How Artificial Intelligence Could Replace The Pain Scale

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

artificial intelligenceFor anyone who has suffered from chronic pain or has been treated for a pain-related condition, you may remember being asked to rank your pain on a scale of 1-10. While this 10-point pain scale has become the standard for many pain management specialists across the US, it’s far from a perfect model.

Because unlike a blood pressure cuff that can give an objective result like 120 over 80, the 10-point pain scale is subjective in nature. What may feel like a 4 to one patient may be a 7 for another. For this reason, it’s often tough for pain specialists to gauge a person’s pain level and how to best help treat them.

However, artificial intelligence may soon be able to assist in how we quantify the subjective measure of pain. According to scientists at IBM and Boston Scientific, artificial intelligence may be able to capture pain sensation readings and allow them to be interpreted with a more objective model.

Artificial Intelligence And Chronic Pain

For their experiment, researchers used activity monitoring devices in order to capture and analyze biometric data that can correspond to the perception of pain. Researchers used biomarkers collected in clinical studies involving patients undergoing spinal cord stimulation. This included things like movement data, sleep data, heart rate levels and even voice recordings. Then artificial intelligence was employed to sift through all the results in hopes of identifying patterns that may allow a doctor to “read” a patient’s pain levels through data instead of using the 1-10 pain scale.

“We want to use all the tools of predictive analytics and get to the point where we can predict where people’s pain is going to be in the future, with enough time to give doctors the chance to intervene,” said Jeff Rogers, senior manager for digital health at IBM Research.

The research is still in its infancy, but scientists are encouraged by early results. However, it’s going to take tens of millions of data points in order to come up with anything close to resembling the readable pain scale they hope for. If all continues to go as hoped, researchers believe it could lead to the development of medical devices that can not only accurately forecast a person’s pain, but also spot the early signs of a flare up so patients can take steps to stay ahead of their pain. It’s a lofty goal, but it could be a gamechanger for millions of Americans who battle chronic pain on a daily basis. We’ll keep tabs on its progress over the coming months and years and provide any updates as they are released.

The Three Components To Successfully Conquering Chronic Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

triangle supportConquering chronic pain is a daily battle, and it’s not something that is always easy to handle. In fact, if you don’t have the right support systems or partners by your side, it can be very difficult to overcome a chronic pain condition. In our experience, we’ve found that people who have three specific components during their chronic pain treatment have a higher likelihood of success. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the three components to successfully conquering a chronic pain condition.

Three Pillars To Conquering Chronic Pain

The triangle is the strongest shape in nature, so if you view these three key components as parts of a triangle, it can help you visual how they can help make up the foundation for chronic pain treatment. Here are the three key components for successfully conquering chronic pain.

Yourself – Successfully managing a chronic pain condition begins with yourself. Not only do you need to want to get better, you have to actively work towards achieving it. Wanting it without taking tangible steps to reach this goal isn’t going to be effective. There’s no magic pill you can take to solve your chronic pain, it’s going to take active modalities like exercise, physical therapy and stretching techniques. Understanding this, and taking ownership of your role in managing your chronic pain condition will help you move the needle in the right direction each day. Educate yourself, commit to treatment and lean on others when you find yourself struggling in order to do your part to overcome chronic pain.

Your Doctor – Finding a pain management specialist who understands your condition, who really listens to your concerns and who won’t stop until they’ve helped solve your pain is another key component to chronic pain management. There are plenty of doctors who will prescribe pain medications and help treat the symptoms of your condition, but those won’t help you on a long-term basis. You need to find a doctor who works hard to diagnose the root problem and develop a treatment plan suited to your individual needs. They also need to be willing to reevaluate the patient and update their treatment recommendations as things change, because chronic pain is a complex issue that can change over time. If you’re not satisfied with your professional pain care, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office and see what it’s like to work with a pain specialist who is committed to seeing the problem through.

Your Support System – Finally, it’s important to have a support system in place when things get difficult. This could be in the form of family, friends or an online support group. Some people enjoy confiding in those who are close to them, while others feel like they don’t want to be a burden and don’t want to lay their problems on people who can’t relate. Find what works for you and really work to find a support system that can help you when things aren’t going great. You’ll have bad days, but having a good support system in place can make it easier to bounce back and string together more good days than bad. If you need help developing a support system, talk to your pain specialist about online or in-person support groups, or open up to family members. And don’t be afraid to be a support system for others in your life who are going through their own issues, be it divorce, a health issue or some other problem. Lean on others, and be a rock for others who need support, and you’ll find it easier to manage your chronic pain condition.

