Everyday pain management ideas

Have you ever seen the scale below? Or been asked by a health care provider to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10?  I would bet most people would answer yes to at least one of those questions. Now, a new kind of pain scale has emerged. ..instead of focusing on the intensity of the pain, the emphasis is on the quality/nature of the pain . " Mypainfeelslike.. ." is a new campaign initiated in Ireland by a German pharmaceutical company.  (You can visit the web site yourself by clicking the link above!) The project was designed was to help patients and their doctors to better understand more about a given patients pain...there is a graphic to help patients discern between stabbing pain, burning, piercing, stabbing and other pain sensations...and a questionnaire to that the patient can complete if they so desire.  Initially, this web site developed for patients  with neuropathic pain, but it can be used by other chronic pain sufferers as well. If this sounds helpful

So, have you seen television ads for Quell® ?  It's a newer pain relief device, FDA approved...a TENS unit-- with a twist. Quell® is a wearable pain management device that can be used for many types of chronic pain. While the actual device sits in an adjustable band that is worn just below the knee, it can deliver pain relief to other body sites when in use.  It has a smart phone app that can be used to make adjustments to pain relief program as needed. The product web site says that the device itself is responsive to the body's changing needs for pain relief and can adjust itself to accommodate as needed. And if that's not enough, it's a drug-free method of pain relief! The product is available on line through the manufacturer from about $249.00. There are also some retailers who have this product available, including Amazon, QVC, and Target.  There is more information available at the product web site which you can access here.     The Quell® website is ac

Breathing--the process by which the human body moves air in and out of the lungs. It's the essence of life itself.  No one teaches us how to breathe; it's instinctive. Or, is it? Breathing is something every living person does day in, day out, asleep or awake.  This life force, when used in its fullest capacity is also a very powerful means by which an individual can take some control over anxiety, pain, and healing. It is also essential to optimal brain activity and overall good health. Sadly, this very powerful life force is often overlooked as a pain management tool.  Through a complex mechanism, the practise of basic relaxation breath can calm nerves, reduce anxiety, and improve gastrointestinal and immune system function. If you've ever given birth or observed someone giving birth (a pretty painful process, isn't it?), you will notice that breathing is a very important part of the process...doesn't that tell us something? There are many resources onli

Yet another pain management device has entered the marketplace..it's called the Oska Pulse. Using pulsed electromagnetic field therapeutic technology, this small portable device is intended to relieve minor aches and pains, reduce stiffness, and help to increase mobility. Leslie Cross, chairman of the board at Oska Wellness, says that she uses the product for chronic hip pain. After trying the product for several days, she joined the team because she was impressed by the product.  Best of all, it's drug free and can be used several times a day. A person can stay active--go for long walks, golf, etc...in spite of chronic pain! And now the product is available to the public. Suggested retail is around $399. You can see it for yourself by visiting the Oska Wellness website . Sources: Oska.com; Drugstore News; Wikimedia

Over a year ago, I shared some interesting news about acetaminophen.  It's not unusual think of this common household medication as benign. Overdosing or taking too much over an extended period is liver toxic, but aside from that it seems pretty safe all in all. Fast forward to 2015...I shared this post .  A study at Ohio State University reported findings that suggest that this drug tended to dull the emotions in study subjects.  The authors reported their findings to be "subtle but reliable."At the time it was thought that further study was needed to get a better idea of this phenomenon. Now, a first of its kind study reported in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience reports that acetaminophen may impair the brain's ability to detect errors. According to postdoctoral fellow Dan Randles, lead author of the study... “It looks like acetaminophen makes it harder to recognize an error, which may have implications for cognitive control in daily life. So

It's long been known that small fiber neuropathy (nerve damage) is positively associated with diabetes.  Most commonly the first sign of this problem are is a burning sensation in the feet. Diabetics are well aware of this problem, but it can also be caused by several other disorders including celiac disease, Lyme disease, HIV, lupus and alcoholism. Small fiber neuropathy: Microscopic view A small scale study of this disorder conducted at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University was recently published in JAMA Neurology . Surprisingly they discovered a new cause of small fiber neuropathy--prediabetes.  This may suggest that screening for the disorder should begin when a person diagnosed with prediabetes rather then waiting until the diagnoses of type II diabetes is confirmed. You can read more about this topic by clicking here. Sources: Pain Week.org; Wiki media

Some people say that the massage experience is the ultimate in pampering.  In truth, it can be much more than that.  There is a form of massage known as medical massage. With proper training, any license massage therapist can provide this therapy for any number of conditions, including seizures, fibromyalgia, migraines, nerve pain, joint pain, and many others. Medical massage is a bit different from the spa experience that you might be visualizing right now.  A given patient may go to see his/her therapist weekly, for anywhere from four to sixteen visits.  The number of treatments varies so widely because it is outcome based, so depending on the condition being treated and the goals of therapy.  The therapist will  likely follow up with clients after treatment to ensure that everything is going well and determine whether or not future sessions are necessary. Sadly, health care insurance providers do not always see the benefit of this form of therapy so they do not alwa