Treatment Options for those Suffering from Chronic Pain and Opioid Addiction

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Those suffering from chronic pain are more at risk for an opioid addiction. The correlation can easily be seen: those in pain usually depend on various types of opioids for their pain treatment or management. These two conditions are distinct and are expressed in different ways for every individual. This is why many medical professionals take a multi-dimensional approach to the management chronic pain, and address the high possibility of an opioid addiction.

Similar to other chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes, both pain and addictive conditions typically have psycho-behavioral and biological factors that shape how the conditions are expressed. It is therefore important that physicians thoroughly comb and analyze patients’ complete medical history. Treatment options are designed based on consistent dialogue. Patients are also fully encouraged to engage in self-care and constant introspection. It must be noted that both conditions require long-term clinical care so it is essential that the patient feels comfortable with his or her clinician so that an effective treatment plan can be designed and implemented.

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The patient should also understand that pain and addiction share a number of similar clinical features such as mood and sleep disturbances, functional losses, and high levels of stress. Usually, one condition reinforces the other. Treatment plans will generally involve biopsychosocial components to improve recovery.

Lastly, it must be noted that while addiction can be fully treated, chronic pain can only be properly managed. Medical research is still tracking down a cure for chronic pain.

Live a full and productive life despite any pain condition with the help of Dr. Melanie Novak, a specialist for all types of pain including headaches, neck and lower back pain, shoulder, hip and knee discomfort, and various types of joint pain. For more information on her practice, follow this Twitter account.

A Home Care Plan for Shingles

Although the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) that causes chickenpox, or what is commonly known as shingles, is not a life-threatening condition, it can have some painful symptoms and if left untreated for long, may cause some complications. Also, shingles can be particularly contagious to those who haven't had chicken pox. As such, looking into a home care plan for shingles is important. Here are some things to keep in mind when one has or is caring for someone with shingles.

Shingles is characterized by itchy and painful water-filled blisters. It may be tempting to scratch these but try not to do so. These blisters are actually contagious, so those who haven't had the chickenpox shouldn't be exposed to these. Instead, keep the rashes dry and clean so they aren't infected further – cornstarch and baking soda are recommended to decrease the moisture. One can also ask a doctor about antihistamines or other anti-allergy medications to lessen the itching.

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Any towels, blankets, or clothing that have had contact with the sores should be washed thoroughly with hot water or discarded. Additionally, to make sure clothing doesn't rub on the rash so much, it's also best to wear loose garments.

Those whose shingles are expressed on the face, nose, or eyes may need to consult a doctor at once. In the eyes, shingles can cause corneal damage, inflammation, cataracts, and even some loss of vision so seeking medical care is of the utmost imperative.

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Shingles patients may also experience postherpetic neuralgia even when the shingles has subsided. This condition, characterized by either excruciating pain or diminished sensation in the area where the rashes were, may last from anywhere between a few months to much longer. Because the pain can be unbearable, those who suffer from this are typically referred to pain management specialists who can help them through the pain.

 Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., pain management specialist, creates individualized treatment plan to address her patients' specific pain needs . Visit this website to learn more about chronic pain symptoms and treatments

Pain Receptor Location: A Key to Controlling Pain?

The location of pain receptors, the specialized nerve endings that transmit pain signals throughout the body, may hold the key to control pain effectively. These receptors, according to a research, are essential in determining “how big or small a pain signal will be” and “how effectively drugs can block those signals.”

The study, led by Terence Coderre, director of Anesthesia Research at McGill University, and Karen O'Malley from Washington University, posits that to control pain, pain receptors in the nucleus of spinal nerve cells need to be blocked. The researchers believe that this method could be more effective than interfering with receptors of the same type on cell surfaces. Furthermore, they also discovered that when spinal nerve cells run into painful stimulus, some receptors transfer from the cell surface into the nucleus.

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These findings came to fruition following an experiment involving rats that were treated with investigational drugs that blocked the activity of receptors in the nucleus. After the procedure, it was found that rats with nerve injuries experienced less chronic pain and less pain hypersensitivity, which led scientists to believe that the animals were relieved from neuropathic pain.

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Their discovery, according to professor Coderre, proves that “the location of the receptor in the cell has a major effect on the cell's ability to transmit pain signals.” The researchers are now focusing on the cause of the glutamate receptor’s migration to the nucleus and are finding ways to produce drugs that can block this occurrence.  

Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., is a pain management specialist who takes a multidisciplinary approach in addressing her patients' specific pain needs. Subscribe to this blog for more articles on pain management.

