The abbreviation of ADHD stands for attention deficit disorder, which affects children and adults as well. ADHD symptoms can differ between each child on the ways it impacts their lives. ADHD is commonly known for its inability to sustained attention with classwork and home tasks. A child may demonstrate disruptive behaviors by not staying still or maintaining attention within the classroom. That child may also have another behavior or mental diagnosis like obsessive-compulsive disorder. This child cannot perceive their actions wrong, but it can be harmful to their mental state. The parents and school can seek support from a behavioral health specialist within the school and home. A behavioral health specialist provides guidance, modifications, and training to help manage their social world behaviors. An adolescent may utilize behavioral specialists to increase independence by obtaining a job or their studies. The child can modify their classroom behaviors by occupational therapy for sensory breaks, fidgets, and other adaptions. Furthermore, a child can seek guidance from a psychiatrist for a prescription of Adderall, which is a medication to treat ADHD; the medication can increase their attention with functional tasks within a classroom or home.
ADHD may affect an adult’s emotions, concentration, and thinking, which can inhibit functioning with everyday tasks. An adult with ADHD can have an attention span of less than a minute with work or everyday tasks. An adult may have increase distractions, which can affect their ability to focus throughout the day. There is an alternative approach to manage symptoms by utilizing compensatory mechanisms to help with ADHD. An adult may utilize a structured routine, writing notes on paper, and calendar book to stay on task within their world. Some adults prefer quiet areas to increase concentration with work and life tasks. There are several ways to utilize compensatory strategies to maintain attention and organization with tasks. The majority of adults with ADHD utilize medication to maintain focus on the everyday task; found it helpful to decrease their symptoms.
Adults have been misdiagnosed with either emotional dysregulation or borderline personality disorder, but they have ADHD the whole time. Those diagnoses are very similar to each other by their symptoms of emotions, decrease attention, and wondering thoughts. The problem lines are that there is not an actual assessment of clinically diagnosed ADHD within an adult. A study was done with a group of French people with these diagnoses of ADHD, borderline personality, and emotional regulation to compare them. They found many similarities between each of the diagnoses, where they found people with ADHD had a better grasp on global functioning. A person with a borderline personality disorder can present difficulties with managing emotions and behavioral disturbances, which sounds like ADHD because they are so similar that it is hard to distinguish.
References
Vetrini, E. (2019). Everything You Need to Know About ADHD | Access Health. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Ahk_RtG4gxs
Vijverberg, R., Ferdinand, R., Beekman, A., & van Meijel, B. (2020). Unmet care needs of children with ADHD. PLOS ONE, 15(1), e0228049. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228049
Rüfenacht, E., Euler, S., Prada, P., Nicastro, R., Dieben, K., Hasler, R., Pham, E., Perroud, N., & Weibel, S. (2019). Emotion dysregulation in adults suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a comparison with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-019-0108-1
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition regarding the force of the blood against artery walls. Hypertension is a sign that the heart and blood vessels are working harder than they need to.
Hypertension is diagnosed when the systolic reading, the top number, of your blood pressure > 140 and the diastolic, the bottom number, is >90
What are the Symptoms?
Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels.
A few people with high blood pressure may have headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds.
How do I get Hypertension?
For some, there isn’t a reason they get hypertension, while others get it due to diet and stress. Some will develop it due to underlying conditions like: Obstructive sleep apnea, Kidney problems, Adrenal gland tumors, Thyroid problems, Certain defects you’re born with (congenital) in blood vessels, Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies, decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs, Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines.
How do I prevent Hypertension?
Prevention is key! Reduce sodium intake, exercise daily, smoking reduction/cessation.
I am worried I have Hypertension. Now what?
Make an appointment with your primary health provider to discuss your concern. Possibly he/she will only need to guide you in making lifestyle changes or they may suggest beginning anti-hypertension medication. Regardless of the plan of care, it is important that you do not ignore your high blood pressure. Long term hypertension can be deadly if not controlled.
Still unsure about Hypertension?
Watch this quick video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjTMZ_sm0LQ
Vaping is a method of inhaling and exhaling an aerosol. This aerosol is often called a vapor that is produced by an e-cigarette or other devices. Vaping devices use liquids containing nicotine and other substances that are heated, turning the liquid into a thick aerosol. Vaping devices contain four different parts: A cartridge that holds the liquid, a mouth piece used to inhale the liquid, a heating element and a power source, usually a battery. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4154203/
Difference between vapor and aerosol: A vapor refers to the gaseous state of a substance like water that contains little or no particles.
An Aerosol is a suspension of tiny particles of a solid, liquid, or both that are in a gas.
Is Vaping a safe alternative to Cigarettes?
Vaping is a relatively new phenomenon that is increasing in popularity, especially in teens. In the last few decades, healthcare communities have fought to decrease smoking in adults and youth. Vaping devices are now threatening this progress. Healthcare officials initially thought that vaping devices were less dangerous than tobacco cigarettes, and could provide a safer alternative. Vaping may be an alternative to cigarettes; however, a safer alternative is incorrect. The CDC reports that vaping devices offer the same dangers as cigarettes just in smaller doses and over a more extended period. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=occ_stuarticles
What’s in the liquid?
