Four Things Your Chronic Pain Specialist Wants From You

March 16, 2023 / Thomas Cohn, MD

We have a pretty good idea of what patients are looking for in a pain management specialist. You want someone who is a good listener, someone who gives you their complete attention and someone who is willing to try different techniques if the first treatment doesn’t solve your chronic pain. But in order for chronic pain treatment to have the best chance at being successful, it’s not just about finding the right provider. The patient plays a key role as well.

Because of this, doctors are also hopeful that patients will have certain qualities throughout their time working with the physician. In today’s blog, we take a look at four things that your chronic pain specialist wants from you.

What Your Doc Wants From You

We know what you’re looking for in a physician, but here’s a look at four qualities we hope to find in a patient who has come to our office looking for help with a chronic pain condition.

1. Effective Communicator – We love it when patients can be clear and concise about the issues they are facing. Be vividly descriptive about your condition. Don’t just tell us that you have lower back pain, show us where it’s located, describe what your pain feels like (shooting, dull, pins-and-needle-like, etc.) and tell us what activities make pain worse or better. The more we know about your pain, the easier it will be to develop an individualized treatment plan for you.

2. Strong Work Ethic – One of the least favorite patients of any chronic pain specialist is the one who only wants to pursue passive treatments. They want to rest or take a pill and magically find relief. As we’ve said on this blog time and time again, rest and pain medications can absolutely be an integral part of a pain management plan, but they aren’t good standalone options. We want someone who is going to really throw themselves into a physical therapy program or commit to lifestyle changes to address their pain condition, even if they won’t be easy.

3. Don’t Give Up Easily – Winning out over your chronic pain condition isn’t going to be easy, but we’re in it for the long haul, and we hope you will be too. We may have to change strategies, try different approaches or see each other a few times over the course of many months. It’s going to be worth it in the end, but when it comes to chronic pain, there’s rarely an easy and straightforward solution, so we want patients that don’t give up when things get tough.

4. Rule Follower – Finally, the ideal patient will be a good listener and great follower of directions. If we tell you to do some moderate intensity exercises a few times a week, or we advise against certain activities, we expect you to follow through on your end because this is all part of your treatment plan. If you only attend some of your physical therapy sessions or you don’t work to improve your sleeping habits like advised, don’t be surprised if symptoms linger. We can’t be with you 24/7, so we need to have confidence that you’ll follow our advice when you’re not at the clinic.

If you have all of these qualities, or if you’re just struggling to get control over your chronic pain condition, we hope you’ll reach out to Dr. Cohn for assistance. Give our team a call today at (952) 738-4580.

The Gender Gap In Chronic Pain Care

March 10, 2023 / Thomas Cohn, MD

The wage gap difference between men and women tends to get the most attention when comparing sexes, but it’s certainly not the only realm where men and women are treated differently. Men and women are also unfortunately treated differently when it comes to chronic pain management. We do our best to really listen to each of our patients and provide them with the right individual treatment plan, but that’s not the reality that many other chronic pain patients face.

That difference in pain care between sexes was made evident in a recent study published in November 2022 called the Gender Pain Gap Index Report. The study was conducted by the manufacturers of the painkiller Nurofen, and it surveyed more than 5,000 men and women about their experiences and perceptions of pain. Here’s a closer look at some of the findings from the report:

50 percent of women reported a lack of support from their general practitioner when asking for help with pain. Only 36 percent of men responded similarly.

56 percent of women said they felt ignored or believed they were being dismissed as “emotional.” 49 percent of men felt the same.

63 percent of women said they felt men’s pain is taken more seriously due to “gender discrimination by healthcare professionals.” Only 39 percent of men said that they believed that a gender pain gap existed.

74 percent of women regularly chose self-care over seeing a healthcare provider. 60 percent of men said the same.

It’s truly unfortunate that so many women feel that they are not getting the care they hoped to receive from their healthcare provider, and it’s even more disheartening to hear that many feel that their concerns were ignored because of their sex. Every patient deserves to be listened to and to be treated by a physician who is going to go the extra mile for them.

We try to do that for every patient, and we know that it’s not easy. Sometimes that involves switching treatments because the first route was ineffective, while other times it means saying longer with a patient in the exam room to really get to the bottom of their symptoms and try to understand what they are going through physically, mentally and emotionally to treat all aspects of pain. Again, it’s rarely easy, but it’s worth it because we know firsthand how debilitating chronic pain can be and how amazing it can be to reclaim your independence from your condition.

If you want to connect with a physician that will make you feel heard, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team at (952) 738-4520.

Five Life Hacks If You’re Living With Chronic Pain

March 2, 2023 / Thomas Cohn, MD

We’re all looking for ways to make life a little easier, and that’s especially true if you’re living with chronic pain. Nowadays we’re hearing more about “Life Hacks” on places like Instagram and TikTok that show how you can do some simple things to make your life a lot easier. So do life hacks for the chronic pain sufferer exist? In today’s blog, we share five life hacks to consider if you’re living with chronic pain.

