by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 18, 2019 | Articles, Back, Print, Therapies, This Issue
Wayne Cooper, a 72 year-old almost-retired attorney, lives in Marin County, California. He has suffered from low back pain and sciatica for nearly 20 years, keeping him from enjoying many activities and requiring daily medication. The Bay Area is hilly—and due to his...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 1, 2019 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies, This Issue
The old adage “you are what you eat” could be the unofficial motto for a community initiative currently under way in one North Carolina city. Against an urban backdrop that includes repurposed tobacco factories, new medical and research facilities and a mix of art...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 14, 2019 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print, This Issue
Solving the Puzzle of Childhood Pain: Reprogramming the central neural circuit pathways Husband-wife pediatricians use mind-body approach to help children and adolescents heal from chronic pain. “You can’t be someone who likes immediate gratification, and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 1, 2019 | Articles, Print, This Issue
The science behind two public safety & health issues “I cannot be silent, because what I endured changed my life and wrote on the slate of who I am. I survived to try and help others who were also abused and have intensified chronic pain.” —Leslie Flanagan,...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 17, 2018 | Articles, Caregiving, Print, This Issue
Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s how to handle the stress. It’s easy for caregivers to get stressed out during the holiday season. As caregivers, many of us are already overwhelmed with our daily responsibilities, leaving us vulnerable when the stress of the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 30, 2018 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print, This Issue
Nick Cannon on Lupus, Learning and Life in the Spotlight Nick Cannon is calling after finishing up his classes for the day, squeezing in an interview as he makes his way to the airport and his next appointment. Well known in numerous entertainment circles as a...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 19, 2018 | Articles, Print
A brand-new implant changes an electrical engineer’s life Acute arachnoiditis isn’t a disease you hear about every day. It’s a rare form of chronic pain caused by inflammation of a membrane around the spinal cord. But David Lemaster, 70, is all too familiar with it....
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 1, 2018 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
Reduce breast pain through lymphatic massage. Joyce Sobotta started studying breast self-care more than a decade ago, after losing her sister to breast cancer in 2006. As a certified aromatherapist, she became interested in developing an essential oil for breast care....
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 15, 2018 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
Dr. David Mount would rather listen than talk. It’s not that he doesn’t have plenty to say. But on a patient’s first visit, he wants to hear what led the patient to his office. The neuropsychologist has a keen interest in the mind/body connection and a focus on how...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 1, 2018 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
While more than 65 million caregivers—and I am one of them—currently attend to the sickest in our country, statistics show that 72 percent of us fail to see our own physicians regularly. Do the math, and “Houston…we have a problem!” Caregivers interact with many...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 17, 2018 | Articles, Print
They thought it was “growing pains.” When Tony Lawless developed pain in his left wrist at the age of 19, the first doctor he saw told him not to worry. The former high school football and lacrosse player had always been active, always healthy, and there didn’t seem...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 31, 2018 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
“Age is just a number”—and no one demonstrates that more than 12-time Olympic medalist Dara Torres, who has spent decades proving the adage that eventually became the title of her 2009 inspirational memoir about fitness, aging and pursuing dreams. Described by many as...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 20, 2018 | Articles, Print
We’ve been given the impression that stress is a problem—something we have to eliminate or control. But stress reactions provide a vital source of personal safety that needs to be understood and valued. There are benefits of stress? Yes. It’s when the brain’s alarm...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 1, 2018 | Articles, Caregiving, Medication, Print
Politicians, pharmaceutical companies, physicians, patients, attorneys, law enforcement and the common citizen have all weighed in on the public health emergency we know as the opioid crisis. Yet one demographic with significant input into this issue has received...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 16, 2018 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
You’re not imagining things; essential oils are everywhere these days. They’ve grown in popularity as people have started seeking natural aids for relaxation and pain relief. Once found mostly in holistic health shops, the healing oils are now widely...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 1, 2018 | Articles, Print
Gwenn Herman, LCSW, DCSW, a clinical social worker from Maryland, was 42 when her life was turned upside down by a car accident. The resulting whiplash turned into chronic pain and eventually fibromyalgia, migraines, myofascial pain and more. “The emotional pain was...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 18, 2018 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
Michael Finkelstein, MD, encourages patients to take the slow approach to good health. It’s not always easy, but it can alleviate a host of ills. Michael Finkelstein, MD, the “Slow Medicine Doctor®,” says his slow approach to wellness is right for everyone and every...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 1, 2018 | Articles, Cancer, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Scott Hamilton: Always Winning, a Lifetime Overcoming The homepage for Scott Hamilton’s website features one simple line of text: “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” This is a fitting introduction to one of the world’s most recognized male figure skaters...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 15, 2018 | Articles, Print
By Alice Fleenor, TCC® Coach and TCCU® Instructor and Dee Emmerson, TCC® Writer Special thanks to Becky Curtis at Take Courage Coaching Neuroplasticity is the brain and nervous system’s ability to form new pathways or synapses and adapt to change. We know that...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 1, 2018 | Articles, Medication, Print
In 2001, Deborah Simpson was in a car accident that left her in debilitating pain. In the years since she’s had more than 40 surgeries and experienced many complications along the way. After exploring many treatment options, her doctors prescribed opioids to help...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 16, 2018 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
As a med school student with fibromyalgia, Ginevra Liptan discovered she was her own best advocate. Ginevra Liptan, MD, had never heard of fibromyalgia when she began feeling overwhelming fatigue. It was 1999, and she was a typical medical student, working insane...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 1, 2018 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
When I first launched my radio show for caregivers, a group from AARP interviewed me and discussed the challenges of reaching family caregivers. One of them asked me, “Many people serve for years as a family caregiver, but somehow don’t identify themselves as such....
