Everyday pain management ideas

Maybe you are familiar with "rocker soles" and foot orthoses...or not. Rocker soles are a feature on some footwear designs today. As the name implies, the bottom of the shoe is somewhat rounded in appearance.Manufacturers of these shoe styles claim that they are beneficial to persons who suffer from various forms of foot pain. Here is a sample image of a shoe with a rocker heel. Foot orthoses are inserts that fit inside the shoe.  There are various styles available. Some can be bought off of a store display such as Dr. Scholl's product line; others are custom made and can be obtained from certain health care professionals, such as chiropractors and podiatrists. These products can serve various functions, such as relief of foot pain or back pain. The question is: do they really work?  A recent study that compared rocker soles and foot orthoses in patients with osteoarthritis of the feet, which is present in at least 35 percent of adults over the age of 35.  Th

 In late 2015, a very big breakthrough came about in the world of pain management. It's so big, in fact, that a whole new method for treating pain could be just a few years away! University College London scientists made this discovery by examining people with a rare condition which inhibits them from feeling any pain sensation at all.  The scientists that discovered that some "channels" in the nervous system (particularly channel Nav1.7)  conduct the sensation of pain to the brain.  Persons who are deficient in Nav1.7 channels are the rare folks who cannot experience pain. At this point, the focus of the research is to develop drugs that block the transmission of the pain signal along the Nav1.7 channel.  There are a few drugs currently in development, but the effect of the current drugs is weak.  Development of a drug with the appropriate potency could eliminate the need for opioids, or at least greatly reduce it.  While opioids are effective, the addiction po

This is good news indeed!  I have had carpal tunnel syndrome for years .  I never opted for the surgery because I can't bear the thought of being out of commission, even if it is only for a few weeks.  I've also heard of surgeries "gone awry"--or perhaps that someone didn't follow post-operative care instructions too well, but still...that just means...more surgery.  Carpal tunnel syndrome here in the US is a cause of lost wages and lost productivity for those affected.  And it can be painful as well. If you're like me , you have new reason for new hope!  A Spanish study followed 120 females with carpal tunnel syndrome for a 12 months, and found that physical therapy vs surgery outcomes were about equal.  So for those of you who feel as I do--here's an option to explore! You can read more about this exciting finding by clicking here.

We all know someone who has had breast cancer...and we all know that many of those affected are survivors. That is indeed good news!  And while we are all grateful that advances in treatment have made this possible, cancer survivors have complications due to the disease, or the treatment of the disease,or both,  that go on for years and years. Aromatase Molecule One such complication of breast cancer treatment was featured in a study that was recently featured in the Journal of Clinical Oncology .  The study compared incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients prescribed anastrazole (an aromatase inhibitor commonly ordered for breast cancer patients) to placebo.  The incidence of carpal tunnel was four times higher in the anastrazole group! The study authors believe that there are two important points with respect to their findings: 1)The anti-estrogen effects of aromatase inhibitors may be to blame for the increased incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. 2) Development

The Pain Shield®   was introduced last summer by NanoVibronix , a New York based medical device company.  This device delivers "slow release" ultrasound  via a topical patch.  This presents a new way to treat many types of pain that have been problematic in the past.  The testimonials on the company's website come from patients with many difficult to treat conditions.  Some report trying to treat trigeminal neuralgia for more than 20 years with no apparent success, until this device became available.  Others report positive results for other maladies--foot and shoulder problems, for example. The device is expensive to buy--approximately $800 according to the company website.  The company's FAQs about the product reports that some patients were able to obtain financial assistance through their medical insurance coverage.  If you would like to read more about the device and related information, you can access the company site via this link. It's very exc

Have you ever heard of trigeminal neuralgia?  It is a relatively rare, but painful condition that affects the nerves between a person's face and their brain.  Most commonly those affected are persons over fifty years of age--and more women than men are affected.  This condition is also referred to as tic douloureux . The causes of this condition include, but are not limited to, stroke, injury, or brain lesions. Trigeminal nerve=area in yellow Those affected with this condition typically experience short, mild attacks . Simple everyday personal care such as shaving or brushing teeth can be excruciating!  A doctor will suspect this condition if a person: --experiences shock--like jolts of pain intermittently in areas of the face --the location of the pain is important; it's tell tale if someone is truly affected by this condition --the circumstances that trigger the pain also help to indicate whether or not this is trigeminal neuralgia A neurological exam will be

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