Dr. Casey Greene, PharmD, IFMCP

Chronic pain is debilitating, and for many patients, pain management by way of traditional commercialized medication is unable to do the job, with the fear that relief is simply out of reach. Worse, the statistics outlining the high degree of U.S. adults dealing with chronic pain is staggering, as indicated by a study by the National Institutes of Health. In the study:

- The incidence of new chronic pain cases was 52.4 cases per 1,000 persons per year, significantly higher than diabetes (7.1 cases), depression (15.9 cases), and hypertension (45.3 cases).

- Those who reported non-chronic pain in 2019 began to struggle with chronic pain in 2020, specifically 1 in 6 (14.9%).

- Nearly two-thirds (61.4%) of individuals with chronic pain in 2019 still reported chronic pain a year later. 

 

With these stats comes a substantial – and justified – concern as issues with chronic pain continue to sweep the nation.Luckily, compounded medications have the potential to address that much-needed relief so patients can focus on living their best lives. 

 

How Compounding Makes a Difference

There is never a one-size-fits-all method to pain management. With this, compounded medications offer a very real potential to address pain in its wide spectrum of scope that could be the saving grace.

 

With compounding, pharmacists can address the needs of patients who might not be responding well or have intolerances or allergies to traditional commercialized medications by combining, mixing, or modifying ingredients to create medications that are developed strategically with the needs of a specific patient in mind. This type of tailoring has the potential to provide opioid-free, non-oral options, addressing issues regarding side effects, dosage level, and route of administration preferences. Compounded medications can be used for adults, children, and even animals.

 

Some patients may have mixed emotions about compounded medications when considering opportunities for relief from chronic pain, unsure if the quality is up to par with that offered by commercialized medications. Patients and healthcare providers alike can take comfort in knowing that every batch is compliant with important USP standards, as well as undergo regular testing to guarantee quality, purity, and potency. Additionally, ingredients in compounded medications are sourced from only FDA-registered suppliers.

 

Other Pain Management Methods

In order to make the decision to move towards compounding, it’s important that patients are aware of the wide variety of pain management options. These include:

 

Commercialized Medication

There is a vast number of commercialized medications available over the counter (OTC) or via prescription that have been the go-to sources for pain relief. OTC pain relievers commonly include Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen. Prescription pain relievers include muscle relaxants and meditations that block the pain pathway and help decrease the pain.

 

Surgical Transplants

There are two notable surgical transplants that are pursued in alleviating pain. The first is a spinal cord stimulator that essentially sends low-level electrical impulses to the spinal cord and is designed to assist with sciatica, diabetic neuropathy and failed back surgery. The second is the intrathecal pain pump, a very small medical device that delivers medication directly to the spinal cord and nerves. It is often used to assist with abnormal muscle contractions.

 

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy, or PT as it is often referred to, is designed to strengthen and stretch muscles and joints with the goal of addressing pain throughout the body, or just a specific part. Exercise, red light therapy and massage are all part of PT and can be an option in addressing pain associated with neurological diseases and traumatic injuries. 

 

Acupuncture

Based on traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points on the body for stimulation to ultimately lead to pain relief. Interestingly, the needles can be manually manipulated or via electric currents, often determined per need and pain level. Acupuncture has been found to assist with a variety of conditions, including headaches, neck pain, lower back pain, and migraines.

 

Hot and Cold Therapy

Hot therapy is a technique that leverages heat to relax and dilate muscles, while cold therapy decreases blood flow to reduce the inflammation that causes pain. Heat or cold therapy have the ability to assist with pain for a number of issues, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, and fibromyalgia and can tackle muscle joint pain, stiffness, tender joints, pain related to cancer, and more.

 

Determining What’s Right for You

Regular engagement with healthcare providers, sharing changes in level and location of chronic pain, as well as any new pain is very important, in addition to communicating any side effects you might be experiencing with new medications. Regardless of the option you turn to, compounded medications might be the right fit for you, so be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about these as an option in your quest for optimal care.

 

Learn how different pains require different drugs, speaking to the power of compounded medications: https://revelationpharma.com/blog/post/different-pains-require-different-drugs 

 

Disclaimer

The FDA does not review any compounded medication for safety or efficacy. The information contained in this article is not meant to diagnose or treat a specific healthcare condition but should be used as educational-only material.