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 15, 2018 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
Opera singer Donatella Moltisanti discovered the healing effects of sound therapy. Now she helps others use the alternative treatment to reduce chronic pain, relieve stress and find emotional healing. When Donatella Moltisanti was 13 years old, she began experiencing...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 1, 2018 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Earlier this year, Senator Tammy Duckworth was front and center in the public eye during the Congressional budget debate, challenging President Trump to “stop baiting Kim Jong Un into a war that could put 85,000 American troops, and millions of innocent civilians, in...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 1, 2018 | Articles, Print
We tend to think of our bones as hard and static, but bone is one of the most dynamic organs in the body. When our skeleton is functioing properly, it is very metabolically active and serves as a reservoir of minerals and growth factors that the body can draw upon in...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 14, 2018 | Articles, Inflammatory, Integrative, Print, Therapies
The medical community has known for a long time that cold can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It’s widely used among athletes and in physical therapy, with therapists often recommending ice baths or cold compresses. A new alternative treatment known...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 31, 2018 | Articles, Print, Women
Every February on the first Friday of the month, people worldwide shed their usual threads in exchange for the inspiring color red to raise awareness and honor women in their fight against heart disease, the number one killer of women. According to the American Heart...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 15, 2018 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
Peter Staats isn’t usually the first doctor anyone with chronic pain comes to see. “I tend to be the guy who sees people after they’ve been to a few other doctors,” says the anesthesiologist and chief medical officer of both National Spine and Pain Centers and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 1, 2018 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
Resentment can be a regular companion for many caregivers. A deep-seated feeling of obligation can cause caregivers to drive themselves mercilessly with such internal commands such as “I have to, I must, I’m supposed to, I need to.” In addition, many caregivers permit...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 15, 2017 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
According to the National Institutes of Health, one in three Americans have tried some form of nonconventional, or complementary, medicine. While complementary medicine is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, there is still a great deal of confusion...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2017 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Let’s suppose you know little about British history and couldn’t explain the difference, say, between a Tudor and a Windsor or an Edwardian and an Elizabethan. Even so, you undoubtedly know a little bit about King Henry VIII—for instance, that he was infamous for his...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 15, 2017 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
Certified Medical Reiki Master™ Aziza Doumani knows some people are uncertain about what her profession—her calling—is, not to mention what it can do for people. There are people who hear the words “energy healer” and “life force” and are immediately skeptical. If...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 1, 2017 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
A new peripheral nerve stimulation system is providing long-lasting pain relief for patients with phantom limb pain. On May 4, 2014, David Nipple was riding his motorcycle near his former home in Franklin, Tennessee, when the intoxicated driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 15, 2017 | Articles, Print
When Pain Runs in the Family: Our Little Zebra* By Shaina Smith Our family calendar is not glamorous. Not because we don’t fill our weekends with fun-filled events (we travel all over New England just to find the perfect meal) or because it lacks creativity (my...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 1, 2017 | Articles, Integrative, Physician Spotlight, Print, Therapies
Imagine you’re trying to reach an important destination, and there’s only one way to get there—a crowded highway that sends you through miles upon miles of rough roads and traffic delays, with no exits in sight. If only you knew of an alternative route, you’d make an...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 1, 2017 | Articles, Cancer, Caregiving, Print
Many love stories involve a wedding, but for Hernan Moyano and Sandra Trujillo, nuptials marked the start of a caregiver-patient/husband-wife journey of more than five years that would ultimately claim Sandra’s life. “We met at business school and were married in...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 15, 2017 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
For caregivers, the change of seasons is a good time to reevaluate goals and timelines. Being a caregiver is made up of many tasks that need to be done for the patient—but you also have to make sure you and the rest of the family are taken care of as well. Be sure to...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 1, 2017 | Articles, Back, Cancer, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
John Tesh Talks about Love, Pain and Finding His Rhythm John Tesh’s rich baritone voice is as immediately familiar on a cell phone as it is to millions of radio listeners. “Hi, it’s John,” he says. “We just wrapped up the radio program, so I wanted to go ahead and...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Aug 8, 2017 | Print, Wellness
People with chronic pain are significantly more likely to be cigarette smokers than those without chronic pain. Some smokers with chronic pain report that they use smoking as a pain-management strategy. However, smoking is not an effective coping strategy and has been...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 1, 2017 | Articles, Print, Therapies
When you hear the term “dry needling,” you may think it’s a kind of acupuncture. But the two therapies are, in fact, nothing alike, says Michael Coords, MD. They both use needles and can help reduce pain, but even the needles are entirely different from one another....
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 13, 2017 | Articles, Print, Therapies
THIS IS GOING TO SOUND LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A SCI-FI MOVIE. Deep brain stimulation (DBS)—used most commonly to treat advanced Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor but also for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), dystonia, pain and, recently, depression—is brain...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 1, 2017 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print, Therapies
Abdominal pain can be easy to rationalize away—at least at first. You chalk it up to “just gas.” Or maybe stress. Or possibly something you ate. But when the pain becomes chronic, it could be a sign that you’re dealing with something more serious, like inflammatory...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 19, 2017 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
Are you ready for summer? Long days of sunshine, pools, family gatherings and social events? While these activities often produce some of the best summer memories, take care; they can also be especially challenging for people with chronic pain. Experiencing summer fun...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 1, 2017 | Articles, Caregiving, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
She’s a well-known television personality, new Rose Bowl Parade host and an Emmy award winner, but Leeza Gibbons’ non-entertainment roles have introduced her to an entirely different audience of fans. As the founder of the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, Leeza’s...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 15, 2017 | Print, Wellness
IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC PAIN TO REPORT FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION. Signs may include sad mood on most days, loss of interest in activities that were once pleasurable, change in weight (gain or loss of 5 percent or more within a month), sleep...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 1, 2017 | Articles, Print
Are men and women who work in the heavy construction industry more at risk for work-related chronic pain? According to Paul Fontana, OTR, FAOTA, owner of the Center for Work Rehabilitation, Inc., in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Houston, the answer is yes—and no. It’s a...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 17, 2017 | Articles, Fibromyalgia, Integrative, Print, Therapies
The people who come to see me for pain usually do so because nothing else has worked for them. They have been to doctors, taken tests and tried a range of medications but still have gotten no relief. Most have never had acupuncture before—they just heard that it can...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 3, 2017 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print, Therapies
