Turmeric for Chronic Inflammatory Pain

An accident that resulted in injury to my knee and sacroiliac joint left me in tremendous pain. Naproxen (Aleve) was prescribed to reduce the inflammation causing the pain. Doctors told me the pain might never go away, which meant relying indefinitely on NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as a pain reliever. My family doctor tracked my condition, watching for signs of liver or kidney disease, which are potential side effects of long-term use of NSAIDs. After five years on Aleve, I had to stop because of critical side effects. As the benefits of taking an NSAID for chronic inflammatory pain wore off, severe pain returned. That is when I started taking turmeric in standardized capsules for my chronic inflammatory pain.

What is turmeric?

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an herb used for flavoring food and as a food coloring. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant as reported by the American Cancer Society. The form of turmeric available in the baking goods section of the grocery store is for cooking so it has limited medical benefits if only used occasionally. For ultimate pain relief, purchase standardized capsules that contain a high percentage of curcumin (curcuminoids). Find turmeric capsules in the vitamin section of larger grocery stores.

My experience on turmeric capsules

I am not a medical professional. I consulted with my family physician before taking turmeric for my chronic inflammatory pain. When I started taking turmeric, I did not notice an immediate improvement as I had when taking Aleve. In fact, after several days, I was ready to stop taking turmeric. Then I considered the antioxidant benefits, and I decided to continue taking the turmeric capsules if only to finish off the bottle.

It took almost three weeks before I noticed a reduction my pain, but the results are amazing. My pain level is even lower than when I was taking Aleve, making me wonder why none of the five doctors I saw for pain management ever mentioned turmeric. Unlike with Aleve, I do not feel tired all the time nor do I suffer stomach upset taking turmeric. Turmeric has not completely wiped out my pain; however, I feel much better than when I was taking Aleve for my chronic pain.

Added benefits of taking turmeric capsules

The University of Maryland Medical Center tells us that turmeric has been used for over 4,000 years to treat medical conditions. The Medical Center report says, “Studies show that turmeric may help fight infections and some cancers, reduce inflammation, and treat digestive problems.” My favorable results using turmeric to reduce inflammation for pain management attests to the validity of that study.

The University of Maryland article also reports that turmeric stops platelets from clumping, which may help prevent plaque buildup that could lead to stroke or heart attack. Both of my parents suffered heart disease so turmeric is providing me with yet another health benefit. Turmeric may also help with digestion by stimulating the gallbladder to create more bile.

Source: The Editors of EatingWell Magazine | Vitality, “8 of the World’s Healthiest Spices & Herbs You Should Be Eating,” Shine from Yahoo

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