Showing posts with label Pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pain. Show all posts

Monday, November 14, 2011

Resolve back Pain through modren treatment



Modren science fiction writers who invented telepathy years ago, real humans can't tell what each other are thinking or feeling. As we grow up, we learn all about pain when we fall over or bump into furniture. Our parents and anyone else around us show us how we are supposed to respond. Fortunately, most back pain problems are temporary, often caused by excessive pressure on muscles or ligaments supporting the spine. However, if the pain is due to serious injury or a medical condition such as kidney damage, cancer, nerve damage, it must be treated with care and patience.

Boys may be encouraged to get up and fall over again. Girls may be cuddled until they stop crying. Although there are nerve endings all over the body, all the messages signaling pain relief are processed in the brain. At the other end of the scale, doctors have no way of knowing exactly how much pain is being experienced by their patients.

Technology is trying to produce a more scientific way of measuring pain using brain scans. If this research is a success, it should reduce overprescribing potentially addictive opiate drugs. So far, the researchers think they have found the bit that registers lower back pain. In a study involving 32 people, half of whom had chronic lower back pain, the participants were asked to move in the same way or were subjected to heat. If the level of blood flow and neuron activity changes as predicted as regarding healthy foods, this will allow doctors to give individual dosages rather than dosages based on averages. That's why painkillers target the neurotransmitters and block the messages before they reach the conscious levels of the brain.
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Monday, October 17, 2011

How Laughing Fights Pain



We all know that laughing makes us feel good, but research has never shown exactly how this happens or how laughter fights pain, which it definitely can. An interesting investigation from England has demonstrated that the physical act of laughing - the actual muscle contractions involved - lead to the release of "feel good" endorphins, the same brain chemicals responsible for the runner's "high." Endorphins are also known to influence our perception of pain. Researchers at Oxford University studied reactions to pain both before and after bouts of laughter. Participants agreed to the use of a freezing sleeve slipped over their forearms, a blood pressure cuff that kept tightening and an uncomfortable ski exercise while they watched comedy videos, as well as some videos that weren't funny at all. The results of five sets of studies were published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences and confirmed that laughter activates the release of endorphins. The results also indicated that pain thresholds were significantly higher in participants after laughter than in members of control groups who watched factual videos instead of funny ones.

My take? The findings from this study are important. The results help us better understand something we've long observed and that earlier studies have shown: laughter can influence health by relieving pain, lowering stress and even helping protect against heart disease. When you're stressed, nothing works better to counter it than a first-class belly laugh. I recommend seeking out laughter whenever you're stressed or feeling down. Call your funniest friend, rent a video comedy or you can try Laughter Yoga (seriously, there are more than 6,000 clubs in 60 countries). Bottom line: lighten up and laugh! It's good for you.

Friday, October 7, 2011

7 Simple Suggestions For Dealing With Chronic Pain



Chronic pain affect most of the people some way or another. It cost a lot to cure it as well. Most common chronic pain is headaches and lower back pain. Chronic pain can be defined as persisting for more than six months. It can be caused by a specific injury or medical problem. The pain could occur with no apparent reason which puzzled prescribers and patients. It is important to bear in mind that chronic pain cannot be treated in one quick solution but needed an extensive personalized plan to manage.

It is important to be able to accept pain as part of your life that need to be addressed before combating it. These are what you can do to deal with chronic pain:

1. Keep yourself hydrated as dehydration can aggravate the symptoms of chronic conditions such as headaches and back pain.

2. Load your body with nutritious foods that can help combat pain and reduce fatigue. Examples are leafy greens, foods rich with omega3, asparagus, low sugar fruits and soy products.

3. Keep a positive outlook. Thinking positively will help to overcome blocks and lessen the pain you are feeling.

4. Distract yourself with activities that are not stressful such as yoga, listening to music, watching movies. It is good to engage in activities that make you feel good.

5. Maintain proper posture. Being in C-slump which is a bend back with head in front of spine can impair nerve and blood flow. Try to keep head in a parallel line with a straight spine. This can help prevent strain on back and neck muscles.

6. Discuss your pain. You may be able to find solutions to problems that cause you stress and any helpful coping skills.

7. Keep a diary that can help you keep track of your pain and record down medications that are able to help you and any adverse effects you experience while taking them. This can help you to be in more control of your pain.

