Why Do We Experience Pain?

Pain is one of the most difficult of all symptoms to alleviate, permanently.  Those suffering from chronic pain know how difficult it is simply to get through another day.  The majority of time lost from work is as a result of pain...primarily low back pain.

Pain is the signal by our body that something is seriously wrong.  Those of you who are our patients or who have been reading my blog know that the body can experience up to 70% dysfunction before it signals a problem with pain.  I thought I'd give you a brief lesson in the biochemistry of pain.

Our bodies break down nutrients via metabolic pathways into usable molecules.  Fats are broken down into usable energy via specific pathways according to the types of fats we eat.  The hormone-like lipid compounds that are enzymatically derived from fatty acids are called, "Prostaglandins" or PGs.  I'll use the abbreviation "PG" just because it's easier.

There are three PG groups, referred to as, PG1, PG2 and PG3.  It's the PG2's that we are concerned with that result in pain.  The following foods are broken down in the arachadonic acid (inflammatory) pathway from:  red meats, organ meats, dairy fats, shellfish, mollusks and hydrogenated fats (we talked about these in a former blog).  Since this is an inflammatory-causing pathway, these foods are responsible for excessive PG2 production that can contribute to inflammatory diseases and problems (including cardiovascular disease, cancer, strokes, autoimmune disease, asthma, skin problems, hot flashes, PMS and menstrual cramps) and pain. Inflammation is the body's response to infection, injury and certain substances. 

What are the PG1 and PG3 compounds responsible for, you ask?  They are anti-inflammatory and healing.  There are specific fats that are metabolized into the PG1 and PG2 pathways, but there are substances that can inhibit PG1 &2 production and throw the metabolism into the arachadonic acid pathway....certain medications and even excesses of certain good fat-containing supplements.   Aspirin works by inhibiting ALL prostaglandin activity.  So, your pain or headache is resolved at the cost of the protection of the anti-inflammatory compounds.  For those interested in what supplements, foods or substances can cause a systemic inflammatory response, you may contact me, directly via the options listed on my website.

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