10 Tips for Walking with Chronic Pain

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20 Sep

Neuropathy Treatment, Pain Relief, Treatments, South Carolina

10 Tips for Walking with Chronic Pain

Walking is one of the least expensive and easiest forms of exercise. It only requires a pair of sneakers, a place to walk, and the motivation to begin. Once a walking exercise routine is established, the length and intensity of walks can be modified based on individual goals and abilities.

Ten simple tips for an effective walking workout routine include the following:

Talk to a health care professional

Consulting a health care provider to be sure that walking will not worsen chronic pain is important. While studies show that walking can substantially lessen the intensity and frequency of pain episodes, talking with a health care provider before beginning any new exercise regimen is recommended.

Invest in a good pair of walking shoes

A good pair of walking shoes is essential. They should fit appropriately and support the feet and legs during exercise. Walking sneakers should have good arch support and a slightly raised heel that adds support and prevents wobbling while walking.

Warm up the muscles

Warming up the muscles with a slow five-minute walk prior to engaging in a longer brisk walk helps prevent injury.

Watch breathing and heart rate

Take note of breathing and heart rate. While the heart rate should be elevated to gain cardiovascular benefits, carrying on a conversation while walking should not be difficult. If it is, the intensity of the workout should be decreased.

Focus on good posture

Maintaining good posture while walking is important. The toes should point straight ahead, the head up, back straight and abdominal muscles engaged. The elbows should be bent at a ninety-degree angle and the arms should swing with each step.

Count steps

A pedometer will track the number of steps taken or the distance walked. This will help monitor improvement and encourage motivation.

Buy a wearable fitness tracker

Wearable fitness trackers count steps and allow for friendly competitions among friends, which can offer extra motivation.

Drink water

Keeping hydrated is important, especially if walking long distances or in high temperatures. In very hot weather conditions, replenishing electrolytes with tablets or fitness drinks is a good idea.

Apply sunscreen when outside

Wearing sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses when exercising outside protects the skin from sun damage.

Select a new route

Varying the walking route helps prevent boredom. Once the body is acclimated to the amount of time and distance walked, considering a route with some hills or terrain changes will keep it interesting.

Article Provided By: PainScale

If you would like to discuss what Carolina Pain Scrambler do to help relieve your chronic pain symptoms or receive more information on our treatment process, please do not hesitate to call us at 864-520-5011 or you can email us at info@carolinapainscrambler.com

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16 Sep

Managing CIPN after Cancer Treatment

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Though doctors and researchers are continually working to refine cancer treatments, therapies to treat the disease can still have side effects. Chemotherapy is often used as a strategy to kill cancer cells, but it can also affect the nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin, and internal organs. This condition is known as peripheral neuropathy.

“The likelihood that a person will develop peripheral neuropathy after cancer treatment varies widely, and is largely dependent on what kinds of chemotherapy drugs were given and the dosage that was used,” says Memorial Sloan Kettering physical therapist Laryssa Buoneto.

Symptoms of Neuropathy

A person’s particular symptoms related to neuropathy also may vary based on the type and dosage of drugs received. Certain types of chemotherapy affect the small sensory nerves in the feet and hands, causing symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and pain in fingers and toes. Treatment with chemotherapy can also result in weakness, muscle cramps, and muscle fatigue.

Less commonly, chemotherapy can have an impact on the nerves that control movement and autonomic (internal) functions. People with autonomic nerve damage may become dizzy when sitting or standing up, or may experience urinary or bowel symptoms, blood pressure changes, or irregular heartbeat.

“People who experience any of these symptoms during or after being treated for cancer should discuss them with their doctor,” says Ms. Buoneto. “These symptoms are common after cancer treatment, but they may also have other underlying causes.”

Diagnosing Peripheral Neuropathy

The first step in diagnosing peripheral neuropathy is to meet with your oncologist to discuss your chemotherapy regimen, symptoms, and any preexisting medical condition that could cause similar symptoms. Your oncologist may refer you to a physiatrist (a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation), a physical therapist, or an occupational therapist for evaluation and treatment.

In a typical exam, you would be examined for cuts and injuries, which can occur due to decreased sensitivity of the skin, and evaluated for your reaction to light touch, sensitivity to sharp and dull stimulation, finger muscle strength, reflexes, balance, and autonomic symptoms.