E-liquid is the ingredient used in most vaper devices and usually consists of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, nicotine. However, other toxic chemicals were discovered by The U.S Food and Drug Administration, including carcinogens, formaldehyde, and Diethylene glycol an ingredient found in antifreeze. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=occ_stuarticles
How is vaping bad for you?
Long-term and harmful effects from vaping are not well researched; however, according to the CDC, the aerosol produced from vaping devices contain unstable organic compounds. These compounds are resistant to protective mechanisms in the respiratory system. When the aerosol is inhaled, dozens of tiny particles travel deep into the lungs and cause issues with breathing. https://www.rdhmag.com/home/article/16409913/e-cigarettes-vaping-and-chairside-education
Facts from the FDA
Nicotine addiction in youth is rising due to the popularity of vaping devices.
Longe-term effects from vaping are unknown
It is unclear if vaping is effective in helping people quit smoking cigarettes
It is unclear if vaping is less harmful then smoking traditional cigarettes
It is unclear of the influence it may have as a “gateway” to smoking cigarettes
Manufacturers have targeted kids in their marketing of vaping products.
The harmful effects of vaping are not well-researched. Debates continue whether or not vaping is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes, and help adults kick the smoking habit. The questions answered show that vaping is risky and can cause serious health problems. Vaping products target youth and have proved to be effective with a dramatic increase in use among teens and adolescents. The truth is that vaping is a dangerous habit. Although changes have been implemented stricter regulations and more research are needed. We need to protect the health of our children and not let vaping become the next tobacco story.
References
Arnold, C. (2014). Vaping and Health: What Do We Know about E-Cigarettes? Environmental Health Perspectives, 122(9). doi: 10.1289/ehp.122-a244
Prudovsky, D. (2019). Saying No to Vaping: What you should know about the dangers of e-cigarettes. Dental Assistant, 88(2), 10–11.
Sherry, J. S., Blackstad, N. M., & Wheatley, K. S. (2017). E Cigarettes, Vaping and Chairside Education. RDH, 37(1), 45–52
Social media is a tool used for communication, entertainment, collaboration, information, and social organization, used by people of various age groups. Facebook is one of the most popular social media sites that consist of over one billion active users. Its utilization is for business and personal communication that can serve positive advantages of increased connectivity, sharing of ideas, and online learning. Social networking sites have impacted the way people communicate and interact. The development of social networking sites have increased the time spent on devices which has led to the reduction of interpersonal communication with both family and social environment. It enables a person to interact with a large number of people, but the interactions are described as shallow and cannot replace face to face communication. 90% of social media users were between the ages of 18-29, they spent approximately two hours a day on social media. Bailey Parnell a social media expert discussed the consequences social media has on a person’s mental health. Parnell focused on 4 common stressors of social media.
Highlight reel is the collection of a person’s brightest moments and it becomes a stressor when comparison is made to other peoples highlights
Social currency, value is placed on likes and dislikes given to a person by others.
The “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO), according to a Canadian university 7/10 students did not want to get rid of their social media accounts because they did not want to be left out.
Online harassment, has been either experienced or witnessed by anyone who owns a social media account with targets that are women, people of color, or part of the LGBQ community
There is so much information stating that social media is harmful to our mental health but social media is not the problem but it’s the users who create a harmful environment. There is no evidence that states Facebook or any other social networking site causes depression especially if they are used for reasons other than communicating with family and friends. It has been seen to decrease rates of depression. However extensive use of social networking site used in other forms than communicating with loved ones may weaken their relationship by increasing feelings of loneliness. On the contrary the hyper personal model is an aspect of the positive results of social networking, it allows users to portray appealing traits of themselves to other social networking users. The selective self-presentation impacts an individual’s self-evaluation and self-esteem.
References
Online Social Networking and Mental Health. (1, October). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4183915/
Shibboleth Authentication Request. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://library.neit.edu:2216/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=24&sid=e3c9dbb6-ea98-4505-b74e-b43f3aa9b473%40sdc-v-sessmgr03
Why Social Media Causes Anxiety. (2019, September 12). Retrieved from https://www.anxiety.org/social-media-causes-anxiety
Pain comes in all sorts, and each of us has experienced it in some way or another. Whether it’s the pain of a headache, a broken bone from a fall, we all have pain receptors. What happens when it isn’t temporary? When your nerve endings have permanent pain, and it tingles and hurts chronically? Pain then becomes a long-term issue, chronic, and it can have a significant impact on quality of life. What does a person do when traditional medications don’t cut it, and increasing tolerance to medications, such as opioids, with other side effects as an issue? With the approaching legalization of cannabis becoming more and more it has many wondering if it is a good option for pain relief.
