Avoiding Common Chronic Pain Triggers This Thanksgiving

November 24, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic pain rarely takes a holiday, and in fact, holidays can oftentimes bring our chronic pain conditions to the surface. That’s why so many chronic pain patients dread the holidays, especially one like Thanksgiving that can throw a lot of triggers your way. However, if you are aware of these triggers and do what you can to avoid them, we’re confident that you’ll be able to have a more enjoyable holiday. In today’s blog, we share some tips on how to avoid some common chronic pain triggers this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Chronic Pain Triggers

If any of these can cause your chronic pain to flare up, be proactive and take some steps to help avoid them.

Lack of Quality Sleep – Lack of quality sleep is a common trigger for patients with chronic pain. Sleep is a restorative process that rids our bodies of waste products and calms inflammation. If your body can’t effectively do this, a flareup may follow. There are a number of potential hazards to quality sleep around the holidays, so be aware of these triggers and make it a point to try to get quality sleep. Don’t stay up way past your bedtime with family and friends, don’t drink caffeinated beverages late in the evening, limit your alcohol intake and try to make your sleeping environment as conducive to quality and uninterrupted sleep as possible.

Unhealthy Foods – You may be looking forward to the Thanksgiving meal, but that can come back to haunt you if you’re not careful. High fat and carbohydrate-dense foods can trigger inflammation and lead to a chronic pain flareup, as can alcohol and caffeinated beverages. Even overeating can leave you feeling lethargic and without energy to move, and we all know that movement helps to fight back against chronic pain conditions. Slow your eating pace, grab some healthy options and wash it down with water.

Extended Travel – Another common chronic pain trigger is extended time in the same position. If you’re going to be in a car or on a plane for an extended period of time, your body can get stiff, muscles can spasm and chronic pain can set in. Stretch before you get in the vehicle and move around when possible at gas stations or when you’re free to move about the cabin. This will help improve circulation and keep healthy blood pumping to all areas of your body. Drink plenty of water along the way to stay hydrated, and leave a little early so that those pit stops to stretch and move don’t make you late.

Hours On Your Feet – If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, prepping sides or just helping with cleanup afterwards, all that time standing can lead to a flareup. Don’t try to do everything yourself, and when a task lends itself to sitting down, pull up a chair. You can dice potatoes or prepare gravy while sitting down, so take advantage of time when you can be off your feet. Don’t be afraid to wear supportive shoes while you’re cooking or cleaning either, and that will help take some of the stress of the hardwood floor off your feet.

Keep these aspects of Thanksgiving in mind and work to stay ahead of a flareup over the upcoming holiday stretch. And if you want a physician to assist with your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

Tips For Exercising If You Have Chronic Pain

November 11, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Exercise isn’t always something we look forward to, and that sentiment is especially true if you are dealing with a chronic pain condition. That being said, exercise is typically one of the best things you can do to control and alleviate symptoms associated with your chronic pain condition, so it’s imperative that you make time for exercise on a regular basis. We know this isn’t easy to do if you’re bothered by a chronic pain condition, which is why we wanted to put some tips together to make it less of a battle. Below, we share some tips for getting regular exercise if you have a chronic pain condition.

Exercising With Chronic Pain

There are a number of tips on this list that can make it a little easier to get regular exercise if you have chronic pain, but we understand that they may sometimes come off as something that is easier said than done. With that in mind, we’re also going to share some tips for making these tips easier to follow! Here’s how you can strive to get regular exercise in the face of chronic pain.

Carve Out Time – One of the obstacles that everyone faces when trying to exercise is when to fit it into their daily schedule. Time doesn’t typically just magically appear, you have to make time for exercise. Recognize when symptoms are typically at their mildest and make it a point to dedicate some of that time to exercise. If that means waking up a little earlier or doing your exercise before you sit down for dinner, evaluate your schedule, figure out what time works best for you, and stick to that schedule.

Work It Into Your Daily Routine – If carving out 45 minutes to exercise regularly is proving difficult, look for other ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Take the stairs at work, bike to the office, take your dog for a second walk or schedule a weekly walk with a friend or family member. Activity is great for the body, even if it’s not in the form of concentrated exercise.

