Healthy Eating Can Be Hard If You Have Chronic Pain

vegetable dietNew research published in Scientific Reports found that many patients with chronic pain expressed a desire to have healthier dietary habits, but following through on this desire can be difficult as a result of their pain condition.

Researchers took a deep look at some self-reported aspects of diet and nutrition among patients who were suffering from a chronic pain condition. They found that despite pursuing some common suboptimal habits like fast-food consumption and irregular mealtimes, many patients with chronic pain expressed a desire to live healthier. Researchers say the findings can help healthcare professionals and pain care specialists address nutritional challenges faced by patients with long-term pain.

Healthy Eating And Chronic Pain

For the study, researchers polled more than 2,100 individuals with a chronic pain condition about a variety of lifestyle factors and their pain levels. The average patient was just over 46 years old, and more than half were overweight or obese. More than half said they had been in pain for five or more years and reported high levels of pain intensity.

When comparing lifestyle factors, researchers found:

  • People who said they desired to eat healthier were more like to report a longer duration of pain.
  • A higher pain score was significantly associated with suboptimal eating habits (irregular meal times, unhealthy food choices, etc.).
  • People with the worst eating habits were the most likely to express a desire to eat healthier.

Looking at the totality of the study, it’s clear that there is a large portion of chronic pain sufferers who want to eat healthier but struggle to do so. And this is understandable, because chronic pain has a significant impact on a number of different aspects of your life. Chronic pain can be isolating and increase your risk of anxiety and depression, all of which can increase your risk of turning towards nutrient-poor and energy-rich food options. Doctors should be jumping at the opportunity to help patients improve their eating habits, because clearly the underlying motivation is there, they are just struggling with following through on these desires.

This is especially true when you consider just how much of an impact your diet can have on your chronic pain condition. A poor diet can lead to increased inflammation, increased oxidative stress, poorer gut health and alter your metabolism, all of which can make a chronic pain condition and its symptoms worse. Making some small positive changes can slowly help you become healthier and regain more control over your chronic pain condition.

We understand that changing your diet and eating healthier is not easy, especially when you’re battling a chronic pain condition, but that’s where we come in. We know that treating chronic pain needs to be a multi-faceted approach, and nutrition is just one key aspect that we’ll focus on during your journey to better health. Don’t just opt for a doctor who is going to write you a script and send you on your way. Work with a provider who takes a comprehensive approach to pain care, and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the success of your treatment.

For more information, or for help with a chronic pain condition you’re experiencing, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today at (952) 738-4580.

Why Chronic Pain Management Is A Lot Like Dieting

dietingChronic pain is a common health condition that affects millions of Americans each and every day. Similarly, millions of Americans have attempted to lose weight through a diet program at some point in their life. When you think about it, a chronic pain management plan and a successful diet are a lot alike in a number of ways. In today’s blog, we explain why chronic pain care is a lot like a diet program.

Chronic Pain Care Is Like A Diet

If you have chronic pain and you’ve ever tried to go on a diet in the past, you probably realize that they share a number of key points, which are:

1. There’s No Magic Pill – Whether it be chronic pain or losing weight, there is no quick fix to the problem. You’re not going to find a magic pill that will cure your pain or have you shed 15 pounds overnight. Stop looking for the easy fix, because that’s only going to distract you from the helpful treatments.

2. It’s Going To Take Work – Piggybacking off the above point, dieting and pain management are going to require a significant commitment on your end if you want to see the best results. The more work you put in, the better results you’ll see. We’ve never had a patient say “I wish I would have tried less to manage my chronic pain,” but we’ve definitely heard people say they wish they would have worked harder. In pain management or dieting, you get out what you put in.

3. String Together More Good Days Than Bad – While this is sometimes easier sad than done, it’s important to realize that every single thing you do doesn’t have to be perfect when it comes to dieting or chronic pain care. It’s fine to reward yourself with a snack after an intense workout, and it’s not the end of the world if you have to cancel plans because of your chronic pain. Not everything needs to be perfect so long as you’re working to have more good days than bad. Doing your physical therapy exercises each day and making healthier food choices more often than not can help you string together more days where you feel like you helped yourself get healthier, and that’s what’s most important.

4. Celebrate Your Progress – Don’t just focus on your end goals and measure your success off of that. We understand that you often have specific weight goals or want to be completely free from chronic pain, but make sure you also celebrate the progress you’re making towards that goal. If activities are less painful or you’re losing weight (even if it’s not as much as you originally hoped), celebrate these wins instead of only viewing success as the final result. It will make it easier to continue working towards your goals if you celebrate the progress you’ve made so far.

5. A Specialist Can Compliment Your Approach – Finally, a chronic pain specialist or a dietitian can help provide individualized advice and give you that extra assistance you need to reach your goals. Never be afraid to ask for help or reach out to a professional for assistance, because that’s what we’re here for. So if you want a little extra help managing or overcoming your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

Western Diet May Be Making Chronic Pain Symptoms Worse

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.