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

The Long Term Consequences Of Untreated Chronic Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

long term chronic painChronic pain is something we’d rather not think about or deal with, but constantly trying to ignore your pain can lead to some unintended long term consequences. Left untreated, a chronic pain condition can lead to a decreased quality of life in a number of different ways. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the potential long term consequences of untreated chronic pain.

Why You Need To Treat Your Chronic Pain

Here’s a look at five potential consequences of trying to power through a chronic pain condition without intervention.

1. More Pain – The most obvious potential pitfall of ignoring your pain condition is that you may be welcoming more widespread or intense pain. Sometimes your lifestyle has made your chronic pain condition worse, so if you keep doing the same things, it can lead to worsening pain. If your posture or work habits have led to chronic pain onset, and you don’t do anything to address it, odds are pain and dysfunction will only get worse.

2. Poor Sleep Quality – Chronic pain can affect our ability to get restful sleep, and if you don’t work to rectify the problem, you can string together weeks, months or years of less-than-ideal sleep. Over time this poor sleep quality can have plenty of physical consequences for your health. It can increase pain perception, contribute to a more sedentary lifestyle and increase your risk of future cognitive decline. Don’t string together long stretches of poor sleep quality because you didn’t treat your chronic pain condition.

3. Harder To Treat – While oftentimes not as serious as cancer, chronic pain conditions function much like a cancer diagnosis in that intervention techniques tend to have a higher rate of success when the condition is caught early and treatment begins sooner. The more damage caused by untreated chronic pain, the harder it is to successfully and fully treat the issue.

4. Poorer Cardiovascular Health – Studies have also shown that untreated chronic pain can actually have negative effects on your heart health. More specifically, chronic pain can decrease activity levels and increase stress, both of which can lead to a rise in your blood pressure. Over time, an elevated blood pressure level can leave you at risk for complications related to the condition, like coronary heart disease and even heart failure.

5. Decreased Quality of Life – All the above factors can play a role in the onset of the final factor, which is a decreased overall quality of life. Chronic pain affects our life in a myriad of ways, and added together they can all serve to make life a little less enjoyable. This gradual decline will only continue unless you take tangible steps to take control over your chronic pain condition, and Dr. Cohn and his team can help you do just that. For more information or for help with your chronic pain condition, reach out to his clinic today.

Withdrawal Symptoms Common In Chronic Pain Patients Using Medical Marijuana

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

marijuana withdrawalAs we’ve said on the blog in the past, we’re a proponent of helping patients find a treatment plan that works to help prevent or control their unique chronic pain condition. For many individuals, medical marijuana plays a key role in their treatment, but it’s far from a perfect solution. As we’ve also said on the blog in the past, we want more studies to be conducted on medical cannabis so that we can begin to unwrap this complex component. A recent study did just that, and they found a potentially concerning side effect associated with its use for chronic pain patients.

According to a new study, more than half of all patients who used medical marijuana to help treat a chronic pain condition experienced withdrawal symptoms during even short consumption breaks. There have been documented studies that suggest among recreational users, with about 40 percent experiencing some sort of withdrawal symptoms when not using, but this study took a closer look at these effects on medical marijuana users. Withdrawal symptoms aren’t expressly projected as a user’s yearning for their next dosage, rather, these symptoms can manifest in a number of different ways that affect a person’s health. For example, withdrawal symptoms can affect a person’s sleep, mood, mental state, energy and appetite, and these issues are manifesting in roughly half of medical marijuana users.

Withdrawal Symptoms And Chronic Pain

For this study, researchers polled more than 520 individuals using medical marijuana to treat non-cancer-related chronic pain issues. They were asked if they experienced any of the symptoms after not using for a significant time: Craving for cannabis, anxiety, sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, restlessness, depressed mood, aggression, irritability, nausea, sweating, headache, stomach pain, strange dreams, increased anger and shakiness.

