Common Misconceptions About Chronic Pain And Treatment

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

misconceptionsWhether it’s because we read some bad information online or received some less-than-stellar advice from a relative, it’s easy to accidentally form some misconceptions about chronic pain or your pain condition. Unfortunately, these misconceptions can make it harder for patients to find relief because they are pursuing ineffective methods or don’t understand the best way to treat their condition.

In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the common misconceptions about chronic pain care, and we shed a light on some helpful truths.

Chronic Pain Misconceptions

Here’s a closer look at some of the common misconceptions we hear about pain and the pain care process, and why these statements simply don’t hold water.

There’s Nothing That Can Be Done For Me – We understand that chronic pain can be extremely frustrating to deal with on a daily or regular basis, but don’t let pain allow you to think that there’s nothing that can be done to help. We’re not saying that there is always a solution to completely rid you of your pain, but we are confident that we can help you find a treatment that makes things at least a little better. Whether that’s through symptom control or teaching patients how to alleviate stress and other chronic pain triggers, we know that we’ll be able to help you. Don’t assume that there’s nothing that can be done for your pain, because that’s simply not true.

Activity Makes Things Worse – We don’t want to paint with too broad a brush, but activity almost always helps to treat a chronic pain condition when performed in the right manner. We’re not saying you should get off the couch and run a marathon tomorrow if you have chronic knee pain, but getting active will serve to make structures stronger and better able to handle stress. This can help to calm inflammatory responses that are trigger chronic pain sensations. We understand that movement might be painful, but controlled activity that is matched to your current abilities and goals will almost always be best for you in the long run. Don’t become sedentary simply because movement is uncomfortable, because that can make problems worse.

Opioids Are My Best Treatment Option – As we’ve said countless times on this blog in the past, opioids can absolutely play an integral role in your treatment plan, but they are never meant to be a best option or a stand-alone option. Opioids can help to treat some of the most painful symptoms, but while pain is at bay you need to be pursuing actions like physical therapy and exercise that help to treat the underlying problem. Don’t assume that opioids are your only option or that they’ll be a long-term option, because they work best as a short-term compliment to a comprehensive treatment plan.

It’s All In Your Head – An unfortunate reality for many chronic pain sufferers is having to deal with people who think they are making their pain up or that it’s “all in your head.” We know that this isn’t true. Don’t let uninformed individuals guide your actions or cause you to doubt yourself. Pain is real to you, and that’s what matters.

Pain Is One-Dimensional – Finally, much of the focus of chronic pain and even chronic pain treatment is on the physical. However, chronic pain is much more complex than that. Chronic pain affects us physically, mentally and emotionally, and it needs to be treated as such. You need to connect with a provider who understands the total impact that chronic pain has on a person so that they can move forward with a multi-dimensional approach to treat the mental and physical aspects of the condition. Chronic pain is so much more than just physical pain.

To connect with a provider who understands how chronic pain conditions and care can get misconstrued, reach out to Dr. Cohn. He knows the obstacles that chronic pain patients face when searching for the right treatment, and he can help guide you to the right solution. For more information, or for help with a different pain problem, contact his office today at (952) 738-4580.

The Benefits Of Talk Therapy If You Have Chronic Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

talk therapyPain is more than just a physical concept. There are also significant mental and emotional aspects of chronic pain that need to be managed correctly if you’re going to treat the totality of the problem. One such way to address the mental and emotional strife that your chronic pain condition is causing is through what’s known as “talk therapy.”

There are a few different types of talk therapy techniques, but the most common technique used in a chronic pain setting is known as cognitive behavioral therapy. In cognitive behavioral therapy, a trained therapist works with a patient to explore some psychological adaptations to help them overcome some of the obstacles created by their chronic pain condition. Some of the mental conditions that CBT can help to address include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • PTSD
  • Stress

All of these factors can intensify your physical chronic pain symptoms and make the condition harder to control if you aren’t also focused on managing these mental aspects.

