Swearing Can Reduce Pain Levels

August 4, 2015 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Although the theory hasn’t been tested on patients with chronic pain, a study published in the American Pain Journal suggests that swearing makes pain more tolerable.

For their study, researchers asked two groups of people to stick their hands in a bucket of ice cold water. Both groups were told to remove their hand from the bucket when the pain became unbearable, but one group was asked to repeat a word that may describe a table, while the other group was encouraged to repeat one swear word while their hand was in the water. After the groups were recorded, they switched roles and repeated the exercise.

Swearing Study Results

As you might imagine, participants in the swearing group were able to hold their hands in the water for a longer duration than the non-swearing group. What you might not have guessed is just how long the swearing group could hold out. On average, swearers lasted an extra 31 seconds in the cold hand challenge, and 3 out of 4 people lasted longer in the bucket when they swore.

Interestingly, researchers noted that people who reported swearing more frequently on a regular basis were less effective cursing was during the cold hand endurance test. They believe people who frequently express their anger in a verbal manner seem to be more sensitive to acute and chronic pain. On the flip side, those who don’t regularly swear were able to better tolerate pain when they cursed.

The reason swearing can help ease your pain is because it can activate your brain’s endogenous opioids, which act as a natural pain reliever. These chemicals mimic the effects of morphine and oxycodone, albeit on a smaller scale. That said, like a lot of medications, once your body gets used to it, the effects may not as successful at relieving pain. Researchers believe that higher doses or more vulgar words may be needed to achieve the same effect, which can cause people to unknowingly start to add more cursing to their regular speech.

In all, letting out a curse word after hitting your thumb with a hammer may help you better handle the pain, but you shouldn’t sit on the couch all day cursing your arthritis.

Related source: Time

Supplements For Joint Pain

July 31, 2015 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic joint pain plagues many of my patients, and oftentimes this condition is caused by arthritis. Because so many people suffer from joint pain and arthritis, a lot of pharmaceutical companies are trying to cash in on the demand for vitamins and supplements. But which supplements are the best, and what else should you do to combat arthritis pain?

The first thing you’ll want to do is understand that there is no magic pill to fix arthritis. Some supplements may alleviate some symptoms in the short term, but they won’t provide a full on cure. You need to take proactive steps and focus on all aspects of your health if you really want to see results. That means you need to get off the couch and start exercising. We already know that 30 minutes to an hour of moderate to intense activity is great for your body, but it can also help alleviate symptoms associated with arthritis.

Diet is another area of focus. Foods with Omega-3 fatty acids are natural anti-inflammatories, so ditch the pizza and soda for fish and leafy greens. Combined with exercise, a balanced diet can help you lose weight, which means your body won’t need to bear as much weight. Losing weight is a natural way to take some stress off your joints.

Paired With Pills

If you are going to take a supplement to combat your osteo or rheumatoid arthritis, be smart about what you put in your body. First and foremost, you should follow your doctor’s instructions. Ask them what supplements they’d recommend, especially if you are taking other medications to manage pain. Stick to your doctor’s instructions, and never take more than the recommended amount, even if you’re in more pain than normal.

Again, discuss these options with your doctor, but some good vitamins and supplements to consider include:

Calcium

Vitamin D3

Ginger

Turmeric

Omega-3

Vitamin E

Green Tea

Paired with diet and exercise, supplements can be a key component in keeping your arthritis under control.

Healthy Eating and Our Joints

July 27, 2015 / Thomas Cohn, MD

What we eat does make a difference in how we feel. The diet most of us eat is probably not healthy. The most common problem is we eat too much food, and that can make us obese. Extra weight does stress the body, especially the joints. From the lumbar, through the hips, knees, ankles and feet, the body does feel extra pounds and may wear out early. The types of food we eat also make a difference. Taking care of ourselves better may reduce the need for costly medical intervention.

Chronic Joint Pain and Food

Chronic pain is a huge problem in the United States, as an estimated 63 million people suffer from chronic joint pain according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Injury and wear and tear over time leads to inflammation in the joints. Inflammation then leads to bone and cartilage damage, which causes the pain we feel. If we can reduce or prevent inflammation in our joints, we can reduce the damage. Some of the foods we eat tend to stimulate inflammation; others are known to reduce it. Vitamins and supplements have not been conclusively shown when in pill form to be helpful.

The compounds in our food do make a difference. For our bones and joints, the helpful compounds include:

Omega-3 fatty acids

Sulfur

Calcium

Vitamin D

Fiber

Anthocyanin

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential in cells and they help control inflammatory cytokines. There are many sources of these fatty acids, especially in fish like salmon, herring and other cold-water fish. Eggs and flaxseed are also high in Omega-3 fatty acid. Calcium is an essential mineral necessary for bone health and is necessary in electrical signal transmissions in muscles and nerves. Diary sources like milk, yogurt and cheese as well as many green vegetables have large amounts of calcium. Vitamin D best comes from exposure to sun. Sulfur is a mineral used in connective tissue including cartilage, ligaments and tendons. It is found in many foods, including eggs, fish, and many green vegetables. Anthocyanin is an antioxidant compound found in fruits that have pits like plums, cherries and peaches, and many berries including blueberries and raspberries. Anthocyanin works to stop production of cytokines that lead to inflammation.

