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.

Five Lifestyle Changes To Help Alleviate Chronic Back Pain

February 24, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

For a number of patients with chronic back pain, some of their everyday actions end up making their pain worse, even if they don’t realize it in the moment. It’s easy to overlook some of the contributing factors to chronic back pain, but once you’ve identified them, you’d be amazed at how much help a few lifestyle tweaks can do for your pain. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at five lifestyle changes that can help alleviate chronic back pain.

Lifestyle Adjustments To Prevent And Treat Chronic Back Pain

Here are five little adjustments you can make throughout the day or add to your daily routine that can make a world of difference in helping you overcome your condition.

1. Move More – Sitting puts a lot of stress on your lower spine, which is the most common location for chronic back pain. Do less sitting and more moving. Limit your time on the couch in front of the television, and consider standing more or investing in a sit-to-stand workstation at the office. Excess standing can be just as harmful to your spine as too much sitting, so try to switch it up throughout the day, especially if soreness is starting to creep in.

2. Regular Posture Checks – Our heads are heavy, and if they aren’t in alignment with our shoulders, you can end up putting a lot of strain on your cervical spine. If you’re slouching on the couch or hunched forward looking at your computer screen, you might develop a case of “tech neck.” Perform regular posture checks throughout the day and make adjustments as needed.

3. Let Your Diet Work For You Instead Of Against You – A bad diet can oftentimes serve to make back pain worse, whereas a healthy diet can act as its own kind of medication. Carbohydrate-dense foods and sugary snacks can contribute to inflammation in the spine, which can compress key nerves and structures and make back pain worse. Conversely, a healthy diet full of vegetables, fish, nuts and fruit can help prevent inflammation and ensure your body gets nutrients that are necessary for healthy tissue growth and function. Rework your diet, and your back may start feeling better.

4. Stress Relief – Whenever we tell patients to de-stress, it always sounds easier in words than it is in practice. It would be great if we could remove stress from our lives, but if you’re juggling work, family and a social life, stress in inevitable. If you can’t find ways to minimize stress, find ways to manage it when it develops. Healthy outlets for stress can have physical benefits for your body. Whether it’s reading, yoga or meditation, find a healthy outlet for your stress.

5. Rethink Exercise – Finally, we challenge you to rethink your exercise routine if you have chronic back pain. You don’t need to go through a grueling gym routine in order to reap the benefits of exercise, so start small and build up to a sustainable exercise routine. Go for a walk around your block, swim some laps at the local swimming pool or do a yoga class with a friend. Over time, build up your distance or duration, as this will help to slowly strengthen key muscles groups that support your spine. Don’t be intimated by exercise because you think you need to lift heavy weights or run a certain number of miles. Set small, attainable goals and work up from there.

If you do these five things, we’re confident you’ll have more control over your chronic back pain condition. And for professional assistance to your chronic pain issue, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

More Patients Seeking Chronic Pain Treatments Without Opioids

February 11, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

A growing number of US adults with chronic pain are pursuing a combination of non-drug and non-opioid approaches to control and treat their condition, which is an encouraging sign.

As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, pain medications can play an important role in a comprehensive chronic pain treatment program, but oftentimes other active treatments provide more benefits and do not pose the same risks as potentially-addictive pain opioids. A recent poll found that 55 percent of adults with chronic pain used pain management techniques that did not involve any opioids at all over the surveyed three-month period. 11 percent of respondents used both opioids and non-opioid techniques, and only four percent said they only used opioids for chronic pain management. However, 30 percent of patients with chronic pain said they did not pursue any pain management techniques over the three-month period.

Other Chronic Pain Findings

Here’s a closer look at some of the findings from the survey:

Complementary therapies were the most commonly used non-opioid pain management technique (35% of adults), followed by physical, occupational or rehabilitative therapies (19%).

5% of patients pursued self-management programs, 4% underwent cognitive behavioral therapy, and 2% sought out peer support groups.

39 percent of adults said they pursued non-opioid chronic pain treatments that weren’t expressly mentioned by the survey.

Participants using complementary and psychological or psychotherapeutic interventions were more likely to be younger women with more education.

Prescription opioid use for chronic pain management was more common among older adults between the ages of 45 and 64 years compared to those aged 18 to 44 years (19% vs 8%).

Prescription opioid use was also more common among women than men (17% vs. 13%), in adults with health insurance compared to those without (16% vs. 6%) and in those with a high school education than those with more than a high school education (17% vs. 14%)

Prescription opioid use was less common among people making more than $100,000 than those making less than $35,000 (9% vs. 20%)

Researchers concluded that the findings were a step in the right direction for curbing the national opioid crisis, and it shows that more patients are working to pursue alternative and active chronic pain treatments instead of over relying on opioids that oftentimes simply mask symptoms instead of treating the underlying issue.

It’s great that so many people are working to take a vested interest in their health and really pursue different treatments instead of just taking pain medications. Opioids can make movements less painful and make it easier for patients to pursue certain active treatments, but there are numerous studies that have found some risks associated with long-term opioid use. The results are encouraging, but nearly one in three people with chronic pain aren’t seeking any type of treatment for their pain, and that number is still far too large. If you know someone with chronic pain, encourage them to connect with a specialist, because oftentimes symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated!

