Common Mistakes that can be avoided when something hurts...

I write this blog especially for people who have chronic pain..but today's post is sage advice for all of us, whether chronic or occasional pain is an issue. We all experience some discomfort at different points in our lives, and making good choices on how to address this problem can make all the difference in the world.

First of all...an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To that end, it is important to take the best care of yourself every day. Healthy habits such as exercise, a nutritious diet and avoidance of tobacco products are a good starting point. The better your overall health, the better you will feel every day.
Choose medications wisely. Try to minimize use of the most potent pain medications (if prescribed) or avoid altogether to eliminate the possibility of addiction. Be careful never to exceed the amount prescribed. In the case of over the counter medications, keeping your overall health situation in mind when choosing a product. For instance, what is appropriate for an individual with normal liver or kidney function or someone who does not consume alcoholic beverages is very different than someone who is a regular drinker or has compromised renal or hepatic function.
Keep in mind that many treatments for pain do not come in a medication bottle! This blog is full of ideas if you don't know where to start. Hot or cold compresses, massage, and stretching exercises are only a few of the many options available. For chronic pain, there are even further alternative, such as nerve blocks, TENS units, or one of the many new devices in chronic pain marketplace.
If you have chronic pain, a support system is of great benefit. This sometimes comes in the form of a caring partner, family or friend. Support groups are another great resource...ask around in your community and you might just find what you're looking for!
Last but not least, see a pain management or other appropriate specialist to help you manage your pain, especially the chronic variety. They can order appropriate tests and/or treatments that you can't necessarily access on your own.

Sources: roundupweb.com; flickr

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Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately? Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members. Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain. This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story. Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube

Effectiveness Of Ozone Injections Is No Longer Up In The Air

Most of us know someone who has osteoarthritis, if we don't have it ourselves. Joint replacement surgery is a pretty common remedy when the joint becomes severely damaged and the patient is in a lot of pain. With risk of complications from such a surgery, perhaps an alternative treatment should be tried first. One such remedy is the injection of a synthetic version of collagen(e.g. Synvisc®) into the affected joint. This procedure restores the cushioning to a joint that has degenerated over the years. It can diminish the pain substantially and help put off joint replacement surgery for months to years. The biggest drawback is that these products are expensive. GoodRX , a web site that can be used to estimate the cost of medications, estimates the cost of these products to be over $1,000 each. Here's another example--and I am not sure how widely accepted this protocol has become since study authors introduced it in November 2015. Are you ready for this? Inject

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus. You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour

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