Natural Remedies For Reducing Pain



There are different types of pain. There are pains caused by inflammation such as arthritis, sprains and so on. Arthritis is associated with inflammation of joints. These inflammatory pains can be reduced by changing diets.

It is known that antioxidants are known to reduce inflammation. Antioxidants can be found in deep coloured fruits and vegetables such as Acai berry, blueberries, prunes, pomegranates, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, red beans and kidney beans. Besides that, another good source of antioxidants is spices and herbs such as cinnamon, oregano, turmeric, cumin, parsley, basil and curry powder. Diet compromising salmons, olive oil and flax seed oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which are good for cholesterol levels and reducing inflammation. By incorporating foods rich in antioxidants into everyday diet, it can help reduce pain without counting on painkillers. Another pointer to help with pain associated with inflammation, putting ice or frozen peas for 10 minutes a few times a day can help reduce pain.

However pain associated with menstrual cramp cannot be cured through putting ice on the stomach. In fact, it would make matter worst. The solution can be done by putting a hot water bottle on the lower part of the stomach to ease the pain. If hot water bottle is not available, use a hot towel instead. Drinking hot liquids such as hot herbal teas with peppermint or wintergreen does help as well. Chinese used ginger to expel wind from stomach and restore heat to the body. This helps also in menstrual pain by pounding a piece of ginger and boil in a cup of water for 2 minutes. It is a warm drink and taken with honey or sugar, it is a good way to end meals.

Exercising is good for the body and improves limb function. Muscles work as shock absorbers. By doing yoga and strengthening exercises, it helps the body to combat pain. However, exercise regime must be done regularly to get positive results. This applies to inflammatory pain and menstrual pain as well.

So painkillers are not the only way to tackle pain. By doing lifestyle changes, it does help with the symptoms in the long run.

Using Acupuncture To Reduce Pain In Your Life



Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medication technique that has been around for centuries. Acupuncture practitioners insert thin needles through skin to stimulate specific points on the body called acupuncture points. The theory involved is to regulate the flow of Qi (life force) along the pathways know as meridians.

Acupuncture is used as a treatment for various diseases by acupuncture practitioners. In modern times, acupuncture has been shown to alleviate pain that was not able to be treated with pain killers. It is also said to be able to cure the pain that exist in the body by treating the root cause.

There are no side effects associated with acupuncture when performed correctly. This is important for patients who experienced side effects caused by over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) and narcotics. The growing reliance on pain killers may be one of the factors that patients are seeking alternative treatments such as acupuncture.

Although there are several researches showing the benefits of acupuncture, it is important to discuss with your family doctor before attempting any alternative treatment. Different people respond differently to acupuncture. If acupuncture has not help in resolving your pain for several weeks, acupuncture might not be the right treatment.

Monday, September 19, 2011

What To Expect From Pain Management Clinic



The condition of chronic pain means that a certain part of your body is not functioning right. If the pain is restricting movements and activities, if it is affecting moods and disposition, if it gets in the way of living life then it is time to see a doctor. It's time that you find out what's causing the pain so it can be treated accordingly by your physician. It only means that you have to set an appointment at a pain management clinic.

Don't allow the pain to linger, if you feel the pain happen too often make sure you have it checked at a pain management clinic as soon as possible. Experts and state-of-the-art methods and equipment are available to render professional care that intends to put the sufferer back on track again. As soon as the pain condition is addressed accordingly, a patient can expect to live an improved quality of life.

Choosing the right pain management clinic is necessary for the patient's sake. Knowing as much about the pain, asking the doctor for referral, and gathering information about nearby pain management clinics i.e. specializations, facilities, amenities particularly if confinement is needed, costs, would be the most important factors to consider. Each clinic has a different set of pain management schemes. It is best to choose the one that will help best in the kind of pain that is being managed. If things are done right, it will not be startling to find out that pain management is successful and achieving what it is supposed to do and that is the restoration of the kind of life that the patient so desires or at the very least, a life where pain becomes more bearable.

Pain management has improved drastically over the past few years, patients are now more conscious and well informed about this type of disorder. Due to the advancement of technology, many alternative methods for treating, diagnosing and managing pain became available. Pain management clinic increased in number to cater to the growing number of people suffering from this condition; giving patients a whole lot more options. Nowadays, people who suffer from pain always have a place to turn to so they can be treated accordingly. It is time to live a full life again.