The Importance of An Anti-Inflammatory Diet, Part 2

Anti-Inflammatory Diet Minnesota DoctorEarlier this week, we posted a blog titled “The Importance of An Anti-Inflammatory Diet, Part 1.” In the post, we discuss five tips for keeping chronic pain at bay through a healthy diet. Here’s Part 2, which includes five more tips.

Tip 6: Try adding onions to more dishes – Onions are packed with beneficial antioxidants. These may help reduce inflammation, lower bad cholesterol and reduce heart risks. Use more onions in your food preparation from sauces to salads and on things like sandwiches.

Tip 7: Watch out for some plants that may have the reverse effect of increasing inflammation – The most notable would be potatoes and corn since they are high in starches. Others are more controversial in effects, but are most likely beneficial. These include tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. All the latter are found significantly in the Mediterranean diet and are likely to have benefits from a number of compounds they contain that are antioxidants.

Tip 8: Fiber is your friend – Fiber lowers C-reactive protein levels and is a marker of inflammation that can be detected in the bloodstream. Fiber also fills up a person, and makes one feel full during a meal. This also helps in the overall digestive process and improves gastric motility, decreasing constipation. Fresh vegetables, some fruit, and unprocessed grains are good sources. Eat popcorn without extra salt and butter for snacks as an additional bonus.

Tip 9: Avoid processed foods, like white bread or rice, chips, cookies, and many prepackaged foods – These often are high in sugar, preservatives and salt and all are linked to being unhealthy. Many of these things tend to promote inflammation. Salt also promotes unnecessary fluid retention and high blood pressure and is found in large amounts in processed food.

Tip 10: Do everything with a degree of moderation – When you eat a meal, use a smaller plate, this will encourage one to eat less. There is no need to stuff oneself and constantly be eating. The brain needs time to receive the signals that you are full, so eat less and slow down. Eat more fresh food and prepare it yourself. Adding in a small amount of wine is a good treat and many wines contain resveratrol, another anti-inflammatory compound. Coffee has also been shown to be healthy with a number of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, so you can still enjoy your morning.

Changing your diet, eating less, eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, cooking your own food and improving your lifestyle can improve pain levels. Unfortunately, it does take a fair amount of dedication to change. However, if you keep doing things the same way all the time, the same results are going to occur. Consider the benefits of change to decrease pain and inflammation. For many chronic pain conditions there is no magical solution and changing your lifestyle is necessary to obtain the desired results.

Healthy Eating and Our Joints

What we eat does make a difference in how we feel. The diet most of us eat is probably not healthy. The most common problem is we eat too much food, and that can make us obese. Extra weight does stress the body, especially the joints. From the lumbar, through the hips, knees, ankles and feet, the body does feel extra pounds and may wear out early. The types of food we eat also make a difference. Taking care of ourselves better may reduce the need for costly medical intervention.

Chronic Joint Pain and Food

Chronic pain is a huge problem in the United States, as an estimated 63 million people suffer from chronic joint pain according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Injury and wear and tear over time leads to inflammation in the joints. Inflammation then leads to bone and cartilage damage, which causes the pain we feel. If we can reduce or prevent inflammation in our joints, we can reduce the damage. Some of the foods we eat tend to stimulate inflammation; others are known to reduce it. Vitamins and supplements have not been conclusively shown when in pill form to be helpful.

The compounds in our food do make a difference. For our bones and joints, the helpful compounds include:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Sulfur
  • Calcium
  • Vitamin D
  • Fiber
  • Anthocyanin

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential in cells and they help control inflammatory cytokines. There are many sources of these fatty acids, especially in fish like salmon, herring and other cold-water fish. Eggs and flaxseed are also high in Omega-3 fatty acid. Calcium is an essential mineral necessary for bone health and is necessary in electrical signal transmissions in muscles and nerves. Diary sources like milk, yogurt and cheese as well as many green vegetables have large amounts of calcium. Vitamin D best comes from exposure to sun. Sulfur is a mineral used in connective tissue including cartilage, ligaments and tendons. It is found in many foods, including eggs, fish, and many green vegetables. Anthocyanin is an antioxidant compound found in fruits that have pits like plums, cherries and peaches, and many berries including blueberries and raspberries. Anthocyanin works to stop production of cytokines that lead to inflammation.

Healthy Foods for pain

Foods to avoid that affect our bones and joints include: refined sugars, simple carbohydrates, unhealthy fats and food sensitivities. Glucose, or simple sugars, in higher levels are considered pro-inflammatory and can stimulate cytokines production. Simple carbohydrates are found in food like cake, white bread, cookies, many cereals and crackers and are easily digested to simple sugars and then become pro-inflammatory like glucose. Unhealthy fats are Omega-6 fatty acids, like corn oil, and are found frequently in fried foods. Omega 6 fatty acids tend to trigger release of cytokines. Food sensitivities are individual foods that trigger problems for some people like gluten or MSG.

So if you’re dealing with chronic pain, the first thing you’ll want to look at is what you’re putting in your body. Change your eating habits, and you may notice a reduction in your chronic pain!