by admin | May 5, 2015 | Uncategorized
Many Americans live with chronic pain in one form or another. About 52.5 million Americans report having been diagnosed with some illness that causes chronic pain, like arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, or fibromyalgia. The symptoms of chronic pain can be very severe and can dramatically affect a person’s quality of life. Finding relief of pain due to chronic pain syndromes can be tough, but according to Harvard Medical School, tai chi could help.
Tai chi is a martial art that began as a form of defensive techniques but has evolved into a method of relaxation and active meditation. Movements are slow and fluid, and people participating in tai chi breathe naturally and deeply while focusing on an area of the body just below the navel, which is said, in the practice, to store the body’s “chi.”
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tai chi can actually help some chronic pain patients. There are a number of different chronic pain medications and procedures like nerve blocks, minimally invasive surgeries, and the use of ketamine to treat pain, but tai chi could be a good supplement to any of these, not to mention a way to keep active through the symptoms of chronic pain. Compared to a control group, a group of fibromyalgia patients reported less pain, depression, and more sleep after six weeks of tai chi.
In a survey that asked participants about the four most common types of pain, respondents said that back pain was the most common (27%), followed by severe headache and neck pain — both at (15%), and facial pain (4%). Americans spend about $86 billion each year on back pain alone, so finding effective methods is helpful for those who haven’t found relief any other way.
It can be hard, but staying active through chronic pain can actually help relieve it, and tai chi is an easy and low-impact way of doing it. It’s usually practiced in classes where participants learn the moves and exercises, and then do them alone at home.
by admin | Apr 13, 2015 | Uncategorized
Ketamine has long been used as an anesthetic in both adults and children for more than 50 years. Although it is still used for anesthesia and also off-label for the treatment of many pain and psychiatric disorders, concerns of possibly deleterious neurocognitive effects have lingered. This is due to sparse reports of children that have experienced neurocognitive delays following multiple surgeries using a ketamine and other anesthetics. Since these occurrences were not associated with any primary endpoints in a clinical study setting, the cognitive delays could not be attributed to ketamine but it did raise the question.
A recent clinical study was conducted by researchers at the University of Rochester (Rochester, New York) and published in the Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine. These investigators designed a clinical trial to monitor neurocognitive function and pain levels in pediatric patients with chronic pain. Patients enrolled in the trial completed 2 weeks of daily oral ketamine exposure. Neurocognitive assessments were conducted at baseline and at weeks 2 and 14. Further, pain levels were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale.
The researchers found no deleterious effects on neurocognitive function in the children at any time point during the study or for 3 months following completion of the study. In fact, they found that executive function scores improved in children following oral administration of ketamine. These findings support the safe use of ketamine in pediatric patients with chronic pain that is refractory to more conventional medications, such as opioid medicines.
Dr. Hanna’s clinical team at the Florida Spine Institute has used intravenous ketamine therapy to treat pediatric cases of chronic regional pain syndrome with great success. To learn more about intravenous ketamine infusions, click here. To find out if ketamine therapy is right for you, please make an appointment by contacting Dr. Hanna.
For full article, visit the Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine.
Citation: Bredlau AL, Harel BT, McDermott MP, Dworkin RH, Korones DN, et al. (2015) Neurocognitive Changes after Sustained Ketamine Administration in Children with Chronic Pain. J Palliat Care Med 5: 215. doi:10.4172/2165-7386.1000215
by admin | Feb 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
Speak with your doctor before making changes to your diet or exercise routine. Physical activity may help you to manage fibromyalgia. Studies show that even light exercise can have a positive effect on your symptoms and daily activities.
Being more active may help to:
- Reduce the pain associated with fibromyalgia
- Improve your sleep
- Increase your physical fitness so that your daily activities are less painful
Sometimes even light activity can be painful when you have fibromyalgia, but incorporating exercise into your daily routine may help ease the pain. You could go to the gym or simply increase the amount of physical activity within your day.
Before you begin incorporating physical activity to treat fibromyalgia pain talk to your healthcare provider about how your pain affects you. Work together to identify an exercise regimen that fits into your fibromyalgia treatment plan, and that suits your lifestyle.
Types of exercise for fibromyalgia
Some studies have shown that physical activity is one of the most effective ways to manage symptoms of fibromyalgia. Try one of these activities:
Walking
You can incorporate walking into your everyday life by walking around your home or yard, taking the stairs, walking in the mall, or parking at the far end of the parking lot.
Water-based activities
If you have access to a warm pool, water-based activities, such as swimming, water walking, and aquarobics, are a great place to start.
