Category: Neurofunctional Pain Management

Dealing with any kind of foot pain can be an incredibly frustrating experience. If you have an issue with your foot that’s causing pain, it can be easy to aggravate it every time you put pressure on it. As a result, foot pain can be highly debilitating since something as simple as standing or walking can cause pain. 

Fortunately, there are many treatment solutions when it comes to pain relief. One of those options is TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) therapy, which is commonly used to reduce the intensity of pain symptoms. Although TENS therapy can be effective for providing temporary pain relief, the real question is, can it provide long-term relief as well?

Common Causes Of Foot Pain

Before diving further into TENS therapy and whether it can help relieve foot pain, it helps to better understand what causes foot pain. For treatment of any kind to be effective over the long term, you need to be able to treat the underlying cause of the pain. With that in mind, the following are the most common causes of foot pain:

• Plantar Fasciitis: Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the tissues that connect the heel to the toes. It can be caused by an injury or overexertion of the foot and can cause intense pain when walking or standing.
  
• Bunions: Bunions are when the big toe starts to lean towards the other toes, causing a bump on the side of the foot, leading to pain and discomfort. This is often caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes and can lead to pain in the toe area.
  
• Hammer Toes: Hammer toes are when the joints at the end of a toe become bent, causing intense pain with every step. Like bunions, hammer toes can result from wearing footwear that’s too tight for your feet.
  
• Morton’s Neuroma: Morton’s neuroma is a condition where the tissues around a nerve in your foot thicken, leading to pain and tingling sensations. It can be caused by wearing narrow or pointed shoes that put too much pressure on the front of your foot.
  
• Stress Fractures: Stress fractures can occur when the bones in your feet are weakened due to repetitive stress or trauma. Stress fractures are commonly caused by running or jumping on hard surfaces while wearing improperly cushioned shoes.
  
• Achilles Tendinitis: Achilles tendinitis occurs when the Achilles tendon becomes inflamed, which can be caused by running on hard surfaces while wearing shoes that don’t provide enough support. It can also be caused by doing too much physical activity without properly stretching beforehand.
  
• Gout: Gout occurs when uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints, which can cause pain, swelling, and redness. An unhealthy diet or lifestyle often causes gout, leading to intense foot pain.
  
• Ingrown Toenails: Ingrown toenails are often caused by cutting your nails too short, wearing shoes that are too tight for your feet, or attempting to push a nail out from the side. This can cause intense pain and infection in the affected area.

Foot Pain And TENS Therapy

There are a lot of different conditions that can cause foot pain. TENS is a popular form of treatment because it’s non-invasive and drug-free. With that in mind, the following are a few things you should know about TENS therapy to better understand how it works:

How Does  A TENS Unit Work to Relieve Foot Pain?

TENS therapy works by sending tiny electrical pulses through the skin that stimulate nerve fibers, which can help to reduce pain signals from reaching the brain and stimulate the release of endorphins, which function like natural painkillers. This is done using a TENS unit, which delivers electrical stimulation via electrodes attached to the skin. The electrical pulses can also provide a soothing massage-like sensation to the foot, which can help relax the muscles and reduce tension, thereby reducing stiffness and pain.

Benefits Of TENS Unit For Feet

The following are a few of the reasons why TENS therapy is so effective at providing temporary relief from foot pain:

• Flexibility: With a TENS unit, you can control the intensity and duration of the treatment. This allows you to adjust it according to your level of pain or discomfort.
• Increase Circulation And Reduce Inflammation: Many conditions that cause foot pain, like gout, are at least partially a cause of inflammation. TENS can help to increase blood circulation and reduce inflammation, which can help alleviate foot pain.
• Improve Range Of Motion: By massaging the muscles and tendons in your feet, a TENS unit can help reduce pain and stiffness associated with conditions like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, which can improve your range of motion.

Is TENS Strong Enough To Relieve The Foot Pain?

TENS therapy can be pretty effective when it comes to temporary pain relief. As such, it’s suitable for acute conditions that cause foot pain. However, TENS therapy simply isn’t strong enough to provide long-term relief from more chronic foot conditions. This is because TENS therapy uses low-voltage electrical stimulation to provide relief, and it can’t penetrate deep enough into the tissues to address the underlying cause of the pain.

A regular TENS unit can only deliver electrical currents up to 400 pulses per second, and the at-home TENS units available on the market can only deliver upwards of 250 pulses per second. So if you’re suffering from severe pain or a chronic foot condition, getting TENS therapy is more akin to getting a nice foot massage. It may feel good for a moment but won’t last.

