A detailed guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), including its symptoms, causes, and effective treatment strategies to improve energy and well-being.
This week at Chronicillness.co Site of the United States and the Pain Channel, we’ve been spending a lot of time focusing on the power of the mind to overcome pain in the midst of battle, along with how to prevent injuries in preparation for the Spartan Race. Today we want to bring some alternative medicine and perhaps unconventional chronic pain relief ideas. Today, it’s all about little chemical messengers called endorphins.
Technically speaking, endorphins are peptides that function as neurotransmitters. Endorphins are released from the pituitary gland, also known as the hypophysis, located just at the base of the brain at the bottom of the hypothalamus.
(The pituitary gland helps to control the following: growth, blood pressure, childbirth, breast milk production, thyroid gland function, metabolism, water regulation in the body, and body temperature).
Endorphins are produced and released by the pituitary gland during exercise, excitement, pain, laughter, and love. There are estimated to be at least 20 types of endorphins that can get distributed throughout the nervous system. Endorphins have the ability to block nerve cells from releasing more pain signals to the brain and can act literally like morphine and codeine.
While there has not been an incredible amount of research conducted on the topic of releasing endorphins into the nervous system, many physicians believe there is a key in endorphins to help patients combat chronic pain, without the risk of opiate addiction. Some researchers believe that chronic pain patients have a lower-than-normal level of endorphins in their spinal fluid, which is why opiate drugs like morphine and codeine are prescribed. However, there is a fine line for physicians to follow when prescribing opiate drugs so that their patients don’t become addicted and/or their patient’s body becomes depleted of their natural opiates.
According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise can help to manage chronic pain by releasing endorphins. As hard as it may be to imagine exercising when in pain, researchers say the release of endorphins will block pain signals and help to curb anxiety and depression. Both conditions can make chronic pain even harder to deal with.
The clinic says exercise also helps build strength, improve flexibility, boost energy, enhance mood, protect the heart and blood vessels, improve quality of sleep and help the body maintain a healthy weight.
There are many ways to release natural endorphins and opiates within our bodies, from exercise and diet to love and laughter. Pain also releases endorphins in spurts, allowing humans and animals great feats of strength and willpower when injured. Stress, unfortunately, in long periods of time has the opposite effect on endorphins, not allowing them to be released as often. This is yet another reason why pain doctors will always implore patients to reduce their stress levels, which can be done through exercise.
If you want to learn more about conventional and unconventional chronic pain treatments, we have offices in valley wide including Mesa and North Scottsdale.
Pain is an unavoidable fact of life, especially for those with a chronic pain condition. There are dozens of potential treatments for pain already, but researchers are always searching for a deeper understanding of pain to help them devise even better treatments.
One group of researchers has found a way to cut off the communication of pain in the brain.
At the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute, neuroscientist Gerald Zamponi, phd, and his team have found a way to shut off pain signals. Calcium channels in the brain and peripheral nervous system are part of the line of communications to transmit pain signals. Because of this, calcium channels have been a focus of pain research for quite a while. Zamponi and his team have found that by interfering with a specific enzyme’s communication with the calcium channels, the nerve impulses are interrupted.
The researchers in this study are currently looking at more than 100,000 molecules. They’re trying to find one that will successfully stop the communication between the enzyme and the calcium channel, thereby stopping the pain signal. Two viable molecules have already been identified as painkillers in animals.
If these researchers are able to isolate the correct molecule to create the same effect in humans, it could potentially be turned into a drug. A drug like this could provide a new pain-relief option for people who suffer from all sorts of pain conditions, such as arthritis or neuropathic pain.
A better understanding of how different populations experience pain can help physicians manage their patients’ pain more effectively.
A few factors that decrease an individual’s pain tolerance have been identified. These include:
There are also a few odd factors that influence an individual’s ability to tolerate pain. For example, one study suggested that right-handed people were more tolerant of pain than left-handed people. Some research also suggests that natural redheads may be more sensitive to pain.
Additionally, gender has an effect on pain sensations. More women report pain than men, and women are generally believed to be more sensitive to pain. It’s been assumed that women may be more tolerant of pain, as well, but a new study challenges this assumption.
First it’s important to understand the difference between pain sensitivity and pain tolerance. Pain sensitivity refers to the pain threshold, or when an individual begins to perceive stimulation as painful. Pain tolerance is the level of pain an individual is able to tolerate.
Researchers at Malaga University have found that there is no difference in pain tolerance between men and women. Rather, the characteristics of each individual determine his or her ability to tolerate pain. Resilience was identified as the most important factor in determining pain tolerance. People who are resilient are more likely to accept their pain. Accepting the pain, rather than focusing on it to the exclusion of everything else, allows individuals to focus on increasing their quality of life instead. Resilient people generally feel less pain, stay more active, and have a better overall mood.
