Could Man’s Best Friend Help With Your Chronic Pain?

July 9, 2019 / Thomas Cohn, MD

A recent article posted in Physician’s Weekly posited if dogs should be prescribed for chronic pain patients. The piece went on the say that roughly 1 in 5 U.S. adults deals with a chronic pain condition, and that dogs may be able to help them with their pain condition. Although many of the claims are not linked to scientifically backed studies, it’s not hard to see how a dog could help with some aspects of your pain condition.

How A Dog Can Help With Your Pain

For starters, there’s the idea that a dog can help you maintain an active lifestyle. Staying active is certainly something that we preach as physicians, because exercise helps to strengthen crucial structures and ward off potentially problematic inflammation. Dogs require daily exercise, so if getting a dog will get you outside and keep you active, there’s reason to believe it could end up being helpful for your pain condition. That being said, you don’t need to get a dog in order to go for a daily walk.

Next, there’s the idea of caring for your mental health. Many physical ailments are connected to your mental well-being. According to the article, the presence of a dog and petting the dog can help distract chronic pain sufferers from their pain and combat feelings of loneliness. Dogs can do wonders for our mental health, but at the same time, if you’re struggling to care for yourself, adding a pet to the equation may only add to your burden and leave you feeling even more stressed. There are mental health benefits, but there can also be drawbacks, so don’t just head out and buy a puppy without doing some research.

Another area that was discussed in the article was sleep health. Sleep is imperative for chronic pain patients, as its a restorative process for our body to heal from the stresses of the day. The article mentions the “overwhelmingly positive” health effects of chronic pain patients who co-sleep with their dog. While a dog may help you feel less anxious or lonely and in turn help you fall asleep, it’s not all positive. Adding a dog to the bed can cause disruptions as you or the dog move throughout the night. Even if you don’t let them sleep in your bed, odds are a puppy isn’t going to be able to make it through the night without going to the bathroom. If you find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep because of your pain condition, adding regular nighttime potty sessions to your schedule may only make the pain condition worse.

At the end of the day, there certainly may be some benefits to adding a four-legged companion to your home if you have a chronic pain condition, but there are also plenty of drawbacks that you’ll want to acknowledge before picking out a dog. A new dog or puppy can add financial or physical stress to your daily life, which may make chronic pain flareups even worse, so make sure you’ve addressed all potential pitfalls before considering your own therapy dog.

The Link Between Gout and Chronic Pain

May 14, 2019 / Thomas Cohn, MD

gout According to new research published in Clinical Rheumatology, individuals who suffer from gout may be twice as likely to suffer from chronic pain. Researchers say that there appears to be a correlation between the inflammatory arthritis condition and certain chronic pain conditions.

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis condition that develops when a person has high levels of uric acid in their bloodstream. This acid can eventually crystallize in the joint and cause tenderness, swelling and pain with movement. Most commonly, the joint that is affected is the big toe joint in one or both of your feet. Gout can also affect your feet, ankles, knees and hands, with flareups typically lasting a couple days to a week.

For the study, researchers examined more than one million health claims through the United States Medicare system. After combing through the data, researchers uncovered that in patients with newly developed chronic pain, they were twice as likely to also have gout compared to the average. Another model found that the risk of developing chronic pain was higher than average for individuals with gout compared to those who did not have the inflammatory condition. This led researchers to conclude that preventing the onset of gout can also help to ward off chronic pain.

“Efforts must be made to optimize gout control, so that chronic pain can be avoided as a long-term sequel of gout and when present, treated early and appropriately,” the authors wrote.

Preventing Gout

The good news is that the strategies for preventing the onset of gout are very similar to how you can help to ward off chronic pain. Gout is closely tied to our diet and exercise habits. Research shows that diets with excess red meat and alcohol lead to an increased risk of gout, and so too does a sedentary lifestyle. So if you want to prevent gout, you need to be cognizant of the foods you’re eating, cut back on alcohol and make sure to get regular exercise.

You’ll also want to increase your water intake, as that will keep your blood flowing properly and help you work the acid out through your urine. Water is preferred to caffeinated beverages which can work to dehydrate you and trigger a gout attack.

If you have gout, be sure that you’re treating it proactively, and make smart lifestyle choices to also help reduce your risk of other forms of chronic pain. Dr. Cohn and his team are always here to help if you have questions or concerns. For gout or chronic pain issues, reach out to his clinic today.

Chronic Pain and Its Impact On The Workforce

April 18, 2019 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Many people have a vested interest in helping to solve the problem of chronic pain, and a new study suggests that you can add employers to the list.

According to a new study published in Integrated Benefits Institute, more than one-third of US workers take prescription pain medications. Interestingly, those workers who take prescription medications take significantly more sick days than those who don’t, and those who have problems with those medications take even more sick days. The study found:

Compared to those who don’t take prescription pills at all, painkiller users took an average of twice as many sick days.
Problematic painkiller users took more than three times the number of sick days on average as a healthy adult.
Prescription pain medications were associated with approximately 261 lost workdays per 1,000 workers per month.

For the study, researchers looked at the amount of time lost at work connected with prescription pain relievers when viewed in the contest of other substance use disorders in the American workforce.

“The high rates of prescription pain medicines among employees indicates a much larger issue for employers than lost productivity,” says IBI researcher Erin Peterson, MPH, the report’s first author. “The significant number of sick day absences by employees who use pain relievers without problems likely doesn’t represent the full impact. As most people abusing opioids started with prescribed medications, this is a very large number of people at risk for developing problematic behaviors associated with pain relievers.”

