Feeling significantly better on ldn

[Justdrea81]

Out of desperation, I started a new therapy, low dose naltrexone. This is used in high amounts to reduce opioid cravings. Apparently it can be used in much smaller doses to treat chronic pain. It binds to the opioid receptors, and creates natural endorphins. I was skeptical, but OMG it works!!!!

Last week I overdid it one day. I wasn't in bed for 2 days after. And last week I had several nights where I ONLY slept 7 hours (I usually need 10 on average). 70% of my symptoms are mostly reduced or gone!!!!

Apparently, ldn is in round 2 of trials here in the US. So I'm not sure when it would go to market. I sought a naturopath who prescribed it to me. It can also take up to 8 weeks to work for pain. I am on week 2, and it hasn't done a whole lot for the pain yet. But I am sleeping a lot better, and I think that makes a huge difference.

[luhu]

This article proposes a hypothesis and if correct, naltrexone would be a possible treatment. Hope it helps you.

Med Hypotheses. 2018 Feb;111:41-48. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.12.010. Epub 2017 Dec 9.

Functional neurological symptom disorder (conversion disorder): A role for microglial-based plasticity mechanisms?

Stephenson CP1, Baguley IJ2.

Author information

Abstract

Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (FND) is a relatively common neurological condition, accounting for approximately 3-6% of neurologist referrals. FND is considered a transient disorder of neuronal function, sometimes linked to physical trauma and psychological stress. Despite this, chronic disability is common, for example, around 40% of adults with motor FND have permanent disability. Building on current theoretical models, this paper proposes that microglial dysfunction could perpetuate functional changes within acute motor FND, thus providing a pathophysiological mechanism underlying the chronic stage of the motor FND phenotypes seen clinically. Core to our argument is microglia's dual role in modulating neuroimmunity and their control of synaptic plasticity, which places them at a pathophysiological nexus wherein coincident physical trauma and psychological stress could cause long-term change in neuronal networks without producing macroscopic structural abnormality. This model proposes a range of hypotheses that are testable with current technologies.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

PMID: 29406995 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.12.010

[Justdrea81 in reply to luhu]

Wow! This is fascinating, thank you. For me, it's been confusing because one doctor will say my symptoms are from FND, and another will say they're from Fibro. (I seem to have neurological and auto immune stuff going on). But this medicine apparently can treat both so I'm ok with that.

Yesterday was a hard day. I had a lot of pain, despite the LDN. But my doctor told me that LDN can take up to 8 weeks to work on pain, so I'm not giving up yet.