Tag Archives: chronic pain

Tips to Lessen Back Pain (Part 2)

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Back pain plagues millions of Americans every year, and is a major reason for doctor’s visits and ER trips around the country. Some think they have to live with the constant pain of a back on the fritz, but luckily, there are things that can be done to help relieve some of the discomfort. We looked at the first few in Tips to Lessen Back Pain (Part 1), now for the rest of our back-friendly tips:

 

  1. Eat right – by pursuing a healthier diet and loading up on anti-inflammatory foods, you’ll be doing your back (and the rest of your body) a huge favor. A healthier body will be less likely to submit to a back injury, and your diet really can have either a positive or negative impact on how much pain and inflammation you experience.
  2. Bring down your stress with meditation – In too many cases, perpetual stress is the real crux of a chronically bad back. Even if stress and tension aren’t the cause, they certainly make pain worse. If you suffer from a bad back, you should actively work on lowering your stress level. Meditation has proven effective for relieving back pain.
  3. Cuddle a pillow – Sleep on your back? Put a pillow under your knees. Sleep on your tummy? Put a small pillow under your lower tummy. Sleep on your side? Put a pillow between your knees. Making a pillow your bed-buddy will help relieve the stress on your spine and support your back’s natural curve, according to The University of Rochester Medical Center.
  4. Don’t let accessories weigh you down – sometimes when you have a bad back even carrying a heavy purse or sitting on a wallet can throw your back more out of whack. Go light with your accessories and make sure they aren’t compromising your gait or hanging too heavy.
  5. Stretch those hamstrings – Too-tight hamstring muscles can limit the range of motion of your pelvis which can cause strain on your back. If you want a better shot at less back pain, start adequately stretch out those upper legs to help loosen up the surrounding muscles.
  6. Lose extra weight – It is important if you’re experiencing any kind of chronic pain or other ailments, to try and aim for a healthy weight. Carrying around excess weight puts added pressure on your joints (and back) which can encourage more discomfort. By reaching a healthy weight for your height, you’ll be doing your back (and the rest of your bod) a definite favor.

Thanks for visiting DocChat! We hope our tips help you work toward a better quality of life.

Do you Have the Kneezles?

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Well, we tricked you! ‘The Kneezles’ aren’t a real condition, but we do want to examine some common conditions that affect the knees and let you know what you can do to help them!

  1. Osgood-Schlatter Syndrome is a condition that usually begins and resolves itself in early adolescence. It can be triggered by growth spurts and causes inflammation of the patellar tendon. It can be quite painful and often interferes with recreational sports. OTC medications and physio can help make this syndrome less painful.
  2. Bursitis or tendonitis both cause painful soft tissue inflammation around the knee bone (or any other joint). Because tendons are crucial to any kind of movement, both these conditions can be highly painful and restrict movement. Ice and heat, TENS machines and physio may be helpful for cases of knee tendonitis or bursitis.
  3. Arthritis – there are many different forms of arthritis that can cause chronic knee pain including: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, psoriatic, gout, reactive arthritis or lupus, just to name a few. If you experience regular aching or pain in your knees as well as other joints, it may be time for a doctor’s visit to see if you may have some type of arthritis.
  4. Cartilage problems – Cartilage is a firm connective tissue found between the bones and joints, within the ribs, around the spine and in the face and respiratory tract. When it becomes injured, damaged or begins to break down it can be very painful as bone will then rub against bone without any cushioning. The knees are a common spot for weathering cartilage. Sometimes this can be helped by physio and other therapy, but severe cases require surgery.
  5. Restless leg syndrome is a troubling sleep/movement disorder that causes an overwhelming urge to move the legs or causes involuntary muscle movements that can be very unpleasant and drastically interfere with sleep. Many people with this condition report unpleasant sensations and activity in the knees. There is not much known about this disorder, but luckily there are some naturopathic and medication treatments that seem to help many.
  6. ACL injury is a common cause of excruciating knee pain. It happens when the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is torn or stretched during sports or a fall and often requires surgery to heal. In some cases, the ACL can repair itself over a long period of time without surgery.

