How Nostalgia Can Help Ease Chronic Pain

April 15, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Nostalgic feelings and thoughts can bring us back to a happier time, but according to new research, it could also help to reduce pain perception in patients with chronic pain.

New research published in Frontiers in Psychology sought to understand how embracing nostalgia would impact the perception of pain intensity for those dealing with a chronic pain condition. Previous work has found that nostalgia has been linked to psychological, emotional and social benefits, but two new studies wanted to see its effects on pain perceptions.

The first study used a writing task to to evoke feelings of nostalgia, while the second study examined how a patient’s pain tolerance varied following thoughts of nostalgia. In both studies, those individuals who were classified in the nostalgia group had higher pain tolerances than those in the control group. These results fall in line with previous studies that found that participants who were put through pain simulations while focusing on childhood photos reported lower feelings of pain compared to those who looked at random images.

Why Nostalgia May Affect Pain Perception

Researchers stopped short of saying exactly why feelings of nostalgia could impact a person’s perception of pain, but previous work on the effects of nostalgia may shine a light on the idea. One study found that nostalgic reflection increases thoughts of self-esteem, optimism, and perceived social support, and other studies have found that those same variables can reduce a person’s pain experience.

Another study found that nostalgia may act as a motivational component, leading people to believe they can achieve specific goals when reminiscing about the past, perhaps allowing them to re-frame their current chronic pain situation.

So while the answers to why nostalgia may decrease our perception of chronic pain are still theories and ideas, there does appear to be a clear connection between nostalgia and an increased pain perception. Future studies should continue to examine this link and see if there are ways to harness this connection.

And while you probably won’t be able to rid yourself of your chronic pain condition by thinking about years gone by, it’s fascinating how researchers are always looking for new ways to help patients gain control over their chronic pain condition. That’s the same philosophy that Dr. Cohn and his team have when it comes to your pain. We won’t stop until we find a solution that works for you, and we know that what works for one person may not work for another. Let us help you get back to a life free from pain. For more information, or for help with your pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today at (952) 738-4580.

Tips For Remaining Active While Dealing With Pain

April 8, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

If chronic pain or an injury is making movement painful, you may just want to curl up in bed and rest for an extended period. Rest is fine in the immediate aftermath of an injury, but after 24-48 hours, or if you’re dealing with a chronic condition, movement and activity will be more beneficial for your body than inactivity. But how can you make it easier to get active when pain and discomfort has you wanting to sit or lie down? Here are some tips for making it easier to remain active when you’re in pain.

Remaining Active When In Discomfort

Here are some tips for making it easier to get your exercise each day if you’re dealing with an injury or a chronic pain condition.

1. Get Outside – The weather is starting to get nicer in Minnesota, so head outside and take in some nature with your exercise. Go for a scenic walk down by the Mississippi River, or bike around one of the thousands of lakes here in Minnesota. It will feel less like exercise if you’re out in nature and taking in some of Minnesota’s natural beauty.

2. Find A Friend – You may also find it easier to get moving if you have a friend or family member help hold you accountable. Catch up with a friend or walk with a co-worker on your lunch break. Talking with a friend while you walk can help take your mind off your exercise and your discomfort. You’re also more likely to follow through with exercise if someone else is expecting you to show up.

3. Low Impact – If you’re in pain, don’t try to go through an extreme workout. Light exercise will get your heart pumping, strengthen key muscle groups and help you maintain an ideal weight. You don’t have to push yourself too hard, because that can lead to a setback if you’re not careful. Stick with low impact exercises that you don’t dread doing.

4. Swim – Swimming is a great low impact exercise that is perfect for people dealing with a pain condition. Water offers natural resistance, so performing simple movements in water will build muscle mass and help to increase your flexibility. Whether you’re swimming or performing an aerobic routine, jumping in the pool can be an easy way to stay active if you have a chronic pain condition.

5. Entertain Yourself – If you would rather perform your exercises from the comfort of your home, find some ways to entertain yourself while you’re exercising to help take your mind off the activity. Watch an episode of your favorite television show while your’e on the elliptical, listen to a podcast while you’re walking on the treadmill, or listen to a chapter from your favorite audiobook while you perform a 15-minute workout in your living room. You’ll find that it’s easier to stay active if you find ways to stay entertained throughout the activity.

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

What To Do When Pain Becomes Chronic

April 1, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

As we get older, we start to notice that our bodies simply don’t feel the same as they did when we were younger. Instead of jumping out of bed like a spry chicken, we may be a little stiff, have a few dull aches or even notice some pain in new places. This discomfort may fade as we start to move more throughout the day, but what if that dull pain never goes away, or it becomes more intense? When pain becomes more regular, it’s known as chronic pain, and treating it is one of Dr. Cohn’s specialties.

When Pain Becomes Chronic

If you’ve noticed that aches and pains are becoming more frequent, there are a few things you’ll want to do to get back to a pain-free way of living. Here are some things you should do if you are dealing with constant or chronic pain.

1. Acknowledge It – Don’t try to keep pushing through each day as if this chronic condition is normal. Even though you’re getting older, it’s important to remember that chronic pain is never normal and is not just a part of the aging process. If you continue to do the same actions that led to its onset in the first place, symptoms are only going to get worse, which can also make treatment much harder.

2. Assess Your Daily Activities – Take a step back and consider how your lifestyle may be contributing to or working to relieve the pain. A healthy diet and regular exercise can oftentimes help to fight back against chronic pain, whereas a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture could be the direct cause of your chronic low back pain. Conduct a self-assessment of your daily activities and work to make some positive changes to see if that helps.

