Everyday pain management ideas

Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic pain disorder in which pressure on certain points in the body (known as trigger points) causes pain in another part of the body, seemingly unrelated.  This is commonly caused by the muscle tension that results from repetitive motion. We all have aches and pains due to some kind of hobby or job responsibility that we repeat again and again, but in this syndrome tends to persist, or even get worse. At the present time treatment for myofascial pain syndrome includes physical therapy and/or injections into the trigger points.  There are also massage or chiropractic techniques known as " myofascial release " that may be of help. Sadly, not all chronic pain conditions can be "cured" and this condition may well be one of those.  Even though that may be the case, there are many things that can be done by a patient or his/her treatment team so that the patient can live with their condition more comfortably.  It is important t

Here are some interesting things I recently read about chronic pain...and they may surprise you! 1) Similar to the story I posted about spider venom...scorpion venom is under investigation for pain    management uses. 2) Painful menstrual cramps can be relieved by avoiding caffeine, chocolate, dairy products, salty foods, red meat, and sugary foods during menstrual periods. 3) It is not uncommon to have vitamin D deficiency due to use of sunblocks, or avoiding time in the sun to prevent skin cancer.  This can be determined by a simple blood test.  Why is this important? Many of these same people suffer from chronic pain are are in the vitamin D deficient group. Vitamin D supplementation will not only correct the deficiency, but also help to improve pain levels. 4) Sleeping in the fetal position is known as "the natural defensive position." In the psychological sense, this posture reminds us of the safety and comfort of our mother's womb. It may also hel

Spider bites can be painful, right?  And they can become infected, which leads to a whole host of problems worse than the original bite.  But believe it or not, some of the substances contained in some varieties of spider venom may actually provide a new way to treat some forms of chronic pain. Brian Stallard, a writer at Nature World New s, recently wrote an article about this very topic. He cites an article in the British Journal of Pharmacology that describes research in this area.  The journal authors have found that some persons are genetically deficient in the ability to block certain pain channels, resulting in widespread pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia.  The venom components under study seems to block these pain channels, resulting in some relief from the widespread pain. While this research is still in its infancy, it shows promise for development of a whole new class of painkillers. They also offer hope to those who suffer from these disorders, which have limi

I am a child of the fifties.  I remember going through a period in high school during which the dangers of asbestos became apparent, and there was much ado about removing asbestos from homes and public buildings.  Our high school, which was built in the 1920s, underwent massive asbestos removal and parts of the complex were closed for extended periods of time. I believe at the time, the big scare over asbestos focused largely on the fact that it is a known human carcinogen.  But now, there is even more to be said about the hazards of these minerals.  Last year, a group of researchers from Idaho State University and The Center for Environmental Health Studies at the University of Montana revealed that asbestos may play a role in some autoimmune diseases, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and a newly described autoimmune disease affecting the lungs. In the early 2000s, the CDC conducted an extensive screening in the town of Libby, Montana, where many individuals have been

Have you ever heard the expression, "Laughter is the best medicine"?  Well, to some extent this is true.  All too often we take life much too seriously...and that includes everyone, not just chronic pain sufferers. Laughter is a distraction technique. If you can learn to step out of the box for a bit and enjoy some comedy, it just might help your pain tolerance levels to improve. I just read an article about this topic, and the author recommended some funny movies that might help my readers in this way.  I could post a link to the article, but I think I'll just send you a list of the movies instead.  These are by no means the only movies that ever made anyone laugh..but I hope they make your day a little brighter!   Bridesmaids (2011)   Some Like It Hot (1959)  Tootsie  (1982)   Groundhog Day (1993)   Annie Hall (1997)  Airplane! (1980)   The Producers (2005)  Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)  There's Something About Mary (1998)  The Hang

After I wrote the post about the Fibromyalgia Float Project, I got to thinking about Epsom Salts. Even though technically, I suppose that they could be considered a pharmaceutical, they are safe and effective.  This product has been around literally forever, and might be a real godsend for some chronic pain sufferers. Epsom Salts are made up of naturally occurring minerals...primarily magnesium and sulfur.  Magnesium deficiency is fairly common and may affect many body functions, including muscle and nerve function, blood sugar regulation, and blood pressure regulation. Sulfur deficiency may play a role in obesity, heart disease, chronic fatigue, and dementia. One way to increase magnesium is to take an oral supplement--magnesium sulfate or magnesium oxide are fairly easy to find.  But another way to increase magnesium levels in the body is to to absorb it through the skin.  This can easily be accomplished by taking an epsom salt bath. A epsom salt foot bath is another op

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