Pain Management

Posted on Diet, Obesity, Pain Management

A diet that helps the weighty battle with chronic pain

Chronic pain is a persistent and debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While pain interventions are available, many individuals struggle without any treatment.

Recent research from the University of South Australia indicates that a healthy diet can alleviate the severity of chronic pain, providing an easy and accessible method for sufferers to manage their condition more effectively.

Researchers investigating the links between body fat, diet, and pain discovered that a higher intake of foods aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines was significantly associated with lower body pain levels, particularly among women.

Significantly, these findings were not influenced by a person’s weight, indicating that a healthy diet can help alleviate chronic pain, regardless of body composition.

Approximately 30% of the global population experiences chronic pain.

Women experience higher rates of chronic pain, as do those who are overweight or obese.

UniSA PhD researcher Sue Ward states that the study demonstrates how modifiable factors, such as diet, can help manage and alleviate chronic pain.

“It’s common knowledge that eating well is good for your health and wellbeing. But knowing that simple changes to your diet could offset chronic pain could be life-changing,” Ward says.

“In our study, higher consumption of core foods – your vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, dairy and alternatives – was related to less pain, regardless of body weight.

Being overweight or obese is a known risk factor for chronic pain.

Understanding that food choices and diet quality enhance health and reduce pain is invaluable.

Notably, the findings suggest that diet quality affects pain differently in men and women.

“Women with better diets, had lower pain levels and better physical function. But this effect was much weaker for men,” Ward says.

“The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the healthier core food groups may be what reduces pain, but we can’t yet determine whether poorer diet quality leads to more pain, or if pain leads to eating a poorer quality diet.

“A healthy, nutritious diet brings multiple health, wellbeing, and pain management benefits. And while personalised pain management strategies should be adopted, a healthy diet is an accessible, affordable, and effective way to manage and even reduce pain.”

Posted on Pain Management

Living With Chronic Pain: Practical Advice for Newly Diagnosed Patients

Image via Pexels

Receiving a diagnosis that involves chronic pain can be a life-altering moment, filled with uncertainties and challenges. As you begin this new chapter, understanding how to manage your condition effectively is crucial for maintaining your quality of life. This article from Patient Talk aims to provide practical advice and support to those navigating this difficult journey, covering everything from medical treatments to lifestyle adjustments.

Understanding Your Condition

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to managing chronic pain. Start by fully understanding your specific condition, which can empower you and reduce any anxiety related to the unknown.

  • Consult Specialists: Regular appointments with healthcare providers who specialize in your condition can provide tailored advice and treatment plans.
  • Educate Yourself: Read up on your condition through reputable sources such as healthcare websites, books, and patient advocacy groups.
  • Join Support Groups: Connecting with others who are going through similar experiences can provide emotional support and practical advice.

Medical Management Strategies

Effective medical management is essential in the treatment of chronic pain. Your healthcare provider can guide you through various options to find what works best for you. It is important to maintain open communication with your provider to tailor your treatment plan as your needs evolve.

  • Regular Medical Reviews: Keep in touch with your healthcare provider to adjust your pain management plan as needed.
  • Pain Medications: Explore both over-the-counter and prescription medications under the guidance of your healthcare provider.
  • Physical Therapy: Engage in physical therapy to enhance mobility, decrease pain, and improve your quality of life.

Alternative Pain Relief Methods

Exploring alternative treatments can enhance your primary medical therapies, providing holistic benefits and potential relief. Integrating these methods may improve overall well-being and contribute to more effective pain management.

  • Acupuncture and Massage: These therapies can help reduce pain and muscle tension, promoting relaxation.
  • Mind-Body Techniques: Yoga, meditation, and tai chi can increase body awareness and decrease the overall perception of pain.
  • Shockwave Therapy: The benefits of shockwave therapy machines are used to stimulate healing in injured tissues, often used for conditions like tendonitis or other musculoskeletal issues.

Lifestyle Modifications

Adjusting your daily habits and lifestyle is crucial for managing chronic pain. Even small changes can significantly enhance your overall well-being. Consistently applying these changes can lead to long-term improvements in pain management and quality of life.

  • Diet and Nutrition: Focus on a balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods that can help manage inflammation, a common cause of pain.
  • Exercise Regularly: Low-impact activities such as swimming, walking, or cycling can help keep the joints flexible and muscles strong without exacerbating pain.
  • Quality Sleep: Prioritize getting a good night’s sleep, as poor sleep can increase pain sensitivity.

Mental and Emotional Health

Chronic pain is not just a physical challenge; it affects your mental and emotional health as well. Managing these aspects is essential for a holistic approach to pain management.

Living with chronic pain may require significant adjustments, but with the right strategies and support, it is manageable. By understanding your condition, engaging with both medical and alternative treatments, modifying your lifestyle, and taking care of your mental health, you can lead a fulfilling life despite the challenges. Remember, you are not alone in this journey; support is available, and improvements are possible. Embrace the resources around you and allow yourself patience as you navigate this new part of your life.

