Hormones play a critical role in all aspects of our health, working as chemical messengers that regulate vital bodily functions. When your body’s hormones are out of balance, you may begin to experience several different health complications, including pain and an increased sensitivity to pain in chronic pain patients. At Macomb Pain Management, we believe in giving our patients the tools and knowledge they need to live healthy lives and effectively manage their pain. Let’s take a closer look at the role of hormones and how hormone imbalances can contribute to chronic pain.
Cortisol Levels and its Effects on Chronic Pain
Cortisol is the stress hormone responsible for managing our body’s reaction to stress. It also plays a vital role in regulating the immune system and metabolism. High and low cortisol levels are connected to how the body perceives pain. When a patient has chronically high levels of cortisol, certain chronic pain-causing conditions may become more painful, including:
- Chronic back pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
Low levels of cortisol can also complicate chronic pain symptoms, as patients dealing with cortisol dysregulation often experience chronic fatigue syndrome. This condition causes widespread pain and low energy levels. Effectively treating both high and low levels of cortisol is crucial for chronic pain patients to build an effective pain management treatment plan.
Estrogen, the Primary Female Sex Hormone, and its Role in Chronic Pain
Estrogen levels play a complicated role in pain perception, as they modulate pain in the body’s nervous, immune, and musculoskeletal systems. In the nervous system, estrogen plays a role in several neurotransmitters, including:
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
These neurotransmitters influence how the body receives pain signals and affect our mood and mental health. In the immune system, estrogen is essential to inflammation, which is often associated with chronic pain. At certain levels, estrogen protects the body from inflammation by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation associated with chronic pain-causing conditions like osteoarthritis. At abnormal levels, however, estrogen can increase the amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can increase chronic pain levels caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. As with other hormones, ensuring your body’s estrogen levels are appropriate is crucial for overall health and chronic pain management.
Testosterone, the Primary Male Sex Hormone and its Role in Chronic Pain
Testosterone levels play a significant role in how the body deals with pain, with low levels of testosterone exacerbating pain experienced by several chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. When testosterone is at healthy levels in the body, it has an anti-inflammatory effect caused by its ability to reduce levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Several chronic pain-causing conditions cause pain by causing inflammation, and when testosterone levels are low, pain can worsen. Testosterone also has a neuroprotective effect and works to help maintain the proper function of nerve cells, as well as reduce neuro-inflammation. For patients with low testosterone levels, there are several treatment options you can discuss with your doctor to get your levels back in the healthy range.
Take Control of Chronic Pain With Help From Macomb Pain Management
At Macomb Pain Management, we strive to empower our patients with the tools they need to fight against chronic pain. To learn more about how we can help you in your fight against chronic pain, contact us today at (248) 844-8281.