How Neuragenex Approaches Foot Pain

At Neuragenex, we firmly believe that electrical stimulation can be highly effective at helping patients manage their foot pain. It’s why electrical stimulation is a critical component of our Neuragenex protocol, which implements a Neurofunctional Pain Management approach to treating chronic pain. This means that instead of just addressing the symptoms, we focus on the underlying cause. 

We also emphasize a whole-person approach to treatment to help you manage your condition over the long term; all without relying on potentially addictive pain medications, risky chiropractic treatments, or invasive and expensive surgical procedures. Keeping this in mind, the following are the treatment solutions we provide when treating chronic foot pain:

Electroanalgesia

At Neuragenex, we use electroanalgesia to target the deeper tissue of your foot and reduce pain while improving circulation and reducing inflammation. Like TENS therapy, electroanalgesia is a form of electrical stimulation therapy to help block pain signals and stimulate the release of endorphins. 

However, unlike TENS therapy, electroanalgesia delivers high-pulse currents that provide deep penetration and targeted relief. It’s much more effective than TENS therapy because electroanalgesia machines can deliver electrical currents at up to 10,000 pulses per second. Unlike TENS, electroanalgesia therapy can’t be used at home and is only administered by trained professionals.

IV Therapy

As part of our whole-person approach, we combine electroanalgesia with IV therapy. This specialized nutrient-replenishing treatment helps reduce inflammation and nerve damage. IV therapy delivers powerful, highly concentrated solutions filled with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants directly into the bloodstream. This helps to reduce foot pain caused by inflammation or nerve damage and helps to speed up the healing process.

Lifestyle Counseling

Finally, we provide lifestyle counseling to help you make the necessary adjustments to ensure long-term foot pain relief. This includes providing advice on nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction techniques as well as providing guidance on how to care for your feet properly. By helping you make the necessary lifestyle adjustments, we can help to reduce and manage your foot pain over the long term.

Take A Step Towards A Pain-Free Life With Neuragenex

At Neuragenex, we specialize in providing effective, long-term relief from chronic foot pain. By combining electrical stimulation, IV therapy, and lifestyle counseling, we can help you appropriately manage your condition without relying on potentially addictive pain medications or invasive surgical procedures. So, if you’re suffering from foot pain and looking for long-term relief, contact Neuragenex today to take the first step to a life free of chronic foot pain.

Osteoporosis is diagnosed in over three million people every year and remains a major health concern for 54 million Americans. 

But despite how widespread this condition is, its “silent” nature makes it difficult to diagnose and treat. Indeed, besides living on a daily basis with osteoporosis pain, patients are often unable to self-diagnose the origin of their pain and typically get their self-diagnosis wrong.

In most cases, Osteoporosis pain typically presents as back pain, making it very difficult for a patient to know the cause. To make things worse, in addition to uncertain self-diagnoses, patients also must grapple with trusting their doctor’s diagnosis and their recommended treatments. 

Even for doctors, osteoporosis related pain can be a condition difficult to diagnose because of its several risk factors and symptoms. Having a thorough understanding of the causes and treatment options available for osteoporosis can help doctors ease the burden of this disease  – and support patients in their choice of therapy. 

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the nature of osteoporosis and explore how neurofunctional pain management can provide a safe and natural alternative to traditional treatments.

Understanding The Damage Caused By Osteoporosis

The easiest way to understand the condition is to break down the parts of the word “osteoporosis”: osteo- meaning bone, and porosis- meaning filled with holes.

It might be hard to imagine a bone being filled with holes like a sponge because our bones appear smooth and relatively solid. However, the holes that riddle the bone are not on the surface but on the inside. 

Understandably, any structure would weaken if it were filled with holes. This is why many compare the condition of osteoporosis to termites and how they slowly weaken the wooden frame of a well-constructed house. 

Eventually, the termites wear the house down to the point where several other essential parts of a home are affected. Much like termites, osteoporosis is difficult to notice without proper and careful diagnosis.

Patients with osteoporosis, after knowing the structure of their bones and how it manifests underneath the surface of the bone, can begin to see why it is so difficult to diagnose osteoporosis related pain.

Why Osteoporosis And The Pain It Causes Are Hard To Diagnose

Today, the rates of untreated or undiagnosed osteoporosis cases are as high as ever. In a 2020 study, over 22% of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis did not receive treatment for their condition. On the other hand, while osteoporosis accounts for over 2 million broken bones in the US, over 80% of patients with fractures are not tested or treated for osteoporosis. 

Fortunately, thanks to recent advances in medicine, doctors and patients can now access new, more accurate diagnostic tools. 

However, understanding the risk factors and symptoms of osteoporosis should remain a priority for healthcare providers. In turn, this can help patients obtain a reliable diagnosis before they begin to suffer from fractures and pain. 

Here is an overview of the medical research available today on osteoporosis and osteoporosis pain. 

