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Showing posts with the label Non Drug Pain Management Ideas

Prevent Chronic Pain--Prevent Type II Diabetes!

One of the best defenses we have against chronic pain, or any illness for that matter--is to know what the risk factors are and to do our best to eliminate as many risks as possible. There are some risk factors we really can't control--such as genetics. The good news is, there are many risk factors that can be controlled or eliminated. Type II diabetes is one example of the health conditions I am talking about here.  While diabetes is not a painful condition in and of itself, it can lead to the development of diabetic neuropathy . This condition leads to nerve damage due to elevated blood glucose levels over extended periods. There is a period of time prior to development of type II diabetes that is known as pre-diabetes. During the pre-diabetes period, timely management of risk factors such as hypertension, weight management, dietary modifications, etc. can halt the further development of this form of diabetes. For that reason, today I am sharing a link to a q

Spirituality: A Holistic Health Practice

One subject we have not broached too much in this blog is spirituality...it is one of the elements of holistic health care...but does not always get the "air time" that it deserves. Spirituality is defined as " being concerned with religion or religious matters; of or relating to a person's spirit."  One approach to spirituality is the practice of organized religion, but spirituality is actually more encompassing than that... Organized religion is certainly a great way to address a person's spiritual needs.  Most religions have a system of beliefs that set them apart from other religious practices. Those who embrace these practices can find much solace in their respective system of belief. Beyond Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other practices, spirituality also encompasses a sort of "sixth sense." Each person's idea of spirituality is as unique as a fingerprint.  As previously stated, this may be firmly rooted in organized religion

Chronic Pain? Think Holistically!

Holistic medicine is defined as medical practice that seeks to treat an individual as a whole--body, mind, emotions, and spirit--as opposed to treatment that is focused on a specific malady.  The holistic approach to medicine emerged in the 1970s. Traditional western medicine scoffed at what we now know as complementary or alternative practices; since that time these practices have become more widely accepted and integrated into modern medical practice. The principles of holistic medicine embrace a team approach to patient care. Holistic practitioners believe that every individual possesses an innate ability to heal themselves. They see the patient as a person rather than a disease state. In an attempt to treat the patient, holistic practitioners are members of a team that strives to correct the underlying cause of the patients condition as opposed to simply alleviating symptoms. There are many types of treatments that come under the auspices of holistic medicine.

Why aren't chronic opioids prescribed for fibromyalgia?

Given that fibromyalgia is such a painful condition, it may seem logical to think that treatment should include chronic opioids. After all, the "tender points" that are the hallmark for diagnosing this condition are so excruciatingly painful to the slightest touch . That leads us to question why the practice of prescribing Oxycontin and similar products for round the clock relief...right? If the truth be told, the American College of Rheumatology treatment guidelines for fibromyalgia  specifically state the following in this regard: "Doctors do not recommend opioid narcotics for treating fibromyalgia. The reason for this is that research evidence suggests these drugs are not of great benefit to most people with fibromyalgia. In fact, they may cause greater pain sensitivity or make pain persist." There are currently three drugs on the market that have FDA approval for chronic treatment of fibromyalgia--and all three of them are antidepressants.  Whethe

Just Breathe!

Have you ever noticed that your body tends to "tense up" in response to discomfort?  If not, maybe it's worth paying attention to.  Many of us actually hold our breath during those difficult moments... I recently read a column written by Sarah Anne Shockley about this very topic.  Ms. Shockley suffers from thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition in which nerves, muscles and blood vessels are compressed in her thorax, making something as simple as breathing very difficult to do without pain. After years of attempts to treat the condition with physical therapy, medications, meditation, exercise and such, she found little to no relief. With a little thought and some experimentation, Ms. Shockley came to discover a whole new approach to her condition. Her breathing awareness technique evolved; this has done much to help her cope with her condition.  I have often stated in this blog that it takes some trial and error on the part of the patient to find what is

Never Ignore Pain...