You may also undergo neurophysiologic tests such as:

electromyography, nerve conduction studies, and quantitative sensory tests to further examine peripheral nerve function
laboratory tests to look for metabolic disturbances and nutritional deficiencies
imaging tests to look for other possible causes of nerve damage

“These tests also can help your doctor or therapist to tailor a treatment plan to your needs and to measure progress to see if treatments are working,” says Memorial Sloan Kettering occupational therapist Gabrielle Miskovitz. “During your evaluation, your physical or occupational therapist will ask you to think about your goals. The therapist is there to help you maximize your safety, reduce your risk of injury, and improve your quality of life.”

Treating the Effects of Neuropathy

Medications are available to reduce the pain and sensory symptoms related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

In addition, physical and occupational therapy can help those with neuropathy to improve balance and gait, fine motor skills, dexterity, and coordination. Many of the treatments are focused on decreasing the risk of falls, and injuries that can result from neuropathy.

Article Provided By: International Myeloma Foundation

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13 Sep

Chronic Pain, Pain Relief, Pain Management, Pain Therapy, Pain Relief, Peripheral Neuropathy, Carolina Pain Scrambler Center, Greenville South Carolina, Exercises

5 Exercises to Help Ease Chronic Pain

While medical treatments and physical therapy are vital components of managing chronic pain symptoms, increased physical activity as a daily habit can increase quality of life. Physical activity results in the release of natural endorphins; these are the “feel good” chemicals in the brain that enhance mood while simultaneously easing pain signals. Regular exercise also helps to improve sleep quality and may even result in a reduced need for pain medications.

Walking

Chronic Pain, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Pain Therapy, Pain Treatment, Carolina Pain Scrambler, Greenville South Carolina, Exercises

Walking is a low-impact aerobic activity that is safe and effectively provides the muscles with oxygen. By increasing circulation, exercise often decreases pain and stiffness.

Aquatic exercises

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Gentle exercise in warm water often aids in decreasing chronic pain symptoms. Research shows that this may be due to low impact on the joints in water-based workouts.

Stretching and yoga

Chronic Pain, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Pain Therapy, Pain Treatment, Carolina Pain Scrambler, Greenville South Carolina, Exercises

Stretching and yoga are often valuable exercises for the improvement of chronic pain. Maintaining good posture, gentle stretching and relaxation exercises are helpful pain-reduction tools to incorporate into a daily routine.

Strength training

Chronic Pain, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Pain Therapy, Pain Treatment, Carolina Pain Scrambler, Greenville South Carolina, Exercises

Strength training can significantly ease chronic pain and benefit a person’s overall health. Workouts that use free weights or resistance machines are helpful for balanced strength training. Starting slowly and building strength gradually is important to prevent injury.

Activities of daily living

Chronic Pain, Pain Management, Pain Relief, Pain Therapy, Pain Treatment, Carolina Pain Scrambler, Greenville South Carolina

If going to the gym seems overwhelming or an individual’s chronic pain prevents them from exercising, everyday activities and daily chores can help. Routine activities, such as doing laundry, getting the mail, cooking, bathing and dressing are also valuable ways to incorporate movement throughout the day.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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11 Sep

Chronic Pain, Pain Relief, Pain Management, Peripheral Neuropathy, Pain Therapy, Paint Treatment, Carolina Pain Scrambler, Greenville South Carolina

10 Self Help Tips for Chronic Pain

1. Learn deep breathing or meditation for relaxation.

Though there are many different ways to meditate, repetition serves as the core for many different forms of meditation. Concentrating on breathing, ignoring thoughts, and repeating a word or phrase may cause the body to relax.

2. Reduce stress levels

Negative feelings including depression, anxiety, stress, and anger may increase the body’s sensitivity to pain. Listening to calm and soothing music may elevate your mood, making the chronic pain more tolerable. Guided imagery may also prove to be helpful, as it is a form of mental escape that may promote relaxation and help bring peace to your life.

3. Boost pain relief with natural endorphins made available through exercise.

Endorphins are chemicals in the brain that improve your mood while also blocking pain signals. Exercise also strengthens muscles, decreasing the chances of re-injury. Exercise may also lower your weight, reduce heart disease risk, and control blood sugar levels.

4. Decrease alcohol consumption.

Though pain can make sleeping difficult, alcohol may make sleep problems worse. If you are experiencing chronic pain, drinking less or no alcohol is recommended.