Low Screening Rates For Osteoporosis

According to a 2022 study, only around 20% of female participants were screened for osteoporosis within 2 years before a bone fracture, and only 20% of those screened received accurate treatment for their condition. 

Additionally, despite official recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, screening rates of osteoporosis remains low among eligible patients. These same patients are even less likely to be screened for low bone mineral density and increased risk of fracture closer to the time of fracture. Among women aged 65 to 79 (high-risk group), screening rates in primary care were as low as 12.8% in 2020.

The Use of Imaging Tools For Osteoporosis Screening

There are common risk factors that make osteoporosis much easier to identify.

In a 2018 study evaluating the prominence of osteoporosis and its developing diagnostic methods, Dr. Palak Choksi and his associates with the University of Michigan found that “[t]wo million osteoporosis fractures occur in the U.S. each year costing approximately $19 billion. 

Despite the medical and economic costs of fragility fractures, osteoporosis screening is often overlooked and viewed as a low priority. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was introduced in the mid-1980s as a rapid and safe imaging modality to estimate bone mineral density (BMD) and predict skeletal fracture risk. 

Up until the widespread use of DXA, patients at high fracture risk were not easily identified and effective osteoporosis medications were limited. Today, not only are DXA scanners utilized in hospital radiology departments, but they are also found at many physician group outpatient clinical practices” (2018). 

While patients might take comfort in knowing there is a technology (like the DXA scanner that measures bone density) for osteoporosis, they might also consider that they might not be identified before a DXA screening. In this case, most patients will either find out about their osteoporosis through general pain or a fracture.

Dr. Choski and his associates continue and attest to the impressive structure of the human bone by explaining that “[t]he determinants of bone strength are complex but can be divided into four basic components: size, shape, architecture and composition. Bone has a unique ability to coordinately adjust these traits. 

This results in a structure that is sufficiently stiff to resist habitual loads but minimizes mass, keeping the overall energy of movement to a minimum. The overall strength of a bone depends on the proportion of cortical and trabecular tissues, their morphologies and their material properties, and the interactions among these traits. 

An individual’s unique genetic program also contributes to bone strength; it is estimated that up to 70% of ultimate bone strength and structure is genetically determined”.

The “Silent Disease”: Why Are Osteoporosis Symptoms Hard to Diagnose

One of the factors that make osteoporosis so hard to diagnose is that patients are unable to notice its symptoms before they experience a bone fracture, which commonly takes place in the wrist, hip, or spine. 

Additionally, osteoporosis tends to be painless until a bone is broken. Once a fracture happens, the disease makes it harder to heal, which can lead to long-term pain. Beyond simple pain and discomfort, osteoporosis can also lead to a loss of height and a stooped or hunched posture, which is known as kyphosis (“dowager’s hump”).

The fact that symptoms tend to only appear after a broken bone, coupled with the low screening rates for bone density, causes patients to only receive an accurate diagnosis for their pain after a fracture.

Known Risk Factors For Osteoporosis

Having a clear understanding of which lifestyle and genetic factors lead to a heightened risk of osteoporosis is critical to choose an adequate disease management program. 

In particular, for patients who are at greater risk of declining bone density (such as women over 50) learning the root causes of this condition can prevent recurring fractures and their complications.

Today, the body of research agrees that the human bone will retain its strength based on a number of factors categorized by both risk and treatment. 

In addition to the contributors to bone strength mentioned by Dr. Choski, there are unfortunately several risk factors associated with osteoporosis. 

Some of these risk factors associated with bone density and strength may be mitigated by a change in lifestyle while others are immutable. 

For example, women over 50 are four times more likely than men of a similar age to develop osteoporosis Additionally, being older, having a small body frame, and holding a family history of low bone density can increase the risk of bone loss and fractures.

Nonetheless, there are many risk factors that can be changed and reduce the likelihood of diagnosis include diet, exercise, and sometimes a change in medications that might worsen the condition.

Let’s look at these factors in more detail below.

Common Risk Factors For Osteoporosis

It is common that patients who have a slight or small frame, are postmenopausal, and are over the age of sixty have a greater risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis. It must be understood that patients who would otherwise seem healthy cannot change the immutable risk factors of age, frame, or sex. 

In a 2018 article summarizing the risk factors associated with osteoporosis, Dr. Farkhondeh Pouresmaeili determined that “[t]he genetics of osteoporosis represents one of the greatest challenges and the most active area of research in bone biology. It is well established that the variation in BMD is determined by our genes. 

Several candidate gene polymorphisms in relation to osteoporosis have been implicated as determinants of BMD . . . Osteoporosis is a challenging human disease. In spite of using various therapeutic approaches for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis, their side effects are undeniable. 

