A patient diet for back pain relief, including key supplements

Insulin insensitivity can produce inflammation, while a patient diet for back pain relief with polyphenols and carotenoids can help fight it

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the cost of health care due to pain ranged from $261-300 billion. When the value of lost productivity is added to the total, the total financial cost of pain to society ranges from $560-635 billion. An estimated 54 million Americans have arthritis or other rheumatic conditions. Approximately 38 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. Nine out of 10 migraine sufferers report they can’t “function normally” during days in which a migraine strikes. Three out of 10 migraine sufferers require bed rest during a migraine. More than $18 billion is spent each year on over-the-counter pain medications which can be alleviated by a a diet for back pain and migraine relief.

Drugs are a less than ideal solution. There is a tendency for patients to think of pain medicine as the only way to treat pain and inflammation. Many people automatically take medication when they have pain and think they are somehow helping their condition. Americans consume 20,000 tons of aspirin each year. But we all know medication is not a cure for pain — and it often makes matters worse.

Pain medication issues

About 40% of NSAIDs users have upper GI symptoms, the most frequent being gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation and/or heartburn) and dyspeptic symptoms (including belching, epigastric discomfort, bloating and nausea after eating). A systematic review of 17 prospective observational studies found that 11% of preventable drug-related hospital admissions could be attributed to NSAIDs.

Prescription drugs are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer in the United States and Europe. Around half of those who die have taken their drugs correctly; the other half die because of errors, such as too high a dose or use of a drug despite contraindications.¹ Other research links pain medications to high blood pressure,^2,10 kidney failure,³ heart failure,⁴ ulceration of the GI tract,⁵ and some drugs even interfere with bone repair.⁶

The connection between NSAIDs and kidney disease is an interesting one. On Jan. 29, 2002, the New York Times published an article discussing the prevalence of kidney disease in the NBA and the players’ propensity to take large amounts of ibuprofen. One study found that in 2,000 arthritic patients, NSAID use increased ulcer risk tenfold. Almost 25% of NSAID users have ulcers.⁵ There is also a strong correlation between the use of pain medication and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.¹²

Opioids and addiction

In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers and health care providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. Each day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 140 Americans die from drug overdoses, 91 specifically due to opioids. In 2017, HHS declared a public health emergency.

NSAIDs perpetuate the very problem they are designed to treat, as opposed to a diet for back pain or general pain. They actually increase the body’s oxidative stress — leading to further inflammation and pain. Research has demonstrated that NSAIDs interfere with protein synthesis¹¹ and the formation of cartilage.^7,8,9

Reducing pain

Inflammation and the diet — Research has shown that sugar, refined food and processed food can all increase chemicals that produce inflammation. What you eat can either create inflammation or reduce inflammation.^{20,21,23,24,25} Insulin insensitivity can produce inflammation. A diet for back pain relief can have a large impact as insulin insensitivity is the result of eating too many refined carbohydrates (refined sugar and starch products, like sweets, pasta and white bread). People with insulin insensitivity tend to be overweight, carrying excess weight in their belly, thighs and buttocks. Studies have shown that people who are overweight tend to produce more inflammatory chemicals than people who are not overweight.^{13,14,15,16,17,18,19}

Polyphenols and carotenoids — Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants. They are mainly yellow, orange or red fat-soluble pigments, including carotene. They give color to plant parts such as ripe tomatoes, carrots and most vegetables, part of a diet for back pain. Many of them are converted to vitamin A. Polyphenols are micronutrients we get through certain plant-based foods. They’re packed with antioxidants and potential health benefits. Polyphenols can improve or help treat digestion issues, weight management difficulties, diabetes, neurodegenerative disease and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that carotenoids and polyphenols reduce inflammation.^{26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36} Bottom line: A diet high in brightly-colored fresh produce will help combat pain. Eating a diet that is 75% (by volume) fresh fruits and vegetables will provide a diet for back pain relief and reduce general pain and inflammation.

Fats and oils — The chemicals that create and suppress inflammation are oil-soluble. The type of fat in a diet for back pain can either promote or suppress inflammation. Avoid hydrogenated oils, trans fats and highly refined vegetable oils. Use extra virgin olive oil for cooking and for salads. Studies have shown that taking vegetable-sourced omega-3 fatty acids, like linolenic acid from flaxseeds, will reduce inflammation as well as improve glycemic control.^{37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46}  Fish oil has received a lot of publicity over the last few years. It is an omega-3 fatty acid and has been used to reduce inflammation, improve cholesterol levels and help with blood sugar control. Flax oil is an omega-3 fatty acid that also does these things, but there are some advantages to using flax oil:

The oceans are full of dioxin, mercury and plastic. You have to really trust the manufacturer; many fish oil products are impure. Reputable companies will test for mercury. No one tests for the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are found in plastic. While fish oil is a more “active” omega-3 oil, much of the research supporting it is short-term. Most Americans eat a ratio of 30:1 omega-6 to omega-3 oils (and much of the oil is refined and toxic). This is way out of balance and should be 3:1. So a strong omega-3 oil gets favorable results quickly. The problem is that long-term use of fish oil may be harmful.

Pancreatic enzymes — Taking enzymes with a meal will help to digest the food. Enzymes have been extensively studied and have demonstrated an ability to reduce pain and inflammation when taken on an empty stomach. They also speed healing and do so with few, if any, side effects. Studies have shown enzymes to be comparable to NSAIDs in relieving pain and joint stiffness and improving function.^{47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56} Find a product with around 50 mg/capsule of chymoptrypsin. Depending on severity, give between one and four capsules on an empty stomach (otherwise it will just digest your food). Depending on the severity, you can have the patient do this 2-3 times/day. If the product has less chymotrypsin, use more capsules (products are available that have adequate chymotrypsin).

Other studies have shown enzymes to be effective for managing arthritis. In some studies, they outperform drugs.^50,51,52 Enzymes have also been used to reduce pain and improve healing after surgery.^48,49 In one study involving patients who had undergone cosmetic surgery, the authors stated, “Systemic enzyme therapy with its pharmacological effects represents a preventive and curative option for inflammatory process including healing. Excellent results were presented, namely, in the treatment of secondary lymphoedema.” ⁴⁹

Insulin and sugar — Studies have shown that inflammation is caused by fat cells, eating sugar and insulin insensitivity.^{13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20} Symptoms of insulin insensitivity include fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, carbohydrate craving and periods of hypoglycemia after a high-carbohydrate meal (often needing a nap after eating). Approximately 50% of your hypertensive patients are insulin insensitive. Approximately 30% of American adults are insulin insensitive, and it creates inflammation. If your patient is carrying extra weight, especially around the hips or buttocks, addressing insulin insensitivity is a good strategy for bringing inflammation under control and providing a diet for back pain and migraine relief.

PAUL VARNAS, DC, DACBN, is a graduate of the National College of Chiropractic and has had a functional medicine practice for 34 years. He is the author of several books and has taught nutrition at the National University of Health Sciences. For a free PDF of “Instantly Have a Functional Medicine Practice,” email him at paulgvarnas@gmail.com, or for a patient handout on the anti-inflammatory diet.

References

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