The American Chronic Pain Association

Have you ever heard of the American Chronic Pain Association? They have a great website with lots of resources for those of you who are dealing with chronic pain on any level. Whether you are a caregiver, a patient, or a family member, there is something here for you! Click the link if you'd like to have a look.

I particularly like a video on this site that gets to the very heart of what I am trying to convey about pain management in my blog. The video is entitled "A Car With Four Flat Tires" and you can watch it by clicking this link. If you choose not to view the video, here is a short synopsis:

Living with chronic pain is like having a car with four flat tires...and that makes it really difficult to go forward. Taking medication for chronic pain (any medication) is akin to putting air in one of the tires. But what about the other three tires? You can "inflate" those tires by adding complementary forms of treatment to fill the other three tires. These treatments will vary person to person, depending on the unique situation of each individual.

Filling the tires with air is the responsibility of the car owner. You wouldn't take a car back to the dealership for a flat tire, so why would you repeatedly go back to the doctor/ car dealership for this problem when it's your responsibility to maintain your car/condition?

Sources: American Chronic Pain Association; Wikipedia

Comments

Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately? Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members. Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain. This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story. Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube

Beware Of The Tick!

It's tick season, everyone! And while we all know about Lyme Disease and its lingering effects, a new problem has entered the scene. According to the CDC, the Powassan virus is another tick-borne disease that has recently been recognized. The CDC says symptoms become apparent anywhere from one week to one month after infection. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, problems with speech and seizures. Approximately half of those infected by this virus have permanent neurological symptoms, which can include muscle wasting, problems with memory, and recurrent headaches. Many people who have been infected with Powassan virus required hospitalization and sometimes even respiratory support (i.e., a respirator). Treatment is focused on supportive measures. In the meantime, preventive measures are the best way to avoid Lyme disease, Powassan virus , or any other tick-borne virus. You can read more about preventive measures by clicking here . Sour...

The Wurn Technique: A Novel Approach to Pelvic Adhesions That Cause Pain And Infertility

One of the most baffling pain conditions women experience is chronic pelvic pain. This unfortunate problem is not only uncomfortable, but can be a cause of infertility in women. Some of the usual causes are fibroids, endometriosis and pelvic adhesions. Typically, these problems are addressed by standard modalities--surgery, medications, psychotherapy, and physical therapy among them. Recently, I came across a newer idea for treatment of pelvic pain caused by adhesions. It's known as the Wurn Technique, and it's really a quite interesting approach. Similar to a deep tissue massage, this method can be used to break the adhesions in the pelvic area. This helps to reduce the pelvic pain and can even restore fertility in some cases! The best part is that it's all drug free! For more information about the Wurn Technique, you can click here to reach the ClearPassages website. This site explains in more detail about how the technique is used and also the story...

Everyday pain management ideas

Search This Blog