitoylethanolamide induces microglia changes associated with increased migration and phagocytic activity: involvement of the CB2 receptor. Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 23;7(1):375. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-00342-1. PMID: 28336953; PMCID: PMC5428303.

Kelly RB, Willis J. Acupuncture for Pain. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jul 15;100(2):89-96. PMID: 31305037.

Lang-Illievich K, Klivinyi C, Rumpold-Seitlinger G, Dorn C, Bornemann-Cimenti H. The Effect of Palmitoylethanolamide on Pain Intensity, Central and Peripheral Sensitization, and Pain Modulation in Healthy Volunteers-A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial. Nutrients. 2022 Oct 1;14(19):4084. doi: 10.3390/nu14194084. PMID: 36235736; PMCID: PMC9570726.

Joe Tatta, Jo Nijs, Ömer Elma, Anneleen Malfliet, Dawn Magnusson, The Critical Role of Nutrition Care to Improve Pain Management: A Global Call to Action for Physical Therapist Practice, Physical Therapy, Volume 102, Issue 4, April 2022, pzab296, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab296

Petrosino, S., & Marzo, V. D. (2017). The pharmacology of palmitoylethanolamide and first data on the therapeutic efficacy of some of its new formulations. British Journal of Pharmacology, 174(11), 1349-1365. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.13580

“Science Review: The Endocannabinoid System and Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)” from the Metagenics Institute, viewed on October 16, 2023. 

Wilson MG, Lavis JN, Ellen ME. Supporting chronic pain management across provincial and territorial health systems in Canada: Findings from two stakeholder dialogues. Pain Res Manag. 2015 Sep-Oct;20(5):269-79. doi: 10.1155/2015/918976. Epub 2015 Aug 20. PMID: 26291124; PMCID: PMC4596635.