At baseline, 41 percent of people were classified in the mild withdrawal symptom group, 34 percent were in the moderate group, and 25 percent were in the severe group. Additionally, 13 percent of participants saw their withdrawal symptoms rise to the next level by the end of the first year of treatment, and eight percent transitioned upwards by the end of two years.

Interestingly, regardless of the group they were in, sleep problems were the most common symptom. And as we’ve said on the blog, inadequate sleep can have significant effects on your chronic pain condition. Poor sleep quality can worsen pain symptoms, so while some of these withdrawal symptoms may not seem all that bad, they can actually be making your pain condition worse.

At the end of the day, while they are two different treatment paths, a medical marijuana program needs to be implemented much like an opioid regimen for pain. A comprehensive patient profile needs to be developed, the patient needs access to educational material to ensure they understand the potential risks associated with the treatment, and regular checks need to be conducted along the way to ensure everything stays on track. If withdrawal symptoms or other issues are present, specific interventions need to be developed, because it’s unlikely that the problems will go away on their own. In fact, they oftentimes get worse.

So while medical marijuana can be a great addition to a chronic pain treatment plan, we doctors and patients need to be aware of the potential pitfalls to successful treatment so that they can be avoided and managed. If you’re dealing with a chronic pain condition and want help with treatment, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his experienced medical team for more information.

How To Conquer Your Chronic Pain In The New Year

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

new year pain2020 is thankfully in the rearview mirror, but unless you make some positive changes in the New Year, this year may be just like the last, or even worse, for your chronic pain condition. But how can you take control over your chronic pain condition while also accounting for the current COVID-19 pandemic? We share some tips for helping to regain control over your chronic pain condition in the new year.

New Year, Less Pain

It won’t be easy to get a better handle on your chronic pain condition, especially as we work our way out of a pandemic, but planning ahead and sticking to new routines can help you get there. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

1. Make It A Point To Exercise More – Not everything in life is controllable, but the factors we can influence should not be overlooked. Exercise is one of those modifiable factors that we can control that has a direct impact on our chronic pain condition. Exercise will help to strengthen key structures, improve mobility and flexibility, release natural pain relievers in the form of endorphins and help you work towards a healthy weight, all of which can help with pain sensations and tolerance. It’s not always easy to exercise in the Minnesota winter, especially if COVID has closed your gym, but make it a point to exercise 3-5 times a week at home or in a COVID-safe manner. This will help with your overall health as well as your pain condition.

2. Improve Your Eating – Your diet plays a big role in the expression of your chronic pain condition. Poor eating habits can lead to inflammation and nerve compression, and weight gain can put more stress on your joints. On the flip side, healthy eating habits can help to prevent chronic pain symptoms by ensuring your body gets a range of key vitamins and nutrients that support healthy tissue growth and function. Similarly, healthy eating promotes a healthy weight, which keeps excess stress off joints like our hips and knees. You don’t need to eat perfectly every meal, but strive to eat healthier in the new year.

3. Improve Your Sleep Habits – Another controllable aspect of your health and in turn your chronic pain condition is your sleep quality. Now we know that it’s easier said than done to say “get quality sleep,” but if you make a concentrated effort to improve your sleep, you should see the fruits of your labor shortly thereafter. To improve your sleep quality, make your bedroom an ideal sleep environment. Keep it dark, cool and free from distractions like phones, televisions or books. Go to bed around the same time every night, and once you’re in bed, focus all your efforts on falling asleep. Don’t spend 45 minutes watching Netflix before playing on your phone for 20 minutes and then calling it a night at 11:15. When you get in bed, your only goal should be to fall asleep and stay asleep. Control what you can control in your sleep environment, and your sleep quality should improve.

4. Find A Specialist You Can Trust – Finally, if you feel like your current pain care provider just isn’t giving you the attention to detail that you know you deserve, consider looking into new options in the new year. We’re accepting new patients and our number one goal is to help you find an individualized solution to your pain condition. We know that everyone’s pain situation is unique, so we don’t just group you in with all other patients. Your pain condition in a one-of-a-kind issue that needs to be treated as such to get the best treatment results, and we know that we can provide you with that level of care and attention to detail. Let Dr. Cohn and his team help you make 2021 the year you put your chronic pain condition behind you.