In addition to acceptance of pain and individual resilience, fear of pain was identified as a central variable in people’s pain experiences. People who are afraid of pain experience more anxiety and depression. This ties into the only difference identified between men’s and women’s pain experiences: in men, a fear of pain also related to a greater degree of pain.
A group of researchers looked at 2,721 people who have been diagnosed with chronic pain. Participants rated their pain perception on a scale that was divided into low, moderate, and high pain groups. Researchers then checked the participants for specific genes, COMT, DRD2, DRD1, and OPRK1, and found the following statistics:
DRD1 variant was 33% more prevalent among the low pain group than the high pain group
COMT variant was 25% more prevalent among the moderate pain group than the high pain group
OPRK1 variant was 19% more prevalent among the moderate pain group than the high pain group
DRD2 variant was 25% more common among the high pain group than the moderate pain group
According to Tobore Onojjighofia, MD, MPH, with Proove Biosciences and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, this research could have two major benefits for pain patients. First, finding out if an individual possesses these particular gene variants could provide his or her physician with a way to evaluate his or her perception of pain. This could help physicians manage patients’ pain according to each individual’s pain tolerance. In addition to this, the identification of genes that influence pain perception could play a role in developing new, targeted pain therapies.
New brain imaging has identified a brain abnormality that may explain the overly sensitive response to stimuli in people with fibromyalgia.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans provide detailed pictures of the body’s tissues. When an MRI scan is done on the brain, the result is series of images that allow physicians to visualize the anatomy of the brain. A functional MRI (fmri) maps the brain’s function by showing the amount of oxygen (and therefore the amount of oxygenated blood flow) in different areas of the brain. In other words, an MRI is similar to a very detailed snapshot, while an fmri is like a flipbook showing brain activity.
A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology used fmri to study brain response to stimuli among people with fibromyalgia. The fmri showed reduced activation of certain areas of the brain, namely the primary and secondary visual and auditory areas. There was also increased activation in the sensory integration regions.
These brain function abnormalities are responsible for the often painful hypersensitivity experienced by people with fibromyalgia. In fact, the researchers in this study believe these abnormalities might be part of the pathology, or key components, of fibromyalgia. This is significant because research in this area might eventually offer new neuro stimulation targets for fibromyalgia treatment.
Fibromyalgia and chronic pain are complex, life-altering conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. Characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in specific areas, fibromyalgia often overlaps with other chronic conditions like arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Managing this constellation of symptoms can be challenging and often requires a multifaceted approach. One of the most common starting points for individuals seeking relief is over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
OTC medications are easily accessible and can offer immediate, though often temporary, symptom relief. While they are not a cure, they play a significant role in pain management strategies for many patients. This article explores the various OTC options available, their mechanisms, limitations, and the critical considerations individuals with fibromyalgia and chronic pain should keep in mind when using these products.
Understanding the Role of OTC Medications in Chronic Pain Management
Over-the-counter medications are those you can buy without a prescription. For individuals with fibromyalgia and chronic pain, these medications are often the first line of defense due to their availability and affordability. However, not all OTC drugs are suitable for long-term use or for addressing the wide spectrum of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.
Common symptoms like muscle stiffness, nerve pain, headaches, and inflammation might respond differently to various medications. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the different types of OTC drugs and how they function.
Analgesics: Basic Pain Relievers for Mild to Moderate Pain
Analgesics are perhaps the most widely used OTC drugs for fibromyalgia and general chronic pain. The two most common types include:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol): This medication reduces pain and fever but does not address inflammation. It’s often chosen for its relatively low risk of gastrointestinal side effects and is commonly used for muscle aches and generalized pain. However, long-term use or high doses can lead to liver damage.
Aspirin: While it provides pain relief and reduces inflammation, its frequent use may cause gastrointestinal irritation or bleeding. It may be less ideal for those with sensitive stomachs or bleeding disorders.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): For Pain with Inflammation
NSAIDs work by reducing inflammation and are particularly helpful when chronic pain is accompanied by swelling or stiffness.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and Naproxen (Aleve): These are among the most common OTC NSAIDs. They are effective for joint pain, menstrual cramps, and muscle aches. However, prolonged use can lead to gastrointestinal issues, kidney strain, or increased cardiovascular risks, especially in older adults or those with pre-existing conditions.
