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9 Sep

Peripheral Neuropathy, Pain Relief, Neuropathy, Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment, Pain Management, Pain Treatment, Carolina Pain Scrambler, Greenville South Carolina

8 Complications of Diabetic Neuropathy

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

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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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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26 Aug

Chronic Pain and Aging

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Chronic Pain, News Calmare Pain Scrambler, Calmare Therapy, Carolina Pain Scrambler, Chronic Pain, Greenville, Neuropathic Pain, Neuropathy, Pain Treatment, Scrambler Therapy, Scrambler Treatment, South Carolina, Wellness, YeahTHATGreenville

While chronic pain may make people feel older, it may also speed up the aging process. Recent research with individuals suffering from long-term back pain and neck pain found that the aging process may be accelerated by up to 30 years.

Findings published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, found that people suffering from chronic pain age 50-59, looked comparable to healthy individuals who were older by 20-30 years. The study also found that people with chronic pain functioned as if they were much older when doing certain types of physical activities including walking/jogging, climbing stairs, using the upper extremities, and performing routine activities like bathing, dressing, and eating.

Research done at the University of California found that 24 percent of individuals experienced pain through all four of the above mentioned physical activities. Only 9 percent of individuals with chronic pain were able to jog a mile, while 37 percent of individuals who were without pain were able to jog a mile. Additionally, 50 percent of individuals with chronic pain were able to walk a short distance without difficulty. However, 91 percent of same aged individuals who do not experience pain walked the short distance without complications. This study confirms what those living with chronic pain already feel on a daily basis.

When considering chronic back pain and neck pain and the physical and mental tolls of chronic pain, it is crucial for those living with chronic pain to stay active by exercising or using physical therapy.

Article Provided By: PainScale

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23 Aug

Diabetic Neuropathy Facts & Information

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Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

A Nerve Condition Associated with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Nerve damage caused by diabetes affecting the arms, hands, legs, and feet.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Facts & Information

This condition is associated with diabetes mellitus and is a frequent complication. High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves and lead to pain – especially legs and feet.

Pain management doctors use innovative procedures to accurately diagnose your pain and safe, non-surgical procedures to alleviate the pain caused by diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

How & Why Diabetic Neuropathy Develops

High blood sugar levels, that are chronically elevated, will cause damage to nerves. There are four types of diabetic neuropathy: peripheral, autonomic, proximal, and focal.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy most commonly affects the feet and legs. Damage to the nerves can result in decreased sensation, making it more difficult to walk and putting patients at risk of injuring their feet because of loss of sensation. Patients with diabetes who develop ulcers or infections in the feet need to be followed closely.

Getting better control of the patient’s blood sugar levels often may be associated with decreased symptoms.

Symptoms

For diabetic peripheral neuropathy, patients will have symptoms on the lower half of their body – specifically legs, feet, and toes. Primary symptoms include:

Tingling
Numbness
Burning sensation
Any other type of pain affecting the feet or toes

Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis starts with an experienced physician. The type of pain that you may have with diabetic peripheral neuropathy can be similar to the symptoms of several types of disorders. Accurately determining the correct source of your pain is critical to successful treatment.

Begins with a thorough clinical evaluation
Including a complete medical history, analysis of your symptoms, and physical examination
Testing may include x-rays, MRI and/or CT scans, and peripheral nerve conduction study
These advanced diagnostic techniques help pinpoint the source of pain

Article Provided By: Advanced Medical Group

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21 Aug

CRPS Facts and Information

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CRPS

A Chronic, Progressive, Painful Condition Affecting the Skin, Muscles, Joints, and Bones

Chronic arm or leg pain developing after injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack.

CRPS Facts & Information

Potential causes of CRPS range from minor injuries, such as a sprain, to severe injuries, such as damage to a nerve. Even relatively long periods of immobility, such as would occur with a broken leg, can result in CRPS.

The symptoms of CRPS frequently include severe burning pain and extreme sensitivity to touch in the area of the injury. Swelling, excessive sweating, and changes in the bone and skin tissue may also occur. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to seek early intervention.

The nation’s leader in pain management, National Spine & Pain Centers has board-certified doctors who are highly skilled in accurately diagnosing CRPS and customizing non-surgical treatment plans that offer lasting relief.

How & Why Does CRPS Develop?

