Everyday pain management ideas

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post about Lupus Disease ;  it is an autoimmune disorder that is related to Rheumatoid Arthritis.  While I took the time to describe the disorder and the various problems that arise from the disease, there was not much about the pain management aspect in that post. At this point, there is more information to share --and here it is! People with lupus disease often feel stiff and exhausted in the morning.  It has been suggested that moist heat can help provide some relief.  Try a bath or a long hot shower in the mornings; if that is not possible try using a moist heating pad for about thirty minutes prior to wake up time. Another option is to purchase an electric blanket with a timer, and set it to come on one half hour before you need to wake up for the day. If you think ahead, you could set things up for mornin g in the kitchen before you go to bed.  If the table is set and the coffee pot is ready to go, life is go...

If you've been following this series on gout, you know that there are dietary modifications that can be made to prevent recurrence of gout flare-ups. Yesterday, it was mentioned that coffee, vitamin C supplementation, and cherries and other dark colored fruits seem to help keep uric acid levels in check. I know it's hard to believe--but there are even more dietary measures that can be used to help control gout.  There is actually a gout diet, and here are some highlights as suggested by the Mayo Clinic: To follow the diet: ~Restrict intake of meat, poultry and fish. Animal proteins are high in purine . Avoid or severely limit high-purine foods, such as organ meats, herring, anchovies and mackerel. Red meat (beef, pork and lamb), fatty fish and seafood (tuna, shrimp, lobster and scallops) are associated with increased risk of gout. Because all meat, poultry and fish contain purines, limit your intake to 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams) daily. ~Cut back on fat. Satu...

If you've been diagnosed with gout and are taking medication to control the condition, you might be surprised to know that there are more things that you can do to stay ahead of the curve.  Here are some non pharmacological lifestyle modifications/alternative medicine suggestions from the Mayo Clinic: Drink 8 to 16 cups (about 2 to 4 liters) of fluid each day, with at least half being water. Avoid alcohol. Eat a moderate amount of protein, preferably from healthy sources, such as low-fat or fat-free dairy, tofu, eggs, and nut butters. Limit your daily intake of meat, fish and poultry to 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams). Some foods may actually help prevent recurrence of gout attacks; one simply needs to include these items in their diet.  Interestingly, coffee (decaf or regular) has been shown to lower uric acid levels, although the mechanism is not understood.  A reasonable intake of vitamin C through food sources and supplements is also beneficial, but c...

Gouty tophus of the knee. In all likelihood, the diagnosis of gout means treatment with medication will be involved.  In this post, we'll look at some of the medications used to treat gout and how they work.  Part III of this series will focus on non-drug measures to help relieve the pain of gout and prevent recurrent attacks. Pharmaceutical treatment of gout falls into two basic categories: the first category consists of medications that would be used for a gouty attack, while the second category of drugs are utilized to help prevent future attacks. Drugs for treatment of gout attacks are agents that help to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the condition.  Many years ago, the primary agents for gout attack were butazolidin (one of the first NSAIDs on the market) and colchicine.  Butazolidin was removed from the US market many years ago over safety concerns, and has largely been replaced by more modern day agents such as ibuprofen or...

What is gout? Gout is actually a form of arthritis.  It can occur in either gender, but is more common in men. The incidence of gout in women increases in frequency after menopause.  Episodes of gout can be sudden and may occur as an episode of pain, redness and/or tenderness in a joint. The base of the great toe is a common site for gout attacks. The affected joint may feel as if it is on fire; redness and tenderness can be so severe that even the weight of a bed sheet may be intolerable. The symptoms of gout, as mentioned can occur suddenly without warning. They include intense joint pain, commonly in the big toe. Other joints can be affected by this as well, including the feet, ankles, knees, hands or wrists.  The pain is most likely to be severe during the first twelve to twenty four hours from onset. Some discomfort may linger, anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.  Swelling, redness and tenderness may persist. The good news...

If you suffer from fibromyalgia related noise sensitivity, some quiet time after exposure may offer some relief. The pain and fatigue of fibromyalgia are difficult to deal with; these are the most well known symptoms and are being studied extensively.  Other aspects of this condition are just becoming realized--one of these being an enhanced sensitivity to a noises. Current thinking about the sensitivity to pain in fibromyalgia occurs because there is an  inability to "tune out" painful sensations.  This same faulty filtration mechanism may also explain the problems with decreased tolerance to noise. In the meantime, there are several things one can do to help control the noise issue: --First and foremost, try to avoid  noisy environments as much as possible. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! --It might also be a good idea to be familiar with meditative techniques, such as deep breathing techniques. --If it is possible to leave premis...

Do you know anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes?  If so, chances are that they have been to classes with a Certified Diabetes Educator. In these classes, they learn a lot about how to self-manage their condition.  Diabetes educators share information with patients about managing their blood glucose levels, nutrition, and diabetes-related health conditions. In recent years, these self-management programs have expanded into other areas of medicine. At the time of this writing,they are still in their infancy. Hopefully in this era of pain medication shortages and excessive regulations, this avenue of approach will help those with chronic disease, especially those with chronic pain. The workshop for chronic pain, for instance, addresses the following: 1) techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep  2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance,  3) appropriat...