Everyday pain management ideas

Chronic pain affects many aspects of life, if you happen to be afflicted.  Though some days may be better than others, living with the notion that an unfriendly visitor can take hold at any time is certainly a frightening prospect.  This is sort of like living on a roller coaster--you know that there are ups and downs, and even if you can anticipate them, the reality is another story. Chronic pain is not just physical pain.  It has emotional components that cannot be ignored. Over time, having repeated bouts of unpleasant physical sensations takes its toll on an individual. Anxiety and depression are not uncommon in patients who live with conditions that yield chronic pain.  Some may even become socially withdrawn. How does one cope on a day to day basis?  Medication may play a role, but there are many alternatives to choose from.  Meditation or yoga is one example.  Perhaps someone else might opt for psychological counseling, or massage.  Still others may find the emotional

There is a mind-body connection, and it is more powerful than many might believe.  And now that the chronic use of opioid medications is being frowned upon in medical circles,  many alternative medical therapies are becoming the mainstream.  Tai chi, yoga and qi gong are becoming quite popular at this time, and traditional Chinese medicine and massage are coming into the light. Ancient Chinese Medical Text circa 12th Century Nowadays, some schools are incorporating yoga into their physical education programs.  Cleveland Clinic now has an Herbal Therapy Clinic, and the prestigious Mayo Clinic is operating an integrative medicine center. Acupuncture is another of these alternative practices that is growing in popularity.  This seems to be a great option for low back pain, osteoarthritis of the knee, and neck pain.  We are only on the horizon of understanding this practice and how to use it for full benefit. Some of these treatments have the benefit of being self administer

As if we haven't already pointed out enough reasons to avoid routine use of opioids, here is yet another. A recent article in the journal Pain reports that incidence of new onset depression has been associated with chronic use of opiate based medications.  The authors of the study followed over 300 patients who suffered from low back pain and followed up on each patient at one year and two years respectively.  The authors believe that the risk of depression increased in two ways: 1) the amount of daily morphine (opiate) exposure and 2) the duration of time that opioids were used by the patient.       I personally believe that these medications have their place in pain management...for instance, post surgical or post medical procedure...or perhaps, for breakthrough pain.  The issue becomes problematic when a patient relies on this type of medication around the clock on a daily basis. You can read more about this study in an article found here. Sources: MedExpress; devi

This little slideshow will help you to find ten simple ways to help reduce the chronic pain in your life. Follow the link above to the WebMD presentation.  If you're in a hurry today, I am posting a short synopsis below! Get an endorphin boost!  Exercise. Breathe. Try meditation and/or biofeedback. Avoid alcohol. Quit smoking. Eat a healthier diet. Help your doctor to help you: keep a pain journal. Schedule time to relax. Set limits. Distract yourself from your pain. Learn about your medicines  and how to take them for optimal benefit. Find (and give support): family, friends, support groups are good. Sources: WebMD; Wikimedia

There are a couple of alternative medical treatments on the marketplace for osteoarthritis of the knee that I have not yet mentioned on this blog.  They are injectable products that are intended to replace the synovial fluid of the knee joint.  Synovial fluid is an important component in all joints throughout the human body; its purpose is to reduce friction and lubricate the joint, making our every movement a smooth operation. When osteoarthritis sets in, this fluid is lost over time and eventually the bones rub against each other, causing increased pain in the afflicted joint. Sanofi-Aventis was one of the first companies to enter the marketplace with a solution for this problem.   Synvisc, an injectable product that is intended to replace the synovial fluid of the knee joint, entered the marketplace several years ago.  It can provide relief for up to six months post injection.  The downside is that there are some cautions and warnings, such as the risk of severe allergic re

One of the most common cardiac problems in aging adults is an irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation.  Left untreated, this condition can lead to the formation of blood clots...blood clots can travel to the heart, lung, or brain leading to heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke.  Once diagnosed, the usual treatment of atrial fibrillation includes an anticoagulant, such as warfarin to prevent the problems that result should a blood clot develop.  Anyone that knows someone with atrial fibrillation probably knows that it requires regular diagnostic monitoring and physician follow up. Example of an EKG This is one of those cases where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  A recent study out of the Netherlands tells us one way in which this can be accomplished.  The study followed over 8,000 people since the 1990s...it was determined that the non steroidal drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, may play a huge role in the development of irregular heart beat.  

Today, I'd like to share something with relatively new in the treatment of fibromyalgia. To be specific, I am referring to the Fibromyalgia FLOAT Project .  The idea was first reported in Sweden back in 2012, and the early studies provided compelling evidence that this technique decreased pain, muscle tension, anxiety and stress.  Freedom of movement, energy, mood and quality of sleep were also greatly improved. It also became apparent that long term relief was possible if participants floated regularly. What is FLOAT?    Officially known as Flotation REST ( R educed E nvironmental S timulation T herapy), treatment is accomplished using a pool about the size of a large bed. The pool is filled with water that is saturated with Epsom Salts. Known as "Heavy Water", this makes it very easy for any participant to rest on their back atop the water with no effort.  The treatment pool is also temperature and light controlled. Each pool is in a private soundproof roo