Dr. Bruce D. Nicholson, the director of Pain Specialists of Greater Lehigh Valley, as well as the medical director for the Division of Pain Management, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, acknowledges and understands that chronic pain is a complex problem, and treating it successfully requires a unified, coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. “The human body is an amazing system of well-orchestrated parts. Like a machine, each part contributes to the harmony of the whole. When illness or injury strikes, however, the entire system is affected and pain is often the result,” explains Nicholson. “Pain is actually the body’s way of signaling a breakdown of one of its parts. Although unpleasant, pain provides an important warning to protect the body against further injury.”

Nicholson is also a clinical associate professor at Penn State’s College of Medicine at Hershey Medical Center, and board certified in anesthesiology and pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He consistently researches treatments that can confidently be recommended for patients, taking into consideration their long-term health and well-being.

“At Pain Specialists of Greater Lehigh Valley, our philosophy includes the belief that chronic pain can be successfully managed, and the first step is understanding the source,” says Nicholson. “Our physicians make a diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment designed to bring balance and harmony back into life.”

This philosophy led Nicholson to recommend cannabidiol (CBD) products for topical use in treating peripheral pain, helping patients to heal and get back to living vibrant lives.

“CBD products are an excellent alternative to orally administered anti-inflammatories, as well as opioid treatments, and they are cost-effective for my patients,” he says. “Furthermore, the majority of my patients, particularly those living with chronic pain from osteoarthritis in their joints, knees and lower back, have experienced genuine pain relief when using the CBD salve.”

Nicholson notes that with the explosive growth of the cannabis health marketplace, ensuring the quality of the hemp oil is important; he recommends hemp products that are contaminant-, GMO- and pesticide-free. His offices carry products from DaCrema Botanicals, a local CBD supplier with offices based in Plymouth Meeting, and is confi-dent about the quality and integrity of the products.

“We are at an important precipice for the integration of hemp-based healing in PA,” says DaCrema founder and owner, Joe DaCrema. DaCrema’s premium organic CBD salves, drops and vape products are available through wellness practitioners and natural health stores throughout the area, and for purchase online. “A spate of recent medical research reveals that inflammation is associated with a wide range of diseases, both physical and psychological. The key to CBD is that it acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, working naturally with the body’s systems from the top down. Perhaps the best thing about CBD is its remarkable safety profile—there are no known side effects.”

For more information about Pain Specialists of Greater Lehigh Valley, call 610-402-1757 or visit LVPainDocs.com. For more information about DaCrema Botanicals, visit DaCremaBotanicals.com.

Gisele R. Siebold is a contributing writer to Natural Awakenings. Connect at [email protected].

June 2017