How to Reduce Chronic Pain with Magnesium

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Magnesium provides many health benefits. But did you know that it can also reduce chronic pain?

There are no cures for fibromyalgia, autoimmune arthritis, endometriosis, and other painful chronic illnesses. But there are ways to reduce some of the discomforts they create.

I rejoice whenever I find something to reduce even one source of pain. While the reduction of only one form of pain may not sound like a lot to those who live without chronic pain, it is a huge deal for people like me.

Chronic pain is rarely felt in one or two areas. Long-term pain creates a snowball effect. All it takes is one pain source to be neglected for an extended period. When this happens, the organs, muscles, tendons, and other body parts begin to react and become painful themselves. Before you know it, your whole body is consumed with pain.

Reactionary pain is not only painful, but it makes it addressing the true source difficult or complicates reaching a correct diagnosis.

Here are some ways that magnesium can help reduce your chronic pain.

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Medical Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional. Always discuss changes in your healthcare and pain management plan with your physicians.

Reduce These Types of Chronic Pain With Magnesium

• Neuropathic Pain
• Headaches
• Muscle Cramps

Magnesium helps decrease chronic nerve and muscle aches, as well as headaches. It acts as a ¹NMDA receptor antagonist and blocks the NMDA receptor, resulting in its analgesic effect.

I personally use magnesium for relief from permanent nerve damage and muscle spasms. I combine PEMF therapy with a topical magnesium lotion to limit the number and severity of headaches that stem from the base of my neck and spine.

Adding a daily topical magnesium supplement to my pain management plan helps relieve nerve and muscle pain. It also helps reduce the pain I experience from my intestines being strangled by adhesions.

Forms of Magnesium

There are quite a few ways to increase your magnesium levels.

• Intravenous
• Intrathecal
• Epidural 
• Oral
• Topical

The first three forms on the list are administered by medical professionals. Depending on your health insurance plan, they may be quite costly.

Increasing your levels can also be done by taking an oral supplement or adding more magnesium-rich foods to your diet. Foods that are rich in magnesium include but are not limited to leafy green vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and fish. See a full list here.

My preferred form is topical. I apply a natural magnesium-rich lotion each night to my belly, feet, thighs, and calves. I also apply it to my neck, lower back, hips, and shoulders. Within minutes the tension melts away, and I can fall fast asleep.

Which Form of Magnesium is Right For You?

This is something that should be discussed with your doctor. Always check to see if your supplement is safe to take with current medications.

I have several reasons for choosing a topical form. The first is affordability. Even with health insurance, having magnesium administered via intravenous, intrathecal, or by epidural is expensive.

My body rejects oral forms of supplements. This includes magnesium-rich foods. I have to eat them in small amounts or suffer the consequence, which is diarrhea or vomiting.

It was trying a topical form that made it possible to increase my magnesium levels. My body absorbs, uses, and prefers topical forms of supplements.

Which forms have you tried?

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Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29920000/
¹https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29334449/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32718032/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28403154/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/272189-magnesium-for-muscle-joint-aches/