How Talk Therapy Works

Many people are a little reluctant to jump right into a talk therapy technique when their chronic pain specialist recommends meeting with a psychologist. In fact, some people think that this recommendation means that their physician believes that the patient’s pain is all in their head and not actually real. This couldn’t be further from the truth. A referral to a psychologist doesn’t mean that we don’t believe your pain is real, it means that your pain is multi-faceted and you’ll get the greatest benefit by effectively managing the physical and mental aspects of the condition.

Cognitive behavior therapy gives the patient a chance to talk about a variety of aspects related to their chronic pain condition, and the process is very goal-orientated in nature. Oftentimes throughout a session, patients and providers will work to develop small attainable goals or productive lifestyle tweaks to help treat some of the different aspects of your chronic pain condition. For some patients these goals may be as simple as exercising more throughout the week, while for others a goal may be to stop and perform some breathing exercises when you notice that stress is building up. This process helps to change your mindset, and that can go a long way in overcoming pain.

For example, much of talk therapy focuses on reframing how you think about chronic pain. You may not be able to control all aspects of your chronic pain condition, but if you focus on managing the controllable aspects and find new ways to problem solve along the way, you can greatly offload some of the burden of chronic pain.

Talk therapy not only helps patients undercover some of the not-so-obvious ways that chronic pain is affecting their mental and emotional health, but it also helps them develop some helpful treatment strategies that a physical pain specialist may not be as versed in treating. Pain management is oftentimes involves a community approach in order to treat all sides of the issue, so don’t be afraid to lean on multiple specialists in order to help address your chronic pain problem

For more information about talk therapy or finding a trustworthy CBT specialist near you, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.

Optimism Grows For The Daith Piercing To Treat Migraine Headaches

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you’re probably familiar with our thoughts on the Daith piercing for migraine relief. We’ve written numbers blogs on the topic, and we’ve even helped to spread the word on research studies that are attempting to help us better understand the connection between vagus nerve stimulation and migraine relief.

We even connected with Dr. Chris Blatchley, who is leading research over in the United Kingdom in order to learn more about the condition. Recently, his research was published in The London Times, and while the digital article is hidden behind a paywall, you can read the story in the picture below or click here for a larger version.

 

What’s Next For Daith?

Dr. Blatchley recently reached out and wanted to share some exciting news about what’s in store for Daith piercing research in the near future. They are currently in the process of conducting a 12-month study on 1,000 patients who have underwent the Daith piercing to see how their migraine symptoms are affected over the next year. In 2023, they plan to use brain scans to better understand the immediate effects of the Medical Daith on brain activity.

What we like most about the article and the research is that they are really working hard to take the perceived “randomness” out of the equation. It’s not enough to simply get a piercing in the daith and hope that it provides relief. Dr. Blatchley has created the “Medi-Daith” technique, which helps piercers find the right location for the piercing. The plan isn’t to hit the vagus nerve with the piercing, but instead get close enough to stimulate the area. Being very deliberate about the location of the piercing can really help ensure that trial data is more accurate.

As we’ve said on the blog in the past and as we’ll echo now, while there does seem to be a correlation between vagus nerve stimulation and migraine relief, we’re still waiting on that concrete proof that provides a better understanding between the connection. We’ve always recommended the technique as a low-cost option for patients who have exhausted other treatments and failed to find relief. That said, it appears that there is growing optimism that the piercing can be beneficial for migraine sufferers.

We’ll follow the new research closely, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have if you’re struggling with migraines. We have written a number of blogs with helpful information, and if you’re considering pursuing a daith piercing, make sure that you connect with a piercer that understands the daith procedure and how to complete the procedure to stimulate the vagus nerve.

For more information, or for help with migraines or a chronic pain issue, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.

Is Ice Or Heat Best For Chronic Pain?

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

heat iceWe use ice and heat every day to make life a little better. Whether we’re cooling down a glass of water or heating up leftovers in the microwave, we regularly use ice and heat to manipulate the temperature of certain things. We can also use ice and heat on our bodies to make it function a little better! But which is better for chronic pain, ice or heat? We explore the answer to that question in today’s blog.

Icing Or Heating Chronic Pain

We can’t sit here and say that it’s always better to ice an area or always better to heat it if you’re suffering from chronic pain. Every person’s pain is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. So to say you should always do one or the other is disingenuous.

