chronic pain

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.

More Americans Are In Pain Than Ever Before

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

chronic painNew research published in the journal Demography found that more Americans are dealing with chronic pain on a regular basis than ever before, suggesting that not enough is being done to treat individuals with underlying pain conditions.

According to the new data, there have been blanket increases across multiple pain reporting measures, with pain rising in every adult group, every demographic group and at every site of pain for which data exists.

“We looked at the data from every available perspective including age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, and income, but the results were always the same: There was an increase in pain no matter how we classified the population,” said Hanna Grol-Prokopczyk, associate professor of sociology in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, and co-author of the paper. “You might think that with medical advances we’d be getting healthier and experiencing less pain, but the data strongly suggest the exact opposite.”

An Increase In Chronic Pain

For the study, researchers took a closer look at how chronic pain is affecting a large group of individuals. Most studies only focus on how chronic pain affects people over the age of 50, but this study looked at people between the ages of 25-84. They drew their data from responses to the National Health Interview Study, which involved more than 440,000 participants from 2002-2018.

Here’s a look at some of their findings:

  • In the US, chronic pain affects more people and has a greater economic cost than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined.
  • In older adults, body mass index, hypertension diabetes and kidney conditions are associated conditions that correlate most with increases in chronic pain.
  • In younger adults, BMI, stress and alcohol use have strong associations with chronic pain trends.

“What we’re seeing in the younger age groups demonstrates how pain in some ways functions as much as a mental health problem as it does a physical health problem,” says Grol-Prokopczyk. “Pain can be exacerbated by stress, and stress can bring about alcohol use.”

The idea that chronic pain isn’t just a physical issue is something we’ve been preaching for a while now, so we’re happy that psychological factors are starting to get more attention as an underlying issue associated with chronic pain development. However, it’s clear that still not enough is being done about treating chronic pain conditions, and we fear that the pandemic has only worsened chronic pain conditions for many individuals around the globe. Hopefully policymakers take note and commit more funding to helping find solutions for individuals with chronic pain.

So while chronic pain may leave you feeling isolated, based on this data, it’s clear you’re not alone when it comes to pain conditions. If you want to take tangible steps towards getting your condition under control, reach out to a pain management specialist like Dr. Cohn who will take the time to conduct an accurate diagnosis and develop a solution that suits your needs. For more information, contact his office today.

How To Win Out Over Chronic Back Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

chronic back painChronic back pain affects tens of millions of Americans on a regular basis, and it’s one of the most common conditions that we help treat. Because the spine is complex and pain is so individualized, figuring out the best way to treat the issue can be difficult. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the best things you can do to help reduce or eliminate your chronic back pain.

Tips For Treating Chronic Back Pain

There’s no perfect playbook for treating chronic back pain, but we’re confident that if you pursue a few of the below tips that you’ll have a good chance of making some headway.

Visit A Specialist – Now is not the time to turn to the internet or your general practitioner for answers about your back pain. It’s been going on for far too long, and now is the time to visit a chronic pain specialist like Dr. Cohn. A specialist will have a wealth of experience in all aspects of your chronic pain condition, and they’ll be better versed to provide you with an accurate diagnosis that will lead into a comprehensive treatment plan.

Adjust Your Diet – Eating an extra helping of vegetables won’t miraculously cure your back pain, but improving your dietary intake can help your back get the healthy vitamins and nutrients it needs to perform optimally. A healthy diet can also help you lose some weight, which will take some stress off your spine and can help to curb your symptoms. Diet adjustments can be a key part of reducing your chronic back pain.

Exercise – Exercise is one of the best and easiest things we can do for our spine health and our total body wellness. Regular exercise improves blood flow and strengthens key structures so that they are better able to handle the physical stress we put on our bodies. Combine exercise with the above point and you can shed some weight and take pressure off your spine. Strive to get 30-45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise 4-5 times a week to help strengthen your spine.

Physical Therapy – Along a similar vein, physical therapy is one of the most commonly prescribed treatment techniques for a range of chronic back pain conditions. PT will specifically target underdeveloped muscle groups or work to stabilize key structures, so the benefits are directly tied to the affected area. You just need to make sure you are consistent about following through with your exercises.

Mental Health Improvements – Finally, as we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, a chronic pain condition is rarely just a physical issue. Being in constant pain for an extended period of time can do a lot of damage to your mental health, which is why treatment also needs to focus on your mental health. Your chronic pain specialist can help explain how stress, anxiety and the effects of your chronic pain condition are impacting your mental health, and they can work to develop an individualized care program for it. Do some things that challenge and exercise your mind each day just like you are for your physical health.

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

5 Ways to Work Ergonomically

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

working homeThe following is a guest blog by freelance writer Jessica Boyle.