If hearing the word marijuana (or weed, blunt, joint, ganja, hooch, Mary Jane or any of the other slang terms for cannabis) calls to mind Cheech and Chong movies or the stoner stereotype, then stop right there. According to Mark Ware, MD, that’s part of the problem in...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 20, 2017 | Articles, Print
As caregivers and people with pain make the move from winter into spring, health concerns can also be in transition. WINTER CAN BRING A SLOWING DOWN for many people with pain. We spend a lot of time indoors and become less active, and we are in darkness for longer...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 1, 2017 | Arthritis, Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
As one of the hosts and the signature voice for American Ninja Warrior, Matt Iseman regularly interacts with athletes at the top of their game in a role tailor made for the Los Angeles-based fitness aficionado and celebrity. However, many of Iseman’s fans are...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 1, 2017 | Articles, Print
Martin Oleksy’s life changed at a job interview. During the interview, the company’s fire-alarm system sounded. And then again. Then twice more. “Each test pierced my ears harder than the previous time,” says the 46-year-old advertising and marketing executive. “I had...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 3, 2017 | Articles, Print
Dr. Paul Christo is a board-certified, Harvard-trained anesthesiologist and Johns Hopkins–trained pain medicine specialist. He’s an associate professor and researcher at Hopkins in the division of pain medicine and department of anesthesiology and critical care...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 3, 2017 | Articles, Central Pain Syndrome, Integrative, Physicians, Print
Many people with pain are so overwhelmed that they can’t function well— physically, emotionally and/or cognitively. A major contributing factor to this “meltdown” is a hyperaroused nervous system, which manifests as feelings of anxiety and stress. If it were possible...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2016 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Headache, Print, Women
Eighteen-hour work days, in inconsistent food schedules, cringe-worthy lighting and intense emotional situations. This describes the daily production environment for TV star Bellamy Young, who plays Mellie Grant on the hit show Scandal. And she loves every minute of...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 15, 2016 | Articles, Communication, Integrative, Print, Therapies
Writing with a fountain pen and viewing the world through my camera lens is like a soothing balm for my body and soul. Writing and photography have helped me to heal and have changed my life and my work as a psychotherapist. When I write and make photographs about my...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 4, 2016 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
Vital signs are measurements of the body’s most basic functions and are used to detect or monitor medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting or at home. It’s only been in the last decade that PAIN was added as the fifth vital sign, now being...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 9, 2016 | Cover Stories, Print
Prince, who died in April at age 57, sang openly about emotional anguish—and about sex, religion, race, and nearly every other challenging topic. But despite that openness in his music, Prince kept his own excruciating pain private. His death from an accidental...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 22, 2016 | Articles, CRPS, Print
When patients living with chronic pain are referred to pain management specialists, it is often because they have already tried multiple therapy options without finding meaningful relief. For those diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome {CRPS} or who suffer...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 5, 2016 | Acute, Articles, Featured, Foot, Physician Spotlight, Print
They propel us, steady us and, in many ways, dictate our level of physical health, but most of us take our feet for granted until something goes wrong. Elliot Udell, DPM, president of the American Society of Podiatric Medicine and a practicing podiatrist and foot pain...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 1, 2016 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
In 1994, the International Association for the Study of Pain pain as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage,” and this has become the accepted of pain.1 As a psychologist,...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 12, 2016 | Articles, Headache, Physician Spotlight, Print
Charles Argoff, MD, hadn’t planned to go into pain medicine. But as a medical resident in neurology in the mid-1980s, he noticed that nearly everyone he took care of experienced pain. And here was the curious thing: there didn’t seem to be satisfactory ways to deal...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 1, 2016 | Articles, Headache, Print
One of the most recognizable paintings in the Western world is Edvard Munch’s The Scream. The subject of the piece, the screaming man, is pictured with his mouth wide open and his hands clasped against the sides of his face. For anyone who’s ever experienced chronic...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 1, 2016 | Articles, Cancer, Caregiving, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter relates to caregivers & people who have been affected by cancer. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has said that caregiving is a blessing and a challenging task, a privilege and an often overwhelming obligation. As president of...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 4, 2016 | Articles, Cancer, Physician Spotlight, Physicians, Print
“My dad died within six months of his diagnosis,” says Carrie Johnson, MD, now an anesthesiologist and cancer pain management specialist. “And it shaped what I am doing with my life.” Her dad had surgery, but the cancer spread quickly and chemotherapy proved...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 5, 2016 | Articles, Foot, Print, Therapies
The most common cause of peripheral neuropathy worldwide is diabetes. And because the obesity crisis has led to increased rates of diabetes, peripheral neuropathy has become more common as well. In fact, it’s estimated that in the United States alone, around 20...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 29, 2016 | Articles, Cover Stories, Fibromyalgia, Personal Stories, Print, Women
Dominique Easley knows how to use his brawn on the football field to benefit the New England Patriots. A former University of Florida Gridiron star, Easley was listed as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the nation in 2010, later entering the National Football League...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 29, 2016 | Articles, Integrative, Print
Neuroscientists estimate that it can take as little as a tenth of a second to notice a threat—an aggressive face, for example, but much longer to recognize something pleasant. This is compounded because threats are reacted to virtually instantaneously and go straight...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 17, 2016 | Articles, Fibromyalgia, Headache, Personal Stories, Print
Desiree Quinn isn’t comfortable with her crown. The Eugene, Oregon, resident and Ms. Oregon State America 2015 didn’t set out to be on the beauty pageant circuit. In fact, it’s not her style. She’s the mom of two athletic sons, Brendin, 19, and Bryson, 13. But the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 15, 2016 | Articles, Cancer, Print, Reflections
Anyone who has come home at the end of a tough day and relaxed to the sounds of a favorite song or artist knows that music is transformative, powerful. However, for Rob Rufus and his twin, Nat—principals of the punk rock group Blacklist Royals—music has also been the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 9, 2016 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
When it comes to the challenges of working within the health care system, our family has gotten plenty of experience as we’ve dealt with my wife’s chronic pain: step therapy, delays in the authorization process, medications being moved to the “specialty tier”...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 2, 2016 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
Chester “Trip” Buckenmaier III, MD, can see the silver lining in a black cloud. The program director for the Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management in Washington, DC, often says that war—that most dreadful and deadly of human inventions—can be a...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 8, 2016 | Articles, Cover Stories, Personal Stories, Print
International cyclist Robbie Ventura never embraced the words slow down until a devastating crash knocked him off his bike and into the world of chronic pain. A competitive racer on the dirt, road and track since the age of 7, Ventura amassed over 70 victories during...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 8, 2015 | Articles, CRPS, Print, Therapies
This second of a three-part series explores the first four meditations in the book You Are Not Your Pain: Using Mindfulness to Relieve Pain, Reduce Stress and Restore Well-Being by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman. Described by the president of the British Medical...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2015 | Articles, CRPS, Print, Therapies
As anyone with chronic back pain and leg pain knows, response to pain therapies can be as individual as the pain experience itself. That’s why information about new treatment options is critical. HF10TM therapy is a breakthrough treatment recently approved by the FDA...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2015 | Articles, CRPS, Print, Therapies