Patients with fibromyalgia may find limited benefit from NSAIDs since fibromyalgia pain is more related to nerve sensitivity than to inflammation. Nonetheless, if there is a coexisting condition such as arthritis, NSAIDs might offer meaningful relief.
Topical Pain Relievers: Localized Treatment with Fewer Systemic Effects
Topical pain medications are applied directly to the skin over the affected area. They are less likely to cause internal side effects and are useful for targeting specific areas of discomfort.
Menthol-based creams and gels: These create a cooling sensation that temporarily distracts from pain.
Capsaicin cream: Derived from chili peppers, capsaicin can dull nerve receptors over time. It may reduce localized nerve pain but can initially cause a burning feeling.
Lidocaine patches or creams: Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that numbs the application area and is particularly effective for sharp or shooting nerve pain.
These products are particularly helpful for patients who experience tender points or muscle knots that do not respond well to oral medications.
Sleep Aids and Muscle Relaxants: OTC Solutions for Secondary Symptoms
People with fibromyalgia often struggle with sleep disturbances and muscle tightness, which can worsen pain. OTC options like:
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, found in many sleep aids): While not a pain reliever, this antihistamine can help with sleep and is often used off-label. However, it may cause grogginess and cognitive cloudiness.
Magnesium supplements: While not officially a medication, some OTC magnesium products help with muscle relaxation and sleep quality. Research shows that magnesium deficiency may contribute to muscle pain and cramps.
These options can offer temporary relief but are best used as part of a broader sleep hygiene and relaxation strategy.
Risks and Limitations of OTC Medications
While over-the-counter medications are convenient, they are not without risks. Long-term use can lead to dependency, reduced effectiveness, or harmful side effects.
Key concerns include:
Liver damage from prolonged acetaminophen use
Stomach ulcers or bleeding due to NSAIDs
Kidney strain and blood pressure elevation with frequent NSAID use
Interactions with other medications including antidepressants, blood thinners, and supplements
It’s crucial to follow dosage recommendations and consult with a healthcare provider before starting or continuing any OTC regimen.
OTC Medications and Central Sensitization
Fibromyalgia is associated with central sensitization, a condition where the nervous system becomes hyper-responsive to stimuli. Many OTC medications are not designed to address this neurological factor, which is why they may offer only partial relief. That’s also why other treatments such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and prescription medications are often combined with OTC products for a more effective approach.
The Importance of an Individualized Pain Management Plan
Every individual with fibromyalgia or chronic pain experiences symptoms differently. What works for one person may not work for another. Therefore, OTC medications should be one part of a comprehensive, personalized plan that includes lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, physical activity, and professional care.
Combining OTC medications with techniques like stretching, massage, or warm baths can enhance pain relief. Keeping a symptom journal to track triggers, effective remedies, and reactions to medications can also support more informed decisions.
When to Move Beyond OTC Options
If OTC medications are no longer effective or if symptoms worsen, it may be time to consider prescription treatments. These could include muscle relaxants, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or even low-dose opioids under strict medical supervision. In some cases, non-medication strategies such as acupuncture or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can provide relief when drugs fail.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can OTC pain relievers cure fibromyalgia? No. These medications can manage some symptoms but do not address the root causes of fibromyalgia, which involves complex nerve sensitivity.
2. Is it safe to take NSAIDs every day for chronic pain? Long-term daily use should be avoided unless approved by a healthcare provider due to the risk of gastrointestinal, kidney, and heart problems.
3. Which is better for fibromyalgia: acetaminophen or ibuprofen? This depends on the individual. Acetaminophen may be safer for long-term use, while ibuprofen may help more if inflammation is present.
4. Are topical treatments effective for fibromyalgia pain? They can be helpful for localized muscle pain and are a good alternative for those who cannot tolerate oral medications.
5. What OTC medication helps most with fibromyalgia fatigue? There is no direct OTC treatment for fatigue, but improving sleep with antihistamines or supplements may indirectly reduce tiredness.
6. Should I try magnesium supplements for fibromyalgia? Some people benefit from magnesium for muscle relaxation and sleep support, but consult your doctor before adding any supplement to your regimen.
Conclusion Over-the-counter medications can provide meaningful relief for individuals managing fibromyalgia and chronic pain, but they are rarely a standalone solution. From basic analgesics and NSAIDs to topical creams and sleep aids, each option serves a specific role in symptom control. Understanding their capabilities and limitations is key to using them effectively and safely. Always approach pain management holistically and under the guidance of a healthcare professional to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Cerebral palsy affects an estimated 800,000 people in the U.S, and 3 out of every 1,000 children. It’s a condition that affects every aspect of the human body, from movement, and muscle tone to developmental brain abnormalities, vision and hearing problems, and seizures. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 10,000 babies per year in the U.S. will develop cerebral palsy, and of these babies, many of them will need specialized physical therapy and pain management doctors throughout their lives.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a disorder of movement, muscle tone, or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth. Cerebral actually refers to the brain while Palsy refers to the physical aspects of the condition. Though most cases of cerebral palsy develop before birth, CP can be the direct result of a traumatic brain injury at any point in life.