Posted on Pain Management

Electrical nerve stimulation eases pain and fatigue for some conditions

Wearable TENS system “offered immediate, on-demand relief,” say researchers

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device Credit Bijan Najafi Research Team

 Wearable electrical nerve stimulation devices can relieve people experiencing the persistent pain and fatigue linked to long COVID, a study co-led by UCLA and Baylor College of Medicine researchers suggests.

Long-COVID, a complex and lingering condition following COVID-19 recovery, affects approximately 1 in 13 adults in the U.S. Symptoms such as widespread pain, fatigue, and muscle weakness often continue to disrupt daily activities, including walking and basic tasks.

The study focused on a wearable Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device, which uses low-voltage electrical currents to reduce pain, fatigue, and mobility issues associated with long-COVID.

However, the device could have broader applications.

 “While this study focused on managing pain and fatigue caused by long COVID, it may also have potential applications for addressing similar symptoms in individuals with other respiratory diseases, those who have experienced extended ICU stays and developed post-hospitalization weaknesses, and conditions involving chronic fatigue and pain, such as fibromyalgia or chemotherapy-related side effects,” Najafi said. “But further studies are needed to confirm these potential uses.”

In the study, 25 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and gait difficulties were assigned either a high-dose (active) TENS device or a low-dose (placebo) device. Both groups used the TENS device for three to five hours daily over four weeks.

Researchers measured participants’ pain levels, fatigue, and walking performance before and after the therapy period. Findings indicated that the high-dose TENS group experienced notable improvements in pain relief (26.1% more relief than placebo) and walking ability (8% during fast walking), suggesting that wearable TENS therapy may help reduce long-COVID’s impact on daily life.

The high-dose TENS group also reported a slightly higher perceived benefit (71.2%) than the low-dose group (61.4%), underscoring the potential of wearable TENS technology to support long-term COVID recovery.

Najafi said one factor in the study’s success was likely the high rate of daily device usage. The wearable nature of the TENS device allowed participants to use it seamlessly throughout the day without disrupting their routines.

“This wearable TENS system offered immediate, on-demand relief from pain and fatigue, making it easy to integrate into daily activities,” Najafi said.

Posted on Pain Management

Ouch! Commonalties found in pain vocalizations and interjections across cultures

Vowel density maps

Vowel density maps reveal that distinct vowel spaces for vocalizations of pain, disgust, and joy remain consistent across languages. Credit Ponsonnet et al.

An estimated 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide, each offering unique ways to express human emotion. But do certain emotions show regularities in their vocal expression across languages?

In JASA, published on behalf of the Acoustical Society of America by AIP Publishing, an interdisciplinary team of linguists and bioacousticians led by Maïa Ponsonnet, Katarzyna Pisanski, and Christophe Coupé explored this by comparing expressive interjections (like “wow!”) to nonlinguistic vocalizations (like screams and cries) across the globe.

Pisanski explained how studying cries, screams, and laughter can shed light on the origins of speech.

“Why did humans start to speak, and other primates didn’t? We all produce laughter, and hundreds of species produce playlike vocalizations,” said Ponsonnet. “Yet we are the only species that evolved spoken language. These commonalities across species can help us understand where humans diverged and how.

“Critically, by comparing interjections to vocalizations expressing the same emotions, we can test whether the acoustic patterns we observe in interjections can be traced back to vocalizations.”

The researchers analyzed vowels in interjections from 131 languages, comparing them with nearly 500 vowels from vocalizations produced in joyful, painful, or disgusting contexts.

They predicted that the vocalizations’ acoustic forms reflect their adaptive or social functions. “We believe that many vocal expressions have a function. For example, babies’ cries tend to be loud and harsh, evolving to annoy parents enough to stop the aversive signal. We expect vocal expressions of pain, disgust, and joy to reflect their functions too,” said Pisanski.

The researchers found evidence to support this for vocalizations: Each of the three emotions yielded consistent and distinct vowel signatures across cultures. Pain interjections also featured similar open vowels, such as “a,” and wide falling diphthongs, such as “ai” in “Ay!” and “aw” in “Ouch!” However, for disgusted and joyful emotions, in contrast to vocalizations, the interjections lacked regularities across cultures. The researchers expressed surprise at this latter finding.

The team aims to expand this research across more cultures and emotions to understand better how widespread vocal expressions arise and where they come from.

Posted on Arthritis, Exercise, Fibromyalgia, Pain Management

Some Exercises for Chronic Pain – Stretch, Strengthen and Feel Relief

Ease stiffness and feel relief from chronic conditions causing your pain, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. In this gentle joint video, I will walk you through exercises that gently strengthen and stretch common troublesome areas. This workout begins with a warm-up in a standing position, and then halfway through, we move to a seated position in a chair. If you are only able to complete the seated portion, then just fast forward to that section (about the 15-minute mark), please make sure that you are in a warm environment. This will make sure that your muscles relax and don’t cramp up. It is also essential to stay hydrated. Drinking water will help lubricate your joints.