Increasing our knowledge about the signaling pathways involved in bone remodeling will help us to design new therapeutic options for osteoporosis” (2018). Either way, as fixed risk factors such as age increase, the likelihood of diagnosis with osteoporosis increases.

Dietary Risk Factors

Since our bones are made up of porous tissues of calcium, the introduction of calcium vitamin D and magnesium to a patient’s diet early on is likely to decrease the risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis. In the same way, making a change to a more active lifestyle will increase bone strength and density, also decreasing the likelihood of osteoporosis.

More specifically, our diet has a profound impact on the overall wellness and strength of the bones. Here are three of the main factors that can lead to osteoporosis among other complications:

• Low Calcium Intake – Calcium is the principal component of the human body, and has the role of maintaining the bones strong, giving them shape, and managing a reservoir of minerals necessary for other body functions. Healthy calcium levels also support the contraction and expansion of blood vessels, thus influencing blood flow and muscle health. A significant calcium deficiency for long periods of time can reduce bone density and slow down the bone’s regeneration process, thus leading to an increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis. 
• Eating Disorders – Patients with unaddressed eating disorders might be more prone to developing osteoporosis. This is because restricting calorie intake for long periods of time and being underweight can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies (i.e.: calcium and vitamin D), thus affecting bone strength. A 2019 study shows that 20-30% of patients with anorexia nervosa also had low bone density. 
• Gastrointestinal Surgery – Although gastrointestinal surgery does not directly cause nutritional deficiencies, it can interfere with how the body absorbs and metabolizes nutrients. This happens because some gastrointestinal surgical procedures involve the removal of a part of the stomach, which reduces the size of the intestinal surface in charge of absorbing nutrients.

Hormone-Related Risk Factors

Hormones and hormonal changes can have a significant impact on bone density and bone health. Because of this, low bone density and osteoporosis are more likely in people that have too much or too little of one or more hormones. 

• Sex Hormones – Changes in the levels of sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, can impact bone density. In women, menopause represents the major risk factor for developing osteoporosis. This is because estrogen plays a role in slowing down the natural breakdown of the bone to release minerals (bone resorption). When estrogen levels drop in menopause, bones begin to break down much faster than they regenerate. Similarly, testosterone deficiency in men (which might be caused by certain medications for prostate cancer) can decrease bone mineral density.
• Thyroid Disorders – The thyroid covers an important role in all metabolic processes in the human body, including setting the rate at which the old bone tissue is replaced by a new one. In the case of an overactive thyroid, too much thyroxine (the thyroid hormone) is produced. In turn, thyroxine speeds up the rate of bone loss. This can also happen in people taking medications to manage an underactive thyroid. 
• Gland Overactivity – Dysfunction of other hormone-producing glands or problems affecting the endocrine system can also lead to faster bone loss. In particular, overactive pituitary, parathyroid, and adrenal glands  – which produce hormones in charge of regulating growth and metabolism  – can lead to low bone density. 

Medication Use

Some medications and pharmaceutical therapies can have an adverse effect on bone density and speed up the rate at which bones break down, especially in older age. In particular, patients should be aware of the impact of the following treatments on their musculoskeletal system:

• Long-Term Steroid Use – High doses of steroids (such as taking prednisone at doses of 7.5 mg per day or more) over a long period of time can have a negative effect on bone health. These medications alter how the body absorbs calcium and vitamin D, as well as how fast these nutrients are used. In turn, this can cause bones to break down more rapidly. Cortisone-induced osteoporosis occurs in 30-50% of patients taking glucocorticoid (a type of steroid hormone). 
• Seizure Medication – High doses of anti-epileptic drugs can increase the body’s production of certain enzymes, which speed up the rate at which the body uses and destroys Vitamin D. In turn, Vitamin D deficiencies interfere with how calcium is absorbed, thus leading to bone loss. 
• Gastric Reflux Medication – Medicines used to ease gastroesophageal reflux disease (which are called proton pump inhibitors) may cause a decline in bone density. This is because these medications reduce the amount of stomach acid produced by glands in the stomach lining, which has been seen to facilitate calcium absorption. 
• Cancer Drugs – Chemotherapy and exposure to radiation can have multiple effects on bone health. In women, chemotherapy can drop estrogen levels, which can lead to early menopause and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, cancer treatments might trigger a process known as cellular senescence (permanent cell growth arrest) which might impact bone density. Lastly, drugs such as doxorubicin and cisplatin can reduce calcium levels in the body. 
• Anti-Transplant Rejection Medication – These medications are administered to prevent a patient’s body from rejecting an implanted organ, and they act as immunosuppressants. Although not all anti-transplant rejection medications cause bone weakness, some (such as prednisone and tacrolimus) can increase the rate at which bone tissue is lost.. 

