I’ve cared for patients in a healthcare setting for the last 16 years, but it wasn’t until my own battle with chronic pain that I had an important realization about health: it starts with you. It takes a will to get better. That willpower is what inspired me to overcome chronic pain on my journey …
My journey to get better: How I lost weight and overcame chronic pain Read More »
Every day, we read yet another headline about the heartbreaking toll of opioid abuse and addiction on American families and communities. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for people in the U.S. under the age of 50. Seven out of 10 Americans view opioid addiction as a serious problem and more than …
Amid opioid crisis, it’s time we rethink how to treat pain Read More »
More than one in 10 American adults experienced pain every day for the past three months, according to data from the National Institutes of Health. When pain lasts three months or longer, it is considered chronic pain. The prevalence of chronic pain in the U.S. lies at the root of an ongoing epidemic of prescription …
For chronic pain, opioids are not a good long-term solution Read More »
Opioids can be useful immediately after surgery for postoperative pain control, but there is a tendency to overprescribe. A recent study found that 6 percent of patients continued to use the drugs for at least three months after surgery. “Traditionally, doctors would prescribe (opioids) until the patient phone calls stopped,” said Walter Peters, MD, chief …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 44 people fatally overdose on prescription opioids daily in the U.S. That exceeds the daily number of deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes. One forecast estimates that as many as 650,000 people — nearly the combined population of the cities of Arlington and Plano — …
How Baylor Scott & White Health is combatting the growing opioid epidemic Read More »
When we experience pain, we want it to be over as soon as possible. So it might seem counterintuitive when a doctor recommends the practice of mindfulness — being fully present in the moment — to reduce pain levels. How could being present help? The answer is in changing the way your mind perceives pain, …
How being mindful can help you manage your chronic pain Read More »
In May, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released proposed changes to its blueprint educating health care providers about treating pain. The new guidelines recommend doctors provide information about acupuncture and chiropractic care as pain treatment options, which could help some patients avoid prescription opioid use for pain. The blueprint, which isn’t final, is part …
Acupuncture and chiropractic care as opioid alternatives Read More »
One out of five Americans say they have a family member who has been addicted to prescription painkillers and twice that number personally know someone who has been addicted. The addiction to opioids is an epidemic that plagues our nation. Access to anti-opioid medication has been an ongoing conversation. Now, a new over-the-counter treatment looks to change the …
Prince died one day before he was going to see a specialist about an opioid painkiller addiction, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Sources told a Minneapolis TV station that Prince was being treated for possible dependence on pain medication for chronic hip pain. If true, it is one of a series of high-profile sagas …
Chronic pain sufferers, take heart. Advances in pain management may offer the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. “Chronic pain,” which is a pain that lasts more than six months, not only affects everyday living but also everything from mood to relationships to job performance and affects an estimated 116 million Americans every day. “Chronic pain can …
What a Relief! Chronic Pain Sufferers, Take Heart. Read More »