Everyday pain management ideas

2015 is almost over...and that being the case, many are making resolutions for the upcoming New Year.  Many of us make promises to ourselves, but can't seem to stick to it for too long.  Sometimes our goals are too lofty, or maybe we try to make too many resolutions at one time. So, today I thought I would suggest ten things that would be beneficial to most people in the chronic pain world.  It's best to start small and work your way up as you go along.  Which one of these is most do-able for you?  If you find one that you can use as a starting point, that's really great! 1) Smoking Cessation 2) Dietary modifications  (click link for example of this) 3) Exercise regimen 4) Weight loss 5) Meditation 6) Pace yourself 7) Improve sleep habits 8) Try a new alternative or complementary pain management practice 9) Occupational therapy can help...  (not limited to carpal tunnel syndrome...other pain issues may benefit! 10) Join a support group Happy

According to the science of reflexology, there are six points on the ear that correspond to specific zones of the body. These are good to know when you're experiencing minor aches and pains! Applying pressure to the part of the ear that corresponds to the painful area--by using a clothespin or even your thumb and forefinger--is purported to help relieve the pain. I am not saying that this practice works or does not work; it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to try it and determine if it's effective.  Keep in mind that this is intended for minor aches and pains only! Here is a little more detail about each particular zone as illustrated above: 1) Back and shoulders: The uppermost part of the outer ear is designated for relief of tension that builds up during the course of the day.  Try applying pressure for a minute at a time periodically over the course of a day for best result. 2)   Internal Organs: Area #2 is your "go to" for

One of the most useful power foods on planet Earth is the lowly banana.  Have you ever stopped to think about all the benefits bananas can provide your body?  Here are some benefits recent LifeHack article suggested about including three bananas a day in a person's diet: 1) Mood enhancement      A medium sized banana contains about 27 mg of magnesium...having insufficient amounts of this mineral in the human system can lead to anxiety, depression, and irritability.  Eating 3 bananas per day can provide some of the human body's daily requirement of this very important mineral. 2) Appetite suppression     Dr. Alan Hirsch of Chicago's Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation reports that the bananas can suppress appetite and hunger pangs. His studies indicate that the smell of a banana can dupe the human body into thinking that a meal has been eaten and hunger is eliminated. That's pretty sneaky! 3) Bananas improve athletic performance

Some time ago, I wrote this  post about occupational therapy and how people with chronic pain can benefit from this practice.  Occupational therapy helps persons who have disabilities learn new ways to function in spite of a number of types of disabilities.  As an example, if an individual has a stroke and loses the ability to use an arm...they can re-learn to bathe, dress themselves, etc, in spite of the loss of function with the help of an occupational therapist. Osteoarthritis of the carpometacarpal joint More recently, I came across an article written by an occupational therapist about how an occupational therapist can help those who have osteoarthritis in their hands. This is a specialized practice that can help the patient to ease pain and increase range of motion, so that they can more easily perform everyday tasks. An occupational therapist who has expertise in this area is familiar with a number of techniques to help afflicted patients using any number of methods

Most problems that affect chronic pain sufferers also involve inflammation.  Cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus  are a few examples of these conditions.  While inflammation is a body's response to harmful stimuli, an overactive response leads to progression of disease. When inflammation runs amok, it is paramount to use methods to control it, as too much inflammation does more harm than good. Prednisone: a glucocorticoid drug The mainstay of treatment of inflammation is a class of drugs known as glucocorticoids.  While they are a very effective form of treatment, long term use leads to serious complications, such as immune suppression, weight gain, fluid retention, and mental health issues.  The glucocorticoids are still widely used ,but are most appropriate for short term therapy. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen were also once more widely use

I am more than certain that there are people out there who don't think lifestyle changes or alternative/complementary medical practices can do very much to help people with various maladies, chronic pain included.  And many of us do rely first on traditional medicine, and maybe come to find later--or never--that these treatment options can be much more than the icing on the cake! Image source: Wikipedia About five or six years ago, I was twenty five pounds overweight..and like the folks I'm referring to, it never occurred to me that weight loss would help all that much.   Sure, I have arthritis in my knee and if I just avoid activities that cause pain, I'll be alright, I thought.  But I have learned so much since then.  I did manage to lose the extra weight with the help of Weight Watchers programs. In and of itself, it made a big difference in the way I felt.  More energy and less pain in that arthritic joint..but that was only the beginning! As time went on

In all the time this blog has been in existence, many complementary and alternative medical practices have been discussed.  I must apologize that I never really explained the meaning of those terms. So today, I am going to explain more fully about these concepts. Image source: Wikipedia First, let me explain the concept of alternative medicine . Alternative medicine refers to medical practices outside the scope of the traditional practice of medicine.  One practices alternative medicine when they opt to use a treatment method in place of traditional medicine.  One example is using mindfulness or yoga as a means to control chronic pain instead of using medication.  Another example is the use of herbal supplements in place of traditional medication...perhaps using Saint John's Wort instead of a prescription antidepressant. With that in mind, I can explain the term complementary medicine . Complementary practice means that a person is using a non-traditional medical pract