Desk workers are more prone to chronic pain due to long hours of working in one position — especially if you’re in an environment with poor ergonomics. While it seems harmless, poor ergonomics can inevitably cause multiple health problems, including aching in the neck, lower back, and shoulders. Fortunately, there are many ways to personally manage your own chronic pain, and one thing that can provide immediate relief is creating a more ergonomic workspace.

That being said, here are a few ways you can work ergonomically:

Customize your desk and monitor – The default setup of your desk may not be the most ergonomic, so don’t be afraid to adjust a few things to ensure you’re not physically straining yourself. For one, make sure that your mouse and keyboard are positioned in such a way that your wrists are straight and your shoulders are relaxed while working. Your monitor should be directly in front of you, with the top of the screen at eye level. Additionally, you may want to get a laptop stand or a monitor arm if you’re using a desktop computer. To minimize clutter, get a desk organizer that can keep your essentials in one place.

Switch between sitting and standing – Aside from the aforementioned body aches, sitting for too long has even more dangers — such as increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. You may think getting up to go to the bathroom or get water is enough, but you need more movement to compensate for all that sitting. In this regard, a standing desk can help you combat those negative side effects. It gives you some physical activity even when you’re just standing in front of your computer. Plus, it reduces back pain and lowers risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Support your posture and back – The best seated posture is similar to sitting in the driver’s seat of a car: slightly leaning back, but ensuring that your screen is still at eye level. If your chair doesn’t have lumbar support, you can place a rolled up towel or a lumbar support pillow to ease pressure on your lower back. Moreover, check that the back of your knees aren’t touching the seat — as this could lead to swelling feet and ankles due to reduced blood flow.

Use ergonomic accessories – As its name suggests, these are accessories that help reduce the strain on your body — similar to ergonomic furniture. A few examples are split keyboards that let you type in a more natural posture, a mouse with a curve that’s easy to hold, and an anti-glare screen that helps reduce eye fatigue. All these little tools can make a huge difference to your productivity and overall wellness.

Take breaks to move – The above points can only help so much. It’s important that you still make an effort to take breaks to stretch your body, so you can relieve some pressure and get a mental breather as well. If you’re pressed for time, you can do stretches right there at your desk. But as much as possible, make time to get away from your desk — whether you’re just going for a quick walk or a 30-minute workout. Incorporating movement during your work day promotes circulation, keeps you awake, and activates your muscles. A recipe for better quality of work indeed.

New Chronic Pain Care Guidelines Recommend Ditching Medication

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

painkillersThe National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently released some updated guidelines for how pain practitioners should help their patients deal with their chronic pain condition. The most notable suggestion is that NICE is advising doctors to avoid prescribing pain medication for a pain condition and instead believes they should recommend exercise or psychological therapy for the most effective treatment. For chronic pain sufferers who rely on pain medication as part of this treatment process, the news may cause anxiety and fear over whether or not they’ll have their access to these medications restricted.

We’re here to let you know that while these recommendations certainly have merit, no physician worth his salt is going to take medications away from someone who is using them responsibly and progressing in their rehab. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the recommendations and explain how they’ll likely be implemented going forward.

Exercise Over Medication

If we just look at the headline and start to draw conclusions from there, it’s easy to get worked up over the latest recommendations. We’re here to help calm your fears and explain that although the recommendations are rooted in sound science, applying them unilaterally to a condition so unique as chronic pain is a terrible idea. Pain is unique to the individual, which is why there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for chronic pain. Even when two people are suffering from the same diagnosis, their treatment regimens may be different. That’s why we can’t just say that medications should never be used for effective pain care.

Nobody is saying that all you need to do to rid yourself of your chronic pain condition is to lace up your running shoes and go for a jog, but as we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, there is extensive research behind the idea that exercise and movement can be a key factor in helping fight back against a chronic pain condition. Exercise is an active solution that improves muscles, helps to control inflammation and works to stabilize joints that could be contributing to your pain issue. Medications, on the other hand, are a passive treatment that work to mask pain instead of treating the underlying issue. Medications alone will not cure your pain condition, but exercise and strength training or psychological therapy could.

With that said, painkillers and active treatment modalities can absolutely compliment one another, and this is when we’re all for prescribing medication to patients. If medication can make it easier for you to follow through on a physical therapy routine or to stick to your exercise program, then we’ll gladly walk you through a responsible painkiller management plan. We want to give patients all the tools they need to take control of their pain condition, and pain medications can certainly be part of that equation, so long as the patient is educated on their purpose and continues to prove that they can use the medication responsibly.

So in spite of the new recommendations, know that your pain physician will only recommend tapering off your medications if they aren’t actually promoting your recovery. If they aren’t doing any good and are putting you at a heightened risk for dependency or overdose, any good physician will adjust treatment to find a more effective method.

If you have been unable to find an effective solution for your pain, or you just want to talk to a physician who will take the time to get to know you and your diagnosis to provide the best level of care, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.