pain

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Allodynia – The pain that comes from pressure ! Find out more here

Pain for pressure

Pain for pressure

Simply put Allodynia can be defined as pain due to pressure on the body where in normal circumstances people would not expect to feel any pain.

Examples of medical conditions which have Allodynia as a symptom include Fibromyalgia (https://patienttalk.org/?tag=fibromyalgia), Neuropathic pain  (https://patienttalk.org/?p=281), complex regional pain syndrome  (https://patienttalk.org/?p=1003) and migraines.

The objective of the blog is first to raise awareness of Allodynia.  And  also to provide a forum for people to share their experiences of living with; and treating Allodynia.

The pain can be from both touch and from changes in skin temperature.

It would be great if you can use this blog to share your experiences of Allodynia.  We are interested in some of the following issues:-

a)      Which condition caused your Allodynia?

b)      How did this Allodynia present itself?

c)       In one sentence how would you describe the pain to somebody who has never experienced it before?

d)      How your Allodynia was treated and how successful was that treatment?

e)      What advice would you give to somebody who suffers from this kind of pain?

Please feel free to share any part of your pain story with our readers in the comments box below. If you have any links you think might be of interest, again, please put them boxes below

Many thanks in advance


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Counselling for Pain! Could counselling work as a therapy for pain?

Counselling and Pain

Counselling and Pain

When I first came across the idea that Counselling might be a useful treatment or therapy for people who suffer from chronic pain I have to admit that even I was a bit on the sceptical side.  Okay having a chat does not have the kind of side effects that some  people might  get from pain killing  medications;  but does it actually work as a treatment for pain?

Well the evidence suggests it may.   In practice it is more a way of helping people deal with, rather than, kill pain.  And as we, people with chronic pain know, this sort of thing is very important.

So how might a counselling session help with pain management?

Well it is worth noting that pain is a bit more complex than just being a symptom of a chronic illness.  It may well be a symptom of a psychological condition such as depression or anxiety.  So, of course counselling, which hopes to deal with a psychological cause, would certainly be beneficial for long term pain reduction.

Stress is also a central cause of a number of conditions which give chronic pain. A number of different counselling techniques may offer respite from stress.  So being trained by a professional in relaxation could be very valuable.

Obviously counselling would  help with chronic pain which, in part, stems from psychological factors.  However in some cases counselling can offer assistance with  other types of pain management.   This, in fact, is twofold.  Firstly because of the dehabiliting nature of chronic pain counselling provides a path to a help the person deal with the very real grief they often feel for the loss of the life they led before the onset of chronic pain.

Secondly it can help provide a framework where by the patient can re-evaluate their day-to-day lives and to help set practical goals to learn to make the most of their new lifestyle.

So how does this work in practice?  Well over to you.

We would love it if you could share with us some of your experiences of counselling for pain management.  You might like to think about your answers in terms of the following questions. However anything you have to say is of great interest:-

a)      What is your main condition which causes pain?  What do you think triggered that pain?

b)      Have you used counselling to deal with your pain?  What sort of counselling was involved?

c)       How effective did you find counselling for pain management?

d)      Would you recommend counselling for pain management for others?

Please use the comments box below to share your thoughts.

Thanks very much in advance.

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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Come over and tell your story


Complex Regional pain syndrome

Complex Regional pain syndrome

Welcome to the latest in our series of pain and pain management blogs.  To have a look at the previous stuff we have covered please go to https://patienttalk.org/?tag=pain-management.

Today we want to focus on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS. A little understood medical syndrome but one which, according to the Britain’s Royal College of Physicians, 12,500 or so people are diagnosed with each year in the UK.  For more information on this and other aspects of CRPS this article is worth reading http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/complex-regional-pain-full-guideline.pdf.

The objective of this blog is to give people who have RCPS an opportunity to share their pain management story with other people with the condition and their caregivers.

One of the main issues is that the causes of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome are not yet fully understood but it often manifests after an injury.  The key issue is that the pain that results from the injury is much greater than the sufferer, typically, would expect.

The pain which is, for most, the key symptom, has been described as “(chronic) burning pain in one of their limbs”. Though in some cases it can be in more than one limb. I was told this was true in around 7% of cases.

While the condition often disappears a few days after the injury in some cases it can continue for months and years.  It is advised that patients receive treatment as soon as possible to improve long term outcomes.

So how is CRPS it treated?  Normally in three ways:-

a)      Medications – such as pain killers and anti-inflammatory.

b)      Physiotherapy

c)       Counselling to help the patient come to terms with the effects of pain

 

This is where you come in.

It would be great if you could share your CRPS story with our readers.  The following questions may be useful:-

 

1)      What do you think caused your CRPS?

2)      How would you describe the pain and other symptoms?

3)      How long did the symptoms last?

4)      How did you treat your CRPS and how effective were these treatments?

Please feel free to share anything you think may be of interest with our readers.  Any links to useful sites would be great.

Many thanks in advance.


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Pain! Some natural treatments for pain.

pain-management1There are many who are dissatisfied with conventional treatments for pain and are looking for more natural ways to find relief.  Many use dietary supplements as part of the pain management strategies.

As part of our on-going series of blogs on pain management we would like to introduce to you a few natural remedies for pain.  In a previous blog we explored food which helped pain (see https://patienttalk.org/?p=507). In this blog we are looking at naturally occurring substances which can be used to provide relief from pain.   In this case they may be available either as food or as a dietary supplement.  For most the key issue is that the treatments and products they use are not synthesised chemicals:-

a)      Capsaicin.  Comes from chilli peppers and can be used on the skin to treat pain. Including rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic neuropathy.

b)      Vitamin D.   We covered Vitamin D in an earlier blog this year (https://patienttalk.org/?p=300).  It is available free from the sun as well in “paid for” supplements.

c)       Omega-3s or fish oil. This old favourite seems always to come up when health is discussed.  While an effective anti-inflammatory it now seems to help people with neuropathic and fibromyalgia pains.  It can be taken in concentrated form as a supplement but I still prefer a smoked salmon bagel.

d)      Glucosamine sulphate. This dietary supplement is often recommended for people with osteoarthritis.

e)      Methylsulfonyl-methane.  Also for osteoarthritis it helps reduce joint pain.

Please note that these products are dietary supplements rather than medications. Before using them at all we would recommend you speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

Of course these are only five among many.  This is where you come in. It would be great if you could share your experiences of using dietary supplements to help manage pain. You might like to consider some of the following questions:-

1)      What is the main medical condition which causes you pain?

2)      How do you manage your pain?  What role do dietary supplements play in your pain management?

3)      How successful have they been?

4)      Are there any dietary supplements you would recommend?

Feel free to use the comments box below to share your story and to add any links you think may be of interest.

Many thanks in advance.