Instead, let’s take a closer look at what each technique does, and it may help you figure out what move is best. Heat helps to open up blood vessels and improve your circulation. Healthy blood can more easily flow to muscles and structures in your body, so if your chronic pain is being caused by a frequent muscle cramps or joint stiffness, heating the area may be the right move.

On the other hand, ice helps to constrict blood vessels. This limits the flow of fluid to and from an area, which can be helpful if you’re dealing with an inflammatory response. Icing will help to calm swelling and inflammation that can make movement uncomfortable. If this inflammation is contributing to nerve compression and chronic pain symptoms, icing may be the perfect solution.

Again, find what works for you, but here are a couple of methods that tend to be helpful based on the cause of your discomfort:

Lower Back Pain – Heat tends to be better than icing, but again this is highly dependent on the root issue.

Arthritis – Arthritis tends to see some mild symptom relief with either heat or ice.

Joint Overstress – If your joints are painful from a long day of physical activity, ice may be the best way to calm inflammation.

And finally, remember that how you apply ice and heat is important. Heating pads can work great, but so too can a warm bath or a hot shower. When it comes to using ice, be careful not to apply ice directly to the skin, as this can lead to cold burns or other injuries. Don’t apply an ice pack directly to the skin, instead wrap it in a towel or cloth before putting it on the affected area. Cold baths or showers can be another way to help calm inflammation instead of an ice pack.

You also want to limit your time with each technique. Don’t heat or ice an area for more than 15-30 minutes at a time. Over-applying ice can do more damage than sitting in a warm bath for an hour, but instead of sitting with heat applied for an hour, do so for 15 minutes then get up and stretch to help muscles get used to movement and activity when they are getting ample blood flow. Be sure to pursue active treatments alongside these ice and heating techniques for maximum benefit.

To learn more about whether ice or heat is right for you, or to talk to a pain specialist about your chronic pain issue, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.

How Effective Are Nerve Blocks For Chronic Pain?

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

nerve blockWhen a nerve is misfiring or being regularly irritated, it can end up causing chronic pain. When this happens, you need to sync up with a chronic pain specialist and figure out the best method for treatment. For some patients who have failed to find success through other conservative means, a nerve block could prove to be a very effective treatment.

In today’s blog, we take a closer look at how nerve blocks can be used in a comprehensive pain treatment plan.

What Is A Nerve Block?

A nerve block, as the name implies, is a type of treatment that helps to block out a painful nerve signal. You may be more familiar with nerve blocks than you think, as an epidural injection that a pregnant woman may receive during labor is likely the most commonly known type of nerve block.

In order to administer a nerve block, your pain management specialist will need a few different tools, including a needle and some specific guidance technology. A fluoroscope, ultrasound or CT scan can help to ensure that the needle is positioned perfectly in order to administer the solution to the problematic area. Once in position, the doctor will inject a solution that typically includes pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory drugs to help calm the irritated nerve.

Some conditions that may be managed with nerve blocks include:

  • Chronic pain
  • Arthritis
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
  • Post-Surgical Pain
  • Headaches
  • Sciatica/Back Pain

Are Nerve Blocks Effective?

Yes and no. Nerve blocks are typically extremely effective at treating nerve pain in the short-term. Most patients feel much better before they leave the clinic, but these nerve blocks aren’t really considered a stand-alone, long-term option. Eventually the drugs will wear off, so it’s very important that you use this time to take some positive steps to help control your condition.

For example, if physical therapy or exercise is too challenging or painful prior to the nerve block, make sure you pursue these options if the nerve block makes movement more comfortable. We always say that nerve blocks should be part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Used in combination with other treatments like physical therapy, stretching, exercise, mindfulness, dietary adjustments and weight loss, you can certainly help to take back control from your chronic condition. The nerve block won’t do it alone, but it can help to make other treatments more effective, which is its real benefit.

So if you are interested in learning more about nerve blocks, or you’re wondering if a nerve block could help you better pursue other active treatments for your current health condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team. We’d be more than happy to answer any questions you have or develop an individualized care plan for your needs. For more information, give our team a call today at (952) 738-4580.