Today I am sharing a link to WebMD's slide show on chronic pain. Many Americans suffer from various forms of chronic pain:  arthritis, migraine headaches, post herpetic neuralgia, back pain, etc. etc. I would encourage you to have a look at the slide show.  There's a lot of good advice in this short presentation about pain relieving solutions that just might be of help.  If you take nothing else from this post, here is the main thing to remember: If you suffer from pain on a regular basis--even if it's mild pain--it's worth your while to seek medical attention.  You might just be able to prevent a potentially serious condition from becoming disabling or even fatal. Your body talks to you...so please listen carefully! Sources: WebMD; Pixabay

Rules for Success: You ARE What You EAT!

Did you know...that for individuals with chronic pain, forty percent of the problem can be traced to their diet? Well, it's true. And sadly, the foods that are the most problematic are the very foods we love oh so much .  Eating these foods, especially when we know they are triggers, can mess us up for weeks on end.  Doctors and other health care providers are not always in the loop about this.  They do need to become more knowledgeable so they can help patients to help themselves.  In the end, those same patients will feel better more of the time and rely on medications much less.  That's a winning combination! So, which foods should be avoided?  Start with bread, flour, sugars, artificial sweeteners, fruit juices, potatoes, and hydrogenated fats.  Those seem to affect most everyone.  Read the ingredients on all the foods you eat.  You'd be surprised how many wheats, fats, etc. you are consuming without even thinking about it.  This kind of diet is not about losi

The "Hows and Whys" of Using a Pain Diary

Anyone with chronic pain has good days and bad days. They all know that sometimes a bad day can be triggered by changes in weather, diet, activity, and the like.  That's why a pain diary can be a very important tool in the management of a chronic pain condition.  It doesn't cost much money to use this tool, and anyone who is able to read and write can make use of it.  Alternatively, caregivers can keep pain diaries for those in their care. By keeping track of day to day life, chronic pain patients can identify the relationship between painful flare-ups and potential causes of those flare-ups.  By identifying these patterns, a person can learn how to predict problems in advance, and and how to best manage the situation . Additionally, this information can also be shared with health care providers during medical visits. What should be recorded in a pain diary?  The following elements are key: Time and date Recent activities, weather patterns, foods, and possible

Reducing risk of gout...without medication!

Gout is a painful condition..ask anyone who has it, and I am sure they will have plenty to say about it. The underlying cause of gout is an elevated serum level of uric acid, otherwise known as hyperuricemia.  Elevated uric acid levels have also been associated with other health conditions including cardiac issues and type 2 diabetes.  For this reason, it makes sense to try to control the condition by controlling uric acid levels. Traditionally, this goal has been accomplished using medications. There is a class of drugs known as xanthine oxidase inhibitors . These drugs limit the amount of uric acid that the body can produce. While they are very effective, they have side effects, including low blood counts, reduced liver function, rash and nausea.  NSAID drugs, such as colchicine and ibuprofen are used to combat an acute attack of gout.  These drugs are safe and effective during short term use, but long term use can precipitate GI problems, bleed risk, and cardiovascular or ki

Weighted Blankets: Helping to battle anxiety and insomnia

Chronic pain disorders are often associated with anxiety and insomnia...and that is surely no secret! While some patients turn to medications to battle these issues, there are some natural ways to fight back...and today I am going to share one with you! Originally, occupational therapists used weighted blankets to help children with sensory disorders to combat anxieties associated with those conditions.  These blankets are constructed with "pockets" of plastic pellets from top to bottom. The extra weight of the blanket has a calming effect on the person under it; it is thought that the added weight signals the brain to release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, causing relaxation. In present day, these blankets have become a powerful tool in the world of psychiatry for other individuals as well...particularly those with anxiety.  These blankets weight anywhere from fifteen to thirty pounds, and act much like a firm hug on those who need relief from

Gluten Free Diet: Beware of unexpected sources of gluten!