Ron’s exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam caused medical issues. To make matters worse, the pain from existing lumbar radiculitis gradually took hold of his foot, leg and lower back. “The pain was excruciating—a 15 on a scale of 1 to 10,” recalls Ron. “It was like fire...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2015 | Articles, CRPS, Print, Therapies
Approximately one in three Americans suffers from chronic pain, leading to escalating health care costs and a growing interest in treating chronic pain sustainably, but managing pain is a complex pursuit. The longer patients experience pain, the more reinforced it is...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 16, 2015 | Articles, CRPS, Print, Reflections, Therapies
There was a time when Morgan Barfield thought she might never walk again. At the age of 16, she developed CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) following knee surgery—although it took nearly two years and multiple doctors for her to receive an accurate diagnosis. The...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 9, 2015 | Articles, Integrative, Physician Spotlight, Print, Therapies
“In almost all cases, there are one or more treatments that can significantly reduce that pain,” says the Scottsdale, Arizona-based doctor and board-certified pain specialist. “That’s why we use a comprehensive integrated approach, where patients have access to...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 29, 2015 | Articles, Print
What do you think of when you think of intense pain? Many women might say childbirth. A veteran who survived injury from an explosive device might describe the related pain as the worst he or she ever experienced. The list goes on. Burn victims, cancer patients and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 27, 2015 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies, Wellness
This is the first of a three-part series based on the book You Are Not Your Pain: Using Mindfulness to Relieve Pain, Reduce Stress and Restore Well-Being. This feature explains the pain experience and how the mind and body can work together to bring relief. Future...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 6, 2015 | Articles, Print
NO ONE BELIEVED HER, and some implied she was crazy. One doctor even told her to see a psychiatrist. But 22-year-old Amy Shchrader, a respiratory therapist, had enough medical knowledge to realize something was seriously wrong when she awoke one morning feeling as if...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 28, 2015 | Articles, Caregiving, Medication, Print
1 tolerance. Long-term use of opioids can lead to tolerance for the drug so that higher doses must be taken to achieve the same effect. Check with the doctor if your loved one seems to need more of the drug to get pain relief; the dose or the type of opioid may need...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 15, 2015 | Articles, Print
“The pain went from my mid-back all the way to the toes of both my feet, he recalls. I was in agony. I couldn’t work. I couldn’t do anything. I was basically just inhabiting my bedroom.” Oral and injectable pain medications worked for a while, but eventually the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 14, 2015 | Articles, Cancer, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print, Women
Joan Lunden, award-winning journalist, bestselling author, health and wellness advocate and mom of seven, doesn’t mince words when she talks about her battle with breast cancer. “Women are stunned to hear I had a clean 3-D mammogram,” Lunden says, referring to the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 9, 2015 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Integrative, Physician Spotlight, Physicians, Print, Wellness
A 29-year-old medical resident on a skiing excursion is trapped between rocks and a shelf of ice for more than an hour, her head submerged in freezing water. When rescued, she is blue and lifeless with no breath and no pulse, and another hour passes before she arrives...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 1, 2015 | Articles, Medication, Print, Therapies
The number of Americans who suffer from chronic pain is staggering. It’s around 50-100 million, says Jeff Gudin, MD, the director of Pain Management and Palliative Care at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in New Jersey. That’s the equivalent of all the people in...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 1, 2015 | Articles, IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Medication, Print
To better understand the most common and challenging side effect of opioid therapy, opioid-induced constipation (OIC), PainPathways asked readers to share their experiences. Overall, responses were consistent with previous findings on OIC in chronic non-cancer pain...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 19, 2015 | Articles, Cancer, Personal Stories, Print, Women
Diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in 2011, Ronda Bumgardner Carter is currently receiving treatment to slow the growth of tumors in her ribs, lungs and spine. Yet despite the pain that accompanies her disease and treatment, Carter has established A Closer Look, a...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 17, 2015 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
The day never seems to end. Your elderly father needs you all the time. He is in constant pain and you are at your wit’s end trying to keep him happy and comfortable. He needs help getting out of bed, getting into and out of the bath and getting dressed. He needs help...
by Melissa James | Aug 17, 2015 | Articles, Print
Vidyamala Burch I had just turned twenty-three when I visited my parents’ home in Wellington, New Zealand, for the Christmas holidays. Early on the morning of New Year’s Day I was woken by the sound of a friend’s tapping at my window. He was driving to Auckland, where...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 27, 2015 | Articles, Integrative, Print
Think back to your childhood. Imagine the end of the school year is approaching. You are counting down the days until summer, and one of the first things you plan to do is go barefoot—as often as possible. As adults, we may have outgrown the eager anticipation of...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 22, 2015 | Articles, Print
Curved Inspirations—How Marcia DelBarone Ran from Back Pain to Become a Marathoner and Author Not every patient chooses to combat pain with intense physical exertion, but that’s just what Marcia DelBarone decided to do after back surgery left her feeling like a puppet...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 22, 2015 | Articles, Medication, Print
A century ago, well before there were chain drugstores on every corner and shelves stocked with manufactured pharmaceuticals, town druggists would create prescriptions based on a list of ingredients provided by a doctor. Today, things may be a lot different, but there...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 16, 2015 | Articles, Back, Personal Stories, Print, Therapies
A birth defect left his right foot four sizes smaller than his left, but Millett defied medical professionals who predicted that he would never be active enough to become a competitive volleyball player in high school. Nine years ago, however, Millett found himself up...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 6, 2015 | Articles, Print
H2O. It makes up most of the Earth’s surface. Our bodies are filled with it and sustained by it. Children, young and old, are drawn to its strength and buoyancy. It’s no surprise that this element, so necessary to our survival, is also a healing aid. Artist Norm “Pete”...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 1, 2015 | Articles, Print, Recipe
Most of us have heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and many of us grew up with mothers telling us to eat our vegetables. Even though we rolled our eyes, increasing evidence suggests that Mom was right about the virtues of fruits and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 26, 2015 | Articles, CRPS, Medication, Physician Spotlight, Print, Therapies
Imagine being so sensitive to stimuli that your body’s pain response reacts to a simple touch the same way it would to being hit by a hammer. For those who suffer from CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome), such reactions are a daily reality. Worse yet, the pain...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 25, 2015 | Articles, Print, UTI: Urinary Tract Infection, Women
Sex hurts. That’s the bottom line for millions of women. Although there’s a tremendous stigma associated with sexual pain, it is a devastating component of a debilitating condition called chronic pelvic pain (CPP). According to the International Pelvic Pain Society...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 17, 2015 | Articles, Neck, Personal Stories, Print
In my mid-20s, I consulted an orthopedist when my wrists started to feel warm after typing. He recommended ice packs and ibuprofen. In a thick Brooklyn accent, he asked,“You wanna take a couple days offa work?” Those couple of days stretched into months, and then...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 1, 2015 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Foot, Print
Although The Incredible Hulk went off the air in 1982, Ferrigno is still recognized as the man behind the green super-human with bulging biceps. And while he doesn’t routinely don body make-up anymore, Ferrigno continues to focus on physical prowess as a fitness...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 1, 2015 | Articles, Medication, Print