Well that concludes our look at some common causes of knee pain, keep an eye out for some future tips on knee injury prevention and some things you can do to help ease the pain! Thanks for visiting DocChat, remember our board certified physicians are standing by 24/7/365 to answer any of your health-related questions!

Restless Legs (Part 3) Natural and Medical Treatment

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We have been looking at the symptoms, triggers and lifestyle tips for the frustrating and mysterious sleep-disturbance condition restless leg syndrome (RLS) in our last coupe posts. For our last RLS feature, we will examine the natural and medical management options available to sufferers as the condition can adversely impact both sleep and quality of life if left unattended. While there is no cure for RLS as of now, there are many different symptoms management treatments to try. Different people experience success with different treatments or combinations thereof. Some of which include:


Alternative Remedies for RLS

There are multiple homeopathic and alternative treatment options available to try. Some of these are not scientifically backed or proven, but anecdotal evidence suggests effectiveness for many people so trying them out can’t hurt, hey?

  • This first one may sound strange – but thousands upon thousands of RLS sufferers have reported success with placing an unwrapped bar of soap in a sock and sleeping with it under the pillow or close to the legs. While there is no science available to back this remedy up, anecdotal evidence is strong (some health professionals suspect it has something to do with the magnesium content and ions).
  • Ask your doctor if vitamin D, C or E would be right for you to try, all of these have been associated with reducing RLS symptoms, but supplements can be dangerous for some people so check to see if they interact with your medications or conditions first. As your doctor (or one of ours!) about magnesium and calcium supplements as well.
  • Cold or hot compresses during peak symptom intensity may help ease symptoms.
  • Physiotherapy can help some people with their symptoms.
  • Homeopathic doctors often recommend 12c dilution of causticum for RLS. Be sure to always check with your doctor before trying any homeopathic treatment.
  • Massage can be an extremely effective treatment for RLS – especially before bedtime.
  • Relaxation tactics such as meditation can help chill out your system before bed.
  • Try topical OTC or herbal muscle creams or sprays to help relax the muscles.
  • Try drinking sleepy tea (with chamomile) before bed to help relax you.
  • Some sufferers report success with TENS machines (talk to your doctor first).

Medical Treatment Options

People with very extreme cases of RLS often find relief with certain prescribed medications that are usually used to help conditions with some similar symptoms as RLS such as Parkinson’s disease. Such medications include dopamine agents, benzodiazepines, anti-convulsing agents, or alpha2 agonists. Daily medications are usually reserved for RLS patients who do not respond to lifestyle or alternative treatment and who’s condition significantly impacts their sleep and overall quality of life.

Thanks for visiting DocChat! If you have any questions about RLS treatment, don’t hesitate to sign up today for a video consultation with one of our highly qualified DocChat physicians!

 

Chronic Pain Management Tactics (Part 1)

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Over 100 million Americans suffer some form of chronic pain. This figure is heartbreaking and truly illustrates how important it is to create an open dialogue about chronic pain control. Without healthy management tactics, people may rely too heavily on medications or self medicate unhealthily with such substances as alcohol, drugs or cigarettes which can lead to other chronic health complications over time such as organ failure or cardiovascular disease.

Find Your Management Plan

There are various types of chronic pain from different forms of arthritis, to autoimmune pain, fibromyalgia to post-trauma pain, so treatments will work differently for each individual. With a little experimentation you can find the best pain management plan for you which, in tandem with your doctor’s recommendations, can allow you a better quality of life. Some non-pharmacological pain management techniques include:

  1. The Power of Touch

Touch may not completely banish the pain, but can divert focus from your discomfort to a more pleasurable sensation. Sensual and calmative touch releases the mood-boosting chemical oxytocin in the brain which works as a temporary natural analgesic. Many turn to sex for this euphoric fix, but a back rub will work just as well, a good cuddle or even getting a friend to play with your hair or scratch your back will give you enough warm fuzzies to at least tamp down pain sensations.

