What To Do When Chronic Pain Gets Worse

April 22, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

We all hope that if we stick to a treatment plan that eventually our underlying health condition will resolve, but unfortunately that’s not always the case. At a minimum, we hope that treatment keeps symptoms from worsening, but sometimes it seems that no matter what we do, pain only gets worse. So what should you do if you find yourself facing a worsening chronic pain condition? That’s the focus of today’s blog.

When Chronic Pain Worsens

Every pain patient is different, so what works for one patient may not work for all. That being said, we’re confident that if you try a few of these tips, you’ll see some progress.

1. Don’t Give In – The first thing you need to do is not give in to pain. It can be easy to want to curl up in a ball and lay in bed all day, and while that may provide a modicum of short-term relief, it won’t do anything to put an end to your chronic pain on a long-term basis. It’s not easy, but you need to remain mentally, physically and emotionally strong in the face of a chronic pain condition. Mental health and physical pain expression are intertwined, so when you can’t control your physical pain, it’s important to try and stay on top of your mental health.

2. Talk To Your Doctor – If you haven’t been to a pain care specialist yet, now is the time to book an appointment and get an official diagnosis. If you already have a pain care provider, now is the time to connect with them and let them know your pain is getting worse and that your treatment isn’t working. During this appointment, it’s very important to be open and honest about your pain and your current treatment regimen. We’d rather you tell us that you haven’t been attending physical therapy instead of telling us that you have been going when you haven’t, because then we have an incomplete picture of your current treatment. Reach out to your doctor, be honest and see if changing your current treatment regimen may be in your best interest.

3. Double Down On The Good Stuff – Two aspects of your life that can typically help with your chronic pain condition that you have large control over are your diet and exercise routine. There are a lot of things you can’t control with chronic pain, but you can control what you put in your body and how much activity it gets. When everything else is going wrong, double down on these efforts. Make sure you’re getting daily exercise and plenty of healthy vitamins and nutrients from your food sources.

4. Work To Limit Stress – Outside sources of stress can actually make your physical pain worse, so work on eliminating stress in your life. Obviously this is easier said than done, but take a step back and really look at what’s causing stress and anxiety other than your pain condition. Some of these factors may be pivotal parts of your life, like your job or your family, but that just means you need to find new ways to manage these stressors. Exercise and taking time for yourself each day can help to reduce stress.

If you do all of these things, odds are you’ll be able to start successfully fighting back against your chronic pain condition. But if you want more hands-on help, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.

5 Ways to Work Ergonomically

April 15, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

The following is a guest blog by freelance writer Jessica Boyle.

Desk workers are more prone to chronic pain due to long hours of working in one position — especially if you’re in an environment with poor ergonomics. While it seems harmless, poor ergonomics can inevitably cause multiple health problems, including aching in the neck, lower back, and shoulders. Fortunately, there are many ways to personally manage your own chronic pain, and one thing that can provide immediate relief is creating a more ergonomic workspace.

That being said, here are a few ways you can work ergonomically:

Customize your desk and monitor – The default setup of your desk may not be the most ergonomic, so don’t be afraid to adjust a few things to ensure you’re not physically straining yourself. For one, make sure that your mouse and keyboard are positioned in such a way that your wrists are straight and your shoulders are relaxed while working. Your monitor should be directly in front of you, with the top of the screen at eye level. Additionally, you may want to get a laptop stand or a monitor arm if you’re using a desktop computer. To minimize clutter, get a desk organizer that can keep your essentials in one place.

Switch between sitting and standing – Aside from the aforementioned body aches, sitting for too long has even more dangers — such as increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. You may think getting up to go to the bathroom or get water is enough, but you need more movement to compensate for all that sitting. In this regard, a standing desk can help you combat those negative side effects. It gives you some physical activity even when you’re just standing in front of your computer. Plus, it reduces back pain and lowers risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Support your posture and back – The best seated posture is similar to sitting in the driver’s seat of a car: slightly leaning back, but ensuring that your screen is still at eye level. If your chair doesn’t have lumbar support, you can place a rolled up towel or a lumbar support pillow to ease pressure on your lower back. Moreover, check that the back of your knees aren’t touching the seat — as this could lead to swelling feet and ankles due to reduced blood flow.

Use ergonomic accessories – As its name suggests, these are accessories that help reduce the strain on your body — similar to ergonomic furniture. A few examples are split keyboards that let you type in a more natural posture, a mouse with a curve that’s easy to hold, and an anti-glare screen that helps reduce eye fatigue. All these little tools can make a huge difference to your productivity and overall wellness.