Symptoms of CP occur in the first few years of life, or soon after a traumatic accident, and only worsen as time goes on. Although symptoms vary greatly, there is rarely a misdiagnosis issue with it comes to CP. The Cerebral or neurological symptoms can include difficulty with vision or hearing, seizures, abnormal pain perceptions, dental problems, and intellectual disabilities. On the Palsy, or physical, sides of things, symptoms include variations in muscle tone, ‘spastic’ or ‘rigid’ muscles, tremors, motor skill delays, favoring one side of the body, difficulty swallowing, difficulty with sucking or eating, delayed speech, and difficulty with precise motions.
While there are many types of cerebral palsy, the most common is Spastic CP which includes rigid, tight, and spastic muscles, muscles only functioning properly on one side of the body, or severe muscle and movement difficulties so that a wheelchair is required. Other forms of cerebral palsy include Athetoid Dyskinetic, Ataxic, Hypotonic, Congenital, or Erb’s CP.
The exact cause of many cases of cerebral palsy can be hard to pinpoint. If CP occurs in an adult, it’s easier to see that a traumatic event or accident has occurred to damage the brain, but before birth, it’s hard for physicians to determine the exact cause of CP.
Cerebral Palsy is not one disease with a single origin, like chicken pox or measles. It is a group of disorders that are related but probably stem from a number of different causes. When physicians diagnose Cerebral Palsy in an individual child, they look at risk factors, the symptoms, the mother’s and child’s medical history, and the onset of the disorder.
There are, however, common factors that may lead to the type of brain development issues that can cause CP. These predictors include drugs and alcohol, infection such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, or chickenpox, exposure to toxins such as methyl mercury, thyroid problems, lack of oxygen or blood supply, or premature birth.
Pain management doctors who specialize in pediatrics and special needs have supreme knowledge of the intricacies of cerebral palsy. With this condition comes a different reaction to pain, a different understanding of pain, and pain doctors must be able to communicate to parents and children the aspects of treatment.
Children with CP understand pain differently than children with normal brain function and physical movement. Many times, this condition brings with is an extremely sensitive pain threshold. Pain is experienced in a different ways and on different levels, so a pediatric pain doctor must use specific pain assessment to determine exactly where the child’s pain is coming from.
Children with CP often have prolonged experiences of pain that can keep them in and out of the pain doctor’s office throughout their lives. Nerves and tendons become easily injured to the ‘spastic’ and ‘rigid’ nature of muscles, as well as spasms and seizures that can add extreme pressure to different areas of the body. Joints become easily inflamed and patterns of wear and tear appear quite frequently in areas that are repeatedly spasming.
When muscles are tight for great lengths of time, or when the brain cannot control those muscles, spasticity occurs. Spasticity is an imbalance of signals from the central nervous system to the muscles, according to WebMD, and the most common symptom of cerebral palsy. Because the muscles are hard at work at all times of the day and night, there is a great deal of pain associated with spasticity.
Another form of pain that is quite common to those living with CP is chronic back pain. Because of the many spinal deformities (scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis) associated with cerebral palsy, upper and lower back pain is seen in many patients. These spinal deformities can make sitting, standing, and walking incredibly uncomfortable and even painful.
Pain doctors most commonly refer to physical therapists, behavioral therapists, prescription medications, and a neurologist when treating patients with cerebral palsy. By using a multidisciplinary team of medical experts, a pain doctor can treat all aspects of the child’s condition.
A physician, such as a pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, or pediatric physiatrist, who is trained to help developmentally disabled children. This doctor, who often acts as the leader of the treatment team, integrates the professional advice of all team members into a comprehensive treatment plan, makes sure the plan is implemented properly and follows the child’s progress over a number of years. – The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
For more information on cerebral palsy and pain management, contact us today.
The miracle of life, the anticipation of a beautiful baby, and that expectant-mother glow may make pregnancy a magical time of life, but it’s not all a bed of roses. There’s morning sickness, acne, swollen feet, fatigue, and all sorts of aches and pains to deal with. Your physician may be able to help with morning sickness, and a few well-deserved spa days and afternoon naps could help with acne and fatigue. For the sore back that comes from pregnancy, some chiropractic care might help you immensely.
