Hormone testing for Arachnoiditis and Chronic Pain

A New Avenue for Arachnoiditis Relief: The Role of Hormones in Pain and Inflammation

While there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for Arachnoiditis, patients do have some treatment options to consider. One often-overlooked area that holds significant promise for managing chronic pain is the body's own endocrine system. A recent article in Practical Pain Management sheds light on how crucial hormones are in the battle against severe, constant pain.

The Hidden Toll of Chronic Pain

Living with a condition like Arachnoiditis means living with constant pain, which the body interprets as a major, unrelenting stressor. This state of continuous stress forces the adrenal glands and gonads to overproduce hormones to help manage the pain. Over time, this relentless demand can deplete your body's hormone supply, making it even harder to control pain and inflammation.

According to Dr. Forest Tennant, the author of the article, once hormone levels become deficient, achieving optimal pain control can become incredibly difficult. This is because hormones are essential for the body's natural pain control and healing mechanisms.

Key Hormones for Pain Management

Understanding which hormones are at play can empower you to have more informed discussions with your doctor. The article highlights several key hormones that are critical for managing pain and inflammation:

• Cortisol: Known as the body's primary anti-inflammatory hormone, cortisol is absolutely essential for controlling inflammation. It also plays a role in how effective opioid medications are within the central nervous system. Low levels can lead to weakness and muscle wasting.

• Pregnenolone: Often called the "mother hormone," pregnenolone is a precursor to all other adrenal and gonadal hormones. It also functions as a powerful anti-inflammatory neurosteroid in the brain. The article notes that low levels of this hormone are a common finding in patients with uncontrolled pain.

• Testosterone: This hormone is vital not only for mood and energy but also for pain control and tissue healing. Severe pain and long-term opioid use can both significantly decrease testosterone levels.

• DHEA: As an intermediary in the hormone production pathway, DHEA levels can also be depleted, particularly in patients on long-term opioid therapy.

What Can You Do?

The first step is to get tested. The article recommends a simple blood test panel for patients with intractable pain that measures Cortisol, Pregnenolone, ACTH, and Testosterone. The results can provide a clear picture of whether your endocrine system is being overtaxed and can help guide a hormone replacement strategy.

Supplements and hormones can be used to help inflammation and chronic pain. By identifying and correcting hormone deficiencies, patients may not only achieve better pain control but could also potentially reduce the need for increasing opioid dosages. Hopefully this knowledge will assist you and your doctors in battling the pain and inflammation.

Here's a link to the article mentioned in this blog: https://www.medcentral.com/pain/chronic/hormone-testing-replacement-pain-patients-made-simple