If you’re managing chronic pain with medication, you may be wondering why toxicology screens are needed and why you’re asked to participate in them. More than identifying prescription abuse, medical monitoring helps ensure proper medications at correct doses, and...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 12, 2015 | Articles, Print
Journalist Michael Weisskopf was on assignment in Baghdad for Time magazine’s 2003 “Person of the Year”—the American soldier—when a tragic accident severed his right hand. He still recalls in surreal detail the moment he saw a grenade on the floor of the Humvee he was...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 5, 2015 | Articles, Caregiving, Pain Organization, Print
Few things can be more stressful to a caregiver than taking care of a loved one with chronic pain. In a society that values work and activity, the sufferer of chronic pain is often the object of disbelief—viewed not as having an illness but as being a complainer or...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 21, 2015 | Articles, Integrative, Print
Integrative Approach to pain management. Once thought to be on the fringe and/or ineffective, current medical research confirms that an integrative approach to pain management using the techniques below can be effective. Using multiple modalities for treating pain and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 20, 2015 | Articles, Cancer, Physician Spotlight, Physicians, Print
“I don’t give up,” says Brian Bruel, MD, assistant professor of pain medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and president-elect of the Cancer Pain Research Consortium. “And my patients know that.” Many people who live with cancer and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 10, 2015 | Advocacy, Articles, Print
Would you like to be a campaigner, representative, promoter, educator, champion, supporter, backer or booster? The word ambassador is derived from the Old High German ambaht, meaning “service,” and service to the pain community is the focus of every U.S. Pain...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 1, 2015 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print, Women
“We all have stories to tell.” It is a cold, crisp day and Mariel Hemingway is about to head out for an afternoon of cross-country skiing in Idaho. An actress, health and fitness writer and the granddaughter of iconic American author Ernest Hemingway, the mother of...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 1, 2015 | Articles, Medication, Print
Pain isn’t always chronic. To help manage acute pain episodes, there are a number of effective over-the-counter pain relievers. Here’s how to select the one that’s right for you. Let’s say you’ve been suffering from significant joint pain for...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 27, 2015 | Articles, Cancer, Caregiving, Print
When San Francisco Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky took his place on the mound in Montreal in August 1989, the occasion continued Dravecky’s triumphant return to the world of professional baseball. Just five days earlier, he had rejoined the major leagues following a...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 17, 2015 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
For people who suffer from chronic pain, the daily business of life can be daunting. Just getting out of bed or reaching up to open the kitchen cupboard can be excruciating. It can be exhausting to have a conversation or to simply walk across the room. The physical...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Feb 5, 2015 | Articles, Print, Wellness
How people try to control or suppress unwanted thoughts is the research focus of Daniel Wegner, PhD, a professor of psychology at Harvard University. This is an important concept for everyone, but especially for people with chronic pain. Try on of Dr. Wegner’s...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 27, 2015 | Articles, Integrative, Print
Nutrition is a critical, yet often overlooked, component of chronic pain management. Food choices—how you nourish your body—and the amount of food consumed can determine how you feel and how your body reacts. Many painful conditions (carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 21, 2015 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
Babies can seem like a different species. They have specific and sometimes urgent needs but a limited ability to articulate them. Parents want to understand what their baby is communicating (especially at 3am during a crying jag), but can be mystified as to what the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 12, 2015 | Advocacy, Articles, Print
In the first part of this series, we talked about the importance of advocacy. Last quarter we focused on how to create a pain awareness event. Now, let’s look at how to make a difference on a broad scale: getting involved in pain management legislation. In the US,...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 15, 2014 | Articles, Print
Winter can be especially tough for people with chronic pain. Cold, wet weather can aggravate pain. Snow and ice can make socializing and staying active a challenge. Darker days can trigger sadness or even depression. Before depression or other psychiatric conditions...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2014 | Articles, Back, Print
WHAT CAUSES SPINAL STENOSIS? Spinal stenosis usually occurs as a person ages. Disks in the back/spine become drier and bones and ligaments of the spine thicken or grow larger and begin to bulge. This can be caused by arthritis or degeneration of the discs. Spinal...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2014 | Articles, Back, Cover Stories, Print, Women
“My animals constantly show me how simple life can be,” Inaba says. “One of my cats, Taz, has health challenges, and I have to feed him his water through a tube. I take him to a specialist and closely watch his quality of life, and I think positive thoughts when I’m...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 17, 2014 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
American workers from every profession struggle to balance work and caregiving. But the work-caregiving balance affects more than families; the costs to employers, from absenteeism to health care, is in the billions. While quantifying the exact value added by a...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 3, 2014 | Articles, Integrative, Print, Therapies
New Research and a rise in the practice of yoga as a healing therapy have led to new yoga specialties such as yoga for veterans, yoga for trauma and yoga for amputees.* Yoga, an ancient mind/body practice originating in India, enables a person in pain to shift focus,...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 3, 2014 | Articles, Medication, Print, Research, Therapies
There are countless ways a good idea can go amiss—even in the medical field. Physicians and scientists make decisions based on the best evidence and research they have at the time, resulting in an accepted standard of care. But if it turns out that an idea was faulty,...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 20, 2014 | Articles, Print, Research, Therapies
1. Neuromodulation refers to a group of procedures that use implanted devices to manage pain, spasticity, tremors and other symptoms. A. True B. False 2. Which of the following technologies can be applied to the nervous system through neuromodulation to improve...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 20, 2014 | Articles, Back, Print, Therapies
Kevin Fisher, 27, has survived two car accidents. The first one, in 2005, resulted in bulging disks and back pain. Medicine helped keep the pain at bay. The second accident, in 2010, was far more serious. Fisher swerved to avoid an oncoming car when he felt the full...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 7, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Most people never have the chance to experience this much adventure at once, but then again, Natalie Strand, MD—or “Nat” as she is known to millions of television viewers— is not “most people.” This vivacious, attractive and beloved physician recently made history by...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 7, 2014 | Articles, Medication, Print
Constipation. It’s not easy on the body, and it’s not easy to talk about, yet it’s an extremely common chronic side effect of opioid pain medications. So while you may be reading this article discreetly, hoping no one finds out about your bathroom blues, know that this...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 7, 2014 | Articles, CRPS, Print, Therapies
Waiting for a rock concert to begin, 25-year old NICOLE ADDIS felt fit, happy and excited to be enjoying an evening out after the birth of her daughter two months prior. As the music started, a crowd rushed in behind Addis, pushing her to the floor. “I heard a...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 7, 2014 | Articles, Cancer, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
It’s twenty minutes until noon and Dick Vitale is in full work mode at his office-away-from-home, the Broken Egg restaurant in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. As the go-to resource for all things relating to college basketball preps for his ESPN midday commentary on star...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 7, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, NAOMI JUDD HAS BEEN A BELOVED PERSONALITY IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC WORLD. A SIX-TIME GRAMMY-AWARD-WINNING SONGWRITER AND HALF OF THE FAMOUS JUDDS DUO ALONG WITH HER DAUGHTER WYNONNA, THE PETITE MOTHER OF “WY” AND ASHLEY HAS ATTRACTED MILLIONS OF...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 7, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