There are no known contraindications to chiropractic care during pregnancy. In fact, chiropractors are trained to safely and effectively treat pregnant women. In fact, some researchers suggest that musculoskeletal pain management, such as chiropractic care, ought to become a standard part of obstetric care. Specialized techniques are used to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the abdomen. Also, specialized tables or equipment might be used. These are also to avoid putting undue pressure on the abdomen.
However, few women receive the chiropractic care they need during pregnancy. One study found that 80% of women reported going without treatment for musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy. Also, pain in the first pregnancy has been linked to pain during subsequent pregnancies, so undergoing chiropractic treatment sooner rather than later might have seriously lasting benefits.
The back aches, leg pain, and loss of balance during pregnancy can be minimized by chiropractic care.
In preparation for birth, the ligaments in the pelvis lose their rigidity, which can lead to the pelvis becoming unstable. The growing uterus can push and pull the parts of the pelvis and hips into different positions. These changes can both affect pelvic balance and cause low back pain. In fact, thebump.com, a website devoted to all pregnancy-related topics, states:
“Not only is it safe to visit a chiropractor during your pregnancy, it’s also highly beneficial… Getting regularly adjusted while pregnant is a great way to relieve the added stress on your spine that comes along with the weight gain.”
In addition to helping you control low back pain, chiropractic adjustment during pregnancy can prevent sciatica. Sciatica is the inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the back of the legs and to the feet. When this nerve is inflamed or damaged, it causes radiating or shooting pain down the buttock, the back of the leg, and potentially all the way to the foot.
Some medications that could help with the back and leg pain of pregnancy may be contraindicated during pregnancy. Your physician or OB/GYN should be able to provide medications that are completely safe to take while pregnant, but chiropractic care is a great drug-free pain management option for expectant mothers who prefer to use as few medications as possible. It’s still a good idea to discuss pain, medications, and chiropractic care with your physician or OB/GYN, though.
Chiropractic care while pregnant might also facilitate better-quality sleep.
Getting enough sleep is vitally important all the time, including during pregnancy. This is largely because once that new baby comes home, sleep will become a rare thing. However, sleep is important for other reasons, too. Researchers at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) compared the amount of sleep women got late in their pregnancies with their labor times and types of birth. It was found that women who got less than six hours of sleep per night during their final month of pregnancy averaged 29 hours of labor, compared to an average of 17.7 hours of labor for women who slept seven or more hours per night.
Additionally, it was found that compared to women who reported poor sleep two or less nights per week about three weeks before delivery, women who reported poor sleep three to four nights per week were 4.2 times as likely to need a cesarean delivery. Women who reported poor sleep five or more nights per week were 5.3 times as likely to need a cesarean delivery.
This means that it’s important to take the time to get a good night’s rest as often as possible while pregnant. If your back hurts, it’s hard to sleep; research has even shown that a pregnant woman’s quality of sleep is closely related to back pain. By undergoing chiropractic care during pregnancy, you can improve your sleep and, by extension, perhaps make sure that your labor experience is a little easier.
There are additional ways that chiropractic care during pregnancy can help you have an easier birth.
When a baby is breech, it’s positioned to come out feet- or bottom-first. The delivery for a breech baby has a higher risk of complications, and most medical professionals recommend a cesarean delivery rather than a vaginal birth. Several options exist to encourage the baby to move into a cephalic (or head-first) position before delivery, and one of these is the Webster Technique. This is a chiropractic adjustment that’s used to encourage the baby to move into the head-first position by correcting the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine contracture.
In 2002, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeuticspublished the results of a survey about the effectiveness of the Webster Technique. Chiropractors using the Webster Technique reported an 82% success rate at encouraging the baby to move into a cephalic position. This technique has the added benefit of being medication free, unlike some of the other potential ways to encourage a breech baby to move into a cephalic position.
Chiropractic care while pregnant might also shorten labor time. Women who received chiropractic care during their first pregnancy will experience a labor time that is, on average, 25% shorter. During subsequent pregnancies with chiropractic care, the time spent in labor is reduced by 31% on average.
There are several ways to find a chiropractor who can provide care during your pregnancy.
Your OB/GYN or primary care physician might be able to provide recommendations. A local phone book or a quick online search might also yield results. While all chiropractors are trained to provide care to pregnant women, it’s always a good bet to find someone with experience treating pregnant women. Because of this, consider calling a few different chiropractic offices and enquiring about the practitioners’ experience with pregnant women.
Additionally, online databases provide a quick, easy way to find chiropractors with specific specialties. The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), for instance, includes a host of specialty options in its search criteria, including obstetrics and the Webster Technique. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) specializes in providing information about chiropractic care for children, but they also have a search available for Webster Certified Chiropractors.
