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WELCOME to the MAY
16-31, 2008 edition of Pain-Health-News, your
very best resource for tips, techniques and information on dealing
with PAIN. Whether you suffer from chronic, temporary or transient
pain, you'll find helpful information right here.
I collect links to news and resources all over
the internet, sort out what I think may be most useful and post it in
monthly listings. And I'll occasionally write an article or send a
special email about things I think are important.
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 Hi,
I'm
Bonnie Boots, publisher of Pain-Health-News.
I have two
primary goals for Pain-Health-News. One is to remind people, even to
the point of nagging, that standard AIM (American Institute of
Medicine) style treatment is not the be-all and end-all of pain
management.
There are many
alternative and complimentary therapies that are helping millions of
people right now. Adding alternative treatments to my standard care
was what let me move out of disabling pain and back into a life
worth living.
My other goal is
to make it easier for people with pain problems to find current news
and information on pain treatment.
If you or
someone you love has a pain problem, you must not assume that your
doctor keeps up with everything that’s going on in the world of pain
management. It’s vitally important that you learn as much as
you can about what’s available and what’s being studied.
I can almost
hear some of you saying, “Why should that be my responsibility?
Isn’t that my doctor’s job?”
The answer is
yes…..and no.
The fact is,
there is simply too much going on in the world of medicine and pain
management for any doctor, even a pain management specialist, to
keep up with it all.
And there’s also
too much going on in your life and your health for your doctor to
keep up with it.
You share your
doctor, and his or her attention, with many other people. When your
doctor sees you for your allotted 10 or 15 minutes every once in a
while, they don’t have time for a long, detailed retelling of what
hurts you and when. They don’t have the time—or often the
training—to delve into your emotional state and how that may be
affecting your pain.
Your doctor
doesn't have time to get to know you very well, so they have to rely
on shortcuts, like “On a scale of one to ten, how much does it
hurt?”
And they have to
rely on what’s standard, what hurts most people and what helps most
people. If you’re not “most people,” if your pain doesn’t fall into
the well-worn ruts of standardized treatment, your chances of being
helped are slimmer.
Keep in mind,
too, that medical knowledge is advancing at the fastest pace in
human history. There are more scientists alive and working right
now, this very moment, then have been alive and researching in all
of human history.
Imagine that! If
you gathered up every scientist that ever lived, from the beginning
of time until 1900, they would not equal the number of scientists
alive and working right now.
Your doctor, who
already puts in a very long day at the office, can’t possible keep
up with all the work and discoveries that all those scientists are
making. If your doctor is a general practitioner, they have to
keep up with news on broken bones, arthritis, heart disease, cancer,
flu, and all the other things that trouble families most often. It’s
not realistic to expect them to learn and retain everything that
applies to pain management.
Even when a
doctor’s specialty is pain management, there are reasons they may
not know it all, or apply it all. Doctors are human beings. Human
beings have prejudices. We’re all prejudiced towards what we know
the most about and what we have the most experience in. If your pain
specialist hasn’t had any training in accupuncture, they’re very
unlikely to value it or recommend it. The same is true of
chiropractic care, trigger point therapy or any number of other
therapies.
That’s why you
need to pay attention to the news in health care and pain
management--so you can be your own health care advocate, bringing
news and advances to your doctors attention and asking them to
investigate on your behalf. Or, should you choose, exploring them
yourself.
Try not to bring
your own prejudices to the news presented here. If you have
arthritis, don’t overlook news that has the words “diabetes” of
“fibromyalgia” in the headlines, thinking it couldn’t apply to you.
You never know when a study that was funded by a grant for
“arthritis research” will revel something that applies to the pain
of diabetic neuropathy, or when a study on migraines will revel
something helpful to people with back pain.
Pain, in all its
complexity, is very little understood. And even with all the current
advances, very little researched. That is why you must make it your
own responsibility to look and listen for the clues in the news that
whisper “This might be something that could help you.”
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Links to current news on the internet
...the following links were current for May 15, 2008. Bookmark this
page now so you can easily return.