[pullquote]“Ring the bells that can still ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen[/pullquote] It’s a rainy Friday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the long, winding path to Elizabeth...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 16, 2014 | Articles, Print, Therapies
This article on neuromodulation was provided by the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS). To learn more, please visit: www.neuromodulation.org Used to manage a variety of recalcitrant pain syndromes, neuromodulation encompasses the application of targeted...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 11, 2014 | Advocacy, Articles, Print
Over 100 million Americans live with chronic pain, and advocates are key to educating others about pain-related issues. In the previous issue, we outlined ten ways to advocate, but one of the best ways to harness the power of advocacy and make a specific contribution...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 1, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, CRPS, Print
By definition, cheerleaders are enthusiastic supporters, passionate about their teams and eager to inspire others to action. But when Barby Ingle began battling chronic pain caused by a medical condition, injuries and then complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), she...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 1, 2014 | Articles, Print, Therapies
This intro to neuromodulation was provided by the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS). To learn more, please visit: www.neuromodulation.org 1. Neuromodulation improves the quality of life for patients in pain. The Institute of Medicine has estimated that...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 18, 2014 | Arthritis, Articles, Print
Summer is often a season filled with travel and outdoor fun, but painful arthritis can slow down even the most active. More than 50 million Americans of all ages live with arthritis; it’s not just a disease of old age. Read on to learn more about arthritis and how to...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 13, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, CRPS, Print
What’s your definition of hero? Some folks think of soldiers serving in foreign countries, battling terrorists and in hospitable climates. Other people might envision doctors who treat patients for free in impoverished countries or firemen who rush into burning...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 8, 2014 | Articles, Print
Often, so much time is spent addressing the needs of a person in chronic pain that the caregiver can often erode – physically and emotionally. As mentioned in the first part of this three-part series, caregivers must “place the oxygen mask on themselves first”...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 28, 2014 | Articles, Print
People in pain live in a land where those without pain have no frame of reference. Moments of relief can quickly be followed by the fear of pain’s return. Chronic pain often brings mental and emotional suffering that can make it difficult to focus on anything else or...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 21, 2014 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print, Women
Robert Echenberg, MD, FACOG, an expert in chronic pelvic pain (CPP), wants us — all of us — to feel comfortable talking about a topic that’s often considered taboo. He says even some doctors don’t want to talk about it, although some of their patients are desperate...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 14, 2014 | Articles, Medication, Print
For many people with chronic pain, medication costs add up quickly. Here are eight practical ways to reduce the burden on your wallet. John recently went on disability because his chronic pain interfered with his ability to work. His limited monthly income makes it...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 26, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
It’s a steamy summer afternoon in North Carolina. While racecars roar and whip around the track, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers takes a break to talk about the health scare that sidelined his career in 2010. Today’s qualifying race is important, but to this driver, so is...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 25, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
It is one of the most compelling stories to come out of the Iraq war, one that millions of television viewers around the world watched unfold on January 29, 2006. On that day, ABC journalist Bob Woodruff was reporting from Baghdad when an IED (improvised explosive...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 25, 2014 | Articles, Print
It’s been said that there’s strength in numbers—and in order to create change in the pain community, strength could not be more important. Every voice makes the message a little louder, a little stronger and much harder to ignore. And that’s where...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 24, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Jeff Gordon was five years old when he first got behind the steering wheel, racing on the Cracker Jack Track in Rio Linda, California. Within a year, the six-year old speedster had already won 35 main events and set several track records. Today, Gordon is a four-time...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 24, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
2011 was a banner year for actor J.R. Martinez. Not only did he and his dance partner, Karina Smirnoff, win ABC Television’s Dancing with the Stars, he appeared on the cover of People magazine, was featured in its sexiest man alive issue and named one of its 25 most...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 23, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print, Wellness
It might sound like a surprisingly simple approach, but when asked about effective treatments for chronic pain and disease, fitness trainer Bob Greene has a short, to-the-point answer: “Moving” Moving makes virtually everything better,” says Greene, an...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 18, 2014 | Articles, Cancer, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print, Women
Every morning, millions of television viewers in the United States tune in to the Today Show for news updates, weather forecasts and celebrity interviews. Most days, the first three hours of the show feature a combination of television personalities that includes Matt...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 2, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Dorothy Hamill Faces Challenges with Gold-Medal Grit At the winter Olympics in Sochi, a new group of athletes became superstars, earning instant celebrity status along with gold medals and golden moments in the spotlight. A culminationof years of training, the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 2, 2014 | Articles, Print
Dr. Rosemary Fish and her associates state that chronic pain acceptance “involves experiencing ongoing pain without attempts to avoid, reduce or otherwise control it … and engaging in everyday activities of value to the individual in the presence of pain, and...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | May 19, 2014 | Articles, Print
Are you suffering from a sports-related injury? Each year, millions of people experience acute pain ranging from muscle cramps to runner’s knee. Take this quiz to see how much you know about sports and pain. 1 At sports practice, you think you’ve pulled a muscle....
by PainPathways Magazine | May 5, 2014 | Articles, Print
IT’S ALMOST SPRING; HOW’S THE YEAR GOING SO FAR? IF YOU’RE IN PAIN,YOU MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO STAY ACTIVE. YET AN IMPORTANT PART OF COPING AND LIVING WITH PAIN IS BEING ABLE TO MOVE AND BE ACTIVE, DESPITE YOUR PAIN. REDUCED ACTIVITY CAN CREATE A VICIOUS CYCLE THAT...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 5, 2014 | Articles, Print
Many of us can cite a special person as the inspiration for our choices and achievements in life. For Sheena Aurora, MD, that person is her mother, Jasbir Kaur. As a young woman in rural 1960’s Punjab, India, Kaur had wanted to be a doctor. But that wasn’t possible,...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 21, 2014 | Articles, Caregiving, Print, Relationships
That small directive, which I’m sure many of us have heard before and I dubbed “The Delta Doctrine,” contains applicable wisdom for so many life circumstances, but probably none as poignant as for those of us serving as a caregiver. Compassion and love often...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 2, 2014 | Articles, Print
And, depending on the type of surgery, patients can play an important part in determining the duration and level of pain they experience after a procedure. Debi McCutcheon, MD, a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain specialist who completed two pain fellowships at...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 3, 2014 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
Nearly everyone has an opinion on what defines John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Some define him as a civil rights pioneer or the man who believed we could land on the moon. Others were drawn to Camelot, the refined cultural era he and his elegant wife, Jacqueline, ushered in....