To get the flu shot, or not to get the flu shot; is the question that many chronic pain patients must answer at this time of year. For individuals living with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, neuropathy, arthritis, or RSD, getting the flu shot can be a tough call. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of research for United States pain specialists to base an answer. In most cases, the answer is based on patient experiences, pain, and chronic condition.
For the most part, pain specialists will recommend the flu vaccine for patients who have had the vaccination before and have tolerated them well, and for patients who have a serious chronic illness such as emphysema, diabetes, or a heart condition in addition to chronic pain.
Another aspect to consider is how much exposure you normally have to the flu virus. Are you a schoolteacher? A healthcare provider? Hold a job or have responsibilities that often take you out of the house during flu season?
In some cases, patients who live with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and RSD feel a bit more “normal” when they have the flu. Some pain specialists believe this is because the flu virus stimulates the immune system, which can naturally improve how the immune system tolerates other conditions, such as the ones that cause chronic pain.
Influenza, while it can strike at any time of the year, is most prevalent in the winter months and the reason for this is likely because people spend more time indoors in closer contact with other individuals. Add to that that there are two different flu seasons – one in each hemisphere, the northern and the southern – and you’re looking at breakouts twice a year. Because the strains mutate easily and often, the vaccine that was offered a year ago – sometimes even six months ago – isn’t the same strain that individuals are getting vaccinated for today. While getting a flu shot isn’t necessarily a guarantee that you won’t get stricken with the flu it is the only effective way to prevent the flu that is available today. You’ve probably heard the stories of people who get a flu shot then get the flu regardless – the reason for this is because of its ability to mutate.
The World Health Organization decides on the strains of flu vaccine that will be offered based on the most prevalent strains found to be infecting people in recent months. The virus given in the flu shot is a strain of dead viruses and following the injection, your body will develop antibodies to the flu without developing the symptoms of the flu. The vaccine is recommended for the very old, the very young, and those who have compromised immune systems.
It has long been a common recommendation that chronic patients maintain a pain diary. The idea behind a pain diary is simple. Using either an electronic device or a paper journal, pain patients keep track of:
The theory behind the recommendation is that doctors and patients can gain a better understanding of certain chronic pain syndromes than they might with simple patient reporting at a visit. Keeping track of pain levels allows a patient to give a more accurate reporting than trying to remember them on the day of the visit, especially if the patient is feeling particularly good or bad on the day they see the doctor. In theory, this allows doctors and patients to identify triggers and potentially avert painful episodes by changing behaviors.
A small-scale study by the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry found that keeping a pain diary actually lengthened the time of recovery for study participants who were recovering from lower back sprains. For four weeks, 58 patients in the study were divided into two equal groups, one of which was asked to keep a pain diary, documenting pain levels, and one of which did not. When patients were re-assessed at the four-month mark, the differences in the two groups were clear.
Robert Ferrari, a clinical professor in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry’s Department of Medicine and a practicing physician in several Edmonton medical clinics explains the results:
“What we found is that the group who kept the pain diary — even though we didn’t ask them to keep an extensive diary, and even though many of them didn’t keep a complete diary — had a much worse outcome. The self-reported recovery rates were 52% in the group that kept a pain diary and 79% recovery at three months in the group that did not keep a pain diary. That’s a fairly profound effect. There aren’t many things we do to patients in terms of treatment that affect the recovery for a group by 25%.”
These results are mirrored in study by Luis F. Buenaver, phd, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This study included 214 patients suffering from jaw and face pain due to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). This condition can be acute or long-term but is very painful and can lead to sleep disturbances and other painful issues in the neck and upper back.
Buenaver and his colleagues examined each patient and then distributed questionnaires to ascertain participants’ pain levels, quality of sleep, and emotional response to pain. They were trying to see if patients tended to dwell on pain or exaggerate it. Those patients who did dwell on the pain were unable to shift their focus away from it when winding down for sleep, their pain was rated as much more severe, and patients’ sleep was more disturbed than those patients who did not focus on their pain.
A pain diary can be a remarkable communication tool for you and your doctor. If you are living with chronic pain that has yet to be diagnosed, keeping a pain diary can help identify triggers or things that make pain worse. Keeping a pain diary can also identify times of day that pain is most prevalent, and it may be helpful in seeking reasonable work accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
There are many different ways to keep a pain diary. One of the easiest seems to be using apps for tracking chronic pain, widely available for free or a nominal fee for both iphones and Android operating systems. If you choose to keep a pain diary and want to make it positive and forward-thinking, try these four tips:
Add gratitude: Make a list of five things you are grateful for at the end of every day.
