By Forest Tennant, PNN Columnist

Intractable pain syndrome (IPS) is constant pain with cardiovascular and endocrine dysfunction. IPS occurs when the initial cause of pain creates inflammation in the brain and spinal cord. This is called neuroinflammation.

Inflammation in the brain and spinal cord is what causes the worsening of IPS symptoms. Inflammation does its dirty work by burning out or damaging neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine, endorphin, cannabinoid, serotonin, and gaba aminobutyric acid (GABA). Common symptoms of neuroinflammation:

• Constant pain

• Fatigue

• Amotivation (Lack of motivation or purpose)

• Attention deficit

• Memory impairment

• Elevated blood pressure & pulse

• Social withdrawal

• Dietary change

• Weight gain

• Sugar craving

• Depression

Every person with IPS must attempt to control and reduce their brain and spinal cord inflammation. To reduce neuroinflammation, we recommend regular consumption of one or more of these non-prescription, natural herbal medicinal agents:

• Tumeric/Curcumin

• Ashwagandha

• Boswellia

• Palmitoyethanolamine (PEA)

• Traumeel

• Cannabidiol (CBD)

• Andrographis

You can take any of these on different days or several together, as long as you use at least one daily.

If the disorder that started your pain and IPS ends in “itis” -- arthritis, arachnoiditis, pancreatitis, cystitis, colitis or myositis -- you will also need a periodic (e.g., 1-2 times a week) low dose of a corticosteroid such as hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisone or dexamethasone.

Don’t rely on pain relievers alone. You must have an inflammation reduction component as part of your IPS treatment program.

Forest Tennant is retired from clinical practice but continues his research on intractable pain and arachnoiditis. This column is adapted from newsletters recently issued by the IPS Research and Education Project of the Tennant Foundation. Readers interested in subscribing to the newsletter can sign up by clicking here.

The Tennant Foundation has given financial support to Pain News Network and sponsors PNN’s Patient Resources section.