Other Medical Conditions

Some medical conditions can affect the rate at which bone tissue is replaced, speed up bone loss, and impact how the body absorbs calcium. In particular, you might be at greater risk of developing osteoporosis if you have one of the following medical conditions: 

• Celiac Disease – In people with celiac disease, the body responds to food containing gluten by attacking the small intestine’s lining. In turn, a damaged stomach lining can negatively impact how the body absorbs calcium and Vitamin B among other nutrients. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies as well as osteoporosis. A 2016 study showed that nearly 30% of people with celiac disease had osteoporosis, and an additional 56% had osteopenia (low bone density). 
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis have a higher risk of osteoporosis. This is because these diseases damage the lining of the intestine and prevent the body from absorbing nutrients that are essential for bone health, such as calcium and Vitamin D.  
• Kidney/Liver Disease – The kidney and liver play a significant role in several metabolic processes, including how nutrients like calcium are absorbed and how toxins are processed. Kidney or liver disease also impacts the rate at which bones are formed and boosts the levels of phosphorus in the body, which are associated with lower levels of calcium. Around 30% of people with chronic liver disease also have osteoporosis. 
• Cancer – Besides the detrimental effect of chemotherapy on the musculoskeletal system, cancer cells alone can weaken the bone and make patients more prone to fractures. This is especially true in the case of types of cancer that are likely to spread to bone structures, such as breast and prostate cancer. 
• Multiple myeloma – Multiple Myeloma refers to a type of cancer that affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Myeloma speeds up the rate at which bones break down, while also reducing the speed at which the body can regenerate lost tissue. This can lead to thinning of the bones and lytic lesions (holes in the bone structure), which can make fractures far more likely. 
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – Directly, arthritis can lead to loss of bone tissue in the area surrounding the affected joint. Indirectly, this disease can cause osteoporosis because of the therapies recommended to ease pain (usually steroids) and due to the fact that it encourages a more sedentary lifestyle. 

Lifestyle Choices

Although some factors leading to osteoporosis are out of control for patients (i.e., genetics), some lifestyle factors can be managed to reduce the risk of losing bone mass density. Here is what patients should be aware of:

• Sedentary Lifestyle – Regular exercise and weight-bearing are essential for bones to remain healthy. Physical activity stimulates bone regeneration and slows down the bone’s aging process. In turn, leading a sedentary lifestyle can speed up bone loss and increase the risk of fractures. 
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption – Consuming alcohol excessively can impact how the intestine absorbs calcium, and negatively influence how the pancreas and the liver metabolize vitamin D. Combined, these effects reduce bone density and increase the risk of osteoporosis. 
• Smoking And Tobacco Use – Nicotine has a cascade of negative effects on bone health. Firstly, smoking tobacco can reduce the supply of blood – and, in turn, of nutrients and oxygen – to bones. Additionally, nicotine inhibits the production of bone-regenerating cells and impacts how calcium is absorbed. Over long periods of time, this can lead to osteoporosis and reduced bone density.

Is Osteoporosis Treatable?

Osteoporosis is considered to be the least resolvable condition and is widely known to be incurable. However, there are many treatments and actions that can be taken to mitigate the onset and progression of osteoporosis so patients living with the condition every day and in fear of damaging their fragile bones have at least a few options available.

Regardless of the risk factors associated with osteoporosis, diagnosis is often tricky and commonly missed before bone fractures occur. Patients who do not wish to wait for a fracture to learn of their diagnosis and treatment options may find value in learning and recognizing signs of osteoporosis. 

These early signs might be better recognized by examining family history with osteoporosis, acknowledging prescribed medications that might contribute to loss of bone density, and testing balance or noticing loss of posture. 

In the meantime, while pain from osteoporosis can be a persistent problem, there are safe and effective options that can treat this pain.

The Healthcare Costs Of Treating Osteoporosis

Because of the consequences of osteoporosis, it is difficult to quantify the impact that this condition has on the healthcare system on a national and global scale. 

However, fractures due to weak bones cost the US healthcare system $10 to $17 billion each year. When taking into account the cumulative burden of osteoporosis in the US, Canada, and Europe, this figure can reach a whopping $5000 to $6500 billion. For patients, the impact of a fracture on their annual medical cost is as high as $8,600. 

To have a better picture of the impact of bone conditions nationally and worldwide, it is also important to consider that those patients with osteoporosis who did not experience a fracture still incurred medical costs as high as $500 per person. This translates into a cost of over $2 billion nationwide. 

But not the full impact of osteoporosis is quantifiable. Indeed, fractures and pain can lead to a significant loss of productivity, higher rates of disability, lost wages, and significant mental health implications.