Until recently, I never heard of the Alexander Technique.  But it has been around since the mid-1900s. Frederick Mathias Alexander was an  Australian actor who suffered bouts of laryngitis when performing.  Doctors could not seem to help him; in time he came to find a way to help himself. He came to realize that excess tension in his neck and body were at the root of his problems, and his discovered a method by which he could help himself to reduce the stress and the tension...and thus the Alexander Technique was born! The doctors who treated Mr. Alexander were quite impressed with the outcome of his efforts. He was persuaded to help others with what he had taught himself.  Over a span of about fifty years he refined his technique to become the Alexander Technique we know today.  Following his death, a number of people who learned from Mr. Alexander taught the technique to others.  Even though you may have never heard of it, this method is alive and well for those who wish to l

Osteoporosis is a common problem.  This condition is basically a softening of the bones, and, if left untreated, can be a risk factor for other, more serious problems.  Risk factors for osteoporosis include the following: Female gender is more at risk than male gender Risk increases with age Those of Caucasian or Asian races have higher risk Family history positive for osteoporosis, especially parent or siblings Those who have smaller body frames have increased risk Low levels of sex hormones (low testosterone or post menopause) have elevated risk History of hyperthyroidism increases risk of osteoporosis Overactive adrenal and/or parathyroid glands have been associated with osteoporosis While having osteoporosis is not a painful condition in and of itself, it can to the risk of fractures which can be debilitating. The most debilitating of these is hip fracture, which is beyond  the scope of this discussion.  Another issue is spinal compression fractures, which are

In August 2014, I wrote a post for this blog about an exciting new approach to pain management known as "optogenetics."  You can read the post in its entirety here ...but here is a brief refresher: Optogentics is an evolving new field that sheds promise on the treatment of many conditions including chronic pain management.  In a nutshell, optogenetics is a technology that employs beams of light to control  selected areas of the brain, essentially turning them on or off. The use of various forms of light to treat disease is not a new idea...consider the use of UV light to treat psoriasis...or light boxes for seasonal affective disorder...or lasers used in surgical procedures. It's not surprising to think that light beams can be used in other ways to treat other disorders..right? Fast forward to November 2015. Now there are reports of studies of implantable optoelectronic systems for treatment of many health conditions via wireless.  These implants, when strateg

Today I just wanted to share a recent article from Pain News Network . Guest columnist Fred Kaeser is a chronic pain patient; he is sharing his experience with readers.  I commend the author for sharing his thoughts and experiences with us. He has much to offer if you're willing to read his article! Click here to have a look--it's a great read! Sources: Pain News Network; Wikimedia

The human brain is a most interesting organ.  Have you ever stopped to think about all the functions carried out by the brain in a typical day?  The brain is sort of like the conductor of an orchestra...sending signals to all parts of the body to control blood pressure, heart rate, ambulation, thoughts, moods, and everything in between.  Pretty amazing stuff, if you stop to think about it. A most fascinating phenomenon known as phantom limb pain illustrates just how complex and amazing the human brain really is.  Phantom limb pain is something that occurs in patients who have experienced an amputation. The brain is telling them that they are having pain in an arm, a foot, a leg that has been surgically removed. But the reality is, that arm, foot, or leg is no longer there! According to medical literature, physicians have been aware of this phenomenon since the 1860s;  In more recent years, there have been many amputations due to injuries of war and diabetes, and this has spur

Researchers are always looking for ways to connect the dots; to try to understand how two things that are seemingly unconnected might really be related.  Today's topic is no exception to that statement. A study based in the United Kingdom has done just this.  The authors report in Journal of Rheumatology about a large scale study of persons with sleep apnea and how it might be related to gout. Their findings indicate that persons who suffered sleep apnea were almost twice as likely to have gout as someone who does not suffer from the sleep issue. The highest risk of having both diagnoses was increased in persons with elevated body mass indexes (BMI). Two things about this study are worth pointing out: 1) Increased BMI is a   strong risk factor for both gout and sleep apnea . 2) Due to episodes of hypoxia, persons with sleep apnea are prone to elevated uric acid levels , thus increasing the risk of developing gout. You might recall that gout results from excess uric

