Everyday pain management ideas

When someone is diagnosed with Lupus, the problems associated with that condition can be problematic anytime-- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In a post earlier this week, coping skills to help with Lupus problems that are common upon awakening.  Today's post will focus on the issues surrounding this chronic health condition during the waking hours. Sunlight exposure can be a real problem for those who are diagnosed with Lupus. It is important to use "all possible tools in the toolbox" if possible. Tinted windows are one example of defense. Clothing that affords some degree of sun protection can also be of help. (Hint: look for tight weaves of fabric in darker colors for best protection. Test by holding fabric up to light--if you can see through the fabric, the protection is insufficient.) Stay out of the sun when it is most intense-- usually between 10 am and 4 pm daily.  If you do plan to be out, sunscreen SPF 30 or higher during this hours affords some pr

"One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody."                                           ~~Mother Teresa of Calcutta As a fan of Mother Teresa, I have come so see the wisdom in the things she had to say while she was on this earth.  Even though she is no longer with us, her works and words show to us the value of living with purpose.   For those with chronic pain, life is a struggle every day.  Physical activity can be cut to a halt, or limited.  The pain can sometimes overwhelm and affect not only the individual, but cause problems with friends and family as well.  Which leads to the point of today's blog post: Do you feel like you have a purpose in life?  Is your life all about your illness, your, incapacity, your moods, your pain...Do you still have the ability to share your time offering support to others who maybe just need someone to talk to? Can you still help someone who is less fortunate than you in some way? Do you still

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about Lupus Disease ;  it is an autoimmune disorder that is related to Rheumatoid Arthritis.  While I took the time to describe the disorder and the various problems that arise from the disease, there was not much about the pain management aspect in that post. At this point, there is more information to share --and here it is! People with lupus disease often feel stiff and exhausted in the morning.  It has been suggested that moist heat can help provide some relief.  Try a bath or a long hot shower in the mornings; if that is not possible try using a moist heating pad for about thirty minutes prior to wake up time. Another option is to purchase an electric blanket with a timer, and set it to come on one half hour before you need to wake up for the day. If you think ahead, you could set things up for mornin g in the kitchen before you go to bed.  If the table is set and the coffee pot is ready to go, life is good! It's importan

If you've been following this series on gout, you know that there are dietary modifications that can be made to prevent recurrence of gout flare-ups. Yesterday, it was mentioned that coffee, vitamin C supplementation, and cherries and other dark colored fruits seem to help keep uric acid levels in check. I know it's hard to believe--but there are even more dietary measures that can be used to help control gout.  There is actually a gout diet, and here are some highlights as suggested by the Mayo Clinic: To follow the diet: ~Restrict intake of meat, poultry and fish. Animal proteins are high in purine . Avoid or severely limit high-purine foods, such as organ meats, herring, anchovies and mackerel. Red meat (beef, pork and lamb), fatty fish and seafood (tuna, shrimp, lobster and scallops) are associated with increased risk of gout. Because all meat, poultry and fish contain purines, limit your intake to 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams) daily. ~Cut back on fat. Satu

If you've been diagnosed with gout and are taking medication to control the condition, you might be surprised to know that there are more things that you can do to stay ahead of the curve.  Here are some non pharmacological lifestyle modifications/alternative medicine suggestions from the Mayo Clinic: Drink 8 to 16 cups (about 2 to 4 liters) of fluid each day, with at least half being water. Avoid alcohol. Eat a moderate amount of protein, preferably from healthy sources, such as low-fat or fat-free dairy, tofu, eggs, and nut butters. Limit your daily intake of meat, fish and poultry to 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams). Some foods may actually help prevent recurrence of gout attacks; one simply needs to include these items in their diet.  Interestingly, coffee (decaf or regular) has been shown to lower uric acid levels, although the mechanism is not understood.  A reasonable intake of vitamin C through food sources and supplements is also beneficial, but caution is

Gouty tophus of the knee. In all likelihood, the diagnosis of gout means treatment with medication will be involved.  In this post, we'll look at some of the medications used to treat gout and how they work.  Part III of this series will focus on non-drug measures to help relieve the pain of gout and prevent recurrent attacks. Pharmaceutical treatment of gout falls into two basic categories: the first category consists of medications that would be used for a gouty attack, while the second category of drugs are utilized to help prevent future attacks. Drugs for treatment of gout attacks are agents that help to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the condition.  Many years ago, the primary agents for gout attack were butazolidin (one of the first NSAIDs on the market) and colchicine.  Butazolidin was removed from the US market many years ago over safety concerns, and has largely been replaced by more modern day agents such as ibuprofen or naproxen.  Col

What is gout? Gout is actually a form of arthritis.  It can occur in either gender, but is more common in men. The incidence of gout in women increases in frequency after menopause.  Episodes of gout can be sudden and may occur as an episode of pain, redness and/or tenderness in a joint. The base of the great toe is a common site for gout attacks. The affected joint may feel as if it is on fire; redness and tenderness can be so severe that even the weight of a bed sheet may be intolerable. The symptoms of gout, as mentioned can occur suddenly without warning. They include intense joint pain, commonly in the big toe. Other joints can be affected by this as well, including the feet, ankles, knees, hands or wrists.  The pain is most likely to be severe during the first twelve to twenty four hours from onset. Some discomfort may linger, anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.  Swelling, redness and tenderness may persist. The good news is--the cause of g