A comprehensive guide on chronic pain, its causes, symptoms, and effective management strategies to improve your quality of life.
More than 20 years ago, a heavy filing cabinet fell on Cindy Steinberg at her office and caused nerve and ligament damage to her back. The pain never went away. In the years after, she became an advocate for people who experience chronic pain and is currently the national director of policy & advocacy for the U.S. Pain Foundation. In 2011, a landmark report titled “Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care,…
When Karen Finney went into the hospital for brain surgery, she was well aware of the gender pain gap: women in pain are taken and treated less seriously than men in pain. Women of color are affected even more severely, and as a Black woman, Finney knew the hill to relief would be even steeper to climb. When she woke up after surgery to remove her brain tumor, she was in excruciating pain. She was…
A migraine is a serious chronic condition where a person has a severe headache lasting anywhere from hours to days. It can be felt on either side of the head, temples, and even behind the eyes and ears. They generally do not come on suddenly – most will have warning signs like seeing spots (auras) or having a tingling feeling. Migraine sufferers have to deal with plenty of symptoms in addition to debilitating headaches. Over…
Back pain is extremely common, with experts estimating that up to 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. If your back pain is disabling and persistent, your health care provider may recommend diagnostic tests like an XRAY or MRI to determine if surgery may be the best option for you. Click Here to Visit the Store and find Much More…. Back surgery can help relieve some causes…
The sciatic nerve is located in the lower back and branches out toward the buttocks and legs. When the sciatic nerve is pinched, a person may feel severe pain in these regions that radiates down the legs. In order to confirm a sciatica diagnosis, your physician may analyze your movement to determine the exact location of your pain. An x-ray may be necessary to see if any of the vertebrae in your spine are pressing…
Spotting gray hairs on your head. Forgetting where you put the car keys. Waking up a bit earlier. These things all can be a part of life as we get older. But what about your back. How much back pain is normal? Is it OK to be in pain or is something bigger going on? Yes, basic aches and pains are facts of life. So, a little spine pain is totally normal and common. Still,…
Taking control of painful symptoms is challenging under even the best of circumstances. Yet, taking affirmative steps in this regard can be empowering. These five tips can help you manage your pain both on your own and in connection with others. 1. Become aware of your baseline pain and create a self-care plan. Gain familiarity with your symptoms. This will allow you to recognize when further intervention or changes need to be made, or if your treatment is working. Next, develop…
What Is A Lumbar Medical Branch Block? A lumbar medial branch block is an injection procedure that pinpoints which facet joint in the low back is causing discomfort. Facet joints are small joints located in between vertebrae that help the spine bend and twist. Each one of these unique joints is surrounded by medial branch nerves, which help carry pain signals from the joints to the brain. Although the purpose of a lumbar medial branch…
Dear Chronicillness.co Fellows, As my mother always warned me that to get older is to feel some aches and pains. And I’m feeling them! My knees, my back, my.… And I’m finding lots of kinship among my middle-aged pals. I keep hearing that CBD helps relieve chronic pain. Is it really the miracle cure it claims to be? If so, I’m tempted to run out and buy some CBD. But I’m cautious and have a…
What is “The Spoon Theory?” The spoon theory is relatively simple: living with chronic pain is very different from living a pain-free lifestyle. That living pain-free theoretically has an unlimited number of spoons—whereas those living with a chronic illness have a very limited number of spoons available for each day. Each action may cost one or more of them, depending on what the action requires. If a person living with chronic pain must endure a…