TESTOSTERONE AND CHRONIC PAIN - Testosterone deficiency in chronic pain patients has now been recognized by many observers. Due to its critical biologic functions in pain control, testosterone testing and replacement should now become a mandatory component in the treatment of chronic pain. First, adequate testosterone levels are needed for satisfactory pain control as this hormone is intricately involved in endogenous opioid activity.8-10 Testosterone is also necessary for opioid receptor binding, maintenance of blood-brain barrier transport, and activation of dopamine and norepinephrine activity.Consequently, a lack of testosterone activity in the CNS may result in poor pain control, depression, sleep disturbances, and lack of energy and motivation. In the periphery, testosterone functions as a primary androgenic compound for tissue healing.7 Adequate testosterone levels have long been known to be necessary for muscle maintenance, exercise tolerance, and prevention of osteoporosis. Compression fractures are known to occur in men and women who have testosterone deficiency.6 A deficiency of testosterone, therefore, impairs healing and control of inflammation at pain sites. This is taken from a peer reviewed article from the Practical Pain Management website entitled Testosterone Replacement in Chronic Pain Patients by Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH and Lis Lichot, DO. bodyrenewmedical/pain-assessment
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 08:18:48 +0000