Invisible symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Just checking the web a few days ago I came across this fascinating video about the invisible symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
The discussion covers such areas as brain fog, optic neuritis and pain.
The video was produced by the ever excellent National MS Society, and Rosalind Kalb, PhD, is answering these important questions.
Change Your Home, Work, & Life For Less Chronic Pain
Whether your condition is officially diagnosed as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or something similar, you’re in chronic pain. What comes simply to others — cleaning your home, driving to work, even maintaining relationships — can be a challenge when you deal with pain on a daily basis.
However, there are changes you can make to your home and your lifestyle that can help. Below are several recommendations that can help you manage your chronic pain so you can live your life again.
Where you live is important. It’s your sanctuary from the pressures (and pain) of modern life. That’s why you need to take a critical look of your home environment and see what changes can be made to help you cope.
Rearrange Your Stuff: It can hurt to reach for things atop high shelves or deep within a cabinet. To help manage your pain, move those objects so they’re easier to reach. Bringing the things you use most often to lower shelves or the front of cabinets can lead to less discomfort. Plus, you’ll feel more control over your life.
Make Your Bedroom Conducive For Sleep: Getting a good amount of sleep can help your body heal and relax. But too many people have bedrooms that aren’t exactly soothing. Make sure your bed is comfortable and try to eliminate as much light and noise as possible.
If you’re like many Americans, you spend more time on the job than at your own home. That’s why you need to examine your work environment and make some changes needed to better manage your pain.
Adjust Your Chair And Work Area: Sitting at a desk and typing most of the day can tax even the healthiest body. Experiment with different adjustments to your chair until you find one that works better than others. Then rearrange the items around your workspace like you did at home — put the objects you use most easily within your reach.
Be Careful About Your Grip And Range Of Motion: Whether you work at a desk or something more active, you will be using your arms and hands. Make sure you stay within 30% of your grip strength and range of motion. This is the optimal zone for anyone dealing with chronic pain.
You are much more than where you live and work. That’s why a good pain management plan includes taking a look at your lifestyle for any changes you can make there.
Keep Track Of What Triggers Painful Episodes: Some people with chronic pain don’t have a clear idea of what causes flare-ups. Even if you do, you might be surprised to learn what else triggers the pain. To better understand that, and to help your doctor manage your chronic pain, keep a log of what activities you do when the pain comes.
Learn How To Meditate: It might seem silly at first, but meditation and breathing techniques can lead to less pain. When you’re tense or stressed, your pain is more likely to surface. By learning how to meditate (and doing so regularly), you can help your body relax.
Chronic pain can be debilitating at times. But by making a few changes to your home, work, and life, you can manage such pain and have a better chance at a normal life.
Author: Jackie Waters
Don’t let the pain destroy you
Okay here’s the deal!
As you know I’m very interested in natural and alternative treatments for chronic pain.
So I was fascinated when I came across the idea that certain types of sound frequencies can help with chronic pain.
But does it work?
This is what I want you to help with with please.
Can you listen to the sound clip below and then take the one question poll below that.
Many thanks in advance.
Neck and Arm Pain – What you can do to make things better!
Cracking infographic – please share!
From Vi
Paralympian Swimmers
DDH UK, the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting families dealing with hip dysplasia, are gravely concerned about plans by the NHS to only refer patients for hip surgery if their pain is so severe it interferes with daily life or the ability to sleep.
In a cost cutting bid to save £2million a year, it is claimed that health trusts are already tightening up their rules in a bid to slash operations by a fifth with others also looking to use a scoring system to rank patients’ pain for both hip and knee operations.
The charity is supporting more and more patients, from teenagers to those in their later years, who are facing hip replacements, often due to the effects of having hip dysplasia (DDH). DDH occurs when the hip joint fails to develop correctly and 2 to 3 in every 1,000 infants will require treatment* and whilst not life threatening, it can lead to pain, disability and the need for hip replacements.
Gemma Almond, DDH UK Patron and Paralympic swimmer who has bilateral DDH, said, “I find the new potential NHS rules worrying. Whilst in discussions with my consultants we have weighed up the level of pain for THR, it is the principle that underlie these new rules that is concerning. Pain is a subjective measure and decisions should be based on consultant / patient discussions about quality of life not funding. The decision is hard enough to make, without the need to justify it in monetary terms. As someone who will need two THR in the next few years, I fear this could be a slippery slope and a worry for the future.”
Natalie Trice, DDH UK Founder, added, “We are speaking to more and more people who are in constant pain due to hip issues, and are saddened to read about plans that could mean they have to wait even longer for the surgery they need to improve their lives and mobility. My seven-year-old son has DDH and to date has had five operations and we simply don’t know what the future holds and this news is really frightening for us because a hip replacement isn’t out of the question in the future and we don’t want him, and others, to endure years of pain unnecessarily.”
Natalie added, “We understand that cuts do need to be made in the NHS but we would ask trusts to consider not only pain levels but also the quality of life of patients and their every day mobility and independence when putting these criteria together.”
For more information go to www.ddh-uk.org,