Western Diet May Be Making Chronic Pain Symptoms Worse

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

western dietMore than one in five adults in the US is living with chronic pain, and a new study suggests that our diet may play a big role in the expression of this pain. Conversely, making improvements in what we eat could help to lessen the impact that chronic pain has on our daily lives.

According to a recent study published in Nature Metabolism, Western-style diets, which are typically rich in omega-6 polyunstaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), may be linked to an increased risk of chronic pain. PUFAs, are common in foods like cured meats, processed snacks and fast food, which are oftentimes far too common in a Western diet. Moreover, the effects they have may be amplified in patients with comorbidities, like diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Western Diet and Chronic Pain

Researchers looked at the effects of the Western-style diet on both mice and humans, and they found a connection between an increased presence of PUFAs and a higher likelihood of chronic pain symptom expression. For example, in patients with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that those with the greatest pain and those who were most likely to take pain medication to help calm symptoms had the highest levels of omega-6 fatty acids in their skin.

However, researchers were also encouraged by what these findings may mean for the average chronic pain sufferer. They found that both inflammation- and neuropathy-related pain may be improved through dietary modifications and healthy lifestyle changes. Additionally, certain medications could help to block the release of PUFAs into the bloodstream, further helping to relieve symptoms.

The good news is that we’re gaining more information each and every day on how different lifestyle factors can treat or exacerbate our chronic pain condition, and this study shows just how important it is to be cognizant of what we put in our bodies, especially if we’re overweight or dealing with diabetes. Diet and exercise are two controllable aspects of everyday life that have a major impact on how our body processes and expresses pain. Changing your diet likely won’t completely solve your chronic pain issue on its own, but if you pair it with exercise and you take care of your mental and emotional health, all signs point to you being able to better control or even cure your chronic pain condition.

It’s not going to be easy, which is why we’re here to help. If you want to get more information about your chronic pain condition, or if you want assistance altering your diet so that it helps relieve instead of contribute to your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team of chronic pain specialists today. No two chronic pain conditions are the same, and we’ll give you the individualized attention to help solve your chronic pain problem. For more information or to get started on your chronic pain treatment journey, click here to learn how to get in contact with Dr. Cohn’s office.

Why The Right Chronic Pain Specialist Makes All The Difference

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

doctor chronic painChronic pain is a condition that affects tens of millions of people worldwide, and it’s one of the most difficult conditions to treat because of its complexity. In order to give yourself the best chance to reduce symptoms or successfully treat the underlying issues, you need a couple of things.

Not only do you need a positive mindset and a strong work ethic to follow through on your treatment recommendations, but you also need the right chronic pain specialist. In today’s blog, we explain why having the right chronic pain specialist by your side will make all the difference in your treatment for a pain condition.

Why You Need A Pain Doctor Who Cares

Finding a pain specialist who truly understands what you’re going through can make a world of difference. For starters, they’ll work to create a full work-up and a comprehensive diagnosis. Oftentimes a chronic pain condition is more than just a physical condition, so it’s important to have a specialist who can see how you’re being physically, mentally, emotionally and socially affected by the condition. Treatment will need to be multi-faceted in order to achieve best results and care for all aspects of your condition, so you’ll want a specialist who is willing to go the extra mile to understand all aspects of your pain.

You also need to find a pain specialist who wants to treat the underlying condition that’s causing your chronic pain, not just someone who works to mitigate symptoms. We understand that reducing symptoms can make life more bearable, but it’s kind of like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. It won’t provide any long-term relief, and it may actually make it harder to treat your condition in the future if it continues to worsen or you begin to build up a tolerance to painkillers. It’s easy to prescribe opioids for a chronic pain condition. It’s hard to find the right active solutions. Find a doctor who is willing to do the hard work, because you’ll be better off for it.

A doctor who truly cares about your needs will also be a good listener and willing to adjust their recommendations based on your progress or lack thereof. Some doctors believe that their original diagnosis and treatment are best, even in the face of poor results. You need a doctor who is willing to listen to your concerns and pivot to new treatment options if something isn’t working. It sounds simple, but it’s not something you’ll find at every clinic.