Don’t make pain the focus: Think of it more as a daily journal. When pain symptoms are tracked or specifics are added, circle them or highlight in another color for easy reference, but focus more on telling the whole story of the day.
Think outside of the page: Frida Kahlo, a painter who lived her entire life in excruciating pain, often painted her experiences while lying down. Your pain diary doesn’t have to be just words. You can illustrate your day or create a collage. Add photographs or bits of flotsam from your day (e.g., a key you found on a walk, a ticket stub from a movie, or a note from your child).
Make it totally you: You are not your chronic pain. Yes, pain is part of your daily experience, but it does not make up the entire person you are. Use your pain diary as a way to explore your inner self, not just document an experience from one to ten.
As far as subjective experiences go, pain can rank at the very top of the list. Pain is something that is as an individual to a person as a fingerprint, and each person experiences pain – even the same pain – differently. At Chronicillness.co Site of United States, our double board-certified pain management doctors empathize with the fact that pain is a profoundly different experience for everyone.
One of the main questions pain patients will have is, “how do I know if my pain is chronic?” There are two types of pain, acute pain, and chronic pain. Acute pain is pain that heals within the expected time, such as pain from a sprain or break that heals and lessens over time. Chronic pain can be understood as pain that has lasted longer than the expected time of healing, or pain that has lasted three months or more. Another facet of chronic pain is pain that interferes with the patient’s quality of life, work, school, or other activities. If this is the case, the patient’s pain can therefore be considered chronic, and the pain doctors at Chronicillness.co Site can then implement a treatment plan.
At Chronicillness.co Site of United States, our pain specialists are committed to providing a multi-disciplinary approach to pain management. This is extremely beneficial for pain patients, especially because of how individualized pain can be. Two patients experiencing the same condition can suffer from completely different symptoms and the severity of those symptoms. Because of this, a multi-disciplinary approach can provide patients with multiple options in pain care. For example, one patient with fibromyalgia may see a significant decrease in her symptoms with a combination of physical therapy and acupuncture, while another patient with fibromyalgia sees the best results from massage therapy and joint injections.
Though the most common chronic pain condition is low back pain, the pain management specialists at Chronicillness.co Site of United States can treat painful symptoms associated with arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, knee pain, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, pelvic pain, tennis elbow, migraines, and other painful conditions.
Pain’s basic purpose is as a warning message for the body: that hurts, so stop it. When pain becomes chronic, though, it can seem utterly senseless, plaguing people for extended periods for no apparent reason. Researchers are constantly studying pain in hopes that a deeper understanding might lead to more effective prevention and treatment of pain.
Until recently, it was believed that babies didn’t experience pain in the same way as adults. Indeed, some people suggested that babies’ brains weren’t developed enough to experience pain, as explained in an article from the University of Oxford:
“As recently as the 1980s it was common practice for babies to be given neuromuscular blocks but no pain relief medication during surgery. In 2014 a review of neonatal pain management practice in intensive care highlighted that although such infants
However, the researchers who published this article reevaluated this thinking. Babies, aged between one and six days, were allowed to fall asleep inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. The babies were then prodded on the bottom of the foot with a retractable rod. This produced a sensation similar to being prodded by a pencil – not quite painful, but enough to produce visible results in the brain’s pain response areas. Adults were then put through the same test.
Not only did the babies’ brains display a similar pain response as the adults’ brains, but the results suggested that babies actually have a lower pain threshold than adults. This means that a baby will experience a sensation as pain more quickly than an adult will. This research will likely have far-reaching and profound effects, since it will lead to more babies being given the proper pain relief medications before painful procedures.
Anyone who’s experienced long-lasting or severe pain knows that it can easily elicit an emotional response. Now science has proven this as well. Researchers at the TUM School of Medicine gave painful heat stimuli to participants’ hands. The stimuli varied in intensity. Participants were asked to rate their pain on a scale of one to a hundred.
After a few minutes, the participants began to experience changes in pain, even when the pain stimulus remained unchanged. The pain sensation became detached from the pain stimulus. This suggests that the pain sensation changed from a perception process to a more emotional process. In fact, the researchers watched the brain activity in participants experiencing longer-lasting pain, and the emotional areas of the brain became active.
These same researchers conducted another experiment that showed anticipation, as well as duration, can affect pain perception. Participants in this experiment were given painful laser pulses on two areas of the back of the hand. Then the participants rated how strongly they’d perceived the pain stimuli. Creams were then applied to both areas of the back of the hand. Neither cream had pain-relieving properties, but the participants were told that one of the creams had a pain–relieving effect.