Looking back on a previous post about Celiac Disease ,  I thought it might be a good idea to follow up with a post about gluten free diets, which are the only known treatment for this malady.  At first glance, it may seem simple enough to eat gluten free...but when you need to eliminate all gluten from your diet, it's not quite that simple. To this point, here are some examples.  You might be surprised after reading these! 1) Soy sauce, salad dressings, and soups can contain gluten.  Soy sauce is made from fermented wheat; soups and salad dressings often contain malt or flour as a thickening agent. 2) Medications are not necessarily gluten free.   "Gluten Free Drugs" is a good reference for those who need to be in the know.  You can reach it by clicking the link. 3) Condiments are not guaranteed to be gluten free unless they are labelled as such.  Thickening agents and stabilizers are  used in ketchup and barbecue sauce may contain gluten.  The best advice

Surgery or Physical Therapy?? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Pain, 6 and 12 Months After Treatment

This is good news indeed!  I have had carpal tunnel syndrome for years .  I never opted for the surgery because I can't bear the thought of being out of commission, even if it is only for a few weeks.  I've also heard of surgeries "gone awry"--or perhaps that someone didn't follow post-operative care instructions too well, but still...that just means...more surgery.  Carpal tunnel syndrome here in the US is a cause of lost wages and lost productivity for those affected.  And it can be painful as well. If you're like me , you have new reason for new hope!  A Spanish study followed 120 females with carpal tunnel syndrome for a 12 months, and found that physical therapy vs surgery outcomes were about equal.  So for those of you who feel as I do--here's an option to explore! You can read more about this exciting finding by clicking here.

10 Healthy New Year Resolutions For Those With Chronic Pain

2015 is almost over...and that being the case, many are making resolutions for the upcoming New Year.  Many of us make promises to ourselves, but can't seem to stick to it for too long.  Sometimes our goals are too lofty, or maybe we try to make too many resolutions at one time. So, today I thought I would suggest ten things that would be beneficial to most people in the chronic pain world.  It's best to start small and work your way up as you go along.  Which one of these is most do-able for you?  If you find one that you can use as a starting point, that's really great! 1) Smoking Cessation 2) Dietary modifications  (click link for example of this) 3) Exercise regimen 4) Weight loss 5) Meditation 6) Pace yourself 7) Improve sleep habits 8) Try a new alternative or complementary pain management practice 9) Occupational therapy can help...  (not limited to carpal tunnel syndrome...other pain issues may benefit! 10) Join a support group Happy

Minor pain management: I'm ALL Ears!

According to the science of reflexology, there are six points on the ear that correspond to specific zones of the body. These are good to know when you're experiencing minor aches and pains! Applying pressure to the part of the ear that corresponds to the painful area--by using a clothespin or even your thumb and forefinger--is purported to help relieve the pain. I am not saying that this practice works or does not work; it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to try it and determine if it's effective.  Keep in mind that this is intended for minor aches and pains only! Here is a little more detail about each particular zone as illustrated above: 1) Back and shoulders: The uppermost part of the outer ear is designated for relief of tension that builds up during the course of the day.  Try applying pressure for a minute at a time periodically over the course of a day for best result. 2)   Internal Organs: Area #2 is your "go to" for

Go Bananas!

One of the most useful power foods on planet Earth is the lowly banana.  Have you ever stopped to think about all the benefits bananas can provide your body?  Here are some benefits recent LifeHack article suggested about including three bananas a day in a person's diet: 1) Mood enhancement      A medium sized banana contains about 27 mg of magnesium...having insufficient amounts of this mineral in the human system can lead to anxiety, depression, and irritability.  Eating 3 bananas per day can provide some of the human body's daily requirement of this very important mineral. 2) Appetite suppression     Dr. Alan Hirsch of Chicago's Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation reports that the bananas can suppress appetite and hunger pangs. His studies indicate that the smell of a banana can dupe the human body into thinking that a meal has been eaten and hunger is eliminated. That's pretty sneaky! 3) Bananas improve athletic performance

