If you are seeking neck pain treatment in Jacksonville, then you may have been involved in a motor vehicle accident and suffered a whiplash injury. Because of the severity of your pain, you may have tried supplementing your pain medications with natural remedies such as dietary supplements.
While dietary supplements can be beneficial to those who have nutritional deficiencies, they may interact negatively with your prescribed pain medications. Here are some dietary supplements that you should avoid when taking prescription pain medication unless they have been recommended by your physician:
Fish Oil
Fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and while fish oil may play an important role in pain relief and cardiovascular health, it may lead to dangerous side effects.
If your pain management specialist has prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAIDs, taking fish oil supplements with them may lead to dangerous bleeding. NSAIDs have the potential to decrease platelet aggregation, and if taken with fish oil, which also has potent anticoagulant properties, may cause nosebleeds, hematuria, blood in the stool, and even internal bleeding.
Magnesium
While magnesium can help relax smooth muscle tissue, you should not take it for your neck pain if your physician has prescribed analgesic medication. Magnesium is sometimes called “nature’s beta blocker,” and can cause your heart rate to slow down.
Many prescription pain relievers have this same effect on the heart, and because of this, taking magnesium with your pain medications may raise the risk for bradycardia, or a heart rate that is too slow. In addition, like fish oil, magnesium may also decrease platelet aggregation, and cause abnormal bleeding if taken with pain medications.
If you are in need of neck pain treatment in Jacksonville, make an appointment with Riverside Pain Physicians to learn how they can help manage your symptoms.
