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megram - 55JunOttawa - Index

Nerve Pain?
A reason for hope
New medication relieves diabetic
nerve pain and after-shingles nerve pain
Tens of thousands of Canadians suffer from neuropathic
pain, also called nerve pain. Often described as
a burning, stabbing, shooting, tingling or shock-like
sensation, it's common in people with diabetes.
Diabetic Ron Morrison. knows all about it. "Nerve
pain had taken over my life. It never really went away,"
he says.
Neuropathic pain results from damage to or a dysfunction
of the nervous system. In some types of nerve
pain, even the touch of clothing on involved skin triggers
an unbearable burning pain.
Diabetic nerve pain
A common complication of diabetes is damage to the
nerves that allow patients to feel sensations such as
numbness and debilitating pain. Eventually 40 to 60 per
cent of diabetics develop some degree of diabetic nerve
pain.
Mostly it affects the hands and feet, with symptoms
of numbness ranging from mild to severe and pins and
needles pain. Limbs feel alternately burning hot and icy
cold, accompanied by sharp or dull pain and muscle
fatigue.
Often difficult to diagnose and unresponsive to standard
pain therapies, nerve pain is a chronic, debilitating
condition that has left countless sufferers frustrated and
doctors puzzled with the lack of options to treat it - until
now.
An over-the-counter topical pain reliever called
Neuragen has been developed by Origin BioMed Inc., a
Halifax-based manufacturer. At last, there's effective
treatment for Ron Morrison and other sufferers.
Neuragen has proven effective in individual cases,
providing relief from diabetic nerve pain, as well as
after-shingles nerve pain, reflex sympathetic dystrophy
(RSD), spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia and degenerative
disc-lower back pain.
Ron developed so much discomfort in his legs and
feet that he was "seriously shopping for a wheelchair
June 2008 • 14 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine
because it was
becoming too difficult
to stand and
walk," he explains.
"I was introduced
to a wonderful new
product at my local
pharmacy.
Neuragen provided instantaneous
relief from this burning sensation in my
feet. It has returned quality to my life."
Neuragen has been recommended by health care
professionals in the USA and Canada since 1996 for
treatment of chronic pain associated with a variety of
conditions. In all trials to date, Neuragen provided
rapid and effective pain relief without significant side
effects.
"There are few products available that provide relief
from chronic nerve pain," says Don Kyte, pharmacist at
Kyte's Pharmasave, "and these pain relievers generally
produce side effects. The need is therefore great for a
product such as Neuragen which has demonstrated it
provides relief and has no disruptive side effects because
it's topical."
"Neuragen has the potential to be a blockbuster
product" notes Gary Smith, pharmacist in Saint John,
New Brunswick. "It is effective in relieving pain in a
variety of nerve related conditions such as diabetic nerve
pain, after-shingles pain, and fibromyalgia. It offers distinct
advantages over systemic medications with few or
no side effects and greater efficacy. Pharmacists should
initiate discussions with all patients suffering from diabetic
neuropathy."
Neuragen is now available at leading pharmacies
across the country.
That's welcome news for patients.
"I have been using this product for the past four
months and it continues to work, " says Ron. "I can now
enjoy getting out for a walk and enjoy the simple things
in life all over again." Details about Neuragen and nerve
pain are available at www.neuragen.com.