Chronic Pain and Lost Days of Work

If you suffer from chronic pain, regardless of whether or not you take opioids to help with discomfort, you know firsthand how difficult it can be to get out of bed on some mornings, let alone get through the work day. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to work with a pain specialist to get control of your issue or help to minimize the days when pain becomes overbearing. It’s not always going to be easy, but if you truly want to do whatever you can to get your pain under control, it’s worth it.

Dr. Cohn and his team have helped numerous workers get a handle on their pain and thrive in the workplace, and he can do the same for you. To set up an appointment so he can get to the bottom of your pain and chart a course for recovery, click here or give his office a call today. It’s never too late to take back control of your life from chronic pain.

Opioids, Medical Marijuana and Chronic Pain

April 10, 2019 / Thomas Cohn, MD

When it comes to managing chronic pain, we’re always looking for new and better ways to help patients control their discomfort. If you’re a regular follower of our blog, you probably know that we’ve written a number of blogs on opioids and medical marijuana, but a recent study decided to take a look at what happened when these two treatment plans were used simultaneously. You might be surprised at the findings.

According to research presented at the 2019 American Pain Society Scientific Meeting, individuals with chronic pain who used both prescription opioids and recreational marijuana showed higher levels of mental health and substance abuse problems than those who use opioids alone. Now, the study makes a big distinction noting that patients were using marijuana recreationally and not medicinally, but it still shines a light on how problems can occur when people try to supplement their opioids with other substances.

Study Results

Those weren’t the only findings that were of concern according to researchers. The team said that anxiety and depression scores were also significantly higher for patients who used both opioids and recreational marijuana, as were measurements of opioid dependence severity and alcohol and cocaine involvement. Researchers also noted that there was no difference in pain severity or pain disability between the group of individuals just using opioids and those using opioids and recreational marijuana.

“The things psychologists would be most worried about were worse, but the thing patients were using the cannabis to hopefully help with — namely pain — was no different,” said Andrew Rogers, University of Houston, who worked on the study. “Co-use of substances generally leads to worse outcomes. As you pour on more substances to regulate anxiety and depression, symptoms can go up.”

Abhiram Bhashyam, MD, MPP, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, who was not involved with the study, said the findings provide even more evidence that patients shouldn’t assume that recreational marijuana will help with the effects of their chronic pain if they are already on opioids.

“This study provides further evidence that cannabis may not be an effective substitute or alternative to opioids for pain management,” said Dr. Bhashyam. “Studies like these are important for clinicians as patients increasingly ask about opioid-cannabis co-use for managing their pain. We lack robust evidence to provide appropriate guidance due to a paucity of research on this topic at present.”

Both opioids and medical marijuana can be helpful if you’re dealing with chronic pain, but it’s important to realize that there’s a significant difference between regulated medical marijuana and recreational marijuana, so don’t assume that what you pick up on the street will be beneficial in combination with opioids for your pain. As this study suggests, it doesn’t appear to help and it can certainly make some problems worse. If you’re considering medical marijuana or another treatment plan for your pain, consult with a physical medicine specialist first to ensure you’re making the right choice for your individualized condition.

The Importance Of A Support System When You Have Chronic Pain

April 4, 2019 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Whether you’re off pursuing your dreams of being a musician in New York City or trying out for the varsity basketball team, everybody wants to have a strong support system that they can turn to in a time of need. Another group of people who need a strong support system in their life are those individuals with chronic pain, but those with a chronic condition know that a good support system can be hard to find. Today, we share some tips for finding and building a strong support system if you have chronic pain.

Chronic Pain Support System

All of the following tips may not apply to your situation, but we’re confident at least some of them will. Here’s how you can build and learn to rely on a support system if you’re dealing with a chronic illness.

1. Find A Few Close Friends – You probably have one or two really close friends or family members that you can rely on when things get tough, and it’s important to lean on them when you need help. Just because you have a large family or a large network of friends doesn’t mean they are all going to be sympathetic to your cause and be reliable in your time of need. Recognize that not everyone is going to be part of your support system, so focus on the really reliable members of your support system instead of trying to involve a larger network of people.

2. Online Support – The rise of the internet has made it much easier for people to connect with other individuals who are going through the same thing. You can find highly specialized support groups that can allow you to talk to people who know what you’re dealing with. Try a simple google search and see what groups are out there. Find one or two that seem supportive and consider joining.

3. Share Your Experiences – A number of people find it helpful to share their stories with others. Whether you’re talking to your best friend on the phone or writing out your daily struggle on an online forum, it can be extremely helpful to talk about your experiences. Find a place where you can vent or be vulnerable, and let your story be heard.

4. Support Yourself – It’s also important to remember that you are the most important member of your support group, and you need to take care of yourself. You need to be getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and partaking in activities that contribute to a healthy physical and emotional well-being. If you have self-destructive tendencies, your support group may fall apart because others may think “Why should I care about them if they don’t seem to care about themselves?” Be your biggest supporter.

5. Professional Help – Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional for help. Whether you need a chronic pain specialist to help you get a grip on your condition, or you want to talk to a mental health counselor about your feelings and your concerns, please reach out for help. We want to be part of your support team, but we can’t get you help unless you connect with our office. Let us help you.

For more tips on building and maintaining a healthy support system if you have chronic pain, reach out to Dr. Cohn’s office today.