For the 14% of Americans who suffer from migraine headache, remedies come in many forms. There are prescription devices and medication  of many sorts on the marketplace; over-the counter medications such as Tylenol or Excedrin Migraine are the product of choice for others. For yet another group, there's nothing more effective than lying in a dark quiet room and waiting for the storm to pass. One study claims that use of peppermint oil may be just what the doctor ordered.   A product known as Stopain Migraine (a menthol gel formulation) was studied at Thomas Jefferson University.  This may not be a treatment of choice for everyone. For example, if a person becomes sensitive to aromas during a migraine attack, this may not be a good option.  On the other hand, peppermint is a pretty benign substance.  Also, there is no rebound headache following use--which can be a problem with some other treatment options. Sources: StopainMigraine.com; Foxnews.com; Wikimedia

Persons with chronic pain disorders know that regular discomfort is a part of every day life.  And while we all know that there are some ways to manage that discomfort, it is ever present.  Wouldn't it be great if there was a way to just...turn if off? The exciting news I have for you today is...maybe someday in the future it will be possible to do just that! About a year ago, researchers at the University of Saint Louis discovered that pain pathways originating in the brain could be the key.  According to their findings, if a certain chemical receptor in the brain and spinal cord was turned on,  the pain pathways in animal models of chronic neuropathic pain were turned off.  Activation of the A3 receptor was accomplished using a naturally occurring substance known as adenosine. Synthetic molecules developed by NIH were also tested during the study. The beauty of using a system such as this is that there are no risks of analgesic tolerance or intrinsic rewards in contrast

Whether you are a chronic pain patient, or anyone else for that matter, here is some food for thought. Every medication known to us has the potential to present us with at least three types of problems-- 1) Medications can interact with other medications in a person's system. 2) Medication can interact with foods that people eat. 3) All medications have side effects . Let me elaborate a bit: Medications can interact  with other medications  in a person's system. Many drugs have the potential to interact with other drugs; it's probably a lot more common than one might believe.  A common reason for this type of problem occurs when both drugs in question are metabolized in the liver, commonly through the cytochrome P-450 system.  In this scenario, both drugs are competing for the same enzyme, and usually one drug will predominate.  This results in a change of effectiveness and/or drug toxicity for one or all of the drugs involved.  The opioid drugs are an examp

A relatively new approach to reducing opioid usage and improving ability to combat chronic pain is the MORE technique. This practice focuses on developing mindfulness skills, i.e. positive psychology. Participants in an 8 week course of treatment learn to reduce their dependence and craving for pain controlling medications by learning to "feel good" through the techniques they learn. It is thought that over the course of time, a person with chronic pain is less able to experience the joys in life because they have been worn down by living in discomfort so much of the time.  Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement helps these folks to work on their positive emotions by focusing on the positives, such as the beauty of nature.  In this way, a patient learns to resort to the learned techniques instead of medications when they feel bad and need to feel better. Early indications from the initial study at the University of Utah are promising.  It is believed that these s

Moxibustion is an ancient Chinese medical practice employed by some practitioners of acupuncture. These practitioners employ an herb known as "moxa" during an acupuncture session in order to warm and improve blood flow to the area being treated.  Some claim that this practice is effective in relieving chronic pain, especially arthritis. The practice of moxibustion has been around for thousands of years, but...is it true? An article in MedPage Today from 2014 cites a study about this very topic.  A randomized clinical trial was conducted, involving 110 osteoarthritis patients who were unfamiliar to this type of treatment.  It was reported that after six weeks of treatment,three times per week, pain scores were reduced by about half in those who received active treatment. In a similar manner. their physical function difficulty scores also improved greatly! It is interesting to note that after a certain period of time--around 24 weeks of treatment..no further imp

The human nervous system uses several different neurotransmitters to send messages throughout the body. The names of some of these compounds are very familiar: serotonin, norepinephrine, GABA, dopamine, and acetylcholine may come to mind.  One of the lesser known neurotransmitters is the compound glutamate. Fortunately or unfortunately, it appears that this lesser known compound may play a role in pain transmission for those who suffer from fibromyalgia, and perhaps other chronic pain conditions.  It is an excitatory neurotransmitter, meaning that it has a stimulant effect on the nervous system. Researchers report that higher than normal levels of glutamate can be correlated with self reports of increased pain.  For those with fibromyalgia, higher levels of glutamate in the brain (on a chronic basis) may contribute to the prolonged chronic pain experience associated with this condition. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer that is used in the food industry to enhan

" If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it."                                          William Arthur Ward This is what I'd like to reflect on in today's post.  I am not talking about the latest breakthrough in pain management research. I am simply asking you to think about some of the non-drug pain management ideas we've explored on this blog in the past--such as dietary changes, weight loss, smoking cessation, and exercise.  It's not easy to find the motivation to make these changes for many of us. These lifestyle changes begin as every journey does--by taking the first step.  But what is the first step?  Is it heading for the gym tomorrow, or starting a  new diet tomorrow?  It is not. What is the first step, then, you ask? And so I will tell you. The first step requires time to think about what you really need to do.  It requires accepting the challenges you will face when you make that very fi