Foods to avoid that affect our bones and joints include: refined sugars, simple carbohydrates, unhealthy fats and food sensitivities. Glucose, or simple sugars, in higher levels are considered pro-inflammatory and can stimulate cytokines production. Simple carbohydrates are found in food like cake, white bread, cookies, many cereals and crackers and are easily digested to simple sugars and then become pro-inflammatory like glucose. Unhealthy fats are Omega-6 fatty acids, like corn oil, and are found frequently in fried foods. Omega 6 fatty acids tend to trigger release of cytokines. Food sensitivities are individual foods that trigger problems for some people like gluten or MSG.

So if you’re dealing with chronic pain, the first thing you’ll want to look at is what you’re putting in your body. Change your eating habits, and you may notice a reduction in your chronic pain!

Could Alcohol Help Ease Chronic Pain?

July 22, 2015July 22, 2015 / Thomas Cohn, MD

People who regularly reported having a beer or two appear to be less likely to experience chronic pain, according to researchers at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

According to researchers, adding a beer or two to your regular routine could help ease pain and lessen the handicap caused by chronic pain. For their study, researchers examined 2,239 individuals who suffered from chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia. After taking a closer look at their alcohol consumption habits, researchers discovered that individuals who regularly reported having a beer or two experienced lower levels of disability than chronic pain sufferers who never drank.

“Although we cannot say that alcohol consumption causes less disability among people with chronic widespread pain, the observed link warrants further investigation,” said Gary Macfarlane of the University of Aberdeen.

Alcohol and Chronic Pain

The study asked patients to estimate their weekly alcohol consumption in an effort to see what role alcohol played in the chronic pain equation. Researchers uncovered that individuals who drank between 21 and 35 drinks a week were 67 percent less likely to experience inability to perform certain daily tasks. For reference, one drink was classified as an 8-oz beverage, or about the size of a small glass of win.

Although the findings are interesting, it doesn’t mean you should start pounding beers after dinner. The Arthritis Foundation wrote that moderation is key.

“The important part of that message is that “alcohol in moderation” means one or two glasses of wine, beer or spirits. Not three,” the Arthritis Foundation wrote on their website.

Related source: Mirror.Uk

What It’s Like To Be Young And Have Chronic Pain

July 17, 2015 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition at any age, but we naturally slow down a bit as we get older, so dealing with constant pain at a young age isn’t something most can relate to very easily. People in their 20’s and 30’s often feel misunderstood or that they have to hide their condition from friends.

Recently, the Huffington Post ran an article titled “15 Things No One Tells You About Chronic Pain As A 20-Something.” The article makes some good points, and we decided to take the five most relevant points and expand on them in today’s blog.

5 Things They Don’t Tell You

Here’s a look at five things most people don’t know about dealing with chronic pain in your 20’s and 30’s.

1. The idea of going out and maintaining a “normal” 20-something social life is laughable.

Chronic pain takes a lot out of you, so some people just won’t understand why you don’t want to paint the town for hours or go hiking on a Saturday afternoon. You want to go out and hang with friends, but sometimes your body just isn’t up for it, or you’re afraid of a flare up in a group setting. Sometimes people take your decision not to attend a function as a personal slight, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. You’d love to join, but your pain makes it nearly impossible.

2. Some people are really open and kind about your chronic pain. Some are just the worst.

You likely have a close circle of family and friends who truly understand your condition and how it affects you, but you also probably know some people who are less than empathetic about your condition. They say things like “Oh you’re just faking it,” “You’re lazy” or worse “You’re just doing it for attention.” It’s best to just ignore these people and distance yourself from them if possible. They simply can’t comprehend what you’re going through, and their negativity only makes things worse.

3. There are good days and bad days.

Some days you feel like you can conquer the world, other days it’s an accomplishment if you can just get out of bed. You’ll have good days and bad days, just like everyone else, but what a lot of people don’t understand is that you never know what type of day it’s going to be. You can’t plan around chronic pain. Sometimes it flares up at the worst time, while other times your pain subsides at the perfect time.

4. Chronic pain is a full-time job.

Chronic pain fills up your daily and monthly calendars. Between seeing doctors and specialists, refilling your medications and getting in your daily exercise and physical therapy, chronic pain is a full-time job. When you throw in other activities, like work and social activities, you can start to feel overwhelmed by the condition. Be sure to make time for yourself, even if that just means marking off an hour to watch a few episodes of your favorite TV show on Netflix.

5. Get a Pain Guru.

Lastly, it’s important to find a professional who understands your condition and who helps you TREAT the symptoms, not just manage them. Any old doctor can prescribe painkillers and call it a day, but you need to find a specialist who believes in you, takes time to understand the condition and who works to help you get better.