The function of inflammation is to signal there is tissue damage and trigger the local and systemic (body) factors to initiate the appropriate defense and repair process. That is very important to understand – the appropriate defense and repair process! Inflammation, then, is a very good thing.
However, inflammation is a primitive response and is usually excessive in magnitude for it’s function in soft tissue injury. A good example is a sprained ankle. A few years ago, I had a young lady patient in the clinic who played volleyball at a Division 1 school and had tried out for the US National Team. She came to my office after turning her ankle and both her and her parents were very concerned. The playoffs were coming up and her ankle was 5 times it’s normal size. It looked terrible! The bodies inflammatory response was so excessive it made it look, and feel, much worse than what it was.
After a relatively short time (10 days) of addressing the inflammation by giving the proper anti-inflammatory agents and enzymes, at the right time and in the correct combination, we returned her to full range of motion and pain less function so she could return to competition.
Another example is a fever. Fevers are generally a good thing because the bodies immune system is sounding the alarm and your defenses are coming to the rescue to, here it is again, begin the defend and repair process. Think twice about trying to reduce a fever too quickly, it is the bodies natural defense to solve and inflammation problem. I usually load people up on a special Calcium Lactate, which is the most easily absorbed calcium there is and a non-saturated fatty acid. Fever and inflammation is a calcium deficiency.
As I stated earlier, inflammation is a primitive response usually excessive in magnitude for its function in soft tissue issues. Excessive inflammation produces pain, spasm, and edema (swelling) and it may delay healing and lead to chronic adverse tissue changes if not mediated.
Prolonged, extended, or chronic edema tells your body to deposit something called “fibrinogen” into the tissue spaces. This thickens tissues, creates tissue adhesions or scarring, and decreases normal blood flow. Untreated this may take many months to resolve.
Take a look at the graph at the top of this blog and look at all the situations that are attributed to chronic inflammation. Inflammation is a good thing in healing the body and getting the appropriate nutrients to the needed areas, but chronic inflammation is the root cause to just about every disease and health compromising state there is.
Do yourself a favor and resolve your chronic inflammation issues as soon as possible. Feel free to call my office, or email, with your questions and we can get you on the right track to get rid of your devastating chronic inflammation.
