Sound Medicine -- March 23, 2002
- Barbara Lewis and Dr. David Crabb talk to IU physicians about:
Treating chronic pain- Acupuncture
for pain control
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Treating chronic pain
For millions of people, constant physical pain is a way of life. Affecting
an estimated 86 million Americans, chronic pain syndrome can begin with
an accident or illness, but it can also manifest for no apparent reason.
Dr. Randy Braddom is founder and former chair of the Department of
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Indiana University School
of Medicine. He talks about treating chronic pain with opiates, the
myth of psychological addiction, and how pain management centers safeguard
against abuse. Dr. Braddom also reveals why most doctors are reluctant
to prescribe opiates.
Dr. Braddom is medical director of the Hook Rehabilitation Pain Management
Center at Community Hospitals in Indianapolis.
Resources
 Pain.com
provides terrific, frequently updated information for patients as
well as physicians, including continuing medical education.
The patient-oriented
Web site for National
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIDS) includes
publications and resources for chronic pain.
The
American Chronic Pain Association is a patient advocacy group.
Its Web site includes tips for choosing a pain reduction program.
Acupuncture and pain control
Although alternative medicine has been viewed as a last resort when
conventional treatments fail, more and more patients are turning to
holistic medicine as a primary treatment, especially for relieving pain
and tension-related ills.
Acupuncture, an ancient eastern healing method, is becoming mainstream
in Western medicine. Today we meet Dr. Palmer Mackie, clinical assistant
professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine, medical director
of the Integrative Pain Center at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis.
He's also an acupuncturist and a member of the American Academy of Medical
Acupuncture.
Dr. Mackie explains the science behind acupuncture, how needles stimulate
endorphin chemicals, and he defines the "gate theory," or
how neurotransmitters may be modulated. Acupuncture can be used before
or after pain, and controlled studies show treatment is especially effective
for easing nausea and jaw pain. Dr. Mackie also discusses the interesting
contrast between Western and Eastern understandings of the practice.
And he has an intriguing prediction about the future of the practice
of acupuncture.
- Resources
- Dr.
Mackie recommends the American
Academy of Medical Acupuncture Web site. It provides many resources
for physicians, including the journal Medical Acupuncture,
and articles for the general public written by physicians.
- The
Acupuncture Today magazine has news and discussions of interest
to laymen and professionals.
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Health Quiz —
You've probably heard of the Human Genome Project in which scientists
are mapping out our DNA. And maybe you've heard of the Indiana Genomics
Initiative, in which researchers at IU are exploring the details of
our genetic heritage and how it affects human disease. Which of these
following fields are building on the work of the genome project:
a. proteomics,
b. transcriptomics,
c. metabolomics, or
d. all of the above
What's the answer?
Medical Mystery —
An expensive epidemic
Medical professionals are gearing up to face a medical condition
that affects up to 50 million Americans, costs those people more than
$3 billion, and hits up employers for more than $250 million. What's
this disease that we need to prepare for now?
Find out!
Weekly Notebook — antique pain remedies
• Mesopotamians and other ancient cultures used shocks by electric
eels to ease foot and leg pain.
• Bee stings for arthritis pain is one folk remedy still used
-- but not doctor recommended.
• An old Russian folk remedy for arthritis had people strap a
bag of biting ants to the affected arm or leg.
• Leaves and stems of banana plants were used to treat burns
and blisters.
• Comfrey and willow bark were used in teas.
Source: Chemical
Heritage Foundation
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