5. Join a support group.

Being around people who also endure chronic pain may make you feel less alone. You may also benefit from their wisdom in coping with pain. Meeting a mental health professional may also be recommended.

6. Don’t smoke.

Smoking may make painful circulation problems worse and increases the risk of heart disease and cancer.

7. Track your pain and activities every day.

Maintaining a log or a journal of your daily “pain score” will help track your pain. Measuring your pain at the end of the day using a 1 to 10 scale as well as keeping track of your activities may help your doctor understand your chronic pain.

8. Learn biofeedback to decrease headaches.

With biofeedback, sensors are worn so that you can “hear” or “see” bodily functions like pulse, digestion, body temperature, and muscle tension. The squiggly lines and beeps on the attached monitors reflect what is happening inside you body. When you learn to control those squiggles and beeps, you may be able to train your mind to lessen pain.

9. Get a massage for chronic pain relief.

A massage can reduce stress and relieve tension. Massages are utilized by people living with different kinds of chronic pain, including back pain and neck pain.

10. Eat a healthy diet.

A well balanced diet aids your digestive process, reduces heart disease risk, keeps weight under control, and improves blood sugar levels.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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9 Sep

8 Complications of Diabetic Neuropathy

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If glucose (sugar) levels are not under control and managed, diabetic neuropathy can cause serious complications. The common complications of diabetic neuropathy include:

Loss of a limb

The sensory neuropathy causes open wounds or sores to go unnoticed which can later become infected or ulcerated. Ulceration causes the soft tissue and skin to break down. The high blood sugar damages the blood vessels which reduces the blood supply to your feet. If left untreated, infection can spread to bone and gangrene can occur. Gangrene is tissue death which may require amputation to affected toe, foot, or lower leg.

Charcot joint

Charcot joint, also known as neuropathic arthropathy, often damages the nerve in the foot causing loss of function in the joint. Usually, the foot becomes deformed presenting with misalignment, loss of sensation, swelling, instability, and deformity in the joint. Walking can exacerbate pain and worsen the damage. Receiving early treatment can stimulate the healing process and prevent any additional damage.

Urinary dysfunction

The damaged nerves in the bladder are unaware of the pressure buildup caused by the urine filled bladder. This prevents the bladder from completely emptying causing an increase of bacteria, the ability to know when you need to urinate, and the control of the muscles used for urine output. These types of complications will lead to urinary tract infections and incontinence.

Hypoglycemia unawareness

An autonomic neuropathy prevents you from noticing when your blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL or 3.9 mmol/L. The sign and symptoms you will notice are sweating, palpitations, and shakiness.

Digestive issues

Autonomic neuropathy injures the nerves in the digestive system causing constipation, diarrhea, nausea, bloating, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Gastroparesis can occur preventing the stomach from emptying normally. This can cause high blood glucose levels and nutritional issues.

Hypotensive

The heart and blood vessels control your circulation. When these vessels are damaged the body is unable to adjust the heart rate and blood pressure. As a result, you can feel light-headed or faint when standing up from after sitting.

Sexual dysfunction

Autonomic neuropathy decreases the sexual response due to the injured nerves to the sex organs. A man may present with erectile dysfunction and a woman may show difficulty with arousal, lubrication, or orgasm.

Uncontrollable sweating

The autonomic neuropathy disrupts the sweat glands from functioning normally, where the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The damage can cause profuse sweating, especially while eating or during the night.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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6 Sep

The Different Types of Chronic Pain

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There are three primary types of chronic pain in the human body. Chronic pain signifies pain that lasts 6 months or more. It typically requires the intervention of a trained medical professional. The three types of chronic pain are neuropathic pain, nociceptive pain and viscera pain.

Type 1: Neuropathic Pain

Often referred to as neuropathy, neuropathic pain comes from the nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain. Instead of an physical injury causing the pain signals, there is damage in the nerves themselves. This is resulting in faulty pain signals being sent; thereby, leading to chronic pain.

How is this possible? The human body has a network of nerves called the peripheral nerve system. It is made up of all the spinal column nerves and nerve roots. If these nerves become injured or begin to malfunction (usually through injury or disease) then this will cause chronic pain.

An example of neuropathic pain is when a nerve is crushed and damaged from an accident. The wound and bones may heal but the nerve damage may be a cause of chronic pain.