After this, the participants rated the stimuli as significantly lower on the area with the allegedly pain-reliving cream. Not only were the participants’ verbal ratings affected, but the second run of this experiment (using the two creams) triggered a different brain activity pattern.
A study from Ohio State University examined the effects of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. College students viewed photos selected to elicit an emotion response. Each photo was rated on a scale of negative to positive, as well as on a scale of how much of an emotional response it elicited (no emotion to extreme emotion).
The participants who had taken acetaminophen rated the photos less extremely, compared to participants who had taken placebos. In other words, acetaminophen caused positive photos to be seen in a less positive way, while negative photos were seen in a less negative way. The emotional response was dulled.
A follow-up study was done, with an added element. Participants were asked to rate how much blue they saw in each photo, in case acetaminophen dulled all perception rather than dulling the emotions. The judgements of how much blue each photo had stayed constant, whether or not participants had taken acetaminophen. This suggests that the drug impacts pain and emotions, but not all perception, giving more credence to the idea that pain and emotion are closely linked.
York University researchers used eye-tracking technology to see how different people respond to “pain words,” such as ache, agony, distress, and pain. The eye-tracker measures eye-gaze patterns with extreme precision. Professor Joel Katz, Canada Research Chair in Health Psychology and co-author of this study, explained the results, stating:
“We now know that people with and without chronic pain differ in terms of how, where and when they attend to pain-related words. This is a first step in identifying whether the attentional bias is involved in making pain more intense or more salient to the person in pain.”
Additionally, scientists from the University of Berne have discovered a neuron modification in a specific area of the brain in mice with chronic pain. This, according to the researchers, is “pain memory.” The presence of this pain memory gave the mice more of an increased number of nerve impulses in these specific cells, which led to an increased pain perception. These researchers found a way to alter the modified pain memory cells in the mice. This makes them hopeful that, eventually, drugs might be developed to create the same change in humans, thereby lowering the increased pain–perception that results from chronic pain.
As researchers and scientists study pain and its mechanisms, a deeper understanding of pain and its effects will, hopefully, lead to more effective pain management techniques in the future.
Considered an effective therapy for many conditions, biofeedback is just one of the many services offered at Chronicillness.co Site of United States. Biofeedback can help improve your health by training you to control certain bodily functions that normally happen involuntarily. These functions include skin temperature, muscle tension, blood pressure, and heart rate. While biofeedback is helpful in many cases, those struggling with high blood pressure, tension headaches, migraine headaches, and chronic pain may find the process most useful.
Explaining how biofeedback works are slightly difficult because, despite its high success rate, researchers still aren’t exactly sure how biofeedback is so beneficial. The one thing most pain doctors agree on is that the people who benefit the most have conditions that are brought on or made worse by stress. Therefore, relaxation is most likely the key to successful biofeedback therapy. Being under chronic stress causes blood pressure to become overactive, but with the help of a biofeedback therapist, you can learn to control your blood pressure with relaxation techniques and mental exercises.
To see the full results of biofeedback, a behavioral therapist (such as the one we have on staff at Chronicillness.co Site of United States) will help you learn to change your heart rate or blood pressure. During a biofeedback session, our expertly trained pain management specialists attach electrodes to your skin. The electrodes then send information to a monitoring box that translates the measurements into a tone that varies in pitch, a visual meter that varies in brightness, or a computer screen showing lines moving across a grid. Your biofeedback therapist will lead you in mental exercises, and soon you can learn to identify the mental behaviors that bring about the physical changes you want. Sessions generally last less than an hour but the number of sessions required depends on the condition being treated. Results may be seen within 8-10 sessions.
There are three types of biofeedback that are the most commonly used among pain specialists. The first, electromyography (EMG), measures muscle tension. Thermal biofeedback measures skin temperature. Neurofeedback or electroencephalography (EEG), measures brain wave activity.
So how do you know if biofeedback is the right choice for you? Chances are, if you’re suffering, Chronicillness.co Site of the United States can help you. The number of conditions biofeedback helps treat is endless. Because of the lack of side effects, many people choose biofeedback over drugs. Not only is biofeedback effective in adults, but children can also reap the benefits. Studies have shown improved behavior in children with ADHD and migraines and chronic headaches after going through biofeedback. Research shows that biofeedback helps treat urinary incontinence, insomnia, depression, diabetes, back pain, anxiety, head injuries, and muscle spasms. There are many other conditions biofeedback treats as well. If you are suffering any kind of chronic pain due to a condition or injury, and you feel this might be the right treatment for you, please do not hesitate to call Chronicillness.co Site of United States.
