Re: hair/nail growth

[Guest guest]

((((((((((BeckY))))))))))))) always nice to see you post. I have been on opiod

meds for several years now. I have not noticed any difference in my nails or

hair. I looked up vitamins for hair and nails. The books recommend B-2

(riboflavin and inositol. The best way to get them is through B-complex

supplement. In terms of food that are rich in these vitamins is organ meats

(such as liver), citrus fruits and brewer's yeast.

Zinc supplement is helpful if your hair is dry. Zinc supports the oil producing

hair follicles.

Hair and nails are also mirrors for the presence of several conditions. I know

hypothyrodism causes dry hair and brittle nails.

If you do not see any change with a vitamin supplement, there maybe another

cause.

Hope this is helpful. Gentle hugs, Tami

Becky wrote:

> Bennie or anyone but think I remember maybe Bennie knows a little about

vitamins and that is what my question is about. Has long time opioid medicines

affected your hair or nail growth?

[Guest guest]

> Tami wrote:

> If you do not see any change with a vitamin supplement, there maybe another

cause.

>> Becky wrote:

>> Bennie or anyone but think I remember maybe Bennie knows a little about

vitamins and that is what my question is about. Has long time opioid medicines

affected your hair or nail growth?

All,

In the " Survival Guide for Intractable Pain Patients " by Dr. Forest Tenent and

other articles talk about this. I was deficient in B12, Vitamin D (D3), Calcium

and Phosphorus. Also it mentions other supportive supplements

You have to realize that pain is what suppresses our immune system trying to

fight it all the time depletes these. When pain is treated appropriately, the

body functions close to normal and these symptoms are not so recognized.

I was hypo thyroid although my symptoms were uncommon, weight loss and it was

missed. You hair and nails will not get better with those supplements if you

are hypothyroid, you need thyroid medication.

I suggest you get your hormone levels and thyroid checked. With the thyroid

check, it needs to include the three tests not just the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating

Hormone).

There is also something called the intrinsic factor which helps you to absorb

these vitamins and be health.

It will not hurt to take the supplements that Tami states but there is a problem

doing this, I can tell when my thyroid is off as it is now. My throat gets

hoarse, my nails have ridges, my hair is dry and falls out.

When I went in my thyroid level was 25 and it is supposed to be 200. How can

this be when I am taking my thyroid? The way I absorb it and I think increased

pain which I have been having, cause it.

B12 is really the main factor to address first and injections are the best, I

did my own injections as it is a very small needle. Then to absorb the B12,

Vitamin D (which is really D3) we need and the sunshine does NOT give it all to

us, and then you need to take the Calcium which is a dependent on Vitamin D for

absorption and then Phosphorus is a compatible to Calcium (Caltrate is the BEST

for absorption) as they are dependent on each other.

What am I saying from experience in summary:

1. Run down bodies means run down enzymes and vitamins creating deficiencies.

2. Pain causes us to be run down: Pain has to be treated for us to absorb the

supplements to make our bodies better.

3. Psychological factors: Stress, non activity, depression all cause our body to

become immune suppressed.

I had to take two lengthy classes in my Nursing courses on Nutrition and had

forgotten this until it stopped happening to me. I did research on vitamins and

pain and came up with a lot of information.

Estrogen reduces pain and I quit my estrogen therapy years ago with that scare

about breast cancer and when I look back, I then got hypo thyroid and deficient.

Vitamin D reduces pain: I was very deficient along with hypothyroidism in

Vitamin D, B12, Calcium, and Phosphorus. I had to insist them on doing an

intrinsic factor test to make sure I was absorbing my supplements.

If it is your nails and hair, Knox gelatin tablets are very cheap and will

strengthen your nails and hair problems. If it is systemic (something your body

is doing), you have to find the deficiency and treat it.

Stress, depression, pain, all cause immune suppression and immune suppression

cause reduced hair growth and nail problems (ridges).

I know you are not able to get all this testing so I would : 1- Get an

Comprehensive Vitamin that includes Vitamin D3, Caltrate, Phosphorus 2- Drink or

take Knox Gelatin Tablets 3: Keep a diary of this and see if helps.

Here is a good link showing the vitamin table, deficiencies, etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin

On the medical insert of Morphine, which I take, it states, contraindicated with

Morphine but does not say why so I have to research that one <smile>

Good Luck, Becky, I forget to take my vitamins and am the world's worst but know

it helps and also the sub-lingual (under the tongue B vitamins are absorbed

better but are more expensive) so just start taking care of ourselves is the

best bet. Bennie

* I am going to print out the vitamin table again and remind myself to take.

* My Doctor had the topical creams compounded at a local pharmacy.

Here is the exert from the Survival Guide for Intractable Pain Patients : �

pain-topics.org/pdf/IntractablePainSurvival.pdf -

NUTRITIONAL AND HORMONAL AGENTS

IP patients must all take some nutritional and hormonal agents. IP depletes the

body of certain nutritional substances and hormones. If these are depleted, pain

worsens, and the patient will experience more fatigue, insomnia, and depression.

IP patients should read about various dietary supplements and try ones that have

an appeal. At this time, there is no marketed vitamin, mineral, herb, or amino

acid that I restrict or condemn. Here are my minimal recommendations, for all IP

patients.

1. Daily multiple-vitamin-mineral tablet or capsule.

2. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. for osteoporosis prevention. 3.

Pregnenolone 50 to 100mg a day. This is the basic adrenal hormone and nerve

healer.

TOPICAL MEDICATIONS

To achieve better pain relief and promote healing, IP patients may find one or

more topical medications, which are rubbed into the skin over painful areas, to

be effective. These agents are known as " topi- cal " because they go on top of

the skin. Since IP patients have tissue damage and scarring, internal

medications may not always reach the damaged nerves because blood vessels in the

damaged tissue area may also be damaged. Consequently, topical medications may

be able to penetrate into damaged areas by diffusion.

The list of topical medications being used and researched throughout the country

is too long to fully list here. IP patients are encouraged to ask their

pharmacist or other IP patients if they recommend a specific topical medication.

Then try it. Topical medications have essentially no permanent side effects, so

you can experiment safely. The most consistent topical pain relievers in my

experience have been morphine and carisoprodol. The formula is to crush tablets

of medication and dissolve one or two tablets in one ounce of cold cream. Apply

as often as necessary for pain control.

An excellent topical pain reliever is lidocaine, which is classified as a

topical anesthetic. It is available as a patch (Lidoderm). This patch produces

excellent pain relief for about 12 hours. It can be placed on the neck, back,

hip, knee or other body area that is painful. Unless an IP patient has pain deep

in the body such as abdominal adhesions, they can usually get good relief from

the lidocaine patch. These patches are particularly effective if there is a pain

flare or you have " overdone " it and caused some additional discomfort in a

joint, back, or spine area by over-exercise.