Take breaks to move – The above points can only help so much. It’s important that you still make an effort to take breaks to stretch your body, so you can relieve some pressure and get a mental breather as well. If you’re pressed for time, you can do stretches right there at your desk. But as much as possible, make time to get away from your desk — whether you’re just going for a quick walk or a 30-minute workout. Incorporating movement during your work day promotes circulation, keeps you awake, and activates your muscles. A recipe for better quality of work indeed.

Is Dehydration To Blame For Your Headaches?

March 23, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Headaches comes in a variety of forms for a number of different reasons. One such common cause of chronic headaches is due to dehydration. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why dehydration can cause headaches to develop, and the best ways to prevent these types of headaches.

Your body operates optimally when it has the correct level of fluids in it. Your body does a pretty good job of getting rid of excess fluid through sweat and urination, but it can’t force you to consume more liquids. The thirst sensation is the best your body can do to help tell your brain that you’d benefit from hydrating. But why exactly is a dehydrated body more prone to headaches?

Why Dehydration Causes Headaches

If you are running low on fluids and electrolytes, it can cause a physical reaction in the brain. Being dehydrated can cause the brain to temporarily contract due to fluid loss. When this happens, the brain pulls away from the skull, which can trigger a pain sensation that manifests in the form of a headache. Once your body is rehydrated, the brain can return to its normal state, relieving tension and helping to control headache symptoms.

Symptoms a dehydration-based headache include but are not limited to:

Pain in the forehead region
A throbbing sensation
Lowered blood pressure
Dizziness
Confusion
Rapid heart rate
Sensitivity to light

Your body will send some passive signals to tell you to increase your fluid intake, like by creating the thirst sensation or with dark colored urine. This is a sign that all bodily functions would operate better if you increased your fluid intake.

Preventing and Treating Dehydration Headaches

If you’re suffering from headaches, one of the simplest ways to see if they respond to conservative care is to really work to increase your fluid intake and stay hydrated. Your headaches may not stem from a major neurological issue, you could just be dehydrated. This is a good thing, because it’s easily fixable. Some ways to remain hydrated throughout the day include:

Drinking More Water – Strive to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to help stay hydrated. Better yet, invest in a large water bottle or canister that makes it clear how much water it can hold. Make it a goal to finish a certain amount of refills every day.

Eating Fiber-Rich Foods – Fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, especially things like cucumbers and watermelon, have very high water content. You can stay hydrated through your food choices so reach for fiber and limit salt intake.

Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol – While on the surface it may appear that these beverages are helping to increase your fluid intake, they actually promote urine output, which can put you at risk of becoming dehydrated.

Be Mindful of Fluid Output – If you’re sweating a lot during a workout or losing fluids because you are in the bathroom frequently with a stomach bug, know that you need to replenish these fluids. Monitor your fluid loss and really work to increase your intake if you’re losing more than normal.

If you can do all these things, you just may find it a little easier to get control over your chronic headaches. However, if they don’t address the discomfort, there may be more going on than meets the eye, and you may benefit from a consultation with a pain management and headache specialist like Dr. Cohn. For more information or to set up an appointment, call his office today at (952) 738-4580.

Withdrawal Symptoms Common In Chronic Pain Patients Using Medical Marijuana

January 13, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

As we’ve said on the blog in the past, we’re a proponent of helping patients find a treatment plan that works to help prevent or control their unique chronic pain condition. For many individuals, medical marijuana plays a key role in their treatment, but it’s far from a perfect solution. As we’ve also said on the blog in the past, we want more studies to be conducted on medical cannabis so that we can begin to unwrap this complex component. A recent study did just that, and they found a potentially concerning side effect associated with its use for chronic pain patients.

According to a new study, more than half of all patients who used medical marijuana to help treat a chronic pain condition experienced withdrawal symptoms during even short consumption breaks. There have been documented studies that suggest among recreational users, with about 40 percent experiencing some sort of withdrawal symptoms when not using, but this study took a closer look at these effects on medical marijuana users. Withdrawal symptoms aren’t expressly projected as a user’s yearning for their next dosage, rather, these symptoms can manifest in a number of different ways that affect a person’s health. For example, withdrawal symptoms can affect a person’s sleep, mood, mental state, energy and appetite, and these issues are manifesting in roughly half of medical marijuana users.

