Following an amputation surgery, individuals may experience a series of painful symptoms as part of the body’s natural response system. This is referred to as phantom limb pain, and while an exact cause has not been identified, researchers believe that nerves in parts of the spinal cord and brain “rewire” when they lose signals from a missing arm or leg (WebMD). In believing that something is wrong, the nerves send pain signals to the area. For many, the pain goes away on it’s own. Yet, for others, it can be ongoing and severe. 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.
A doctor is your best advocate in the fight against chronic pain. However, not all doctors are sensitive to their patients’ pain issues. Your physician must work closely with you to monitor and adjust your medications to properly control your discomfort. It is important to be open and honest and so that your doctor can help you. Continue reading.
Often associated with car accidents, whiplash is a neck injury caused by sudden, rapid back-and-forth movements. It may also result from any type of trauma that affects muscles and ligaments in the neck, including sports-related injuries and hard falls. It’s usually a temporary discomfort, although the extent of any resulting pain will depend on how soft tissues in the neck were affected.
Do You Have Whiplash?
Sometimes categorized as neck strain or sprain, whiplash often results in some degree of neck pain that’s felt immediately after the injury. Stiffness in the neck may be accompanied by pain in the shoulders, arms, chest, or head. Symptoms associated with whiplash may develop several hours after the initial jolt or impact or become progressively more noticeable within a day or two. Possible signs of whiplash may also include: Continue reading.