According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States. These patients often end up taking narcotic-type pain medication such as morphine, fentanyl or oxycodone.

This study found that patients who required narcotic pain medication, and who also had inadequate levels of vitamin D, were taking much higher doses of pain medication — nearly twice as much — as those who had adequate levels. Similarly, these patients self-reported worse physical functioning and worse overall health perception. In addition, a correlation was noted between increasing body mass index (a measure of obesity) and decreasing levels of vitamin D. Study results were published in a recent edition of Pain Medicine.

“This is an important finding as we continue to investigate the causes of chronic pain,” says Michael Turner, M.D., a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study. “Vitamin D is known to promote both bone and muscle strength. Conversely, deficiency is an under-recognized source of diffuse pain and impaired neuromuscular functioning. By recognizing it, physicians can significantly improve their patients’ pain, function and quality of life.”

Researchers retrospectively studied 267 chronic pain patients admitted to the Mayo Comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center in Rochester from February to December 2006. Vitamin D levels at the time of admission were compared to other parameters such as the amount and duration of narcotic pain medication usage; self-reported levels of pain, emotional distress, physical functioning and health perception; and demographic information such as gender, age, diagnosis and body mass index.

Further research should document the effects of correcting deficient levels among these patients, researchers recommend.

This study has important implications for both chronic pain patients and physicians. “Though preliminary, these results suggest that patients who suffer from chronic, diffuse pain and are on narcotics should consider getting their vitamin D levels checked. Inadequate levels may play a role in creating or sustaining their pain,” says Dr. Turner.

“Physicians who care for patients with chronic, diffuse pain that seems musculoskeletal — and involves many areas of tenderness to palpation — should strongly consider checking a vitamin D level,” he says. “For example, many patients who have been labeled with fibromyalgia are, in fact, suffering from symptomatic vitamin D inadequacy. Vigilance is especially required when risk factors are present such as obesity, darker pigmented skin or limited exposure to sunlight.”

Assessment and treatment are relatively simple and inexpensive. Levels can be assessed by a simple blood test (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]). Under the guidance of a physician, an appropriate repletion regimen can then be devised. Because it is a natural substance and not a drug, vitamin D is readily available and inexpensive.

In addition to the benefits of strong muscles and bones, emerging research demonstrates that vitamin D plays important roles in the immune system, helps fight inflammation and helps fights certain types of cancer.

www.chronic-pain-treatment.net ( chronic pain treatment info )

www.bayrecovery.com ( chronic pain treatment center )

www.johnhenely.wordpress.com ( John Henely’s chronic pain blog )

www.suboxone-doctors.com ( Information on Suboxone treatment)

www.youtube.com/bayrecovery( videos of patients who have gone through treatment at bay recovery center )

www.billbriggs.wordpress.com( William Briggs Chronic Pain Blog )

www.bayrecoveryintervention.com( Bay recovery intervention information )

www.oxycontinaddiction.wordpress.com( Oxycontin addiction and treatment info )

www.treatingfibromyalgia.wordpress.com( Fibromyalgia treatment information )

www.addictiontopainkiller.com( Pain Killer Addiction Information )

www.hydromorphoneaddiction.wordpress.com( Hydromorphone Addiction Information )

www.dilaudidaddiction.wordpress.com( Dilaudid addiction information )

www.brookintervention.wordpress.com( Brook from the television show Intervention’s blog )

www.michelleintervention.wordpress.com( Michelle from Intervention’s Blog )

 - Avid football coach ( from 8 year olds to high school football )

- Camping

- Softball

Work experience 

 - Manager at Blockbuster

- Transportation Manager (School bus, city transit)

Birthplace

 - San Antonio, Texas

During office visits he spent whatever time was necessary with me, answered all questions and even returned phone calls from me. While I was an inpatient not only did he see me every day we also spoke on the phone regularly. Every member of his staff was concerned about how I was doing. One of the things he started right at first was a blend of medications and my life started to change.

Here is where my story is different and extraordinary. At the time Dr. Rand was one of the few doctors who had the background, training and authorization to prescribe a medication that fills the receptors that the narcotics usually take. Starting in the office I walked in with classic withdrawal symptoms and walked out with no cravings, no withdrawal and no withdrawal sickness. I spent the next several days inpatient at a recovery house in a neighborhood where I could not have been more comfortable. It was like I was instantly cured. I rested and started my new pharmaceutical protocol where across a few visits my thinking was straight and clear, my life worth living and my pain under enough control as to where I can take care of the rest.

Now my life is on the mend my marriage is recovering and I have reestablished my relationship with two great children and a great family. It’s now I am struck by a final thought.

I  may have lost the battle, but I won the war. You just need the right ally

There is hope do not believe everything they tell you and do not tolerate the way they are treating you

I walk into Dr. Rand’s office and all that was said was “come on in, i’ll fix you” What was the biggest surprise was that he did. From the beginning I realized I had found an oxymoron; a doctor with a soul. He didnt care if i had official paperwork and that every request had made it all the way through the system. If he had to he made the phone calls, wrote letters, received tentative authorization. He talked to everyone from moronic insurance clerks to doctors in Texas working for the insurance company who had never even seen me. Little did I know we would enter another stage of treatment right then and there.