Everyday pain management ideas

In the ever constant struggle for gender equality comes this news from the world of pain management...and in this case, it would be much easier for science and medicine to resolve if it did not exist. Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent conditions in the medical realm. Nearly one in four Americans has experienced it. Pain management is a very tricky business...medical practitioners are struggling with when to use potentially addicting medications, antidepressants, complementary and alternative medical practices..the list goes on.  This has now become more complicated...because a recent study published in Nature Neuroscience reports that pain sensitivity differs with respect to gender. In other words, this study (conducted in mice) concluded that pain is transmitted via the nervous system differently in men than it is in women. This opens up a whole new avenue into the world of pain management.  In the future we may see different treatment options depending on the gender

Cryotherapy takes the idea of icing an injured body part to a whole new level. Imagine standing inside a tubular structure stark naked, and feeling the effects of liquid nitrogen that's been cooled to a mind-boggling 200 degrees below zero.  It sounds crazy, but some are saying that it works wonders for chronic pain problems. Cryosauna unit Image Source: Wikipedia "Cryosaunas", as they are called, are not widely available here in the US...but they are beginning to appear in various locales. That being said, since its introduction in Japan in the 1970s, there are some true believers.  There's not much in the way of scientific study to back the claims, but those who have regular treatments have said the following: that they experience a feeling of euphoria during treatment sleep quality is improved relief from joint pain, arthritis calorie burn--over 500 to 800 calories are burned over the next several hours! flushes out toxins pain relief is instantan

Many people believe that massage is for the wealthy; that it's a way to be pampered in the same way that going for a facial or pedicure would be.  In truth, a good massage can be a way to make ourselves feel pampered... but it is so much more than that ! According to the Mayo Clinic, massage therapy can decrease swelling and improve joint mobility. Muscle spasms are eased, and blood circulation increases when undergoing massage. It is also possible that this form of therapy can increase the level of endorphins--i.e., the body's naturally occurring pain killer. Stress and anxiety are reduced, and some studies suggest that immune system function improves when massage therapy is applied. There are many health conditions that benefit from massage therapy--among them are cancer, heart disease, digestive disorders, insomnia, fibromyalgia, headaches, and nicotine dependency. Keep in mind that there are many massage techniques available.  Here is a sampling: Swedish Massag

This story about a research study in the United Kingdom is interesting...it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "keep your fingers crossed." According to the article, the test subjects were exposed to a phantom pain sensation known as thermal grill illusion, and asked to cross their fingers, and uncross their fingers.  It is believed that crossing of the fingers causes brain confusion and helps to reduce pain like sensation. Thermal Grill Image source: Flickr What does this mean for future pain sufferers?  It's not really clear but the concept of using finger crossing or select body postures to relieve pain may come in handy! Here is an excerpt about thermal grill illusion--you can read in entirety by clicking here. "The ‘thermal grill illusion’ refers to paradoxical sensations of heat and pain, resulting from simultaneous application of interlaced warm and cold stimuli to the skin. It provides an interesting model of integrative mechanism

In searching for material for this blog, I came across an interesting article written by Ted Jones, Ph. D., a psychologist.  He begins by saying that good pain management is like a 3 legged stool.  The legs of the stool represent the 3 elements of treatment: interventions, medications, and psychological education/counseling.  All these elements must be in place in order for the stool to remain upright and stable...right? The article goes on to point out more detailed information about each leg of the stool.  As the author is a psychologist, he goes on to say that many people are treated only with interventions and medications...but the psychological leg of the stool is left out, leaving treatment sorely lacking. Why is the psychological aspect of treatment so important?  Because this part of a pain management treatment can help a patient to learn very important coping skills that enhance the overall effectiveness of treatment.  According to Dr. Jones, there are five skills that a

Today's post is based on an interesting story about a woman named Esther Gokhale.  Who, you might ask? She is an acupuncturist in the San Francisco Bay area.  The short story is that she was having some spinal issues.  Unfortunately, she had to have surgery.  After that, she travelled across the globe and into history and anthropology books to understand why some cultures are more prone to spinal issues than others.  Esther's observations are fascinating.  She has some good tips for back pain sufferers, too! You can read this very interesting story by clicking here.    I think it's fascinating and I hope you will too! Sources: NPR; Wikipedia

Most people have taken one or more of drugs from the NSAID class at one time or another. Maybe you're not familiar with the term NSAID, but I bet you know the names ibuprofen or naproxen, or the trade names: Motrin, Advil, Aleve.  The National Ambulatory Study,  conducted in recent years, revealed that 95% of those questioned over a period of 7 years had taken this type of drug. My whole reason for writing this blog is to promote the "less is more" mentality when using medication for pain, and this class of drugs illustrates my point very nicely. So, without further ado, let me elaborate a little bit. While we are greatly familiar with what a great tool these drugs are in the world of pain management, many do not know the risks/side effects that go along with them.  The first one that comes to mind is damage to the GI mucosa...leading to ulcer formation, or even worse, GI bleed.  The more regularly you take these drugs, the more likely you will be to have the