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 3, 2014 | Articles, Print
A healthy society is an educated one. With increased car manufacturing regulations and higher driving education standards, there has been a steady decline in motor vehicle deaths over the past decade. By contrast opioid overdoses, many of which can be accidental, are...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Feb 6, 2014 | Articles, Print
WHAT IS “HARDINESS”? OVER 30 YEARS AGO, DR. SUZANNE KOBASA OUELLETTE INTRODUCED THIS CONCEPT. SHE STUDIED EXECUTIVES WHO LIVED WITH HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS AND FOUND THAT THOSE WHO FLOURISHED DESPITE THE STRESS SHARED THREE CHARACTERISTICS: (1) the belief that...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 19, 2014 | Articles, Print
PAIN IS A MULTIDIMENSIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT AFFECTS AN INDIVIDUAL’S PHYSIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONING. WHEN PAIN CONTINUES BEYOND THE BODY’S ABILITY TO HEAL AND BECOMES CHRONIC, THE OVERWHELMING STRESS THAT CAN DEVELOP IN EACH OF THESE AREAS OF...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 17, 2014 | Articles, Print
ERIC GRIGSBY, MD, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RENAISSANCE MAN. AS AN UNDERGRADUATE, THE TENNESSEE-BORN FARMER’S SON PLAYED BASKETBALL WHILE HE RECEIVED AN IVY LEAGUE EDUCATION AT BROWN UNIVERSITY. HE WAS SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY’S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, AND...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 2, 2014 | Articles, Print
“SLEEP ON IT” IS PRUDENT ADVICE WHEN IT COMES TO IMPORTANT DECISIONS. SLEEP CAN DRAMATICALLY ALTER YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND WELL-BEING. COMMON WISDOM HOLDS THAT AN AVERAGE ADULT REQUIRES APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP EACH NIGHT FOR OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING —SLIGHTLY LESS...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 2, 2014 | Articles, Print
“It was very uncomfortable to wear a shirt, and between the burning and sharp pain, I was in very bad shape,” Frazee recalls. “The doctor told me that it was shingles and treated me with Valtrex and pain medication. Eight months later, I broke out again with the same...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 4, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
What to DO 1. PRIORITIZE. Focus on accomplishing the most important things, and let everything else go. 2. PLAN AHEAD. A large portion of holiday stress comes from the last-minute rush to get everything done. Consider planning your holidays two months in advance, and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 4, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Celebrities, Cover Stories, CRPS, Print
It was on a Sunday, the day before Labor Day 1996, when Ace Young, now a Grammy award winner and American Idol star, received news that one of his older brothers had sustained severe injuries in a near-fatal car accident. Ryan Young, a healthy athlete who dreamed of...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 21, 2013 | Arthritis, Articles, Print
YOU HAVE ARTHRITIS. YOUR JOINTS ACHE, YOU’RE FATIGUED AND YOU AREN’T SLEEPING WELL. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MAY BE THE LAST THING ON YOUR MIND, YET EXPERTS SAY THAT AVOIDING MOVEMENT CAN ONLY MAKE YOUR ACHES AND PAINS WORSE. WHILE EXERCISE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, TRY THIS...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Oct 15, 2013 | Featured, Only Online, Print, Reflections, Uncategorized, Wellness
While many of us know relaxing the mind and engaging in mental exercises is a good idea, the actual practice is harder. With some training and effort, you can teach yourself to be mindful of your thoughts and in turn be happier and healthier. Dr. Andrew Weil shares...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 30, 2013 | Articles, Pain Resources, Print
strenuous one day but not again until after a significant rest, or have other requirements that appear inconsistent or confusing to onlookers. In addition, vacations often decrease your independence, making you more vulnerable to others’ desires. An active bunch who...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 30, 2013 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print, Wellness
When Mark Wallace, MD, first greets a new patient, he asks two questions: Not only does Dr. Wallace want to understand someone’s pain, he wants to know about the person in pain. And for him, the key is to uncover how well a patient has been taking care of himself....
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 19, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
Are you struggling to find ways to be supportive to a friend or family member with chronic pain? It is not always easy to know what to do. It took years, but I finally have discovered the most helpful resources to show my support and concern for my partner who is in...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 30, 2013 | Articles, Medication, Print
THIS YEAR, 38-YEAR-OLD ACTRESS AND PHILANTHROPIST ANGELINA JOLIE HELPED RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE POWERFUL BENEFITS OF GENETIC TESTING. IN MAY, WHEN TEST RESULTS INDICATED THE PRESENCE OF A GENE LINKED TO BREAST CANCER, SHE CHOSE HER OWN PATH: A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY....
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 30, 2013 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
While many people may define Maya Angelou, PhD, by her literary skill, humanitarianism and extraordinary list of achievements, this author, poet, professor, mother and humanitarian is a straight-talker whose powerful words inspire people the world over. “Love heals....
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 8, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Pain Resources, Print, Recommendation, Therapies, Wellness
Seeing a therapist does not mean that your pain is not real or that you are “crazy.” Instead, it is a healthy and positive step towards learning effective methods of chronic pain management. If you have never been in therapy, you may wonder what it will be like....
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 5, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Pain Resources, Print, Recommendation, Therapies, Wellness
This may sound simple. However, prioritizing your comfort and withholding judgmental thoughts that may stand in the way of focusing on yourself are often difficult to do. It may help to remember that investing in self-care can enhance your comfort, attitude and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 29, 2013 | Articles, Print, Recommendation
Scar tissue, depending on the location, may cause pain throughout the body. When Quentin Glenn complained of leg and back pain to her physical therapist last summer, she ranked it a nine out of ten on a scale of severity. The therapist explained that her leg pain...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 8, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Pain Resources, Print, Wellness
It is hard to imagine what it’s like to live with chronic, severe pain. If you’re a caregiver, or simply know someone in pain, there’s also another challenge; appearances may be deceiving. Many people who suffer from chronic pain may appear well on the outside, making...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 8, 2013 | Foot, Inflammatory, Print, Recommendation
I have a name men dread and loathe to hear; They call me GOUT, a fearsome scourge to men; I bind their feet in sinew-knotting cords, When I have swept unseen into their joints. FROM Lucian (Greek playwright, c. 125-190A.D.) Gout, the most common inflammatory,...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 21, 2013 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, CRPS, Print
STRAIGHT UP on the pain of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Grammy award-winning singer, performer and television star Paula Abdul has lived with chronic pain since she was injured as a cheerleader at 17, but it was not until November 2004 that she was diagnosed with...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jun 7, 2013 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
Dr. Huntoon is considered a generalist, as he specializes in caring for a variety of pain conditions. He’s also an idealist and a realist, and on the hunt for the next potential breakthrough treatment. While he understands the current health care environment and its...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 31, 2013 | Print, Uncategorized, Wellness
Does napping make you feel better, more productive or just more tired? Whether you are nodding off for five minutes or an hour, napping can increase your level of alertness, increase your mood, stamina, and even have long term health effects. New research also...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 29, 2013 | Articles, Back, Print
Back Pain Facts contributed by Laser Spine Institute 1. What can relieve severe back pain? A. Anti-inflammatory medications B. Physical therapy C. Surgical procedures D. All of the above Answer: D One of the best ways to ward off back pain is by adopting and...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | May 3, 2013 | Print, Wellness
Shopping for groceries is a simple errand for some, but for those seeking healthier options the task can be quite difficult. Dr. Bob, The Drugless Doctor, shares these crucial tips to help you select healthier products: 1. Important Numbers (8, 4, and 9): The stickers...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 2, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Print, Wellness
Caregiver Toolbox: Saving Energy: The Energy Penny Bank View more Caregiver Toolbox articles: Practical Tips for Travel Best Resources Surviving the Holidays Have PainPathways delivered to your door. SUBSCRIBE HERE View ourDigital Edition. CLICK...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 29, 2013 | Articles, Physician Spotlight, Print
As professor of surgical oncology at the University of Texas and Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, he trains oncological surgeons on the latest surgical techniques. As a professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Rice University, Dr. Curley has...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 23, 2013 | Articles, Print
If you live with chronic pain or take care of someone who does, you know that it’s an everyday battle. And you’re not alone. Each year more than 100 million Americans are affected by chronic pain. Pain is the most common symptom for which patients seek medical...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 22, 2013 | CRPS, Print
At 21 years of age, Cynthia Toussaint thought she had her future all mapped out. She was an aspiring triple-threat performer, with ballet dancing at the center of her passion. Like many young people, Cynthia never anticipated that anything would get in the way of the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 27, 2013 | Articles, Chronic, Print
Part One of a Four-Part Series by Deborah Barrett, PhD , LCSW WHAT IS PAINTRACKING? Nearly 20 years ago, when I first developed pain, I assumed I needed rest to heal – but instead, my pain worsened with inactivity, until I could barely hold a paper or open a door....
