Everyday pain management ideas

Breaking news! New Public Television Special Facilitates National Pain Management Dialogue - WSJ.com Look for this show on your local cable:  ITV (Information Television Network) sources:Wikimedia, WallStreetJournal

The jury is still out on what exactly causes fibromyalgia.  I would suppose if we knew the answer to that question, we would know a lot more about medicinal and non medicinal approaches to treatment. The research is ongoing...and more and more new and interesting information is coming out all the time. One such study out of Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Northridge,CA and North Central University in Prescott, AZ looked at skin biopsies from the thighs and calves of people with and without fibromyalgia diagnosis.  In their study, they found that people with fibromyalgia had a decrease in the density nerve fiber density in their calves and thighs.  This suggested to the authors that fibromyalgia is actually a problem of peripheral neuropathy. Current thinking about fibromyalgia is that the problem is in the central nervous system, so this certainly raises some questions.  Also of note was that there was evidence in this study that fibromyalgia is an immune mediated proces

It appears that twitter, a very popular social media website, has found a purpose in the research world. According to the news website Newswise, researchers at the University of Michigan studied the tweets of migraine sufferers and others in an effort to understand the agony of migraine in real time. After scrutinizing 21,741 posts regarding those pesky headaches, some pretty interesting statistics emerged. Migraine headaches are a fairly major public health problem; approximately 12 percent of the population in the Western world are migraine sufferers.  Migraine headaches negatively affect a person's mood, quality of life, and productivity.  Approximately 3 out of every 4 migraine sufferers report reduced functionality; thirty percent report that they require bed rest when suffering an attack. Some additional findings: About sixty-five percent of the tweets were actually from people experiencing a migraine attack posting in real time. Migraine tweets were attrib

If you've ever had one of those nagging knots in your neck or back, this post is for you.  I am a crocheter and sometimes I experience this kind of problem in my shoulder. For others, this may be a problem due to the nature of your job, hobbies, or other favorite pastime. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these "knots", or trigger points, are actually tight knots of muscle tissue that are simply unable to relax. The most common areas that are affected are in the neck, down the back, and across the shoulder area.  It is possible to have multiple trigger points in the same basic area. You can find one of these knots by exploring the affected area with your hands; it feels denser and tighter than the surrounding tissue, and if you push on it, you will most likely feel pain. There are four basic things you can do to try to relieve "trigger points" if you tend to experience them. The first idea is massage ; try to rub out the tension in those troubled m

Have you ever heard the term "biomarker?"  A biomarker is defined as "a measurable indicator of some biological state or condition."  You might already be familiar with some biomarkers...for instance, the prevalence of sickle-cell anemia in persons with dark skin.  Biomarkers are being studied in the realm of pain management as well.   Pain Medicine News reports of a recent study in which researchers were looking for a correlation between eye color and pain tolerance.  In the study, 58 pregnant women were assessed for pain using standard validated pain tools, including the Brief Pain Inventory, Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System, anxiety/depression sleep scales, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and Quantitative Sensory Testing.  Of the 58 subjects studied, 24 of the women had dark colored eyes (brown or hazel) , while the remaining 34 had light colored eyes, including shades of blue or green. Given the small number of subj

Holistic treatment of cervical spondylosis is much like treatment of other chronic pain conditions. Over the counter pain medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen is always an option when there is a pain flare up.  But keep in mind... all medications have side effects, and there is always a risk of drug interactions when taking multiple medications ...therefore all medication should be used prudently.This is precisely why it's a good idea to know about alternative ways to care for chronic pain conditions! So, keeping that in mind...what other strategies can be used to treat cervical spondylosis? Heat or ice can be applied, especially if the neck muscles are feeling sore. Soft neck braces can be used. But a word of caution: using neck braces for a short time is ok; with extended use the muscles of the neck can actually become weaker. In short, less is more. Regular exercise is really a terrific option.   Arthritis Today , a publication of the Arthritis Foundation, re

As we age, everything we do in our lives takes its toll on our bodies.  At least 90 per cent of adults age 65 or over will have evidence of degenerative disease upon x-ray exam.  Some people will not experience symptoms even though this process is taking place.  Genetics also play a role in the development of this condition; some families will be more affected by it than others.  I also feel that our daily activities may play a role--maybe those of us who spent our work lives sitting at a desk doing paperwork or using a computer will have more problems those whose job activities are different. As I just mentioned, sometimes people have this condition and experience no symptoms at all. Unfortunately for some, the story is very different--the space occupied by the spinal cord can become narrowed, causing entrapment of the spinal cord.  This situation can cause an array of problems, such as loss of bowel or bladder control, tingling or weakness of the extremities, or problems wi