Type 2: Nociceptive Pain

Nociceptive pain is when the body sustains a wound, injury, or certain type of aggressive disease. There are various types of nociceptive pain including the following:

Somatic Pain

Somatic pain comes from external factors such as an injury to the skin, bones, muscles, and ligaments.

Described as sharp and throbbing pain.

Bone Pain

If you happen to break a bone, it will eventually heal. After the healing process, if the bone continues to cause you pain, this would be an example of chronic somatic bone pain.

Muscle Pain

Post-workout soreness is not an example of chronic pain. If you have overloaded the muscle to the point of persistent pain and spasms, that is an example of chronic somatic muscle pain. Muscle pain can also occur from specific diseases.

Type 3: Visceral Pain

Viscera pain comes from your internal organs. Not every organ in the body has pain receptors. The major causes for concern, which are in the upper torso, do have the ability to send pain signals. The troublesome part about visceral pain is that the brain cannot pinpoint exactly where the pain is coming from. This is why seeking the advice of a medical professional is critical.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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4 Sep

6 Steps for Coping with Chronic Pain

Carolina Pain Scrambler

There are six primary steps for successfully dealing with chronic pain.

1. Pinpoint the cause of the pain

The first step in reducing pain is to pinpoint the exact cause of pain. Chronic pain might be due to a disease or injury, such as shingles, arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other conditions that affect nerves. Even if the pain is not constant, it is worth seeking treatment if it affects daily life to some extent. Once the cause of the pain has been identified, an individual can locate a specialist in the appropriate field.

2. Actively seek solutions

Pain often intensifies when left alone. To combat the progression of pain, be sure you are actively making attempts to find solutions. Be sure to limit alcohol intake, find healthy ways to reduce stress, eat a healthy diet, avoid smoking, and maintain a healthy weight.

3. Build a strong support network

According to the American Pain Foundation, more than 50 million people experience chronic pain to some extent. The Arthritis Society states there are around 66 million individuals in the United States that deal with arthritis pain. Because of these high numbers, it is also possible to find a support group who understands and can relate to your pain. Look online for local support groups or check with your community center or church.

4. Seek relief with exercise

Many individuals with chronic pain avoid exercise as they fear it may cause additional pain, but the exact opposite is true. Exercise has been shown to decrease pain and improve strength and flexibility. Exercise also releases endorphins into the body, which are “feel good” hormones that naturally relieve pain. Get clearance from your doctor and start slow by walking around the block three times a week.

5. Utilize non-medicinal methods to ease pain

Alternative methods for treating pain may provide relief, especially if conventional medicine attempts have been unsuccessful. Try incorporating heat or ice therapy, relaxation training, yoga, biofeedback, or acupuncture into your chronic pain treatment regimen.

6. Focus on sleep

The best time for the body to repair itself is while you sleep. Resting also helps promote relaxation and stress relief, which may naturally reduce pain. Turn the TV and other electronics off two hours before heading to bed to ensure a better quality sleep. You should wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take the steps needed to nip pain in the bud.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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2 Sep

11 Causes of Peripheral Neuropathy

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Peripheral neuropathy occurs due to many underlying medical conditions. There are many occurrences where the cause is unknown, idiopathic. Diabetes mellitus is the common cause of peripheral neuropathy. The other primary causes of peripheral neuropathy include:

Infections

Some viral or bacterial infections such as shingles, Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C, HIV, leprosy, and diphtheria can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Vitamin deficiency

Nerve health depends on B1, B3, B6, B12, folate, and vitamin E. Malnutrition from an unbalanced diet can cause damage to peripheral nerves.

Alcoholism

The toxic effect on the nerve tissue and alcohol abuse can create an unbalanced, unhealthy diet leading to vitamin deficiencies. They often describe a burning and tingling sensation in their feet.

Autoimmune diseases

Diseases in which your immune system attacks your own tissue include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and necrotizing vasculitis.

Inherited disorders

These heredity types include Charcot-Marie-Tooth and amyloid polyneuropathy diseases can cause peripheral neuropathy.

Trauma or pressure on the affected nerve

Trauma from a motor vehicle accident, sport injury, or falls damage or sever peripheral nerves. Repetitive motion from an activity or occupation such as typing or using crutches can contribute to pressure on nerves resulting in nerve damage. Tight plaster casts can also put pressure on nerves.