CRPS, also referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Causalgia, is usually caused by an injury to the bones, joints, tissue, or nerves. The original injury can be severe, such as a broken bone, or minor, such as a sprain. In the case of an injury, CRPS symptoms may not appear right away. As described above, these symptoms can result in extreme discomfort. Stress often increases the severity of pain. As with any injury or condition, paying attention to the messages your body sends you and seeking treatment from knowledgeable medical professionals is critical.

It most often occurs in adults between the ages 20-40 and generally affects women more than men.

CRPS can result from several different causes. Research suggests that the symptoms may result from an injured nerve or nerves. The nerves send normal pain signals that pass through the spinal cord and are then transmitted to the brain. The problems occur because the spinal cord begins to send confusing signals to the brain, as well as to the injured area itself.

These confused signals interfere with normal blood flow and sensory signals resulting in extreme pain. In some cases, an immune response is triggered causing sweating, redness, inflammation, warmth, and/or muscle spasms.

Symptoms

Symptoms may spread upward from the initial injury site (e.g. hand to shoulder) and may be heightened by emotional stress. The unrelenting pain causes many people extreme emotional and physical duress and, left untreated, can lead to permanent changes in muscle and bone. Early detection and treatment are very much needed. Common symptoms include:

Swelling
Muscle spasms
Loss of motion
Abnormal sweating
Tenderness and stiffness in joints
Extreme sensitivity to even mild stimuli, such as clothing or a light touch
Warm, red-looking skin at the injured area initially, changing to cool, bluish-looking skin later

Diagnosis

Proper diagnosis starts with an experienced pain management doctor. The type of pain that you may have with CRPS can be similar to the symptoms of several types of disorders. Accurately determining the correct source of your pain is critical to successful treatment. Diagnosis involves the following:

Begins with a thorough clinical evaluation
Including a complete medical history, analysis of your symptoms, and physical examination
Testing may include x-rays, MRI and/or CT scans, and electro-diagnosis (EMG)
These advanced diagnostic techniques definitively pinpoint the source of pain

Article Provided By: Advanced Medical Group

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19 Aug

Anger Could Make Your Pain Worse

Carolina Pain Scrambler

When you’re living with chronic pain, there can be a lot of very good reasons for being angry, upset, and frustrated. Your pain may be the result of events that were outside of your control, or maybe even somebody else’s fault – like slipping on a wet floor or getting rear-ended while stopped at a red light. And it’s easy to get frustrated with doctors, chiropractors, or physical therapists when their treatments or recommendations don’t help. If chronic pain prevents you from performing meaningful tasks like going to work, doing chores, or exercising, the sense of loss this creates can add to the snowball of negative emotions. And to top it all off, you may be dealing with non-cooperative insurance companies, side effects from treatment, and friends, family, and co-workers who just don’t seem to appreciate your situation.

Because there is so much to get mad about, anger can become your primary mood when you’re experiencing chronic pain. But too much can pose a real problem when it comes to finding relief.

Studies have found that anger can be associated with higher intensities of pain, and that applies to a number of different chronic pain syndromes, like fibromyalgia, back pain, and headaches. Anger also seems to be tied to a decrease in physical performance and increased disability from work. Research also indicates that anger can interfere with sleep quality and lead to poor coping habits. Other studies on anger and chronic pain suggest that increased anger leads to a loss of emotional support and interferes with social connections, as well as with other mood problems like depression and anxiety. The madder we get, the more we can push people away.

But, even if you’re able to admit that your anger is making your situation worse, letting go of it can be difficult. You may feel that by giving up your anger you’re giving in to the pain, or losing your defense mechanism for telling the pain, “This isn’t ok!” Anger can even feel like a source of energy that “fuels” your fight to get through the day or a protective shield to avoid feeling more vulnerable and susceptible to getting even more hurt. But it appears that, in the long-run, the opposite is true.

Sometimes the first step to processing anger is to gain awareness. To help you assess the impact that anger might be having on you, consider having an open discussion with those close to you and with your doctors to get a sense of what they observe about your behavior and mood. If your anger is impacting other people’s ability to best support you, you probably want to know that. When you become more mindful of the signs that an excessive amount of anger is kicking in, you can start to reframe your thoughts and, before reacting, look for alternative ways of responding to the situation.

If you continue to feel overwhelmed by anger, consider getting outside help to learn better-coping strategies. Remember, better anger management can mean better pain management.

Article Provided By: WebMD

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