hi all,
Not that I'm pain free but I believe that some of my supplements have contributed to a reduction in my pain level.
About 14 days after my last sgb I was still in such constant pain and swelling and so despondant. I started talking to my breast cancer buddies and foun that they were using alot of vitamins and certainsupplements to deal with chemo which
sometimes causes peripheral neurapathy. I tried one called
glutamine that didn't agree with me and what do you know?
Its a precursor of GABA sound familiar maybe gabapentin
(neuronton) any way its an important neurotransmitter. But then again I could not take neuronton. It gave me tremors.

So I started with your normal vitamins except I took extra
ester-C, I'm talking about 1 gram. I thought it was my imagination dut there seemed to be a lessening of the pain.
A few days later I started taking magnesium ( more magnesium than calcium which I have to take anyway for osteopenia. And then there was no question about it. I was in less pain, less spasm and needed less meds.

Now here is the kicker-- Turns out that" magnesium plays a role in vasodilation and is thought to behave like a calcium
channel blocker at the cellular level". (Calan, Veraprimil ect.) Also interesting is that" soaking in epsom salts helps as the magnesium in itself acts as a calcium channel blocker reducing pain,inflamation, edema and the breakdown of tissues". There is a Dr. in the UK who has been giving infusions of magnesium for neuropathic pain.

I don't know whether any of this would work for any of you and it is trial and error and If I could find a doc who was knowledgable about supplements I surely would go to him.

If you are interested about how magnesium works you may want to try this site.

[url]http://web.mit.edu/london/www/magnesium.html[/url]

Susie L

Quote from saluki:

A few days later I started taking magnesium ( more magnesium than calcium which I have to take anyway for osteopenia. And then there was no question about it. I was in less pain, less spasm and needed less meds.
(Calan, Veraprimil ect.) Also interesting is that" soaking in epsom salts helps as the magnesium in itself acts as a calcium channel blocker reducing pain,inflamation, edema and the breakdown of tissues".
Susie L

Hi Susie. Interesting that you are bringing up magnesium. I too have been taking a magensium suppliment for the last couple of weeks.

You are correct that it is key to many of the mechanisms you bring up.

Moreover, there has been a lingering questions as to whether or not there is widespread magnesium deficiency in the US. There has been talk about adding it our water supply as well. Soil depletion appears the most likely cause for this deficiency.

Most magensium suppliments also contain zinc. These two minerals are though to work together.

That said, much of the more recent research has shown that humans need more magnesium than zinc. Most magnesium suppliments contain magnesium and zinc in opposite proportion to latest research (instead following USDA RDA).

In deciding which magnesium suppliment to take, I managed to find one that did not contain zinc. It is made by rexall. I take it twice per day (250 mg each pill).

I have not had "resting" pain since I went on my exercise regiment and started suppliments to my diet, but I still remain somewhat swollen. I will take some measurements later today to see if I have improved. My brother says my hand looks a lot better but it has been over a week since we worked out together.

Sam.