Everyday pain management ideas

  Multimodal Approach to Fibromyalgia Treatment Now Widely Recognized The American College of Rheumatology established guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia in 2010. Last year the Canadians, Israelis published guidelines as well. Their ideas are very much in step with those in America.  In addition, the German medical community came up with guidelines that are also very similar.   Ideas of note from of these medical guidelines are the following: Extensive physical examination, complete with number and location of tender points on the body is required for diagnosis. Multimodal approach to treatment is an important approach. Medications play a role in treatment, but physical activity and self management techniques, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Israeli presenters point out that many drugs ( nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic steroids, benzodiazepines and thyroid hormone) are not recommended for treatment of fibromyalgia. A

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome is an overuse injury.  Common causes of the disorder involve repetitive fine motor movements: knitting, crochet, stitchery, computer usage, and video games, for example.  The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome occur because the median nerve, which runs through the small bones of the wrist, becomes compressed by swollen tendons and the ligament that occupy the same passage between the hand and the arm.  Over time, the overuse causes  inflammation and eventually leads to nerve damage. What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?   Early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include burning, itching, numbness and/or tingling in the palm, the  thumb and first fingers of the hand. It is not uncommon to experience the sensation of hand(s) "falling asleep" during the night. Eventually the symptoms progress and this sensation may occur at other times of day; the patient's grip strength may weaken. It i

Scientists have recently discovered that different people have different pain thresholds. In their studies, they found that even identical twins do not have the same tolerance for pain. This is very exciting news, since this discovery opens the future possibility of "turning the dimmer switch up or down" to modulate an individual's tolerance to painful stimuli. It may even suggest a whole new avenue of approach in pain management, through the development of new types of medications or new recommendations for lifestyle changes! Scientists Discover Pain Threshold “Dimmer Switch” – The Key to Controlling Sensitivity February 9, 2014 By Meredith Hoster Researchers pinpoint the body’s pain “thermostat” which could lead to the development of revolutionary pain relief techniques Scientists have discovered what’s said to be a genetic “dimmer switch” that’s responsible for controlling pain sensitivity. According to researchers from the King’s College, London,

Even though fibromyalgia seems to be mystifying disorder, it really does exist. Just ask any one of the approximately five million diagnosed persons in the US alone.  Here is a quick list of some truths and myths about the disorder. Source: OneHealthyLifestyle

Diabetic neuropathy develops over time...and of course, the first thing to be considered when symptoms emerge is a history of diabetes.  Depending on the type of neuropathy involved, the symptoms will vary, as I discussed in the post just prior to this one.  Upon examination, the health care provider will take a look at a number of things including the patient's reflexes, loss of sensation,  and changes in skin coloration. Tests that can help determine the presence of diabetic neuropathy may be ordered at this time. Here again, the type of neuropathy in question dictates the nature of the testing. It is not unreasonable to expect EMG , NCV , Gastric Emptying Studies , or a tilt table study .  Once a diagnosis is established, you may be prescribed medications to manage the symptoms. The drugs commonly used for the pain management aspect of neuropathy are not usually those which cause problems with addiction. Some antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications, for example, 

Diabetic neuropathy has various forms...there are four classes, or subtypes. The first subtype is Autonomic neuropathy.  This can affect the heart, blood vessels, GI tract, urinary tract, sex organs, sweat glands, eyes, and lungs. Autonomic neuropathy causes changes in digestion, bowel and bladder function, sexual response, and perspiration. Also affected are the nerves of the heart, and control blood pressure, as well as nerves in the lungs and eyes. Autonomic neuropathy can also trigger  hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which people no longer experience the warning symptoms of low blood glucose levels. The second subtype  is known as Focal neuropathy.  Affected body parts include eyes, facial muscles, ears, pelvis/low back, chest, abdomen, thighs, legs and feet. Patients with this subtype experience sudden muscle weakness or pain. Literally any body part can be affected. The third subtype  is known as Proximal neuropathy.  This problem causes pain in the hip

In recent years, it seems like we are hearing about the risks of obesity in the news, on television, from our healthcare providers. You might think, "I am only a few pounds overweight, so what's the big deal?" or "I only get to live once, and I want to be happy. So, I'm going to eat what I want, when I want."  Okay... I am a child of the 50's.  Back when I was young,  processed foods were not as commonplace as they are now; they were sort of an "emerging market."  My mother cooked mostly from scratch, and I think we were a lot healthier, in at least some respects. Antibiotics and steroids were not  used in cattle or poultry feed; GMO food s were not yet in existence, and the use of preservatives and dyes was nothing like it is at present. Nowadays, people are a lot busier, and the depend on the mass market of processed foods to keep meals on the table. Carbohydrate addiction is a growing problem today. I don't think we are really bet