'Text Neck': How Technology became a Pain in the Neck

It is a familiar sight these days. People hunched over their smartphones or tablets as they tap and swipe away for hours. And such posture, as research shows, increases the stress on the neck. The human head typically weighs about 12 pounds. But as the neck bends forward and down, the weight of the cervical spine begins to increase. At a 15-degree angle, the head’s weight is about 27 pounds, 40 pounds at 30 degrees, 49 pounds at 45 degrees, and 60 pounds at 60 degrees

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This poor posture is alarmingly becoming common among young people. In fact, children as young as seven are reporting headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, compromised breathing, and the development of hunchbacks and curved spines, all of which are the result of what the medical community calls the “text neck” syndrome. If left untreated, text neck can result in serious permanent damage, including early onset arthritis, spinal degeneration, nerve damage, disc herniation, and gastrointestinal problems.

Although text neck or forward head posture is not a new condition, the boom of mobile technology plus an increasingly sedentary lifestyle among the general population are contributing to more reported cases. It is therefore important that people become aware of the ill effects of long hours of the use of smartphones and other mobile gadgets on their health.

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Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D. employs a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of chronic pain. This includes the use of injection treatments and medications and physical and behavioral therapy. Learn more about Dr. Novak’s expertise here.

Acute or Chronic? Understanding Basic Pain Categories

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The causes and intensity of pain vary widely, depending on the extent of damage to the body part. Although the experience of pain differs from case to case, pain falls under general categories, which are the following:

Acute pain typically occurs unexpectedly but has a limited duration. It is frequently caused by an evident damage to cells and tissues such as the muscles, bones, the skin, and other body organs. The onset is often accompanied by anxiety or emotional distress.

Chronic pain, meanwhile, is much more serious, may take months or even years to heal, and is generally resistant to standard medical treatments. It is commonly associated with or leads to a long-term illness, such as osteoarthritis. In some cases, such as with fibromyalgia, it is one of the key symptoms of the disease. Chronic pain could still be the result of a damaged tissue, but it is very often attributed to nerve damage.

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Both acute and chronic pains are debilitating and can adversely affect a person’s state of mind, physical well-being, and even self-esteem. Moreover, the most serious types can make patients more susceptible to psychological consequences such as depression and anxiety.

At the same time, psychological distress can intensify the sensation of pain. A pain management physician, Dr. Melanie Novak employs a multidisciplinary approach to treating acute or chronic pain using injection treatments, medications, physical therapy, and behavior therapy. For more details on her practice, visit this website.

Rotator cuff tears: Symptoms and treatment options

Rotator cuff disorders are some of the most common injuries that affect the shoulder. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), every year, approximately 200,000 Americans undergo surgery to repair their rotator cuff.

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint with three main bones: the upper arm bone or humerus, the collarbone or clavicle, and the shoulder blade or scapula. The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that connect the humerus and the scapula. As their name suggests, the rotator cuff muscles allow the shoulders to rotate as well as provide them with dynamic stability.

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There are numerous causes of rotator cuff tears ranging from injury (trauma) to degeneration (repeated micro-trauma.) An acute rotator cuff tear occurs quickly. It could result from making a sudden, jerking motion such as lifting a heavy load or from falling and landing on one's arm while it's outstretched. However, degeneration is the most common cause of rotator cuff tears. A tear due to degeneration, also called a chronic tear, occurs over time: Repeated straining and pinching of the rotator cuff syndromes could squeeze the rotator cuff tendons, eventually causing them to tear.

Symptoms 

Symptoms for both types of tears include pain in the shoulder or arm that often disrupts sleep, difficulty moving the shoulder, difficulty lifting objects or raising the affected arm over the head, weakness, and soreness.

With an acute rotator cuff tear, intense pain sets in immediately after an injury or fall. With a chronic tear, the symptoms are initially mild, and the pain and mobility issues worsen over time.

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Treatment options

It is important to visit a physician as soon as symptoms arise. Treatment of a rotator cuff injury depends on the severity of the tear.

A partial tear could only require rest, pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications, cold and heat therapy, and physical therapy. However, a complete tear typically requires surgery to correct, especially if the patient does not respond to other forms of treatment. A doctor could also administer a corticosteroid shot to reduce pain and swelling.

Physical therapy and rehabilitation are essential for complete tears, as well, to strengthen the weakened muscles supporting the arm and shoulder and to restore full shoulder range of motion.

 Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., utilizes a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of chronic and acute pain. For related discussions, subscribe to this blog.

Understanding Stress-induced Pain

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Unknown to many people, stress actually triggers most pain conditions. Although the body is designed to handle stress, too much of it can wear one down and can result in emotional and physical ailments.

According to studies, 43 percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. Furthermore, it is estimated that 75 to 90 percent of doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.

By definition, stress is a bodily response to harmful situations, whether real or perceived. Events that make one feel threatened or upset can cause stress, and the reaction to that particular event is known as “stress response.”

Negative stress response, which is also called the fight-or-flight response, induces pain, affecting one’s physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Depending on the person’s stress response, however, stress can play a part in different types of health problems.

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Some of the most common stressed-induced pains include physical and physiological problems, such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.

All things considered, it is important to be ready on how to act and how to protect oneself from stress. Moreover, it is also essential for a person to know his stressors and to find ways on how to manage stress and its adverse effects.

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