Characterized by oral, genital or skin lesions, ocular inflammation, arthritis, gastrointestinal manifestations and occasional central nervous system involvement, Behcet’s Disease or “syndrome” is classified as an autoimmune disorder with no known origin. Yet, advancements in research and diagnostic measures suggest a link to viral, bacterial, genetic and environmental components. Even so, with no apparent cure, treatment for Behcet’s Disease remains focused on reducing symptoms and preventing complications, as noted by the American Behcet’s Disease Association.
Recognized worldwide, Behcet’s Disease is often difficult to pinpoint. This is because it may take months or even years for symptoms to manifest. Thus, clinical criteria have been developed by an international group of physicians to serve as a guideline for Behcet’s Disease patients. As a primary indication of the disease, at least three oral ulcerations (apthous or herpetiform) must develop over the course of one year. In addition, patients must present at least two of the following: Continue reading.
Guided imagery is based on an understanding that pain is both physical and mental in nature. It’s a pain management technique that involves shifting your mental focus to something positive. It can be as simple as a picturing yourself effortlessly completing a 5K run race free of pain or as detailed as imagining healthy cells helping to heal the tissues around your joints. For some individuals, guided imagery can ease stress and create a better environment internally for healing and promote overall relaxation.
How Does Guided Imagery Work?
Sometimes called visualization, guided imagery involves all of the five senses, not just vision. It works by using the power of the imagination to stimulate your senses. Some patients with chronic pain use guided imagery to picture their pain in a ball that’s separate from their body. They might picture themselves grabbing that ball of pain and tossing it far away. For the purpose of pain management, guided imagery can be performed with the following steps: Continue reading.
First developed in Northern India more than 5,000 years ago, yoga remains a popular discipline today. Numerous studies also suggest that yoga can be an effective way to manage back pain and other aches and pains affecting joints and muscles. If back pain is something you’re dealing with on a fairly regular basis, you may benefit from the slow, controlled movements of yoga as alternative to more strenuous forms of exercise. Here are five poses to consider incorporating into your exercise routine. Continue reading.
If you’re among the 100 million or so Americans affected by chronic pain, you’re probably open to exploring anything that may improve your comfort. One pain management option worth exploring is your choice of the foods you eat every day. The health benefits of many foods are well-documented and well-known. In fact, some foods have been used to ease aches and pains as far back as the days of ancient Egypt, Greece, and China. If you’re looking for some suggestions, here are five foods that may help you manage your chronic pain better. Continue reading.
Pain from something like an over-stretched or irritated muscle is likely to go away fairly quickly. Yet there are times when discomfort related to joints, soft tissues, spinal discs, and nerves is persistent and disruptive to your quality of life. While mechanical issues with bones, tendons, and ligaments that can be detected on images tests may be the primary cause of such pain, relief sometimes involves more than medication or surgery. Nutrition and wellness can also have a significant impact on how you manage pain.
Making Healthy Diet Choices and Adjustments
The foods you eat on a regular basis can affect your tissues, Continue reading.
Even with opiate abuse now at epidemic proportions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading health organizations, nearly 40 percent of the population still takes painkillers for legitimate reasons. While some patients do benefit from such medications when taken properly, concerns over addiction have both doctors and patients exploring alternative options to opiates to manage chronic pain.
Exercise Specific to Abilities
While it may seem counterproductive to exercise with chronic pain, the right form of exercise can strengthen muscles and joints enough to provide more support while making daily movements. The good thing about exercise is that it can be tailored to a patient’s abilities and modified as endurance and strength improves. Forms of exercise that may be appropriate for patients with chronic pain include: Continue reading.
Physical therapy is a standard recommendation for just about anyone experiencing some type of temporary or chronic pain, or for patients looking to restore normal range of motion following surgery or while recovering from an injury. While most people think of physical therapy as involving some type of exercise requiring active participation on the part of the patient, it may also involve techniques that do not require participation. This type of PT is referred to as passive physical therapy, which is strictly therapeutic in nature. Continue reading.
When back pain isn’t being effectively managed with medications and physical therapy alone, patients often explore other forms of pain management before considering surgery. Usually consisting on a steroid medication and a local anesthetic, injections are a non-surgical form of pain management placed directly into the affected area. Depending on the type of injection given and the specific condition being treated, relief can last anywhere from several weeks to a year or more. Continue reading.
If you’re a chronic pain patient, you might be wondering what current options are available to assist you in managing your daily pain. If you haven’t already, discuss your current pain situation with your doctor. He or she may refer you to a specialist, or a pain management doctor. These are specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of pain and its underlying conditions. Continue reading.
Chronic pain can stick around for weeks, months, or even years, and it has the ability to affect physical and mental well-being in many ways. It’s often a combination of pain management methods like physical therapy, medication, and avoidance of certain activities that can effectively manage ongoing discomfort for many of the 75 million or so Americans living with this type of pain. Another important aspect of chronic pain management is a focus on nutrition and wellness. Continue reading.