The science of optogenetics is an exciting and new field of study. This branch of neuroscience focuses on controlling brain cells with light. At present, researchers are focused on learning exactly which cells in the brain control which functions; and finding ways to turn those specific cells on or off using light.  At this point in time, optogenetics is an evolving science--but there is tremendous potential here in the treatment of many conditions.  Perhaps in the future the treatment of conditions like schizophrenia, depression, fibromyalgia, or chronic pain may involve this technology.  No one really knows for sure, but it sure is exciting! Here is a brief video featuring Professor Ed Boyden from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology describing this very interesting new idea: Sources: YouTube; University of Oxford

In addition to exercise, there are a few more non drug treatments that come to mind for those who are dealing with arthritis of the hands. These ideas are great things to try when you are having more discomfort than usual.  They are not necessarily a panacea, but they are worth a try. The first one that comes to mind is hot/cold applications , (aka contrast hydrotherapy), which I wrote about very recently.  You can go back to that blog post by clicking the link above. The second idea that comes to mind is heat application , which is another of my earlier posts.  At the time I was not writing specifically about osteoarthritis of the hands, as it is a useful tool for many pain conditions.  Related to this idea--but perhaps more appropriate for hands or feet--is the spa-like treatment of a paraffin dip .   Last but not least, compression gloves can help to reduce pain and swelling in the bony joints of the hands.  They are available from a number of internet sites

Many of us don't really fully appreciate how much we use our hands in the regular activities of daily life.  If you have ever had an injury to the hand or wrist, you may have more appreciation for this. But for those who suffer from chronic conditions involving the hands and fingers, these activities can be a real struggle.  Rheumatoid arthritis is one such debility; this is a fairly serious medical condition; what I am about to say here may help, but non drug measures will never be enough to combat the condition. The treatment of osteoarthritis, in contrast, focuses more on non drug measures.  The occasional acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help manage short term pain.  There are no joint replacement options for the joints of the hands at this point. Since that is the reality, what is one to do? For persons with osteoarthritis in other joints, such as knees or hips, the usual recommendation for preserving joint function is two fold:  exercise and weight management. The ex

People with arthritis definitely suffer from chronic pain....some more than others, of course. And while medications can help control pain sometimes, there are many non drug remedies for that pesky joint pain. We've discussed many of these in prior posts...exercise, weight control, and dietary modifications, including omega-3 supplements and glucosamine.  Today's post is about a newer dietary measure that I find most interesting...milk consumption! Dr. Bing Lu of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston recently shared the results of a study on this very topic . In this study, 2,148 men and women  with osteoarthritis of the knee were followed over a period of four years with respect to their health, diet, and behaviors.  X-rays were obtained on each subject every year during the duration of the study. Using the X-rays researchers  were able to determine the speed of arthritis progression in the subjects. At the study conclusion, researchers found that people who

When preparing for this post, I found a couple of things in the news recently that I thought would be of interest to readers, especially those with fibromyalgia.  I don't know which news you'd rather have first...but I think I'm gonna tell you the bad news.... so we can end on a positive note! The bad news is that a recent study has revealed a connection between exposure to hepatitis B virus and fibromyalgia.  It appears that a a protein in some strains of the hepatitis B virus is to blame.  Maybe this is actually good news in the sense that, the more we know about fibromyalgia, the better we can understand how to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. The good news that I have for you--has nothing to do with the bad news.  A meta-analysis of various medications and other modes of treatment for fibromyalgia were studied.  Winifred Hauser, an expert in the field, made the following statement: "There is no magic drug against fibromyalgia, and

We've all heard of applying heat or an ice pack to an injury. Recently I came across a different twist on these ideas.  I kind of put it on the back burner, until a friend was telling me that she used it for a foot injury and that it worked really well.  So without, further ado I am passing the idea on to those who never heard of it before! The idea is known as "Contrast Hydrotherapy."  Basically it involves immersing an injured body part into ice water or using cold packs for five or so minutes--immediately followed by application of heat or immersion into a warm water bath. The exercise can be repeated multiple times.  The theory is that the warm application causes the blood vessels to dilate...the cold causes them to constrict.  As this occurs, the lymphatic system follows suit.  The blood vessels have a central pump (the heart!) but the lymphatic system does not.  The hot/cold treatment essentially provides the pumping action for the lymph nodes to pump stagna

If you are interested in guided meditation or virtual reality for your chronic pain issues...today's post is right up your alley!  There are many resources for you on the internet, and the good news is that there is a lot of help free of charge.  Here are a few to get you started. If you take the time and do your own web search, I am certain you will find many more! Guided Imagery Resources The resources available come in two categories:  some are scripts that you can simply read and provide your own visualization; the other category is audio/visual that are meant to be listened to or viewed.   Scripted Guided Imagery Resources: InnerHealth Studio: Forest Visualization McKinley Health Center: A Trip to the Beach Mental Health Today: Magic Carpet Exercise Audio/Visual Guided Imagery Resources Dartmouth College Relaxation Series: Special Place Virtual Reality Videos for Pain Management "Dream Castle" "