  1. Therapeutic Massage

Speaking of touch, millions of chronic pain sufferers find degrees of relief from professional therapeutic massage. Massage can help quell pain for various reasons. It increases circulation to damaged muscles and stiff joints by getting the blood flowing while simultaneously triggering the rapid release of opioids and the “love hormone’ oxytocin in the brain. Both opioids and oxytocin act as temporary natural painkillers. Massages also work to distract the brain from other ongoing aches and pains by redirecting it to the pleasurable or even harsh sensations an expert masseuse can deliver.

  1. Manage Your Stress to Manage Your Pain

When your body enters ‘fight or flight’ mode, it triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in the bloodstream. Chronically elevated levels of cortisol can worsen all kinds of pre-existing inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune conditions, arthritis or heart problems. Therefor, it stands to reason that alleviating your stress can also help assuage some of the pain and inflammation as well. Check out our post on stress busters for some stress management ideas.

  1. Mentally Guided Techniques

There are many psychological relaxation techniques that have shown positive results in both pain and stress reduction in some chronic pain sufferers. Some of these include guided meditation, progressive relaxation, or using biofeedback to monitor your body’s biological signals such as heart rate or blood pressure in an attempt to bring them down and calm your whole system.

A Closer Look At Progressive Relaxation

Progressive relaxation is arguably one of the best psychological relaxation techniques for pain management. It is the methodical tensing and releasing of each muscle group in your body when can help let go of tension in certain areas and relax all your muscles and joints (as well as your mind). Many chronic pain sufferers find this especially beneficial to help induce sleep as it can be tricky to catch some zzz’s when your joints are screaming. Overtime as you get better at progressive relaxation and gain more control over the various muscles in your body, you may feel more in control of your pain. Of course these tactics may not work for everyone but anything is worth a try, hey?

That concludes our part 1 of our pain management tips. Stay tuned for part 2 coming next to read more about how exercise, acupuncture, personal TENS machines and trigger point injections can help pain management! Thanks for visiting DocChat, if you have any questions or concerns about chronic pain management, sign up today for a video consultation with one of our highly trained physicians!

 

5 Foods With Anti-Inflammatory Properties

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Many chronic conditions such as arthritis are the product of recurrent systemic inflammation. While it is important to stick to any treatment plan recommended by your doctor, making certain diet changes can help cut down on swelling and pain as well. Some foods that contain natural anti-inflammatory components include:

  1. Tart Cherries

Hundreds of years before mainstream medication hit the counters people were using cherries to combat inflammatory afflictions like arthritis (particularly gout). Is there merit to this tasty traditional remedy? Empirical studies are proving there is. In one Boston study of 633 gout sufferers, a group who ate 10 daily cherries saw a 50% lower risk of gout attacks over a two-day period than their non-cherry contemporaries. Another study on cherry juice for osteoarthritis sufferers found that patients who drank 16oz of tart cherry juice daily showed a significant decrease in such symptoms as pain, swelling and stiffness. Moreover, they showed lowered levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation marker commonly associated with arthritis. So the proof is in the (cherry) pudding!

  1. Holy Basil

Holy basil, also known as Sweet Thai basil is a subtype of the common household spice that comes from India. Holy basil has a myriad of impressive medicinal benefits, including anti-inflammatory, stress reducing, and even more impressively, antihistamine properties. One experiment with Wistar rats associated the ingestion of Holy basil with mast cell stabilization, lower IgE levels and inhibited release of inflammatory markers in the rats. It may not be an appetizing juxtaposition: spices and rats, but the study does illustrate how impressive Holy basil is as an anti-inflammatory food choice! So it certainly couldn’t hurt to start adding holy basil to your spice rotation. For information on other superstar spices check out our article on healthful spices.