Withdrawal Symptoms And Chronic Pain

For this study, researchers polled more than 520 individuals using medical marijuana to treat non-cancer-related chronic pain issues. They were asked if they experienced any of the symptoms after not using for a significant time: Craving for cannabis, anxiety, sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, restlessness, depressed mood, aggression, irritability, nausea, sweating, headache, stomach pain, strange dreams, increased anger and shakiness.

At baseline, 41 percent of people were classified in the mild withdrawal symptom group, 34 percent were in the moderate group, and 25 percent were in the severe group. Additionally, 13 percent of participants saw their withdrawal symptoms rise to the next level by the end of the first year of treatment, and eight percent transitioned upwards by the end of two years.

Interestingly, regardless of the group they were in, sleep problems were the most common symptom. And as we’ve said on the blog, inadequate sleep can have significant effects on your chronic pain condition. Poor sleep quality can worsen pain symptoms, so while some of these withdrawal symptoms may not seem all that bad, they can actually be making your pain condition worse.

At the end of the day, while they are two different treatment paths, a medical marijuana program needs to be implemented much like an opioid regimen for pain. A comprehensive patient profile needs to be developed, the patient needs access to educational material to ensure they understand the potential risks associated with the treatment, and regular checks need to be conducted along the way to ensure everything stays on track. If withdrawal symptoms or other issues are present, specific interventions need to be developed, because it’s unlikely that the problems will go away on their own. In fact, they oftentimes get worse.

So while medical marijuana can be a great addition to a chronic pain treatment plan, we doctors and patients need to be aware of the potential pitfalls to successful treatment so that they can be avoided and managed. If you’re dealing with a chronic pain condition and want help with treatment, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his experienced medical team for more information.

How To Conquer Your Chronic Pain In The New Year

January 5, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

2020 is thankfully in the rearview mirror, but unless you make some positive changes in the New Year, this year may be just like the last, or even worse, for your chronic pain condition. But how can you take control over your chronic pain condition while also accounting for the current COVID-19 pandemic? We share some tips for helping to regain control over your chronic pain condition in the new year.

New Year, Less Pain

It won’t be easy to get a better handle on your chronic pain condition, especially as we work our way out of a pandemic, but planning ahead and sticking to new routines can help you get there. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Make It A Point To Exercise More – Not everything in life is controllable, but the factors we can influence should not be overlooked. Exercise is one of those modifiable factors that we can control that has a direct impact on our chronic pain condition. Exercise will help to strengthen key structures, improve mobility and flexibility, release natural pain relievers in the form of endorphins and help you work towards a healthy weight, all of which can help with pain sensations and tolerance. It’s not always easy to exercise in the Minnesota winter, especially if COVID has closed your gym, but make it a point to exercise 3-5 times a week at home or in a COVID-safe manner. This will help with your overall health as well as your pain condition.

2. Improve Your Eating – Your diet plays a big role in the expression of your chronic pain condition. Poor eating habits can lead to inflammation and nerve compression, and weight gain can put more stress on your joints. On the flip side, healthy eating habits can help to prevent chronic pain symptoms by ensuring your body gets a range of key vitamins and nutrients that support healthy tissue growth and function. Similarly, healthy eating promotes a healthy weight, which keeps excess stress off joints like our hips and knees. You don’t need to eat perfectly every meal, but strive to eat healthier in the new year.

3. Improve Your Sleep Habits – Another controllable aspect of your health and in turn your chronic pain condition is your sleep quality. Now we know that it’s easier said than done to say “get quality sleep,” but if you make a concentrated effort to improve your sleep, you should see the fruits of your labor shortly thereafter. To improve your sleep quality, make your bedroom an ideal sleep environment. Keep it dark, cool and free from distractions like phones, televisions or books. Go to bed around the same time every night, and once you’re in bed, focus all your efforts on falling asleep. Don’t spend 45 minutes watching Netflix before playing on your phone for 20 minutes and then calling it a night at 11:15. When you get in bed, your only goal should be to fall asleep and stay asleep. Control what you can control in your sleep environment, and your sleep quality should improve.

4. Find A Specialist You Can Trust – Finally, if you feel like your current pain care provider just isn’t giving you the attention to detail that you know you deserve, consider looking into new options in the new year. We’re accepting new patients and our number one goal is to help you find an individualized solution to your pain condition. We know that everyone’s pain situation is unique, so we don’t just group you in with all other patients. Your pain condition in a one-of-a-kind issue that needs to be treated as such to get the best treatment results, and we know that we can provide you with that level of care and attention to detail. Let Dr. Cohn and his team help you make 2021 the year you put your chronic pain condition behind you.