Tumors

Growths and both cancerous and noncancerous tumors can develop or apply pressure on the nerve. Paraneoplastic syndrome, a cancer related immune response that attacks your body, can also cause pressure to nerves and impair function.

Exposure to toxins

Such as heavy metals, chemicals, gold compounds, lead, arsenic, mercury, organophosphate pesticides.

Certain Medications

Cancer therapy, HIV, antibiotics, and statin medications can cause damage to peripheral nerves.

Cancers

Peripheral neuropathy can occur in lymphoma, osteosclerotic myeloma, and multiple myeloma.

Other diseases

Such as liver disease, hypothyroidism, or connective tissue disorders. Kidney disease causes peripheral nerve damage due to the imbalance of chemicals, salt, fluids, and waste products that accumulate in the body.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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30 Aug

Nutrition is Important for Managing Pain

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What is Chronic Pain?

We all get bumps and bruises but chronic pain is much different. In order to be considered “chronic”, pain must last longer than three months.

What’s more, chronic pain is also a heightened level of pain, more so than a simple stubbing of the toe or jamming of the finger. It’s ordinarily pain that is severe enough that working or living a normal life becomes difficult.

Role of Nutrition

Pain is often caused from inflammation throughout the body. There are some exceptions, of course, but in most cases, chronic pain has some level of inflammation. Nutrition can play a big role in helping chronic pain as it can directly impact the level of inflammation that is present in your body.

While there has yet to be a Pain Free Diet, there is an Anti-Inflammatory Diet and this is the next best thing. A diet that focuses on anti-inflammatory foods may help reduce or eliminate pain while improving mood and overall health.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This type of diet is going to focus on primarily plant-based foods with healthy lean meats, usually in the form of fish, being added in sparingly. The idea is to maximize anti-inflammatory vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and the following nutrients:

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are the most popular anti-inflammatory nutrients. Omega 3s can be found in:

Salmon
Flaxseed
Walnuts

2. Tryptophan has been shown to be a powerful tool for pain alleviation while improving sleep. Tryptophan can be found in:

Pumpkin seeds
Raw chocolate
Yogurt

3. Fiber can help to alleviate pain from constipation. It’s found in:

Flax seeds
Dark leafy green vegetables
Prunes

4. Green tea is a well-known agent for pain alleviation. You can drink up to 3 cups per day to help with pain.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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28 Aug

Chronic Pain, Pain Relief, Pain Management, Pain Treatment, Peripheral Neuropathy, Carolina Pain Scrambler Center, Greenville South Carolina

Eliminate Stress for Pain Relief

Something that most of us out there aren’t familiar with is that stress can often cause pain. Considering how much responsibilities one has to deal with, an individual gets stressed out easily. And this stress can cause you not only to suffer emotionally but also physically as well.

Both stress and pain walk hand in hand, and that is why both have an impact on one another. Increased stress can cause one to suffer from chronic pain as well, and the only way to get rid of such kind of unfortunate pain is by getting rid of your stress.

To get rid of your pain, get rid of your stress:

Studies also claim that if you’re suffering from depression and anxiety, then you are likely to suffer from pain as well. So, if you’re experiencing severe pain then you might be extremely stressed out and as both impact each other, if your pain decreases your stress level will decrease as well.

Though the reason why these both a link to each is still uncertain, however, it is seen that people often suffer from neck, shoulder and back pain because they are stressed out. This could be because of brain chemicals, or it could be because of the link between stress and tension in the muscles. When one experiences this pain, the brain tries to minimize the signals so that there is a balance maintained and the person is able to function. However, chronic pain can offset the balance.

Your brain is always trying to inhibit the pain signals, however, if you’re completely stressed out then the brain’s ability to filter the pain signals fails and the pain increases. You must understand that if you’ve managed your stress then only will any sort of therapy work on you.

Here are some easy-to-follow tips for you to try out:

Move around and be active, this will reduce your stress level. Make sure to include some sort of exercise in your daily life; you can go for a jog, walk or bike around. Consult your doctor and find out how exercising will help with your pain.
Make sure to get a proper sleep so that you can deal with any sort of stress.
Take out time for yourself, improvise your daily routine and add activities that help you in relaxing.
Do yoga; meditate, take deep breaths to relax your mind and body. These exercises will reduce your stress level, and you can do them whenever you like.
You can even take out the time and visit a mental health professional, to help you with your stress and pain.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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