Neural therapy is a treatment that works with the autonomic nervous system and is most known for its pain-relief benefits. However, there is a wide range of conditions that improve with neural therapy, including sinus conditions, vague abdominal pain, chronic respiratory problems and pelvic conditions. (The autonomic nerves are the nerves that work “in the background” controlling the involuntary bodily functions and functions of the organs. These nerves also affect blood circulation to all muscles and organs.)
Trigger-point injections are the most known aspect of neural therapy. Now a part of “conventional” medicine, trigger points are a common source of pain, especially when there is a prominent muscle component. A trigger point is a tight area within a muscle that often produces localized pain that spreads in a pattern unique to each trigger point. It is named such because when pushing a trigger point, it feels like a trigger was pulled, producing shooting pain. By injecting procaine into the muscle, the trigger point is released, producing relief that may be instant or may take a few hours. Many pain conditions can benefit from this treatment, especially with muscle pain.
One of the more interesting neural therapy treatments is scar injections. In neural therapy, scars act as interference fields. That is, they may block or interfere with the flow of autonomic signals. An interference field can contribute to a distant problem that is seemingly unrelated to the original problem. For instance, someone might say that their shoulder problem started soon after a hip surgery. While this may be a coincidence, there may be a causal relationship. With a careful physical exam, I am able to test if the two are related and, if so, the scar is easily treated. Scars that should be treated with neural therapy include those that are painful or irritating and those that are interference fields that are causing what seems to be a distant problem. Scars that are red and/or tender should be treated. I have found that scars from surgeries that are more traumatic or life altering are more likely to benefit from neural therapy.
Nerve blocks, which are now a cornerstone of conventional pain management, originated with neural therapy. The idea is that by blocking a nerve with anesthetic, the pain signals from that nerve are reduced. While the anesthetic wears off after an hour, the pain relief lasts much longer. The nerve stops firing as many pain signals and the pain subsides. This is effective for many nerve-pain conditions, such as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and can be very effective for headaches. For leg pain, a sciatic nerve block can be helpful. One nerve block can produce dramatic relief. More commonly, a series of blocks will result in progressive relief, with each block producing greater relief for a longer duration.
In addition to pain, neural therapy can be effective for a wide range of medical conditions. Pelvic conditions including menstrual difficulties, bladder and prostate symptoms and sexual difficulties respond very well to blocking the hypogastric plexus. This is a grouping of nerves in the pelvic region that controls the autonomic nerve supply for the area. A simple block of this plexus restores proper function and autonomic balance, often with dramatic effects. This is also beneficial for pelvic pain and dyspareunia (pain during intercourse).
Neural therapy is well suited to acute or chronic sinus problems. By balancing the autonomic nerves with procaine, the sinuses become decongested, resulting in clear breathing. Ozone (O3) therapy is a potent antibiotic so helps clear out any sinus infection and improves metabolism in the airway. The combination of neural therapy with ozone has dramatic effects on sinus congestion. It is gratifying when patients walk into the office congested and walk out of the office breathing well.
Another neural therapy treatment is called twaddle therapy. This involves superficial treatment with procaine just under the skin. This creates little ‘bubbles’ in the skin, otherwise known as twaddles. The nerves that supply the organs, whether lungs, stomach, intestines or kidneys, also have nerve fibers that supply the skin. By treating the skin over the nerves that correspond to the organs, the autonomic nerve supply is balanced in that organ. Thus, neural therapy can have beneficial effects on respiratory problems such as asthma, and abdominal problems such as stomach pain or bowel dysfunction. The twaddles can also be applied in the scalp to relieve headaches or across the upper chest to help with lymphatic drainage from the scalp. This helps with earaches and throat problems. Musculoskeletal pain such as back pain and neck pain, and nerve pain such as carpal tunnel syndrome and shingles, also respond very well to twaddle therapy. Thus, neural therapy helps a wide range of conditions.
Many pain problems and organ problems are worsened by autonomic dysfunction. The most common finding is that there is excess sympathetic activity and deficient parasympathetic activity. Sympathetic activity helps drive the fight-or-flight response, which is sometimes necessary, but the chronic stressors such as work, driving and the many worries in our modern society can cause the sympathetic nerves to be over-stimulated. Parasympathetic activity occurs when we are in a relaxed state. This helps replenish and refresh us. Excessive sympathetic activity contributes to pain by overstimulating nerves and can cause muscle fatigue. Also, such sympathetic activity causes decreased blood flow and fatigue to different organs.
Neural therapy helps many conditions that result from the excessive sympathetic activity. Whether you have a scar that is painful, painful muscles or nerve pain, neural therapy may contribute to your pain relief. If you have sinusitis, headaches, abdominal problems, respiratory problems or pelvic problems that are not responding to conventional treatments, neural therapy can help you progress. Even better, this is done in a holistic manner. Take advantage of this great health opportunity—neural therapy improves your autonomic nerve balance, improving your energy and improving your well-being.
Dr. Slaten is a pain wellness physician in Ridgewood. For more than 20 years, he has been practicing with great skill and an open mind. For more info, check out www.njprolo.com. You can also call the office at 201-882-1500 to discuss if neural therapy is the right treatment for your condition.