  1. Salmon

Oily fish such as salmon are among the best foods to eat, especially if you have a chronic inflammatory condition as they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, one of nature’s best anti-inflammatories. The benefits don’t end with your joints, one 2009 University of Hawaii study showed a 23% decline in cardiovascular disease in a group of men who ate boiled or baked fatty fish several times a week as compared to those who did not. Health professionals recommend eating at least 4oz twice weekly of oily fish such as salmon or mackerel to reap some of these healthful benefits.

  1. Olive Oil

Medical researchers have discovered that a compound in olive oil called Oleocanthal can inhibit the formation of the inflammatory enzymes COX-1 and COX-2 in the body. Olive oil mimics exactly what NSAIDS like Advil do to reduce pain and swelling by blocking these detrimental inflammatory enzymes. It is suspected to have a noticeable impact on both acute flare-ups and chronic arthritic inflammation when taken daily.

  1. Cilantro

Cilantro is a health powerhouse herb which has long been used for its anti-inflammatory effects on such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory stomach conditions and even cardiovascular disease. Cilantro has also been celebrated for its diabetes, cancer and cholesterol fighting components. Cilantro is also packed to the gills with phytonutrients and anti-oxidant flavonoids, so stock up your spice cabinet with this stuff today!

More Anti-Inflammatory Choices

Other anti-inflammatory foods include beets, fruits (especially berries for their abundance of anti-oxidants), broccoli, celery and garlic. Stay tuned for our future article on inflammatory foods to avoid if you have issues with swelling.

If you have any questions or concerns about inflammation or medical treatment options for inflammatory conditions, feel free to sign up to DocChat today for a video consultation with one of our highly qualified, board certified physicians! Thanks for visiting DocChat!

5 Less Common Types Of Arthritis

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According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), arthritis encompasses over 100 different rheumatic diseases and conditions, affecting nearly 1 in 5 American adults. The three most prevalent types of arthritis that account for most cases are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Some of the less common, but equally as troublesome forms of arthritic conditions are:

         1. Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition that predominantly affects the vertebrae of the spine, sometimes fusing them together creating chronic pain and swelling. The condition usually comes on in early adulthood and is more prevalent among males. It can also affect the hips, ribcage, breastbone, tendons in shoulders or heels, and the eyes. Medical science has discovered that people with the HLA-B27 gene may have a genetic vulnerability to developing the disease. If symptoms are present, doctors often do bloodwork and x-rays to help diagnose the condition.

  1. Palindromic Rheumatism

Palindromic rheumatism (PR) is a rare type of cyclical inflammatory arthritis (symptoms come and go) that often turns into rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Both conditions have many similarities, but RA causes lasting joint damage, whereas PR does not. It is equally as prevalent between males and females, and usually starts in early to mid adulthood. PR consists of periods of symptom-free lulls, and periods of days, weeks or months where 2-3 joints will become inflamed and painful, as well as the surrounding connective tissue. No one laboratory test can diagnose this condition, but may help rule out others. Treatment usually consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) or antimalarials.

  1. Reactive Arthritis

Reactive arthritis is usually the result of an infection that changes the body’s ability to defend itself against other infections or environmental factors. It can be a one-time occurrence causing joint inflammation for a period of days or weeks before subsiding organically, or it can become a chronic form of arthritis that may require treatment and managing by a rheumatologist or another arthritis specialist. Reactive arthritis can affect multiple joints, causing significant pain and swelling.

  1. Scleroderma

Scleroderma is another disease that crosses over between an arthritic condition and autoimmune disease. It works by hardening the skin and the organs, which creates many inflammatory and pain problems within the body. Scleroderma affects the skin, connective tissue and organs and can be quite debilitating and pervasive. As with many autoimmune diseases, there is no cure but different medications are available to help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. Only about 500,000 American people are afflicted by Scleroderma, and while it isn’t technically a genetic disease, it tends to be more prevalent within certain family pools.

There you have a few lesser known arthritic conditions! Keep and eye out for more less known types of arthritis in the future. If you suffer from these diseases or have any questions about arthritis in general feel free to sign up to DocChat today to begin a video consultation with one of our highly qualified physicians! Thanks for visiting, we hope you’ll be back soon.