At a glance, these figures show that efforts to strengthen bones have multiple benefits. Strengthening bones and preventing osteoporosis reduces the fear of fracture for patients, allowing patients to be more comfortable being active. 

It improves quality of life by reducing pain associated with osteoporosis by not having to endure hospital visits, and it reduces overall healthcare costs.

A Better Treatment Alternative For Pain From Osteoporosis

Neuragenex has pioneered the field of Neurofunctional Pain Management which offers a safe and effective way to reduce pain.

Why We Use The Neurofunctional Approach For Osteoporosis

Pain is a nervous system condition, with pain neurons referring pain to the brain and the brain interpreting that pain and creating inflammation responses. It’s a feedback loop that is supposed to be a healing mechanism for short term injuries but is destructive with long-term chronic problems. 

If there is no healing occurring then it simply becomes a negative feedback loop with the pain neurons and the brain reacting to that pain and triggering inflammation which causes more pain, and the cycle continues. 

Neurofunctional Pain Management is an effort to relieve pain while also restoring health so that the conditions causing chronic pain can be resolved as much as possible in the effort to relieve overall pain from osteoporosis.

How Neurofunctional Pain Management Works

Neurofunctional Pain Management is the next generation in pain management with an emphasis on safe and effective pain treatments that are supported by health restoration. 

Neurofunctional Pain Management uses a combination of high-pulse electric stimulation that works to depolarize pain neurons associated with reporting pain, a process called sustained depolarization. This method of pain relief is effective when performed on a regular basis over a period of time. 

We combine this treatment with specialized nutritional hydration therapy which can help to restore health in general. Any degree of health restoration will help maintain the pain relief effect. 

In addition to pain neuron depolarization, high pulse electrical stimulation stimulated smooth muscle vascular tissue, effectively stimulating repair and regeneration of vascular tissues like blood vessels and capillaries in the bones themselves. 

This stimulation does not directly treat or cure the condition of osteoporosis, but it does assist with stimulation of vascular blood flow in those areas which helps everything in the process. 

Neurofunctional Pain Management treatments typically last for one hour twice a week to create the ongoing pain relief effect required for long-term pain relief. Patients who stick with their treatment plan may be able to experience long-term pain relief and a degree of health restoration that can help the pain relief effect last longer.

Get The Right Treatment For Your Pain

For many, a bone fracture or a diagnosis of osteoporosis equals a life tied to pain-killing medications, steroids, and hormone treatments. However, these are no longer the only options available to restore your bone health, prevent complications, boost your overall quality of life, and live a life free of medications and pain.

And, our mission at Neuragenex is to make these alternatives available to each and every patient. Thanks to our proprietary Neurofunctional Pain Management approach, we strive to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify the quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures. After a patient has experienced pain relief and their health has improved, their outlook on life is often better and brighter. Magnifying quality of life is the pinnacle of our efforts.

When patients have back pain that has been chronic and spreads across the length of the back, it is often difficult for those patients to determine its origin. For many patients with chronic pain that worsens over the years, it may seem practically impossible for a doctor to diagnose their condition and its cause. It is even less likely for patients to have a successful self-diagnosis. This is because back pain that travels along the length of the spine is not as easily diagnosed, nor can it always be pinpointed to a previous injury or condition.

Conditions of pain that are isolated to a specific portion of the back are typically due to an injury, but what should patients do if they cannot specify the event in which an injury occurred or if they have no recollected diagnosis of a back pain condition?

Unfortunately, the confusion surrounding general back pain is not only due to the inability to detect the cause, but it also reflects the early stages of research into craniosacral pain. One of the most common and least understood conditions of pain stems from the craniosacral system– a system of nerves that many don’t realize are connected to a wide variety of pain conditions.

So, what is the craniosacral system? How does it relate to physically painful conditions? What are some treatment methods for pain related to the craniosacral system?

In this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about the craniosacral system and look at how craniosacral therapy (CST) can help your chronic pain

Understanding The Craniosacral System And Regulating Pain

The craniosacral system is only recently understood and its relevance to other various forms and conditions of pain has recently come to the forefront in the search for pain treatment. 

Other, more familiar, systems in the body– like the cardiovascular or respiratory system– have centuries of research to back up our understanding of their function and maintenance in the body. However, all of these systems, including the craniosacral system, deserve a high level of attention and study if we are to understand the primary causes and adjustment of pain.

Each system plays a role in the maintenance and regulation of the body on a constant basis, but the maintenance and regulation of pain are entirely dependent on the craniosacral system.