The dog days of summer are upon us; and these can be difficult for all of us, especially those who have chronic health conditions.  There's an old wives tale about achy joints flaring up before a storm or during humid weather.  I don't know about you, but I can relate!  Old wives tale or not, there most likely are bodily changes going on in response to humidity, barometric pressure, and the like. Extreme changes in humidity and air pressure are especially difficult for chronic pain sufferers; ozone levels may also play a role.  Therefore, it is important to take action in response to the heat and humidity to help keep pain under control.  Here is a short list of some ideas in that regard.       Climate control.  No, I don't mean this in a global sense!  If your home has air conditioning, use it. This allows you to control both the temperature and humidity levels. . If you don't have air conditioning  in your home, it might be a good idea to spend the hottest

Here are some tips from the Cleveland Clinic on the safe use of over the counter medications. Most of us use these medications at least periodically;  using them wisely decreases the likelihood of a lot of problems that happen more often than you might think--things like drug-drug or drug-food interactions, accidental toxicity, or just bothersome side effects. 1.  Use over the counter pain medication for short term pain relief only.  These medications were never intended to be something to be used on a daily basis. 2. Try topical pain relief medications in place of oral medication when possible.  This minimizes how much medication gets into your system.  Most of these products provide a pleasing distraction sensation to the area where they are applied. 3) Use nutritional supplements that are useful for your particular pain situation.  Most of us can benefit from the omega-3 oils in fish oil supplements for pain and other reasons.  For instance, the omega 3 oils help

In prior posts, I have mentioned briefly something called leaky gut syndrome.  In today's post I am sharing a little more detail about what this is, and what to do about it. Since the theme of this week is the gut-brain axis, and that leaky gut syndrome and "fibro fog" are part of fibromyalgia, methinks this is a very appropriate spot for this topic. Leaky gut syndrome is a kind of grey area in medicine. For one thing, this is not something you would find a a medical textbook.  Not much is really known about the condition except that the symptoms include bloating, gas, cramps, aches, pains, and food sensitivities.  This is possibly caused by a gut that has more permeability than normal. Substances from the GI tract that would not otherwise enter the bloodstream-- seem to enter the circulation in this way.  Once in the circulation, these substances can travel virtually anywhere in the body without interference. Another condition that often accompanies leaky gut s

So, in this third post on the gut brain axis and how it impacts our health...in terms of chronic pain and otherwise..we're looking at our microbiome and things we can do make or keep it healthy  ! The human microbiome consists of the "normal flora"...the microrganisms that live on our skin, in our mouth, our GI tract...We all have this world of organisms living in and on our bodies; and amazingly, no two are alike! These colonies of bacteria also change at various times throughout one's life in response to body changes. Of most importance here is whether or not there is a healthy balance of these organisms. We are learning more and more about the importance of maintaining a healthy flora: we're finding out more and more that many health conditions may be connected to the normal flora in ways we'd never have suspected.  Some well-known examples of an unhealthy balance of the microbiome include yeast infections, gastrointestinal disturbances suc

As I see it, the Gut-Brain Axis holds great potential for future treatment in pain management! For one thing, many people with chronic pain also have depression. It is feasible that new ways to treat depression could emerge from better understanding of how the brain and gastrointestinal tract work together. On a different level, in my recent post "Foods and Fibromyalgia: Know your enemies!" there is mention of leaky gut syndrome , a mysterious condition faced by some people with fibromyalgia.  For certain, better understanding of the gut-brain axis will play a role in the management of this condition. For those with auto-immune disorders, especially rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, there is reason for hope...as is better understood how the gut-brain is connected to the immune system. This may completely transform the approach to treatment of these conditions. This might also mean that we could control the underlying disease of many pain conditions with dietary ch

If you've ever had the sensation of butterflies in the stomach, or felt the pangs of hunger after watching a food advertisement, you have experienced what I am discussing in today's post.  Why does this happen?  Does this mean that there is a connection between the gut and the brain? A February 2010 article in Scientific American entitled "Think Twice: How the Gut's "Second Brain Influences Mood and Well Being  goes into some detail about this very interesting body phenomenon.  The article states that the gut is not involved in actual thought process, however.  There are literally multitudes (over 100 million!) of neurons that line the outer layer of the GI tract; technically this is known as the " enteric nervous system ."  While the role of these neurons is primarily digestive function, this nervous system is in constant contact with the central nervous system. As an example..suppose you just enjoyed a very spicy but enjoyable meal.  Shortly