Chronic Pain Life Hacks

Here are some simple hacks to consider if you want to make life a little easier while battling a chronic pain condition:

1. Use Ice And Heat To Your Advantage – Oftentimes chronic pain conditions flare up as a result of inflammation or poor circulation, but you can fight these issues with an ice pack or a heating pad. Invest in a small ice pack or a heated blanket so that you can use ice and heat to your advantage. Calm inflammation after a long day with ice packs, or bring healthy blood to an area with heat to promote improved circulation. These simple gadgets can help you prevent flareups throughout the day.

2. Hack The Kitchen – Clean eating can help to keep chronic pain symptoms at bay and promote a healthy lifestyle, but we know how hard it can be to cook when you’re battling chronic pain. Don’t try to spend a bunch of time in the kitchen every night. Take advantage of items like crock pots and pressure cookers that can take some of the hassle out of cooking. Or if you’re having a good day, meal prep for the coming days so that you have some healthy options to reach for when you’re just not feeling up to cooking.

3. Find Your Stress Outlet – This tip is helpful for anyone, regardless of whether or not you have chronic pain. We all deal with stress, anxiety and pressure every day, and these stressors can lead to physical symptoms if we don’t manage them effectively. Really work to find a stress mitigation technique that is right for you. Some people do deep breathing exercises, others go for a run, while some curl up with a good book to take their mind somewhere else. Find what works best for you, because managing stress can actually help to control your chronic pain condition.

4. Hack Your Sleep Cycle – Sleep is a vitally important restorative process that allows our bodies to heal from the rigors of the day. We don’t want you to stay in bed all day, because exercise and physical activity have been shown to be effective proactive treatments for a number of different chronic pain conditions, but when it comes time to sleep, make it easier to achieve high quality rest. You can do this by making the room cool and as dark as possible, which oftentimes means turning off the television and putting the phone on the night stand. When you crawl into bed, the only thing you should be focusing on is sleep. We know that’s easier said than done if you have chronic pain, but remove any other distractions and light sources so that you have an ideal sleep environment.

5. Find A Specialist Who Cares – Chronic pain isn’t a battle you need to fight alone, but far too many patients aren’t getting the right type of help from their primary care physician. You owe it to yourself to connect with a specialist who really understands specific chronic pain conditions and whose sole focus is solving your individual issues. Make life easier on yourself by connecting with a specialist who is willing to go above and beyond for you.

To connect with a specialist who cares, or for help with any of the other tips on this list, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.

Don’t Feel Guilty About Your Chronic Pain Condition

August 23, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

guilty Roughly 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.

How Can We Do More For Chronic Pain Patients?

July 7, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic pain affects more than 50 million people in the US alone, and yet it doesn’t seem to be an issue that is getting the attention it deserves. We need to be doing more for the millions of people who battle a chronic pain diagnosis on a daily basis, but how can we provide better care?

We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we’re going to use today’s blog to talk about some of the ways that pain care in America and across the globe could be improved.

Solving Chronic Pain On An Individual Level

Let’s first look at the problem on a local level. What can a pain care physician do to help solve chronic pain? They need to focus on what they can do to provide the best level of care to the patients they are seeing in their office. This involves:

Taking the time to listen – Everyone’s pain is different, and there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to chronic pain. Doctors need to take the time to really get to know their patients and their condition so that they can help them find a treatment that works for them.

Don’t go for the quick short-term fix – Opioids can help mask the symptoms of chronic pain, but they won’t treat the underlying issue. As we’ve said on the blog countless times in the past, prescription medications can play a pivotal role in a comprehensive treatment plan, but they should not be the only form of treatment. Doctors should not rush to medicate without pursuing more active treatment methods.

Be ready to pivot – If one treatment isn’t working, it means that doctors need to be ready to pivot to another treatment. As we’ve mentioned, pain is highly individualized, so what works for one person isn’t guaranteed to work for another, and providers need to be flexible in their approach.

Continue to learn – Pain care is always evolving, and pain physicians need to keep furthering their understanding of chronic pain and how to best treat difficult cases. Doctors need to continue to seek out highly credible research in order to provide patients with the highest level of care.

Solving Chronic Pain On A Global Level

Solving chronic pain on a global level will take a more concentrated effort. Obviously there is no simple solution, but there are two main areas we should be focusing on. For starters, chronic pain prevalence needs to become more mainstream. Roughly one in five Americans deal with a chronic pain condition, so odds are a number of your family and friends are fighting an invisible fight each and every day, and many of them aren’t talking about it. We need to combat the stigma of chronic pain and find ways to talk about it so that more people are willing to take the necessary steps to treat their issue head on. Chronic pain patients shouldn’t have to live in the shadows, hiding their pain from those around them.

The other main way to work towards an effective solution to chronic pain is to increase funding for research. As we mentioned above, 50 million Americans battle a chronic pain condition on a regular basis, so there is clearly an audience ready to jump towards more effective treatments. We just need to find them, and the best way to do that is to invest in research programs dedicated to better understanding chronic pain.

If you want to speak to a pain management specialist who will work hard to accomplish those individual tasks and champion the idea of tackling chronic pain on a larger scale, trust your care to Dr. Cohn and his team. For more information or to set up an appointment, give his office a call today at (952) 738-4580.