Finally, it’s important to find a doctor who specializes in chronic pain care because they will have a wealth of experience dealing with the complex issues presented by your condition. While no two cases are ever the same, having extensive background with difficult-to-treat pain conditions can help you get a leg up on what’s bothering you. Some doctors do everything they can to help, but they simply lack the depth of experience to provide you with the level of care you need. A pain management specialist can give you that expert level of care that can make all the difference with your treatment.

If you’re looking for a provider who can check all of the above boxes, look no further than Dr. Cohn. He’ll do everything in his power to provide you with the individualized care you need to overcome your chronic pain condition. He’s done it for countless patients in the past, and he can do the same for you. For more information, or for help with your chronic pain issue, reach out to his office today.

Five Alternatives To Opioids For Chronic Pain Management

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

opioids safety drugsOpioids are a hot-button issue in the chronic pain community, and rightfully so. They can absolutely play a vital role in helping someone overcome a chronic pain condition, but they are also much riskier than other treatments that don’t carry a likelihood of overdose and dependency. We’ve seen firsthand how opioids can be a perfect compliment to a chronic pain management program, but we also want to give patients an opportunity to avoid painkillers if they so choose as part of their recovery plan. In today’s blog, we showcase five alternatives to opioids for chronic pain management.

Non-Opioid Treatments For Chronic Pain

Here’s a look at five non-opioid treatment options that may be recommended alongside or in lieu of a painkiller prescription.

1. Exercise – Exercise can work wonders for a chronic pain condition, but we understand how exercise can be hard to come by if you’re dealing with chronic pain. Find an exercise program that works for you, and know that any exercise is beneficial. You don’t need to run a marathon or spend two hours in the gym in order to do right by your body. Walking, swimming or cycling can all be beneficial forms of exercise that are not as hard on your body as some other forms.

2. Physical Therapy – Another way to condition and strengthen your body if you’re dealing with chronic pain is through a physical therapy program. Physical therapy involves targeted exercises and stretches developed by a professional who understands your unique situation and needs. This method can actually be more effective than general exercise because it focuses on weak points and specific body parts in need of attention.

3. Behavioral Health Intervention – Behavioral health intervention (BHI) helps to combat chronic pain by training the brain to change how it interprets sensory signals. The brain can become overwhelmed by sensory signals and misinterpret signals as pain sensations. A specialist can help to drown out these misfiring sensory signals or decrease their intensity through a variety of mindfulness-based techniques.

4. Sleep Improvements – While sleep alone won’t likely cure your chronic pain, regularly getting eight hours of uninterrupted sleep can do wonders for the expression of your chronic pain condition. Sleep is a restorative time period for the body where toxins are removed from key areas of our body and it can recover from the stresses of the day. Poor sleep can intensify pain signals and make it less likely that you’ll commit to the physical activities required to truly help fight your chronic pain condition. Improving your sleep quality is a key component to a comprehensive pain treatment plan.

5. TENs Unit – A TENs unit stands for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and it uses low doses of electricity to drown out and block sensory signals that are being interpreted as pain by the brain. Chronic back pain and muscle pain are two types of chronic injuries that tend to respond well to a TENs unit. A pain management specialist can take a look at your condition and determine if a TENs unit is something that could be appropriate for your situation.

So if you want to try to control and treat your chronic pain condition without the assistance of opioids, consider one of more of the treatments on this list. Better yet, connect with Dr. Cohn and his pain management team to develop a comprehensive solution suited to your individual needs. For more information, contact him today!

How To Beat The Heat And Chronic Pain With Water This Summer

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

water exerciseA heat wave is slated to hit the Twin Cities for an upcoming stretch of days, and not only can the heat be uncomfortable, but it can make a chronic pain condition worse. When the temperatures start to rise, many Minnesotans head to one of the more than 10,000 lakes or a backyard pool to keep cool. But water can also be exactly what you need to fight back against your chronic pain condition. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at how water can be a game changer for anyone dealing with a chronic pain condition.