Here's evidence that simply being
believed can be beneficial. This is a good article to share with your
health care provider, even your friends and family if they express
disbelief in your pain.
The Pain of Disbelief
American Chronicle - Beverly
Hills,CA,USA
Clarke and Iphofen say, "The effect of believing patients´ account of a
chronic pain experience cannot be underestimated. In this small
study, ...
And a related article showing that
social support helps people cope with chronic pain. It's not news to us,
is it?
Social support, active coping ease chronic pain
Reuters UK - UK
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Chronic pain patients who are
satisfied with their level of social support are less depressed and more
likely to take active ...
A Must-Read Article on a doctor with a
new perspective on the treatment of joint pain--FASCINATING!
Traditional Therapy for Joint Pain - Doing More Harm Than Good?
PR Web (press release) -
Ferndale,WA,USA
He explains that there is a simple, non-invasive approach to joint
pain relief and recover that is faster, safer and cost significantly
less and ...
Foods That Fight Pain.....an article about using the
nutrient MSM (methyl-sulfonyl methane) and another about using
cherries for joint pain--
Pain Relief
By tophealthtips
MSM (methyl-sulfonyl methane) is terrific for joint pain, largely
because of its high sulfur content. (Theres a reason people all over the
world flock to hot sulfur baths for pain relief!) MSM blocks the
transmission of impulses in ...
New Study Suggests Cherries May Offer Natural Pain Relief for
...
Earthtimes (press release) -
London,UK
In fact, new research suggests that tart cherries -- one of today's
hottest "Super Fruits" -- may help naturally reduce inflammation and
ease arthritis pain ...
(Remember to research ALL natural substances to
make sure they are safe to use with your prescription medications.)
Does this qualify as a natural source of
pain relief? Hmmm.....
Platypus venom linked to pain relief
New research released today in the scientific research
journal Nature reveals links between platypus venom and its potential
benefits for advancing pain relief and antibiotic medication.
Articles on
medication--overmedication--overcoming drug tolerance and the effects of
getting off medication
An article on
Tolerance, Addiction and Effective Pain Management
discusses research done into the problem of drug tolerance and healthy
ways to overcome it.
A report from the BBC on people who overcame
chronic pain and health problems after getting off prescription
medications and using alternative therapies...
Is an alternative just the tonic?
BBC News - UK
It was quite astounding at times how they were still standing, the
amount of pain relief they were taking," she said. Programme
producer Ronan McCloskey ...
Before you pop
GoErie.com - Erie,PA,USA
"People who have chronic pain told me they were taking megadoses
of these medications," Ruffa said. "Some were taking eight grams of
Tylenol a day. ...
Abuse of OxyContin by recreational drug
users has made it difficult for people with severe chronic pain to get
medication. Now there's hope that a new hard-to-abuse version of the
drug will end this dilema...
OxyContin that's harder to abuse? FDA debates new version
The Associated Press -
OxyContin was hailed as a breakthrough in the treatment of severe
chronic pain when it was introduced in 1996. A time-release version
of the old narcotic ...
And another drug that won't be approved for
people with chronic pain because the Feds fear heroin addicts may abuse
it....
FDA panel rejects Cephalon pain drug on risks of misuse
The company wants Food and Drug Administration approval to market the
drug for chronic pain not caused by cancer, a broader market that
includes patients ...
It's not just you! News from Scotland
shows pain patients suffer the same problems the world over...
The pain barrier that has to be broken
The Herald - Glasgow,Scotland,UK
The pain relief literally just takes the edge off it." She says
her back hurts constantly and, when she least expects it, searing agony
will shoot through ...
And from the same
newspaper, a report on the utter failure of the national health care
system in Scotland to help people with pain. Seems no matter what part
of the planet you look to, you see the same problem…
NHS admits it is failing thousands suffering chronic pain
The Herald - Glasgow,Scotland,UK
Specialist support for people who suffer chronic pain is patchy
and inadequate, patients are confused and clinicians are frustrated, say
the authors. ...
Research offers hope
for a new treatment….
Biovitrum's Unique Neuropathic Pain Compound Is Very Safe And
...