A study examining the prevalence of craniosacral pain asserts that, “[c]hronic pain disorders are the leading global cause of disability and are still increasing in prevalence. Low back and neck pain, headache and migraine considerably affect all age groups from the beginning of adolescence to middle-aged and older adults. The often limited effects and potential side effects of pharmacological treatments for chronic musculoskeletal pain conditions may be reasons why patients frequently use complementary therapies” (2020).

With craniosacral difficulties leading not only to general back pain but headaches and migraines, one can begin to understand why our comprehension of the craniosacral system is crucial to mitigating its painful conditions. So, what is the craniosacral system?

How The Craniosacral System Communicates Pain Signals

We can imagine the craniosacral system as a highway that extends from the base of the skull (cranio, or cranium) to the bottom vertebra of the spine (sacral, or sacrum).

Simply put, the system consists of the entirety of the spine, so it should not be surprising to find a growing number of pain conditions attributable to the craniosacral system.

This highway of nerves is a major part of our central nervous system (CNS) and branches out into other roads and paths of nerves that extend to our peripheral nervous system at the ends of our fingers and toes.

Every instance of pain is tied to our CNS and the CNS is how the pain we feel is communicated to our brain. If we feel pain in our hands, the CNS sends a message of pain to our brain so that we recognize the problem and seek treatment.

However, even though the signals run along the craniosacral system, this does not mean that we will feel the pain travel from our hand to our spine, and finally our brain.

The brain recognizes the affected nerve endings, and the pain is localized to the affected areas. For this reason, we should not always assume that every pain condition is related to the craniosacral system.

Common Cause

One of the most basic causes of craniosacral pain is what researchers are calling “malalignment”. Malalignment in the sacral region is common among more sedentary lifestyles with a lot of sitting.

If you think of the sacral bone as a three-dimensional bone being supported by tension pulling it in all directions, you can visualize that the sacrum can get turned and twisted in a variety of ways that agitate and pull or pinch nerves all around the region.

Sacral torsion is a term you may hear to refer to this concept. In some cases, a torsion is so visible that you can see a corner of the sacral bone pushing out of the back, forming a lump on the low back when a patient bends over and stretches the area. If you see or feel a lump pushing out on one of the four corners of the sacral bone that would be an example of a malalignment that can cause craniosacral chronic back pain.

Dr. Ghasemi Cobra and his associates explain that malalignment, “. . . in the pelvic and spinal column disturbs the balance and decreases the postural control ability. Malalignment is known as one of the main causes of back pain particularly the nonspecific chronic low back pain” (2020). Craniosacral pain is certainly what patients would refer to as “nonspecific” and as was mentioned previously, this nonspecificity leads to difficulty in diagnosing the cause. However, as Dr. Cobra and his associates conclude, malalignment may be one of the largest contributing factors to craniosacral pain.

The physicians go on to suggest that “[m]alalignment in the pelvic and spinal column regions exists in 90–80% of the adult population. Malalignment leads to asymmetry in bones and joints in the pelvis, trunk, and limbs and affects the muscles and lower limbs and disturbs the balance and decreases the postural control ability. It is known as an early and significant cause or an exacerbating factor in 50–60% of people suffering from back pain, particularly the nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) which is the most common form of low back pain”.

With most of the adult population suffering from malalignment of the spinal column, is it any wonder that patients experience indecipherable back pain? Is it any wonder that research into craniosacral pain has increased exponentially?

Conditions Related To Problems With The Craniosacral System

Along with malalignment leading to the imbalance and asymmetry of other bones, joints, and limbs, it will typically lead to other conditions related to craniosacral pain. These conditions include and are certainly not limited to:

• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Insomnia
• General Neck Pain

While these are the most common conditions related to the craniosacral system, the list is seemingly endless. As was previously mentioned, and because we are learning more about the craniosacral system every day, many will falsely attribute their pain or medical condition to the craniosacral system when their condition requires treatment which is entirely unrelated.

This is why craniosacral treatment should focus on the affected area between the base of the skull and the base of the spine.

A Quick Note On Malalignment And Chronic Craniosacral Back Pain

Many non-physician providers will attempt to treat craniosacral back pain with spinal adjustments such as chiropractic adjustments and special stretching and massage. These techniques may help, but in most cases, they provide temporary relief.

Many patients suffering from these conditions describe having to seek these treatments continually. One patient described it as an endless cycle of chiropractic appointments with no other option but to keep coming in. What’s worse is that the pain relief doesn’t always last very long. Stretches and massage also help, but these are similar scenarios of temporary relief and the requirement for repeated patient participation.

Is it any wonder that these service providers are quick to diagnose craniosacral pain as the problem because the only current treatment is an ongoing cycle of adjustments and massage? Patients may be fine with this for a while, but ultimately, they will want some sort of relief that lasts.