Stretching
Gentle stretching is good for you both physically and mentally. It can help improve flexibility, increase blood flow to the muscles, reduce stress and calm your mind.
Movement and breathing exercises
Less strenuous exercise such as yoga, tai chi, Pilates and Gyrotonic may help to increase your balance, core strength and flexibility.
Strength training
Light weight training or resistance training, where you use your own body weight to strengthen your muscles, may help to make you stronger and fitter.
Important things to keep in mind
Start low and slow.
Start with a few minutes a day with one of the recommended exercises and stick with it. Over time, gradually increase the amount of time and intensity.
Don’t push yourself too much.
If you overexert yourself, you may do more harm than good. Even if you feel great and want to do more in the moment, you could feel the pain and soreness the next day.
Pace yourself.
If your physical ability is limited one day, don’t overcompensate by overdoing it the next day when you feel more up for it. Find a balance of short periods of activity and rest that works for you.
Be patient.
Anyone starting an exercise routine can expect to experience some soreness in the beginning. If you continue at a pace that suits your capabilities, this may subside over time.
Warm up your muscles before and after each exercise session.
Set goals and track your progress.
Setting realistic goals in partnership with your healthcare provider will help you to stay motivated. By tracking your progress, you’ll be able to see the effect that physical activity may have on your fibromyalgia pain.
Recognize your barriers.
Understanding and anticipating the things that could stand between you and your physical activity can help you find ways to address and plan around them. If you don’t have access to a gym, can you exercise at home or outside? If you exercise outside, can you walk in the mall if the weather is bad?
Get support.
Starting and maintaining an exercise routine is easier with support from your family and friends. Connect with other people who have fibromyalgia in your local community or online; discuss your activity goals and invite them to join you in your efforts. Keep your family involved as well.
Keep at it.
While it may be painful to exercise with fibromyalgia, try to stick to your routine so you can experience the benefits. Always listen to your body and tailor your activity based on how you feel.
Keep track of your fibromyalgia management
Keeping a daily record can help you manage fibromyalgia and communicate better with your healthcare provider. Over time, you’ll be able to see how your exercise regimen is impacting your pain and how you feel every day. Print a free “Fibro Log” from the American Chronic Pain Association today.
by admin | Jan 21, 2015 | Uncategorized
It’s been a hard day, and Joe’s back is killing him.
His wife has some Percocet left over from a trip to the dentist, and there’s that big bottle of Tylenol under the sink, so Joe grabs a couple of each and washes them down with a slug of beer.
Luckily for Joe, he’s a fictional character invented for this article. But there are a lot of real-life Joes out there making big mistakes with over-the-counter and prescription pain pills.
Can you spot Joe’s mistakes? Joe didn’t make every mistake in the book. But he made quite a few.
Here’s WebMD’s list of common pain pill mistakes, compiled with the help of pharmacist Kristen A. Binaso, RPh, spokeswoman for the American Pharmacists Association; and pain specialist Eric R. Haynes, MD, founder of Comprehensive Pain Management Partners in Trinity, Fla.
Pain Medications Mistake No.1:
If 1 Is Good, 2 Must Be Better
Doctors prescribe pain pills at the doses they believe will offer the greatest benefit at the least risk. Doubling or tripling that dose won’t speed relief. But it can easily speed the onset of harmful side effects.
“The first dose of a pain medication may not work in five minutes the way you want. But this does not mean you should take five more,” Binaso says. “With some pain drugs, if you take additional doses, it makes the first dose not work as well. And with others, you end up in the emergency room.”
If you’ve given your pain medication time to work, and it still does not control your pain, don’t double down. See your doctor about why you’re still hurting.
“This ‘one is good so two must be better’ thing is a common problem,” Haynes says. “Patients should follow the instructions their doctor gives. Ask before leaving the office: Can I take an extra pill if I still hurt? What is the upper limit for this medication?”
Another bad idea is trying to boost the effect of one kind of pain pill by taking another.
“There may be ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen in the house, and a person may take them all,” Binaso says.
This can escalate into a very bad situation, Haynes says.
Pain Medications Mistake No. 2:
Duplication Overdose
People often take over-the-counter pain drugs — and even prescription pain drugs — without reading the label. That means they often don’t know which drugs they’re taking. That’s never a good idea.
And if they take another over-the-counter drug — either for extra pain relief or for other reasons — they may be getting an overdose. That’s because many OTC drugs are combination pills that carry a full dose of pain pill ingredients.
In Joe’s case, he’s taken a prescription pain pill that contains acetaminophen along with a second full dose of acetaminophen from Tylenol, putting him at risk of injury.
