Cooking healthy: Reduce pain and swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis

Food may not be the only cause of inflammation and other body pains, but cutting down on some ingredients will ease the discomfort caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Here are some healthy ingredients to consider:

 

Image source: goredforwomen.org

 Skip the fat and choose olive oil. People with rheumatoid arthritis should avoid eating fried foods. Stay away from food rich in saturated and trans fat, and settle with a healthy, sautéed meal with olive oil. 

Inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis can increase a person’s risk of heart disease, and choosing for a healthier kind of oil is good for the joints and heart. 

Choose green, leafy vegetables. Leafy greens are powerful antioxidants, which reduce joint damage and pain caused by inflammation. Kale and broccoli, when taken in moderation, can aid swelling and joint pain. Vegetables are low in calories, so they also aid weight loss and ease stress on the joints. 

Image source: science-all.com

Sip on some tea during the day. Green tea is a great brew that aids digestion. It also reduces pain caused by inflammation because of antioxidants. 

Go whole grain. Choose whole grain when picking rice, bread, and oats. Whole grains are rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins that will benefit those with arthritis.

Dr. Melanie Novak is a pain management physician who has served patients who experience chronic pain problems. Follow this Twitter account to know more about pain management and other similar topics.

What to Avoid Doing in the Event of Back Pain

After a long day at the office, some people experience back pain. Back pain has also been common among students because of their heavy backpacks and bad posture while writing or using their computers. When people experience back pain, they have best avoid normal physical activities for the first few days, and heavy lifting and twisting for the first six weeks, before they can slowly go back to exercising. Having a physical therapist would be advisable for those who are recovering from severe back pain.

image source: rcemlearning.co.uk

There are some treatments for long-term back pain that are not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) because of lack of evidence of their effectiveness. The list of such treatments includes: low level laser therapy, traction, lumbar supports, etc.

As mentioned, there are activities that should be avoided while still recovering (unless the doctor advises them). These are contact sports, dancing, sit-ups, racquet sports, and jogging. Avoid wearing high heels, standing for long periods, and smoking. When resting, most people with back pain would just lie on their backs. A pillow must be added under the knees to reduce the pressure. Another option is to lie on a fetal position with a pillow between the legs. Make sure to consult a doctor for all kinds of back pains, especially severe ones, to prevent them from getting worse.

image source: lyceum.com

Dr. Melanie Novak specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of pain. Subscribe to this blog for more information on chronic pain treatment.

Treatment Options for those Suffering from Chronic Pain and Opioid Addiction

Image Source: breakingthecycles.wordpress.com

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.

Image Source: rapidmedicaldetox.wordpress.com

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.

Image source: wikipedia.org

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.

Image source: wikipedia.org

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.

Image source: blogs.nature.com

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.

Image source: youtube.com

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

Image source: blog.beaumont.edu

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.

Image source: valerieorsoni.com

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

Image source: backpaininfo.co

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.

Image source: criticalscience.com

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.