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 13, 2013 | Articles, Print, Wellness
Certain scents can provide comfort and help relax and sooth. Here’s some information and suggestions that might be helpful to you: Aromatherapy in the modern era began in the early 20th century, when the effects of a variety of so-called essential oils...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 7, 2013 | Articles, Cancer, Caregiving, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print, Relationships
Lisa Niemi Swayze talks about caregiving in the public eye. Patrick Swayze was an image of vitality for most people, bursting into the public eye with iconic performances in movies like The Outsiders, Ghost and Dirty Dancing. And for more than 34 years, Lisa Niemi...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 7, 2013 | Articles, Integrative, Print
Records of people using electricity to numb pain date back to around 2500 BC. Of course, electricity had yet to be identified, but Roman physician Scribonius Largus, Emperor Claudius’s personal physician, noted that standing on electric eels and electric fish could...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 11, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Print, Relationships
Stuart Smith is at times disarmingly frank about the challenges of being a caregiver. Quick to point out that he and his wife are very happy with their lives, Smith also says that the changes to their relationship that resulted from his wife’s illness required...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 28, 2013 | Articles, Chronic, Fibromyalgia, Personal Stories, Print, Reflections
Managing Fibromyalgia Pain with Bunny Therapy: Unconditional love is a powerful tool in the struggle against chronic pain, something that Nancy Laracy learned from an unexpected source. At only 36 years old, Laracy developed excruciating pain and fatigue from...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 25, 2013 | Celebrities, Print
Brian Vickers graced the cover of our Fall 2011 issue. Since that time, he’s been quite the busy guy! We finally caught up with him to get an update on his health, racing career and more. PP: When you first starting having blood clots, you were diagnosed with...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 22, 2013 | Articles, Central Pain Syndrome, Print
After a stroke, the road to recovery is typically a long one, often determined by the severity of the stroke and the area of the brain where it occurred. When the brain’s blood flow and oxygen are blocked by a clot or broken vessel, a person’s speech, movement or...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 7, 2013 | Articles, Print, UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
The urinary tract system, which includes the bladder, kidneys and the tubes that connect them, makes the urine and carries it out of the body. The bacteria that cause urinary infections live in the large intestine and are found in stool. When these bacteria enter the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 3, 2013 | Chronic, Personal Stories, Print, Wellness
We asked you to share what works for you, and we thank you for your many great responses on our Facebook page. Here are some of your thoughts: “Just breath and get through this moment, this too shall pass” – Cathy Huffine Vadney “Finally going to pain management and...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 28, 2012 | Articles, IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Print
The truth about the trouble down under. During her twenties, when Rebecca Spencer was getting ready for a first date, she had more on her mind than selecting an outfit to complement her curly red hair and spitfire personality. She found herself worrying about what...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 21, 2012 | Print, Uncategorized, Wellness
‘Tis the season to be merry, but it can also be the season to be stressed out. Here are some helpful tips to relieve holiday stress and have more relaxing time: 1. Take calm-down breaks. Soon after you awake, close your eyes, take several deep breaths and meditate or...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 19, 2012 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
Each day thousands of people become caregivers. For most, the new role is neither easy nor comfortable. While it may sound clichéd, most find one of the biggest challenges to be effective communication between the person providing care and the one receiving it. In the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 7, 2012 | Articles, Celebrities, Chronic, Cover Stories, Print
Best-selling author Laura Hillenbrand confronts chronic fatigue syndrome by writing stories that inspire. People familiar with the agony and challenges of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or anyone who suffers from or cares for someone in chronic pain can identify with...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 7, 2012 | Articles, Integrative, Print
Misconceptions about complementary and alternative medicine (cam) are pervasive. From the idea that the treatment approaches are unproven to the assumption that cam providers are not medically trained, erroneous beliefs often prevent people from exploring these...
by PainPathways Magazine | Nov 29, 2012 | Articles, Caregiving, Print
The maze of cancer management is daunting for both suffering patients and caregivers. Tory Zellick experienced this first-hand as a caregiver for her late mother, who developed breast cancer when Zellick was just 18 years old. With this diagnosis, Zellick’s life was...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 24, 2012 | Articles, Cancer, Physician Spotlight, Print, Women
At seven years old in Montgomery, Alabama, Sharmila Makhija knew she wanted to be a physician. “My dad was a college chemistry professor and my mom was a high school teacher, but in India, my grandfather and uncle were doctors, and on my mom’s side of the family there...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 24, 2012 | Advocacy, Articles, Pain Resources, Physicians, Print
A basic definition of pain is an “unpleasant physical senstation.” However, as physicians and people with pain can attest, the scope of pain and its treatments are complex and unique to the individual. In a society that often emphasizes the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 24, 2012 | Arthritis, Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Osteoarthritis, Print
To many people, he’s known simply as “Coach K.” Famous for his unparalleled successes as Duke University’s head basketball coach and as an Olympic coach for the United States men’s basketball team, Mike Krzyzewski is beloved by millions of sports fans around the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 24, 2012 | Articles, Print
The year was 1992, and Jill Osborne had just finished graduate school and landed her first significant job when a freak event changed her life forever. “Life was good,” Osborne says. “I had my masters in psychology, and was moving Forward. Then everything changed. I...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 24, 2012 | Articles, Print
Marianne Jordan: Back to the Skies after a Spinal Cord Stimulator Giving up favorite activities can be one of the most difficult aspects of dealing with chronic pain. Often, pain and medications have already restricted one’s lifestyle, so when professional or...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 18, 2012 | Articles, Headache, Print
FEW ACHES ARE AS DEBILITATING AS A MIGRAINE. THROBBING PAIN ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE HEAD IS DREADFUL ENOUGH, BUT WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY NAUSEA, VOMITING, VISUAL AURAS, SENSITIVITY TO SOUND AND LIGHT, DIZZINESS AND OTHER SYMPTOMS, A MIGRAINE ATTACK CAN BECOME...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 18, 2012 | Articles, Print
There is an old saying that “it takes one to know one,” and when it comes to fibromyalgia patients, no one understands them better than Dr. Ginevra Liptan. As medical director for The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia in Portland, Oregon, Liptan is immersed in the fibro...
by PainPathways Magazine | Sep 17, 2012 | Articles, Print
SISTER BRIGID McCARTHY NEVER SUSPECTED IT. THEN CAME THE DREADED WORDS NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR: “IT’S CANCER.” McCARTHY, WHO IN 1997 HELPED ESTABLISH WELL OF MERCY, A MINISTRY OF HOSPITALITY AND HEALING SPONSORED BY THE SISTERS OF MERCY, HAD BEEN OFFERING LOVE AND...