3. Talk To A Doctor – Whether it is your primary care physician or a pain management specialist like Dr. Cohn, you need to talk to a professional about your pain. When pain becomes chronic, you owe it to yourself to connect with a specialist who can provide you with a comprehensive diagnosis and set you up with an individualized treatment plan. Oftentimes treatment is simpler than expected once you connect with someone with decades of experience helping others overcome similar conditions.

4. Get Regular Sleep – Sleep is essential for your body and your mind. A number of bodily functions reset and rest while you’re asleep, and it also helps you destress from the day. All of this is imperative for pain control. If you’re not getting good sleep, don’t be surprised if you pain worsens. Make your bedroom an environment that is conducive to restful and uninterrupted sleep.

5. Increase Your Activity – A final thing to do if you have chronic pain is to increase your daily activity. That may seem counter-intuitive, but activity will drive muscle development and stability in areas that may be causing your pain. You don’t need to run a marathon, but go for a 30-minute walk or find simple ways to move more each day. Your body thrives with movement, whereas muscles can atrophy if we don’t work to develop them. It won’t always be easy if you have chronic pain, but movement is typically very helpful for a variety of pain conditions.

Don’t let chronic pain become your new normal. For help overcoming your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

Dietary Tips If You Have Fibromyalgia

March 24, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

dietary Fibromyalgia is a tricky condition that is categorized by widespread pain and fatigue, and there is no direct known cause for why it develops. Pain specialists oftentimes work to control symptoms through lifestyle adjustments and increasing a person’s daily exercise. One simple adjustment that oftentimes help to quell fibromyalgia symptoms is improving your daily diet. In today’s blog, we share some tips for controlling fibromyalgia symptoms with some simple dietary changes.

How Your Diet Can Help Control Fibromylagia Symptoms

Changing your diet won’t completely cute you of fibromylagia, but these healthy changes can help to put an end to inflammatory reactions in your digestive system that can sometimes serve to make your fibromyalgia worse. Here are some steps to take if you want to see if you can alleviate symptoms through dietary changes.

1. Journal – Start taking a little more ownership in what you put in your body and how it affects your condition by starting a daily journal. Document what foods you eat, when you eat, who much you ate and how you feel minutes and hours after the meal. Start to map out certain trigger foods and work to avoid them.

2. Avoid Caffeine And Alcohol – Not only can caffeine and alcohol sometimes serve to make fibromyalgia symptoms worse, but they can also prevent us from getting restful sleep. Poor sleep quality can cause fibro flare-ups so you need to strive to get good sleep each night, and caffeine and alcohol can disrupt that.

3. Ditch Highly Processed Foods – Highly processed foods are harder to break down for your digestive system, and this can lead to an inflammatory reaction. Foods that are high in carbohydrates or sugar are typically highly processed and can lead to a worsening of fibromyalgia symptoms.

4. Get Your Daily Dose Of Vitamins And Nutrients – Your body works best when it gets its daily dose of vitamins and nutrients from food sources. These vitamins and minerals can help to ward off inflammation and in turn keep our fibromyalgia in check. Reach for a range of foods from the most sought after food groups, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

5. Derive Energy From Your Diet – Fibromyalgia can leave a person feeling fatigued, which is why it’s oftentimes helpful to work to derive some natural energy from your food sources. You can best do this by looking for foods that are low in sugar and high in fiber. Some foods that are good natural sources of energy include:

Nuts
Fish
Beans
Avocado
Beans

We’re confident that adjusting your diet and working to make some healthy changes can have a positive affect on your fibromyalgia, but if you’re running into trouble or want more hands-on assistance, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today!

How Adverse Events Affect Children With Chronic Pain

March 17, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Children with chronic pain who experience adverse childhood events (ACEs) are more likely to suffer an increase in symptom severity, according to new research. This suggests that chronic pain should be monitored even more closely if a child is subjected to difficult or stressful events.

For the study, researchers grouped children with chronic pain conditions or rheumatic diseases into one of three groups:

Pain with zero adverse childhood events
Pain with one adverse childhood event
Pain with two or more adverse childhood events

Although the researchers didn’t spell out exactly what type of adverse events were tracked for the study, they did mention that a wide array of adverse events were used as data points. They said traumatic experiences included a range of physical, mental and sexual abuse, and things like divorce or family mental illness.

“The results indicate that children with chronic pain and/or rheumatologic diseases who are exposed to ACEs are at increased risk of worse functional disability, greater pain-related symptomatology, and a higher burden of co-morbid mental health conditions,” researchers wrote. Patients who had experienced two or more adverse childhood events had “more somatic symptoms, worse functional disability, and a higher proportion of mental health conditions.”

Mental Health And Chronic Pain Symptoms

As we’ve talked about at length on the blog in the past, chronic pain and your mental health are closely connected, so it should come as no surprise that children with chronic pain who experience traumatic life events would be at risk for more severe pain symptoms. Chronic pain is not just a physical condition, and mental factors like stress or anxiety can absolutely make physical symptoms worse.

While the study only focused on children, the results should likely be applied to all populations that are dealing with a chronic pain condition. If you experience an adverse event in your life, don’t be surprised if your pain or your symptoms worsen. It’s not ideal, but it’s a direct result of this new mental stress and fatigue.

The only bright spot about this news is that it helps us understand that we need to be aware of the physical issues that may come along with a psychologically traumatic event. If we’re aware of how these events can impact our physical health, we can help patients get the care they need sooner or develop some coping skills to lessen the effects of the event. Patients should also be up front with their pain care providers about what’s going on in their life so that providers can help them appropriately manage your pain. You don’t need to go into great detail about your divorce or family loss, but let your pain care specialist know that you’re going through some stressful life events and that you’re aware stress and worsening symptoms can go hand in hand.

We want to help you find pain relief, and that involves treating the physical, mental and emotional aspects of your condition. To connect with a provider who will help treat all these aspects and more, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.