What Can Low-Dose Naltrexone Treat?
Dr. Nichelle C. Renk is a board-certified and fellowship-trained anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist practicing in Anchorage, AK at the Algone Interventional Pain Clinic. Dr. Renk performs a thorough evaluation of a patient's symptoms, imaging, and physical exam to create an individualized plan for the patient.... more
Conditions like chronic pain, sleep disorders, and autoimmune conditions challenge the frontiers of interventional medicine. We continue to learn more about interventions that can improve your health and wellness.
Since the 1980s, medical research has developed a great amount of information on the many potential uses of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment method. Could LDN help you?
At Alpenglow Pain & Wellness, interventional pain management specialists Dr. Nichelle C. Renk and Dr. Mary Beth Calor support new and existing patients with a variety of chronic care needs, from joint pain to insomnia. Dr. Renk and Dr. Calor provide low-dose naltrexone treatment from their office in Anchorage, Alaska.
Don’t you deserve to live free of troubling issues like depression, insomnia, or chronic pain? LDN may be able to help. Dr. Renk and Dr. Calor want their patients to understand the potential of low-dose naltrexone to address and resolve problem symptoms, improving patients’ overall quality of life for years to come.
Learning more about LDN
Naltrexone gained approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 1984. This safe, non-toxic drug was originally used for opioid addiction treatment. In the ensuing decades, researchers at the LDN Research Trust have explored the therapeutic uses of this drug in much lower and much safer doses.
Increasingly, cutting edge physicians are seeing potential for LDN as an effective treatment method for complex, treatment-resistant conditions like chronic pain, a dysfunctional immune system, and even mental health conditions. Ultra-low doses of naltrexone can also aid in pain relief.
LDN treatment transforms activity in your brain, increasing your production of chemicals that improve your mood, relieve pain, and can even help you get to sleep at night. Here’s what you need to know about the promise of LDN as a treatment option.
What can you treat with LDN?
In general, before prescribing specific treatments or therapies, Dr. Renk and Dr. Calor conduct a physical examination, reviews your symptoms and health history, and orders any needed diagnostic testing. She recommends LDN treatment to patients who have any of several health and wellness care needs.
Pain problems
LDN effectively blocks and binds receptors in your brain called MU receptors. When these receptors are blocked, your body naturally increases endorphin production and floods your system with these pain-relieving chemicals. In addition, LDN modulates glial cells and this action decreases inflammation.
LDN can relieve your pain levels by more than 50%, and it can be an effective remedy for chronic pain patients. Ultra low dose naltrexone (ULDN) can help opioids work better as well 30-40%.
Sleep disorders
LDN treatment also improves outcomes for patients with insomnia and other sleep disorders. When you can get a good night’s sleep, especially deep sleep, it’s amazing how much better you feel!
Autoimmune conditions
Autoimmune conditions occur due to a dysfunctional immune system that reacts against your own body, attacking your tissues and cells as if they were invading germs. LDN treatment shows promise as a method to address immune system dysfunction. Specifically, LDN may assist multiple sclerosis, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, ulcerative colitis, Chrohn’s disease, eczema, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis to name a few.
Mood and mental health issues
The increased endorphin production and glial cell modulation resulting from LDN treatment supports your mind as well as your body.
Many mood and mental health conditions are related to insufficient endorphin levels, including major depressive disorder, clinical anxiety, and others. Talk to Dr. Renk or Dr. Calor about whether LDN could be an answer for your mental health care needs.
LDN can also be used in combination with other treatments and therapies to offer you more complete relief and mind and body support.
To learn more about how LDN treatment could improve your life, schedule an appointment with Dr. Renk or Dr. Calor today. Get started by calling Alpenglow Pain & Wellness, or book online now.