Neurofunctional Pain Management As A Treatment Protocol

When pain travels along the spine like this, and splits off into various parts of the body, it can seem almost impossible to find a treatment that can both target and mitigate the pain. Neuragenex has developed the field of Neurofunctional Pain Management as a treatment for chronic pain conditions of all kinds.

Neurofunctional Pain Management is a treatment protocol that utilizes external high pulse electrical stimulation and specialized hydration therapy to relieve pain and restore health to a point where patients can get back to an active lifestyle and be motivated to engage in healthier lifestyles and activities, which will magnify the patient’s quality of life.

Benefits Of Craniosacral Treatment

Patients with craniosacral pain can be treated across the entire spine from top to bottom using high-pulse electrical stimulation. This treatment creates a sustained depolarization effect that relieves pain for a prolonged period of time. Nutritional hydration therapy helps restore health and reduce inflammation that may be exacerbating the pain condition.

Also, it’s perfectly fine to continue to receive adjustments and massages from non-physician providers while going through a course of treatment with Neuragenex.

Combined, these therapies make up a whole-person approach that can offer endless benefits, including easing pain, improving posture, and laying the foundations of long-term health.

In the sections below, we’ll look at how craniosacral therapy and Neurofunctional Pain Management can help you combat chronic pain.

Improved Postural Alignment

Craniosacral treatment programs aim to restore the natural flow and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that flows around the brain and the spinal cord). To do so, this type of therapy looks at blockages and malalignments that may occur between the bones of the cranium or along the spine.

Craniosacral treatment – used as part of a more comprehensive Neurofunctional Pain Management treatment protocol – can resolve these malalignments and improve the overall function of the spine. In turn, this can improve your posture and gait, which translates into improved spinal function, greater mobility, reduced risk of injury and falls, and ultimately, less pain.

Reducing Restrictions Throughout The Body

According to a 2009 study, the rhythmic flow of the cerebrospinal fluid around the skull and the spine is considered to be the body’s third circulatory system. Although this system isn’t as well-researched as the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems, it is believed to play a role in disorders such as restricted respiratory function, vertebral subluxation syndrome, and mechanical disorders of the nervous system.

Through an ad hoc craniosacral treatment program, a specialist will be able to remove blockages that are hindering the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid. Removing these blockages restores the normal flow of the cerebrospinal fluid and prevents conditions that may aggravate your chronic pain, such as respiratory conditions, fibromyalgia, and stress.

According to a 2007 study, craniosacral therapies can help in the management of asthma, when used alongside a more comprehensive treatment program.

Calming The Nervous System

Practitioners who specialize in restoring the rhythmic flow of the cerebrospinal fluid around your head and spine will use hands-on techniques to assess and restore imbalances in the craniosacral system.

Using light touch (no more than 5 grams of pressure), practitioners will be able to remove blockages and ensure that the cerebrospinal fluid can move freely around the central nervous system.

This can balance components of the craniosacral system such as nerves, fluids, connective tissues, and bones. The restored balance ensures that mechanical systems work as they should, that loads and weight are evenly distributed by the spine, and that the nervous system carries signals to the brain appropriately.

As a result, craniosacral therapies can relieve tension in the central nervous system and prevent other components of the craniosacral system from being overloaded.

Providing Stress Relief

High stress levels play a significant role in making pain feel more intense. This is because sustained high levels of stress can cause your muscles to become tense and spasms. Additionally, stress is associated with an increase in the cortisol hormone throughout the body, which can have pro-inflammatory effects.

Ultimately, craniosacral therapies may help you relieve pain by offering stress relief benefits. During craniosacral treatment sessions, a specialist will use a light touch to relieve compression in the neck, head, and spine.

These therapies also calm the central nervous system while activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the component of your nervous system responsible for rest, relaxation, and reducing bodily functions when needed.

Overall Sense Of Wellbeing

Craniosacral therapy has been seen to help relieve tension in the membranes surrounding the skull and the spine (known as the Fascia), realign the spine’s components, improve posture, and calm the central nervous system. This translates into an overall sense of well-being, which you can enjoy after each session.

What’s more, a 2011 study shows that craniosacral therapy can ease depression and anxiety, and boost the quality of life of patients affected by chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

Get Lifetime Relief From Craniosacral Pain Without Surgery Or Drugs

If you have been battling chronic back pain, and obtaining an accurate diagnosis for your pain seems to be a distant dream, craniosacral therapy may help. Used as part of a more comprehensive, whole-person Neurofunctional Pain Management protocol, this therapy can address imbalances and tension that may be aggravating your pain – without medications or surgery!

The mission of Neuragenex is to relieve pain, restore health, and magnify quality of life without drugs, surgery, or invasive procedures. Our vision is to be the first thought, first choice, and first step in the journey of chronic pain relief.