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Doctors claims to have treatment for chronic pain

(Published: The Virginia Pilot - Monday, May 1, 2000
Section: DAILY BREAK Source: ALEXANDRIA BERGER
PART VI)

Doctors claims to have treatment for chronic pain
Last in a series on alternative medicine. Today: Can doctors stop pain with algae and other unusual treatments?

THERE'S ONLY ONE thing that controls my life," It's this constant, nagging pain. I dread waking up. I dread life. I dread painkillers. Other than that, I'm fine."

I turned around to match the voice with a face in the maze of shoppers at Pike Place Market in Seattle. But the voice had disappeared into the crowd, taking the pain with it.

Chronic pain. It affects as much as 85 percent to 90 percent of the U.S. population daily, according to medical journals. Gregory Spencer, a podiatrist and marine biologist, believes he's got the solution.

Practicing traditional and alternative medicine at the Tahoma Clinic and the Renton Foot Clinic in Washington state, Spencer stumbled onto a blue-green algae only found off the coast of Hawaii. He'd been experimenting with algaes to act as pain suppressants after foot orthotics weren't effective in some of his patients. Algae, he knew, contained the essential nutrients to restore damaged cells.

After mutating this species naturally, he created " Alpha & Omega" in capsule, cream and injectable form. Then, he tested it on hundreds of people. Surprisingly, it worked.

Amazed patients suffering from neuropathies, joint pains and muscle aches now parade before his video camera attesting to the wonders of his discovery.

There's only one problem. Spencer doesn't know why or how it works. Just that it does. There are virtually no side effects of significance, Spencer says, completely astounded.

The number of shots require to achieve stable relief ranges from three to 25, one shot every two weeks. " After 2 ½ years of studying patient results, the level of pain improvement ranges from 50 to 100 percent resolution, no matter how long the pain has been present," Spencer says.

The oral form of Alpha & Omega is not as potent, he says. Yet, patients report pain relief quickly, although 30 percent less than by injection.

The most difficult patients to treat are those with fibromyalgia (FM), a soft tissue musculoskeletal condition. Spencer reports only 70 percent success.

However, Billie Jay Sahley, executive director of the Pain & Stress Center in San Antonio and a board-certified orthomolecular therapist, believes the answer is combination of magnesium intravenous infusions, along with oral doses of supplements, including 1,600 mg malic acid, a nontoxic organic found in apples.

Patients with FM and chronic pain syndrome hurt all over, she writes in her pamphlet "Malic Acid and Matgnesium for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome." Research shows these people are deficient in certain compounds, mainly magnesium, malic acid, phosphate, B1,B2, B6 and manganese, all required for the synthesis of neuromuscular function. They also may suffer from aluminum toxicity.

While FM and CPS pain is unique, dealing with healing, and post-operative surgical pain isn't. Spencer's colleague and Tahoma Clinic's founder, Dr. Jonathan Wright, recommends the following prescription to strengthen healing and lessen pain:

For one month before surgery and six weeks after, take: 1,000 mg vitamin C twice daily; 30mg zinc picolinate with 2 mg copper once daily; 5 drops Hydroxyfolate drops daily; 250 mg Centella asiatica, 2 capsules, twice daily; multivitamin daily.

Just before and after surgery: Three Bromelain capsules, three times a day on an empty stomach for two days before and 10 days after surgery. Bromelain lessen swelling and inflammation by "digesting away" tissue debris. Studies show it shortens healing time.

As soon as possible after surgery: 30 strength Arnica montana, 4 pellets under the tongue every one to three hours according to degree of pain. Take with no food or water.

Before a recent surgery, I tested Wright's regimen. I healed faster, bruised little and recovered quickly. Now I keep Bromelain next to the Band-Aids.

Isn't trying the unusual how most discoveries are made?

All supplements can be bought at your local health food store or online from the Tahoma Clinic at www.tahomaclinic.com

You can order Dr. Spencer's Alfa & Omega from the Tahoma Clinic or contact: Gregory W. Spencer, DPM, 327 Morris Avenue South, Renton, Wash. 98055. Phone (425) 255-7731; online at www.dr-spencer.com

For questions on Dr. Sahley's treatments, contact: Pain & Stress Center, 5282 Medical Dr., Suite 160, San Antonio, Texas 78229-6023. Phone (800) 669-2256.

Write to Alexandria Berger, c/o The Virginia-Pilot,
150 W. Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, Va., 23510

E-mail her at alex@imperfectnavigator.com