Use Water To Help Combat Chronic Pain

Water has some unique properties that make it extremely beneficial for patients dealing with certain types of chronic pain conditions. For starters, the buoyancy of water reduces the pressure that gravity exerts on it. Most people with chronic back pain or a similar condition have been told that exercise can help to strengthen certain areas of their body and reduce pain symptoms, but regular exercise in and of itself can be painful because of the load you’re asking your body to bear. Traditional exercises like running or lifting weight can be difficult with a chronic pain condition, but some of the stress the body has to disperse when exercising is mitigated by the buoyancy of water, so you should consider taking your workout to the water.

Water can also be extremely helpful for individuals whose pain is limiting their mobility. Not only can we be more flexible in the water because the effects of gravity aren’t working against us, but water acts as a natural resistance band when we try to move in it. Resistance training is its own form of therapy, and you’re working against this resistance every time you move in the water.

Aqua therapy is also beneficial because it can easily be achieved by people of all skill levels. You don’t need to be an avid runner or familiar with the weight room in order to see the benefits of aqua therapy. All you need to do is find a pool or a lake and do some simple movement exercises for 10-20 minutes. If you need help creating a water-based movement routine, we’d be happy to help you develop one!

And finally, water is also beneficial for what it can offer our bodies, especially on hot days. Staying hydrated is key for your body to perform optimally. Hydrated muscles are less likely to strain or spasm during activity, and drinking plenty of fluids will prevent your blood vessels from constricting. When they constrict because you’re dehydrated, blood can’t flow as optimally through out your body, which can deprive key structures of an adequate amount of oxygen-rich blood. You’re not operating at 100 percent if you’re dehydrated, and oftentimes that will only serve to make your chronic pain condition or its symptoms worse.

So let water be your best friend this summer, because it absolutely can help you take control over your chronic pain condition. For more information, or for help developing a chronic pain care routine, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his pain care team today!

When Caring For Chronic Pain, Remember Your ABCs

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

abcChronic pain can be an incredibly frustrating condition to treat. Some days are great, others are hell. It’s also a condition that is so unique to the individual that what works for one person may not work for someone else. With that said, many chronic pain sufferers can make progress in treating their condition if they remember their ABCs. In today’s blog, we explain what it means to remember your ABCs when it comes to treating your chronic pain condition.

The ABCs Of Chronic Pain Care

When trying to overcome your chronic pain condition, remember your ABCs, which stand for:

Acknowledge

The first step in overcoming any problem is to acknowledge that it exists. If you ignore it and try to push through your day like nothing is wrong, it’s not going to go away. In fact, it’s only likely to get worse. Acknowledge your condition and attack it head on instead of hoping it will just magically resolve. And once you’ve acknowledged that a problem exists, it’s time to…

Be Proactive

Being proactive is the next step in conquering your chronic pain condition. While passive treatments like rest and painkillers can help to calm symptoms, they will do nothing to treat the underlying cause. Instead, pursue an active treatment that targets the root cause of the problem so that you can experience long-term relief. Active techniques like exercise, physical therapy, targeted stretching and cognitive behavioral therapy can all help to provide symptom relief because they target the source of your problem. And if you need help cultivating a proactive treatment routine or figuring out which one is right for your, it’s time to….

Consult With An Expert

Finally, to take control of your chronic pain situation, call in an expert like Dr. Cohn. He understands that chronic pain is unique to the individual, so he will take the time to get to know you and your pain condition. He’ll begin with a comprehensive diagnosis and eventually work his way towards providing you with a carefully managed treatment plan that can be adjusted based on your progress or any difficulties along the way. He also knows that you may need help along the way, so he’ll always be there for assistance or guidance if you have any questions or concerns. It’s going to take some time and it’s not always going to be easy, but we’re going to be by your side under you have regained control over your chronic pain situation. We’ve done it for countless patients in the past, and we want to do the same for you.

So if you’re ready to follow your ABCs and conquer your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his office today.