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The Advantages Of Having A Pain Management Specialist



Those who are in pain are in dire need of a pain management specialist to aid them relieve their daily aches and give them hope for a better quality of lifestyle ahead. It is not easy coping with chronic pain everyday. Those in pain would be able to relate to the following
metaphor. How could someone suffering from pain disregard the fact that pain specialists are trying to help them address the symptoms of their disease and help them attain a pain-free future.


Depending on the type of pain, there are various types of pain management specialists that diagnose, manage, and treat people suffering from pain. Palliative care doctors are those who specialize in pain management. There are two basic type of pain management specialists, those who try to manage pain through changes in lifestyle such as diet and exercise, on the other hand, there are specialists who would rather seize the pain right away through the use of maintenance medicine. Anestheseologists specialize on managing more complicated pain cases regardless if they are chronic or acute types of pain. Other members with varying roles in the teams could be a neurologist, orthopedist, surgeons, physiatrist, therapists, nurses and even a psychologist or psychiatrist. The teams focus is to immediately address the pain issue of a patient and to manage it properly that the patient enjoys a decent quality of life.


A pain management specialist looks and tries to understand the pain history of the patient using every diagnostic tool and method available at hand such as X-ray, MRI, discography, CT Scan, PET Scan, Neurological and physical examinations and others. These tools provide information as to the sources and nature of pain that form the basis for the pain treatment and management. These cases can not be treated by a single specialization, because of the complexities these cases usually have. A multi-disciplinary approach is still the best way to diagnose, manage and treat a patient in order to bring back the quality of life the patient once had. Giving the patient a complete pain-free life is the main goal, but in most cases this is impossible, so the specialist's job is to make sure that the pain experienced by the patient is kept at a minimum.


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Friday, September 16, 2011

Chronic Vulvar Pain A Reality For More Than 100,000 Women In Southeast Michigan

Illustration of the pain pathway in René Desca...Image via Wikipedia

For more than 100,000 area women, chronic vulvar pain (pain at the opening to the vagina) is so severe it makes intercourse, and sometimes sitting for long periods of time, painful, if not impossible.

A new study from the University of Michigan, which surveyed 2,269 women in the metro Detroit area, found that more than 25 percent of women have experienced ongoing vulvar pain at some point in their lives. However, only two percent of women sought treatment for their pain.

For some, vulvar pain may be caused by activities like biking, tampon use, or intercourse, and for others it can be a persisting, spontaneous pain that can persist for up to 40 years.

Vulvodynia is characterized by a burning, irritation, or sharp pain near the opening of the vagina. The location, constancy and severity of the pain vary among women. Some women say they feel a slight discomfort, while others claim to suffer from knife-like pain. Common treatments, including topical creams, are typically directed towards alleviating symptoms and usually only provide partial pain relief.
The study, available online ahead of print in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that aside from the 9.2 percent of women who reported that they were currently experiencing pain consistent with vulvodynia, an additional 17.9 percent of women reported they have experienced symptoms of vulvodynia in the past.

That factors to over 318,000 women in southeast Michigan alone.

"What this means for area women is that vulvar pain is common, it has a name, and it can be addressed with their physicians," says Barbara D. Reed, M.D., M.S.P.H, a professor of family medicine at the U-M Medical School and lead author of the study.

What researchers have found concerning is that of the two percent of women who sought treatment for their pain, five percent received a diagnosis of vulvodynia. Many women were misdiagnosed with either yeast infections or estrogen deficiency and the subsequent treatment plans they were recommended did little to alleviate their pain, suggesting these may not be causing their symptoms.

The primary goal of the study was to gain insight on the demographics of women with vulvar pain suggesting vulvodynia. Based on survey responses, researchers were able to determine the ethnicities and ages of those women with vulvar discomfort, as well as the intensity of the pain they experienced.

"With this knowledge, we better understand how common this disorder is, and who is likely to be affected. Knowing this should make it easier for medical providers to expect to see women with this problem, and will therefore make the diagnosis earlier so that treatment can proceed," Reed says.
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Visit our  pain / anesthetics section for the latest news on this subject.
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