Posted on March 2nd, 2009 by Craig Maltby, Editor
Immune balance and chronic pain
A friend of mine recently told me about a condition he’s been struggling with for several years now. It’s an unexplained pain that has been fairly constant, accompanied by tingling of the hands and feet. His story may be familiar to a lot of folks who endure chronic pain, which can still be a mystery to many experts. My friend has been to local medical centers and Mayo Clinic. But no clear diagnosis has been rendered.
His story made me want to at least post some links from credible sources on findings on chronic pain and possible origins within the immune system. Take a look at the links below. Whether focused on joint and muscle tissue, or originating within the spinal column and nervous system, it seems that all chronic pain experiences are rooted in an inflammation episode linked with an imbalanced immune system activation. Stress and physical illness as an outcome of immune imbalance is also discussed. In fact, one narrative not only illustrates the physical ailments spilling over from stress-triggered immune imbalance, it also suggests immune imbalance itself can circle back to the brain and actually contribute to depression. This circle of immune imbalance, over time, can actually change DNA, according one of these reports.
http://www.thepainproject.org/cpa/index.php/resources/immune_system_involvement
http://www.giresearch.org/site/gi-research/iffgd-research-awards/2007/immune-system
http://www.hss.edu/conditions_14199.asp
I also want to paste an abstract paragraph from a widely cited study published in Nature. I can’t post a link to the entire paper, because you have to buy it. But here’s the summary:
“During the past two decades, an important focus of pain research has been the study of chronic pain mechanisms, particularly the processes that lead to the abnormal sensitivity – spontaneous pain and hyperalgesia – that is associated with these states. For some time it has been recognized that inflammatory mediators released from immune cells can contribute to these persistent pain states. However, it has only recently become clear that immune cell products might have a crucial role not just in inflammatory pain, but also in neuropathic pain caused by damage to peripheral nerves or to the CNS.”
This not only appears to address immune imbalance with physical inflammation, but also immune system and nerve pathways. If anyone has this study and wants to summarize it here in their own words, have at it!
March 3rd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Your site is going to be valuable for our daughter who suffers from fibromyalgia and has now developed an autoimmune disease. She recently was hospitalized for tests and much of what I’ve found in this post was relayed to her by her doctors. So I am certain that the information contained here is well-researched.
March 4th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Elaine:
Thanks so much for your comment. I hope your daughter can somehow find some relief. I continue to learn so much more myself about immune system health as I research my posts. It is amazing how the body works (or doesn’t work) based on the daily functioning of our immune cells.
I hope you’ll keep checking in from time to time. My friend, mentioned in my post, is starting in with immune balancing supplementation for several months. Of course, he is not a fibromyalgia sufferer and he has no grand expectations of this supplement regimen, but if he does experience any notable change in his pain experience, I’ll try to post some details here.
March 16th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I just love your weblog! Very nice post! Ive bookmarked it and will come back again.
March 19th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
[...] Immune Balance And Chronic Pain I continue to learn so much more myself about immune system health as I research my posts. It is amazing how the body works (or doesn’t work) based on the daily functioning of our immune cells. [...]
August 29th, 2011 at 9:57 am
My son deals with chronic pain as for years. This is the first article that makes sense! He has open sores, that bleed constantly, his brain feels like it is on fire! he has no energy.. very weak.. He feels like his passes out, not really sleep.. Body is full of pain, or inflammation! Doctors do not know what it is, my son is getting worse. Does any one have any suggestion or what might be the problem?
August 30th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Wish I could help. Hope you can find other medical professionals and opinions if your current health care professional is not helping the cause.