How Occupational Therapy Can Help With Arthritis In The Hands

Some time ago, I wrote this  post about occupational therapy and how people with chronic pain can benefit from this practice.  Occupational therapy helps persons who have disabilities learn new ways to function in spite of a number of types of disabilities.  As an example, if an individual has a stroke and loses the ability to use an arm...they can re-learn to bathe, dress themselves, etc, in spite of the loss of function with the help of an occupational therapist. Osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint More recently, I came across an article written by an occupational therapist about how an occupational therapist can help those who have osteoarthritis in their hands. This is a specialized practice that can help the patient to ease pain and increase range of motion, so that they can more easily perform everyday tasks. An occupational therapist who has expertise in this area is familiar with a number of techniques to help afflicted patients using any number of methods

LIfestyle Changes DO Matter!

I am more than certain that there are people out there who don't think lifestyle changes or alternative/complementary medical practices can do very much to help people with various maladies, chronic pain included.  And many of us do rely first on traditional medicine, and maybe come to find later--or never--that these treatment options can be much more than the icing on the cake! Image source: Wikipedia About five or six years ago, I was twenty five pounds overweight..and like the folks I'm referring to, it never occurred to me that weight loss would help all that much.   Sure, I have arthritis in my knee and if I just avoid activities that cause pain, I'll be alright, I thought.  But I have learned so much since then.  I did manage to lose the extra weight with the help of Weight Watchers programs. In and of itself, it made a big difference in the way I felt.  More energy and less pain in that arthritic joint..but that was only the beginning! As time went on

Complementary and Alternative Medicines Defined

In all the time this blog has been in existence, many complementary and alternative medical practices have been discussed.  I must apologize that I never really explained the meaning of those terms. So today, I am going to explain more fully about these concepts. Image source: Wikipedia First, let me explain the concept of alternative medicine . Alternative medicine refers to medical practices outside the scope of the traditional practice of medicine.  One practices alternative medicine when they opt to use a treatment method in place of traditional medicine.  One example is using mindfulness or yoga as a means to control chronic pain instead of using medication.  Another example is the use of herbal supplements in place of traditional medication...perhaps using Saint John's Wort instead of a prescription antidepressant. With that in mind, I can explain the term complementary medicine . Complementary practice means that a person is using a non-traditional medical pract

Could the Alexander Technique Be A Good Pain Management Technique For You?

Until recently, I never heard of the Alexander Technique.  But it has been around since the mid-1900s. Frederick Mathias Alexander was an  Australian actor who suffered bouts of laryngitis when performing.  Doctors could not seem to help him; in time he came to find a way to help himself. He came to realize that excess tension in his neck and body were at the root of his problems, and his discovered a method by which he could help himself to reduce the stress and the tension...and thus the Alexander Technique was born! The doctors who treated Mr. Alexander were quite impressed with the outcome of his efforts. He was persuaded to help others with what he had taught himself.  Over a span of about fifty years he refined his technique to become the Alexander Technique we know today.  Following his death, a number of people who learned from Mr. Alexander taught the technique to others.  Even though you may have never heard of it, this method is alive and well for those who wish to l

Optogenetics: Update

In August 2014, I wrote a post for this blog about an exciting new approach to pain management known as "optogenetics."  You can read the post in its entirety here ...but here is a brief refresher: Optogentics is an evolving new field that sheds promise on the treatment of many conditions including chronic pain management.  In a nutshell, optogenetics is a technology that employs beams of light to control  selected areas of the brain, essentially turning them on or off. The use of various forms of light to treat disease is not a new idea...consider the use of UV light to treat psoriasis...or light boxes for seasonal affective disorder...or lasers used in surgical procedures. It's not surprising to think that light beams can be used in other ways to treat other disorders..right? Fast forward to November 2015. Now there are reports of studies of implantable optoelectronic systems for treatment of many health conditions via wireless.  These implants, when strateg