ABN Newswire (press release) - Sydney,NSW,Australia
As a consequence of this, BVT.115959 has a potential to fulfil a great
medical need to treat chronic pain without giving rise to central
nervous system ...
Before you consider back
surgery--something patients don't often hear before the operation is how
many people fail to be helped, long term, by back surgery. It's so
common, it has it's own appilation: FBSS for "failed back surgery
syndrome." Here's some related news.
Mix of 2 pain-relief procedures can end chronic back and
leg pain ...
EurekAlert (press release) - Washington,DC,USA
This latest development in pain management gives patients
drug-free relief from the severe, chronic back and leg pain
of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) ...
Mix of 2 pain-relief procedures can end chronic back and
leg pain ...
Even pain
management specialists are now thinking "hybrid" when it comes to
treating patients with failed back surgery syndrome. A novel combination
of two implanted technologies shows promise. Read more from this post.
HandsNet - http://webclipper.handsnet.org/
An admission that standard medical
treatments are not working for back pain....
Back Pain Relief Elusive: More Therapy Is Not Helping
Americans are spending more money trying to ease back
and neck pain, but new research suggests those extra dollars are
not buying more relief. The increased expenditures were expected,
say the authors of a study in the Journal of the ...
St. John's Mercy Health Care... - http://www.stjohnsmercy.org
A Non-surgical approach to back pain
treatment...
Solution for chronic back pain without surgery
WDBJ7.com - Roanoke,VA,USA
"However, a person with chronic back pain, there are a lot
of different things they should do." Hart is just looking forward to the
day when she just feels ...
This article
discusses a study showing that activity is key to recovery from
back pain.
Posted By Dr. Stuart Kinsinger
Lindsay Daily Post -
Lindsay,Canada
Secondly, chronic pain, if not properly managed, has a
significant effect on how we feel to the point of causing personality
changes. ...
And this article discusses using "water
walking" in a swim pool as an effective first step towards getting
active. I used this myself and HIGHLY RECOMMEND pool activity.
A step toward relief
Janesville Gazette -
Janesville,WI,USA
JANESVILLE — Debi Ashley has struggled with back pain since she
was 16, when she was run over by a tractor and broke three bones in her
back. ...
Pain is an expensive problem...
Not such a pain
Cadillac News - MI, United States
Patients with chronic, disabling low back pain account for
a disproportionate amount of health care expenses and workers’
compensation costs, ...
Impact of pain on health and finances warrants national effort
The Newark Advocate - Newark,OH,USA
However, it wasn't until one central Ohio resident stopped by my office
that I learned chronic pain affects far more people than many
expect -- tens of ...
Perfecting your posture can relieve chronic pain....
Perfecting Your Posture to Relieve Chronic Pain
If you have forgotten what it feels like to move without pain,
then this information is for you! Chronic pain has become so
prevalent
News on treatments for persistent
shoulder pain...
Treatment of Persistent Shoulder Pain with Sodium Hyaluronate: A
...
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
(subscription) - USA
Results: For the overall intent-to-treat population, patients who were
managed with sodium hyaluronate had greater pain relief than
controls did; ...
How a plastic cup stopped the grinding noise in my shoulder
Daily Mail - UK
Mrs Compson needed antibiotics to prevent infection and some pain
relief, but she was in hospital for just two days. The traditional
replacement operation ...
Picture this...art therapy helping
people cope with chronic pain....
Art therapy helping patients with pain
7Online.com - New York,NY,USA
It's an effective but often forgotten tool in healing, particularly when
coping with a long term injury and chronic pain. It can be
difficult to hold the ...
And a chronic pain patient using art to
communicate what he feels....
Sacramentan paints a picture of chronic pain
Sacramento Bee - CA, USA
Florence Low / flow@sacbee.com Words failed Mark Collen when his doctor
asked about his chronic pain. Strange, because Collen had always
been such a ...
PAY ATTENTION--- Have you taken VIOXX?