For more information, or for help with your chronic pain issue, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

Five Coping Techniques For Chronic Pain

January 13, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

coping People cope with their chronic pain diagnosis in a number of different ways. Some dive head first into proactive treatments, while others find ways to take their mind off of their discomfort. What’s important is to find a positive coping technique that helps you work to gain more control over your condition. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at five common coping techniques for chronic pain sufferers.

Coping With And Overcoming Chronic Pain

Chronic pain coping techniques are important because dwelling on your pain and letting it control your life can lead to worse pain and make it harder to eventually overcome your condition. Find a healthy way to cope with your condition. Try a combination of some of the following techniques, and we expect that you’ll find it easier to string together more good days than bad.

Actively Treat It – Arguably the best treatment technique involves throwing yourself into a care plan that targets your underlying condition and works to make your body stronger. Being stronger, losing weight or stabilizing key areas of your body can help them better handle pressure and avoid overstress injuries and the onset of inflammation. Every day, try to do at least one activity that specifically targets your chronic pain or serves to make you healthier overall.

Distract – Another common coping technique is to try to distract your brain from pain. If you’re trying to relax in the evening but your chronic back pain is flaring up, try to distract your brain from the discomfort. Read a book or start a crossword puzzle – anything that helps take your mind away from your discomfort.

Share Your Feelings – Another helpful coping technique is to share your feelings or frustrations with others. Talking about your condition with a support group of individuals who can empathize with what you’re going through is extremely helpful. Find an online support group or a close friend who you can talk to about your condition, and you’ll find that it’s easier to reconcile with.

Relaxation Techniques – For many people, stress is one of the most common underlying causes of a chronic pain flareup, so learning how to mitigate stress and overcome it when it develops is key for coping with their chronic pain condition. Whether that’s in the form of yoga or deep breathing exercises, find a personal way to unwind from the stresses of the day.

Enlist A Professional – Finally, if you want a professional to help you find specific ways to overcome your chronic pain condition, sync up with a specialist like Dr. Cohn. He can provide a comprehensive diagnosis and develop a treatment plan suited to your needs and strengths. You don’t have to cope with your condition alone, so lean on a group of professionals who want to help you get better.

For more information about coping techniques, or to reach out to a doctor who wants to help you regain control over your chronic pain condition, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today.

Overcoming Chronic Illness And Chronic Pain

December 30, 2021 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Chronic pain is never easy to overcome, and that process can become even more complicated if you’re also dealing with a chronic illness. In fact, the two conditions are often intertwined, as recent research has found that people with multimorbidity (defined as more than one chronic illness) are much more likely to experience chronic pain compared to people who don’t experience a chronic illness.

According to the recent data, for patients with two or three chronic conditions, the likelihood of dealing with chronic pain was 53.8 percent. In individuals with four or more chronic illnesses, that likelihood jumped to 75%. And while there is no specific reason as to why this link exists, medical experts have a number of theories for the connection. For starters, when a patient has multiple long-term health conditions, it can be harder for a medical team to address all issues. Medications for one condition can render other types of medications useless or dangerous, or treating one aspect of their health can cause issues for another condition.

So what is a person with chronic illness and chronic pain supposed to do? In most instances, it pays to connect with a pain management professional.

Combating Chronic Illness And Chronic Pain

If you’re dealing with chronic illness and chronic pain, all you probably want to do is curl up in bed and let the discomfort pass. The problem with that strategy is that long-term rest isn’t typically your best treatment option. Instead of rest and reduced activity, gentle exercise and increased activity are usually a better solution. Activity helps to ensure healthy fluid movement throughout your body, strengthen muscles, loosen joints and it can even change the chemical structure in your brain to drown out signals of pain and discomfort. Controlled activity truly is a wonder for patients with chronic illness and chronic pain.

So too is weight loss. Research has consistently shown that there exists a relationship between chronic illness, pain and obesity, and it doesn’t take much weight loss to see the results. One study found that if a person is 50 percent or greater over their recommended weight, losing as little as 10 percent of their body weight may be enough to see a significant decrease in pain.

It’s clear that increased activity and weight loss through diet and exercise can help mitigate symptoms of chronic illnesses and chronic pain, but those treatments aren’t just something you can easily do, especially with pain and illness complicating the equation. Again, that’s why it’s so important to partner with a pain management specialist. They’ll be able to help develop a care plan that slowly builds up your tolerance and endurance without overloading you from the start. Our goal is the help foster healthy habits, and if you don’t take time to slowly and gently increase activity and dietary changes, it’s unlikely these habits will stick on a long-term basis.

There is also the mental side of chronic illness and chronic pain that often gets overlooked. We understand how mentally draining these conditions can be and how they affect your ability to seek out the physical treatments that can provide relief. Sometimes cognitive treatments are just as important if not more important than treatments to address physical pain, and this multi-faceted treatment approach is oftentimes best overseen by a professional. You’ve got enough on your plate without trying to treat the physical, mental and emotion effects of your chronic pain and illness on your own, so let us help.

So if you are fighting pain and illness on many fronts, reach out to a professional for assistance. Slowly but surely, we’ll help find a solution and increase your quality of life. For more information or for help with your chronic issue, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.