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.

Five Things Untreated Chronic Pain Can Do To A Person

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

chronic pain factorsChronic pain certainly isn’t fun to live with, but some people think that if they can grit their teeth and bear it, that’s the worst they’ll have to deal with. Unfortunately, chronic pain can impact us in other ways that aren’t so obvious, and it can lead to a number of other problems if the pain condition isn’t carefully treated. In today’s blog, we explore some of the ways that untreated chronic pain can affect a person.

How Untreated Chronic Pain Can Affect A Person

There are countless ways that untreated chronic pain can affect a person, but here’s a look at five major issues that can develop if you don’t confront your condition head on:

1. Depression – Chronic pain and depression have been closely linked. Pain can have a significant impact on the brain, and if it goes on long enough, it can actually lead to depression and depressive symptoms. It can also be hard to recognize depression when you’re simultaneously dealing with an unresolved pain condition. These two conditions can be cyclical in nature, and it can be hard to break free from the cycle.

2. Anxiety – Untreated chronic pain can also leave you feeling more anxious. If you’re constantly worried about whether you’ll have a flareup or if chronic pain is going to force you to cancel plans, you can begin to develop anxiety. Eventually, even though anxiety is rooted in your chronic pain condition, it can spill over into all aspects of your life and compound the problem. Fortunately, targeting the chronic pain condition oftentimes helps to resolve these feelings of anxiousness.

3. Heightened Pain Perception – Some people think that ignoring chronic pain sensations can help them build a greater pain tolerance, but oftentimes you’re actually training your brain to do the opposite. If your brain is constantly interpreting pain signals, and you’re not doing anything to help calm these signals, your brain can become hyper-aware of these nerve sensations and either become oversensitive to pain signals or start misinterpreting nerve relays as pain signals. You may actually become more sensitive to pain signals by trying to ignore them.

4. Stress – You may also find yourself more easily stressed when living with untreated chronic pain. Every activity becomes more stressful when you’re attempting to do it while in pain. Work becomes more stressful. Family life becomes more stressful. Even activities that are supposed to be enjoyable become more stressful when pain is present.

5. Irritable – Finally, you may not notice it, but your friends and family members may have noticed that you seem to have become more irritable as a result of your untreated chronic pain condition. Again, pain can have a severe impact on our mental health, and we may not even realize it’s happening. If you notice that you’re becoming quicker to anger or you’re more irritable, know that it’s not just because you’re getting older, it’s because you’re dealing with untreated chronic pain.

The good news is that by treating chronic pain, you can work to address all of the issues listed above. If you want to take the first step in overcoming your chronic pain condition and any side effects it’s causing, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.

Don’t Feel Guilty About Your Chronic Pain Condition

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

guiltyRoughly 1 in 5 people deal with chronic pain on a regular basis, and a significant amount of them feel guilty about their diagnosis. There is absolutely no reason you should feel guilty about your chronic pain condition, but the fact of the matter is that we talk about overcoming the stigma or guilt associated with a chronic pain condition with patients all the time.

So many people feel guilty about fighting a daily battle with chronic pain, but why do they feel this way, and what can we do to overcome these feelings? We try to answer those questions in today’s blog.

Why Do We Feel Guilty About Chronic Pain?

A recent study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology decided to take a closer look at the subject of guilt among chronic pain patients. You can take a closer look at the full study here, but we’ll jump to some of the takeaways. First, the team identified three main reasons why chronic pain patients felt guilty about their battle with chronic pain. They are:

1. Others assume that a patient’s pain condition is not legitimate – Oftentimes even after an official diagnosis, patients in the study faced questions about the legitimacy of their condition.

2. Others assuming that the patient is not managing their condition well – Some people felt like they were letting their doctor or their family down if they were not making progress in treatment.

3. Assumptions regarding how one’s actions affect others in terms of the person’s inability work or fulfill social roles – In other words, patients felt like others may view them as less of a co-worker or parent because their pain can sometimes affect their ability to perform certain duties within these roles.

When you look at those three reasons, we spot an interesting trend. Chronic pain patients are feeling guilty about how they come off to other people, like their friends, family, caregivers and doctors. How they feel they are being perceived by others is what’s driving these feelings, and that’s unfair.

So what can we do about feeling guilty about chronic pain? While it’s easier said than done, stop focusing on what other people think. The best way to do that is to focus on yourself. If you know that you are doing every thing you can to treat your chronic pain condition, than the opinions of others should feel less important. You know that you are trying your best, so those comments and suggestions shouldn’t get under your skin. And if they do, you can simply let them know everything that you are trying to get the condition under control.

Again, we know that it’s easier said than done to say “Don’t let what other people think bother you,” but if you’re truly giving it your best effort, it should be easier to shake off any feelings of guilt because you know that you’re doing all you can. You can only control your actions, so if you’re doing what you can, the thoughts and opinions of others shouldn’t hold much water. Trust yourself, commit to your rehab, and know that you should be feeling pride about your work ethic, not shame over other people’s misconceptions.

As always, if you have questions or concerns about managing your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn. He’ll treat you with respect and explain how to manage some of the psychological effects of chronic pain. For more information, give our team a call today at (952) 738-4580.