Find Exercises You Enjoy – Find an exercise routine you enjoy, or at minimum, find one you don’t dread. If running isn’t your thing, find another way to exercise. Swimming or cycling are two lower-impact forms of exercise that can provide you with numerous aerobic benefits. Everyone is different, so strive to find an exercise routine that speaks to you.

Low Impact Non-Traditional Exercises – Similarly, you can pursue non-traditional exercises as a way of staying active, especially if you’re dealing with joint pain that could be affected by higher-impact workouts. Activities like yoga or Tai Chi work on improving flexibility and cardiovascular health, which is very important if you’re dealing with a chronic pain condition.

Partner Up – Finally, exercise can seem less taxing if you do it alongside a friend or family member. Ask a friend if they would be interested in doing hot yoga with you on a weekly basis, or walk with a co-worker during your lunch break. Having a buddy to hold you accountable and carry a conversation during exercise can help you follow through and make it seem like less of a chore.

For more tips on exercising if you have chronic pain, or for help with your pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.

Addressing Racial Inequality In Pain Care

August 19, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Pain care should be readily accessible for all patients, but a recent look into the landscape of pain management across the US found that race oftentimes affects the level of care a patient receives.

According to a new study out of Dartmouth College, the US medical system provides less pain relief to black patients than white patients, and this trend has been in place for some time now. Perhaps the most notable finding in the study is that while black and white patients receive the same number of pain relief prescriptions, doctors routinely prescribe significantly lower doses for black patients.

“Our findings likely reflect systematic racial bias throughout the course of care leading to pain medicine receipt,” said the study’s lead author, Nancy Morden. “We hope our system-level reporting will prompt dialogue and commitment to deep exploration of this inequity — its causes, consequences, and tireless testing of potential remedies.”

Pain Care Differences By Race

For their study, researchers analyzed data from 310 health systems that provide primary care to black and white patients. Overall, black and white patients were equally likely to be given prescriptions for pain relief, but there was a big discrepancy when it came to the dosage. In 90 percent of healthcare systems monitored for the study, white patients received higher doses on an annual basis than black patients. In most of those systems, the difference in prescription strength was around 15 percent or greater.

So what is driving this divide? According to researchers and other medical experts, a number of different factors could influence this disparity. Some of those believed factors include:

Racial bias
Belief in untrue stereotypes
Decentralized health system that fails to address racial inequality
Lowered patient expectations

On the last point of lowered expectations, some medical experts theorize that black and white individuals approach medical treatment differently. They believe that white patients may be more demanding when it comes to access to stronger opioids because they feel like they have a right to those medications, whereas black patients may not rate their health as being as bad as it actually is when compared to others they know.

While these results are concerning, they can help start a conversation to bring about change. At our clinic, we do everything in our power to help every patient on an individual level, no matter their age, race or sexual orientation. We’re singularly focused on helping you achieve pain relief. At the same time, we also want to acknowledge these racial inequalities in pain management, because they certainly exist. We will continue to not only provide the best care we can, but also keep our team aware of how the potential for overlooked racial biases can negatively affect a patient’s level of care.

Hopefully the pain community as a whole learns from these findings and makes necessary changes to ensure every patient gets the care they deserve. If you feel like you are not getting the highest level of care from your pain provider, we urge you to reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

Why Chronic Pain Management Is A Lot Like Dieting

August 11, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

dieting Chronic pain is a common health condition that affects millions of Americans each and every day. Similarly, millions of Americans have attempted to lose weight through a diet program at some point in their life. When you think about it, a chronic pain management plan and a successful diet are a lot alike in a number of ways. In today’s blog, we explain why chronic pain care is a lot like a diet program.

Chronic Pain Care Is Like A Diet

If you have chronic pain and you’ve ever tried to go on a diet in the past, you probably realize that they share a number of key points, which are:

1. There’s No Magic Pill – Whether it be chronic pain or losing weight, there is no quick fix to the problem. You’re not going to find a magic pill that will cure your pain or have you shed 15 pounds overnight. Stop looking for the easy fix, because that’s only going to distract you from the helpful treatments.

