By John O'Neil Pain caused by problems in the nervous system, called neuropathic pain, is often difficult to treat. But a new study found that the severity of the pain was reduced significantly among patients taking an antidepressant called bupropion.
The standard treatment for neuropathic pain in recent years has been with an older class of antidepressants called tricyclics. The ability of the drugs to help does not mean that neuropathic pain is caused by depression; the antidepressants can ease the pain because they act on the type of nerve that causes it.
The new study was conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona and supported in part by GlaxoSmithKline, which markets bupropion under the name Wellbutrin. In the study, 41 patients with neuropathic pain, but not depression, were given either bupropion or a placebo once a week. After six weeks, they were switched to the other pill.
At the end of the experiment, 71 percent of the patients reported that their pain decreased on bupropion, compared with 10 percent for the placebo. About a third of patients said their condition was "much improved" by bupropion.
The researchers reported several side effects that they described as mild, including dry mouth, insomnia and headache. But they said that bupropion, unlike tricyclic antidepressants, did not appear to pose the threat of causing irregular heartbeats in cardiac patients. New York Times November 21, 2001 Journal of Neurology November 2001
This study confirms a major truth of most pain: There is usually a stress or emotional element involved.
While I am grateful to have narcotic analgesics like Vicodin to treat pain, it has been my experience that treatments that address the energy system can frequently reduce if not eliminate the needs for drugs or surgery.
Dr. Sarno is a psychiatrist who has worked with patients who have had documented "structural problems" by MRI. Their pain was so bad these patients had their backs operated on for the pain. By the time the patients get to Dr. Sarno, they are still in pain and have failed surgical interventions. The amazing part of this story is that he gets over 90% of these patients better. His book, Healing Back Pain, describes his wonderful success treating patients with chronic low back pain.
I have been using EFT for pain and frequently see similar results. EFT seems to be far more effective when one is working on the emotional reasons that led up to the pain. The incredibly amazing element of EFT though, is that it is usually instant and typically permanent if the correct stressor is found and treated.
I have been using EFT since June of 2001 and have seen this demonstrated successfully in my office many dozens of times, so I know it works. It certainly is not 100% effective for pain, but it is my experience that at least 50% of pain problems respond miraculously.
It is particularly useful for most headaches, including migraines. I have also found that EFT works wonderfully well with NST, which is a gentle technique to rebalance one's structure.