A recent study has
suggested that the cardiovascular risk of Vioxx may continue for at
least a year after the drug has been discontinued, a finding that's led
some heart experts to recommend "vigilant follow-up" for people who
previously took this drug. If you have taken Vioxx, be sure your doctor
keeps you up-to-date on this.
Unsorted But Interesting News....
Help yourself: Learn how to rate and manage pain
By
Consumer Reports Health Blog
Recurrent pain. Even when the pain is relatively mild,
chronic or recurrent pain from arthritis, headaches, or other
sources can seriously interfere with everyday activities. Since
chronic pain often ebbs and flows, ...
Consumer Reports Health Blog - http://blogs.consumerreports.org/health/
Long Division
By
caustin1
Being subjected to the rigors of chronic pain is something that
most don’t understand, unless they have been there themselves. A tooth
ache, a back ache, a broken toe, all examples of pain. But when
the insult is fixed the pain goes ...
A Journey Through Chronic Pain -
http://caustin1.wordpress.com
Investigational Lacosamide Reduces Diabetic Neuropathic Pain
...
DG
News - USA
By Ed Susman CHICAGO -- April 17, 2008 -- The antiepileptic drug
lacosamide appears to offer substantial pain relief to a majority
of diabetic patients with ...
Oral Drug from African Plant may Be Useful in Chronic Pain
(US) Gene
Therapy may Help Deal With Cocaine Addiction Alcohol & Drug Abuse News
Prescription Drug Abuse Threatens Availability of Pain Medication
Drug Related News Alcohol & Drug Abuse News (Fri Apr 18 06:48:25 2008
...
New Ergonomic Glass Massage Tool Brings Relief to Sufferers of ...
PR
Web (press release) - Ferndale,WA,USA
Born from a necessity to reduce her own chronic pain and
discomfort as a result of carpal tunnel, Belinda originally created the
first Glass Caress ...
The pain of it all
Daily Inter Lake - Kalispell,MT,USA
And his hand hurt really badly for a long time — something that rocked
Lara out of his world and into the world of chronic pain
medicine. ...
Can sound waves get rid of chronic pain?
KVBC - Las Vegas,NV,USA
For people all over the Valley, chronic pain is a way of life.
But does it have to be? A Valley man says he's invented a machine that
helps people get rid ...
Stimulators replace chronic pain with buzz
DetNews.com - Detroit,MI,USA
For people with chronic pain, relief comes with a trade-off. Bed
rest means missing out on life. Drugs take the edge off, but they also
dull the senses and ...
Gain from Pain
Express Pharma - Mumbai,India
As the focus shifts from acute to chronic diseases, there is an
increase in revenues of pharmaceutical companies. Arshiya Khan tracks
the growth of this ...
Demystifying Hands On Healing
By
andrejskantor
my most difficult chronic pain patients people with 20 or 30
years of constant chronic pain who have not been helped by any
traditional or alternative modality. If you can help these people, then
I’ll be impressed. ...
wam andrejs - http://read100.com/andrejskantor
Fast Pain Relief, Faster Healing and Cost-Effective Treatment
Market Wire (press release) - USA
"The over-the-counter medication just didn't provide relief. The
pain was so debilitating I did not know if I was going to be able
to continue my practice," ...
Local Poet Featured in National "Chronic Pain" Magazine
PR.com (press release) - Levittown,NY,USA
When an accident left her bed-ridden with spinal damage/chronic pain
at the age of twenty-eight, she felt her life was over. A new dream was
birthed in ...
Disclaimer: I, Bonnie Boots, present the
information here for research purposes only. Being included in this list
does not constitute my endorsement of any particular person or
treatment.
I do not presume to give
medical advice to anyone. I simply present information that may be
helpful. I know, from my own experience with chronic pain,
that you can never tell in advance where you will find the one bit
of news that will help you turn a corner and make progress.
Please use this information to
further your search for your own best health care. Be pro-active, be
persistent --and be careful. There will always be people looking to
take advantage of your need for relief. Remember, using Google
to check a person or product's background is your best defense
against scams and frauds.
If you have questions or concerns
about anything you find on my web site, you can contact me at any
time by
clicking here to open a pre-addressed email form.
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