2. It’s Going To Take Work – Piggybacking off the above point, dieting and pain management are going to require a significant commitment on your end if you want to see the best results. The more work you put in, the better results you’ll see. We’ve never had a patient say “I wish I would have tried less to manage my chronic pain,” but we’ve definitely heard people say they wish they would have worked harder. In pain management or dieting, you get out what you put in.

3. String Together More Good Days Than Bad – While this is sometimes easier sad than done, it’s important to realize that every single thing you do doesn’t have to be perfect when it comes to dieting or chronic pain care. It’s fine to reward yourself with a snack after an intense workout, and it’s not the end of the world if you have to cancel plans because of your chronic pain. Not everything needs to be perfect so long as you’re working to have more good days than bad. Doing your physical therapy exercises each day and making healthier food choices more often than not can help you string together more days where you feel like you helped yourself get healthier, and that’s what’s most important.

4. Celebrate Your Progress – Don’t just focus on your end goals and measure your success off of that. We understand that you often have specific weight goals or want to be completely free from chronic pain, but make sure you also celebrate the progress you’re making towards that goal. If activities are less painful or you’re losing weight (even if it’s not as much as you originally hoped), celebrate these wins instead of only viewing success as the final result. It will make it easier to continue working towards your goals if you celebrate the progress you’ve made so far.

5. A Specialist Can Compliment Your Approach – Finally, a chronic pain specialist or a dietitian can help provide individualized advice and give you that extra assistance you need to reach your goals. Never be afraid to ask for help or reach out to a professional for assistance, because that’s what we’re here for. So if you want a little extra help managing or overcoming your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

The Five Best Things You Can Do To Treat Your Chronic Back Pain

August 5, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Back pain is incredibly common, and while it is unique to the individual, oftentimes it can be treated in a similar manner if you follow some smart conservative care techniques. These care techniques are by no means guaranteed to help relieve your pain, but many people find partial or full pain relief by pursuing these options for an extended period of time. In today’s blog, we take a look at the five best things you can do to treat your chronic back pain.

Five Smart Ways To Treat Your Spine Pain

Here’s a look at five ways to help put an end to your chronic back discomfort:

1. Exercise and Activity – If you have back pain, you may feel like the best thing you can do is to rest and let healing run its course. While rest can be great in the immediate aftermath of a painful flareup, it’s not a great long-term solution. Light exercise and simple stretching techniques can help to promote healing and improve blood flow, so work to stay active if you want to help quell your symptoms.

2. Mind Your Diet – If you’re overweight or obese, your spine is going to be asked to deal with excess stress. Working to lose weight can reduce the pressure that is put on your lumbar spine when you move, which can help eliminate your chronic back pain. Even if you’re at a healthy weight, poor dietary choices of excess sugar and fat can lead to the onset of spinal inflammation, which can make movement painful. Strive to eat healthier if you’re dealing with chronic back pain.

3. Hydrate – Staying hydrated is one of the simplest ways to care for your spine. That’s not to say drinking water will magically cure your spine, but it can help improve muscle function if spasms are causing your discomfort. Staying hydrated also helps to improve blood flow, which can help ensure areas get enough oxygenated blood to function properly. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and be wary of excess caffeine or alcohol intake.

4. Care For Your Mental Health – As we’ve said on the blog numerous times in the past, chronic pain is not just a physical condition. There are also significant psychological and emotional components. So while you may want to focus on your physical pain, make sure you’re caring for your mental health. Take time to clear your head each day, and work to limit anxiety and stress when possible. If you’re in a good mental space, it will be easier to care for your physical health.

5. Connect With A Pain Specialist – Finally, if all else fails or you really want to fight back against your chronic pain, connect with a pain management specialist like Dr. Cohn. He’ll be able to give you a comprehensive diagnosis and set you up with an individualized pain management plan. Chronic pain can be very tough to treat, and it’s always helpful to have an expert in your corner. Let Dr. Cohn and his team be your guide.

For more information, or for help with your chronic back pain, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.