Everyday pain management ideas

If you are reading this, you have probably experienced a scraped knee, a cut finger, maybe even requiring sutures at one time or another in your life.  These are acute wounds; they require some attention for a short time, the healing process takes hold, and they are forgotten.  Some disease states however, are known to lead to chronic wounds, or put another way, wounds that do not heal too quickly. Weeks to months of treatment may be required to achieve resolution.   Some examples of what we're talking about here are: diabetic ulceration ulcer formation following chemotherapy pressure ulcers (bed sores) At some point or other, these types of wounds will require treatment, maybe even amputation.  It is not unusual for pain medications to be prescribed for relief of discomfort.  But there are many things that help to relieve the painful condition brought about by these conditions that don't involve medication at all.  Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are one exa

Many of the children's hospital in this country use alternative treatments to enhance pain management practices for their pediatric patients. For instance, some time ago I posted a story about one pediatric hospital that uses "Carly Consults" ...Carly is a dog and she is used for animal therapy at their institution.  Many forms of occupational therapy are used in these hospitals as well..for instance, music therapy and/or crafts. The reason I am bringing these up in today's posts is this:  these kinds of activities are forms of distraction therapy.  They are just as useful in the adult population as they are for children.  Why not learn a new craft technique or buy a new jigsaw puzzle and put it together?  It might be much more beneficial than you might think! Sources: East Valley Tribune; Wikipedia

A new approach to some forms of chronic back pain is on the horizon...and it appears to begin working rapidly when it is used!  The treatment we're talking about here is an interventional radiology procedure that can be used for compression fractures due to osteoporosis, or spinal cancer. Compression Fracture of the Spine The technique involves using x-ray guidance to guide a needle into the involved area of the spine. Bone cement is injected into this space..as it is injected it is the consistency of toothpaste, but within a short time becomes hardened.  Once hardened, it stabilizes the affected area..an "internal cast" of sorts! This procedure, known as vertebroplasty originated in France in the 1980s.  It is a minimally invasive procedure, and many patients notice a reduction in pain within 24 hours of undergoing treatment.  It is usually a one-time procedure but re-treatment may be indicated if new problem areas develop. Sources: HometownFocusUS; Wikiped

W hen you suffer from a chronic condition, especially one that prevents you from feeling fully functional, it is sometimes difficult to feel like you are the contributing member of society that you wish to be.  I choose to think that all persons have purpose; sometimes that purpose is to inspire others who are going through physical challenges, or to give others a lesson in character building that they would not otherwise be able to receive... The short meditation  above may help you to feel more positive today.  Have a look! Sources: YouTube, Wikimedia

Here is an interesting Newswise article about the role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in arthritic mice. While it remains to be seen how this translates to humans with arthritis, there's a lot of discussion in the nutrition world about  many health benefits  of Omega 3 Oils, including cooking oils,eggs, nutritional supplements, and natural food sources such as certain types of fish, seeds and nuts. You can read this article by clicking the link below. Omega 3 Fatty Acids Lessen Severity of Osteoarthritis in Mice Sources: Newswise, Wikimedia

This blog post was #1 in my most read posts this year...reposting in case you missed it! Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose; many times it's a process of elimination. Weeks, months, and years of suffering go by before those who are afflicted ever know what's happening to them. If you think you have fibromyalgia and have been struggling to confirm the diagnosis, this  self-assessment tool    might help you and your physician to come to a conclusion. This might also be worth sharing with friends or family members who might find it useful.

As if the all the known risks of pain medications aren't already enough, a new problem has surfaced recently. Tramadol, a prescription painkiller that has grown in popularity in the last decade or so, has been linked to an increased risk of hypoglycemia, and in some cases, the ending was fatal.  According to the study regarding this issue, persons taking tramadol face a threefold risk for hospitalization due to hypoglycemia. The authors cannot clearly pinpoint a cause and effect relationship has not been established.  Some of the persons who experienced this problem were diabetic while others were not; clearly diabetics should be extra vigilant since hypoglycemia is a constant concern for those affected. You can read some information about this recent finding here. For me, this is just one more reason why pain management should be multi modal, and that relying on prescription drugs alone is not a good idea.  I hope you agree! Source: WebMD; Wikimedia