Pain Medications Mistake No. 3:
Drinking While Taking Pain Drugs
Pain medications and alcohol generally enhance each other’s effect. That’s why many of these prescription medications carry a “no alcohol” sticker.
That sticker shows a martini glass covered by the international “No” sign of a circle with a slash. But it applies to wine and beer just as much as it does to spirits.
“A common misperception is people see that sticker and think, ‘I’m OK as long as I don’t drink liquor — I can have a beer.’ But no alcohol means no alcohol,” Binaso says.
“The patient should heed that alcohol warning, because it can be a major problem if they do not,” Haynes says. “Alcohol can make you inebriated, and some pain medications can make you have that feeling as well. You can easily get yourself into trouble.”
Drinking alcohol can be a problem even with over-the-counter pain drugs.
Pain Medications Mistake No. 4:
Drug Interactions
Before taking any pain pill, think about what other medicines, herbal remedies, and supplements you are taking. Some of these drugs and supplements may interact with pain medications or increase the risk of side effects.
For example, aspirin can affect the action of some non-insulin diabetes drugs; codeine and oxycodone can interfere with antidepressants.
You should give your doctor a complete list of all the drugs, herbs, and supplements you take — before getting any prescription.
If buying over-the-counter medications, Binaso recommends showing a list of everything else you’re taking to the pharmacist.
Pain Medications Mistake No. 5:
Drugged Driving
Pain medications can make you drowsy. Different people react differently to different drugs.
“How I react to a pain medication is different from how you react,” Binaso says. “It may not make me drowsy, but may make you drowsy. So I recommend trying it at home first, and see how you feel. Don’t take two pills and go out driving.”
Pain Medications Mistake No. 6:
Sharing Prescription Medicines
Unfortunately, it’s very common for people to share prescription medications with friends, relatives, and co-workers. Not smart, Haynes and Binaso say — particularly when it comes to pain medications.
“If a fairly healthy person is taking a medicine because she is in pain, and wants to give some pills to Uncle Joe because he is hurting — well, this is a potential problem,” Haynes says. “Uncle Joe may have a problem that keeps his body from eliminating the drug, or he may have an allergic reaction, or the drug may interact with a medication he is taking, with life-threatening results.”
Pain Medications Mistake No. 7:
Not Talking to the Pharmacist
It’s not easy to read drug labels, even if you can make out the small print. If you have a question about either a prescription or OTC drug, ask the pharmacist.
“That’s why I’m in the store,” Binaso says. “You may have to wait a couple of minutes for me to finish what I’m doing. But you’ll get the information you need to take the right medicine the right way. Just say, ‘Tell me about this medicine; what should I be on the lookout for?'”
Pain Medications Mistake No. 8:
Hoarding Dead Drugs
Joe’s wife is actually to blame for one of his mistakes. She should have disposed of those extra pain pills once she was over her dental pain.
Why? One reason is that pills stored at home start breaking down soon after their expiration date. That’s especially true of drugs kept in the moist environment of the bathroom medicine cabinet.
“People say, “That drug is only a year past its expiration date; isn’t it good?” But if you take a pill that’s broken down, it may not work — or you may end up in the emergency room because of reaction to a breakdown product. That is really common,” Binaso says.
Another reason that it’s dangerous to hoard is that the drugs may tempt someone else into making a very bad choice.
“Teen drug abuse is really up, especially with pain medications,” Binaso says. “It is not uncommon for kids to go to their parents’ or grandparents’ medicine cabinet and then go to a party and put the drugs in a bowl.”
Pain Medications Mistake No. 9:
Breaking Unbreakable Pills
Pills are actually little drug-delivery machines. They don’t work the way they’re supposed to when taken apart the wrong way.
Scored pills should be cut only across the line, Binaso says. Those without scoring should not be cut at all, unless you’re specifically instructed to do so.
“When you start chopping up pills like that, the pill may not work,” she says. “We find more and more people are doing this. And then they say, “Oh, that pill had a really bad taste. That is because they cut away the coating.”
Source: Web MD
By Daniel J. DeNoon
Reviewed By David T. Derrer, MD
Pain is something that many Americans live with every day. In a survey conducted by the National Institute of Health Statistics Survey, respondents said that back pain was the most common (27%), which was followed by migraines or severe headaches (15%), neck pain (15%), and facial aches and pains (4%). In some cases, the pain may become very chronic and hard to treat. If the relief of pain cannot be achieved through the typical treatments for pain — medications and exercise — some chronic pain patients receive 