Neuropathy is the damage to the sensory, motor or automatic nerves that occurs from an underlying cause such as diabetes, accident, spinal cord or nerve damage.
It’s a complex and chronic condition that affects nearly 20 million people in the United States. That’s 20 million people seeking relief.
Neuropathic pain accounts for about one in five cases of chronic pain.
Neuropathic pain is notoriously difficult to treat. Medications that are normally prescribed for other types of pain (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or opioids) are most often times ineffective.
So, studies suggest that cannabis may be a good treatment option to relieve chronic neuropathic pain but does the evidence stand up to the hype, or are the pain-relieving properties smoke and mirrors?
What does the research say?
THC and CBD are the two chemicals found in marijuana that are thought to contribute have the ability to relieve pain. THC alters pain perception by reducing anxiety and stress, while CBD has anti-inflammatory benefits that lessen pain. Cannabis-based medications come in several forms, so for the naysayers on smoking being risky, it can also be ingested in foods, taken as a supplement, and also available in tincture options.
A recent systematic review found that compared to a placebo, cannabis-based medications have the ability to provide moderate to substantial pain relief, reduce pain intensity, help with sleep problems, and also mental and psychological distress such as anxiety and PTSD. Unfortunately, these benefits also come associated with side effects including sedation, confusion, and psychosis.
The catch here is for some people, these side effects may be severe enough to outweigh cannabis’s pain-relieving benefits, yet how the drug is used also effects its side effects.
Where does this leave us?
Overall the fact is…the quality of the research around cannabis for neuropathic pain relief is low. That is not to say that neuropathic pain sufferers should disregard cannabis as a treatment option – but as with any treatment, it may work for some, but not for others.
The bottom line ___________
More high-quality research is needed to confirm its benefits.
Many people experience neuropathic pain, which becomes more common as we age.
Cannabis-based medications may relieve pain in some people, but side effects such as sedation, confusion, and psychosis can cause the risk to outweigh the benefit.
Current evidence is of low quality, so while promising, more high-quality research is needed to completely determine the effectiveness of cannabis-based medications for the treatment of neuropathic pain.By: Marketeering Group
References
Hill, K. P., Palastro, M. D., Johnson, B., & Ditre, J. W. (2017). Cannabis and Pain: A Clinical Review. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2(1), 96–104. doi:10.1089/can.2017.0017
Modesto-Lowe, V., Bojka, R., & Alvarado, C. (2018). Cannabis for peripheral neuropathy: The good, the bad, and the unknown. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 85(12), 943–949. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.85a.17115
Wallace, M. S., Marcotte, T. D., Umlauf, A., Gouaux, B., & Atkinson, J. H. (2015). Efficacy of Inhaled Cannabis on Painful Diabetic Neuropathy. The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society, 16(7), 616–627. doi:10.1016/j.jpain.2015.03.008
Should it be mandatory for healthcare workers to get the flu shot?
Influenza (the flu) is an easily spread virus that targets the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. Symptoms range from mild to severe. The virus can cause complications and, in some cases, lead to death.
Common symptoms include:
·Sore throat
·Runny/ stuffy nose
·Cough
·Fever
·Chills
·Headaches
·Lack of energy
·Body aches
Many healthcare workers have direct contact with patients. Some states do not require staff to get flu shots, although they encourage it. But should it mandatory for employment?
Benefits of the flu shot:
·Can stop you from getting the flu.
·Can reduce flu-related hospitalizations
·Protect pregnant women
·Can protect the people around you, including babies, young children, older adults and people with a higher risk of getting ill.
You should NOT get the flu shot if:
·You have egg allergies
·You had an allergic reaction to the flu shot itself
·You have Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Why some people refuse the flu shot?
Some people question if the flu shot actually works, while some individuals are concerned about the side negative effects, which can sometimes be similar to the flu itself. Also, some people do not feel that they are at risk of getting the flu. Religion can also play a role in someone refusing the flu shot. While there are several reasons why people decide against getting the flu shot, should individuals that work in healthcare be required to get the flu shot?
Conclusion
Although the flu shot is not 100% effective, it is important for individuals, especially healthcare workers to get the flu shot, in order to protect their patients. This is true unless you have a medical or religious reason to waive getting the vaccination. Whether or not it should be required for employment should be left up to the hospital or facility. However, it is important to find the balance between employee rights and keeping the best interest of the patient in mind.
References
Implementing a mandatory flu shot policy: What every employer should know: As hospitals
Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. (2019, October 21). Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm.
Nelson, W. A., & Lahey, T. (2013). The ethics of mandatory flu shots. Balancing patient
protection with healthcare worker autonomy is essential. Healthcare Executive, 28(6), 42–46. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=107922595&site=ehost-live
Childhood vaccinations can seem very overwhelming when you are a new parent. Recommended vaccine schedules are determined by credible agencies and organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Vaccinations not only protect your child from deadly diseases, such as polio, tetanus, and diphtheria, but they also keep other children safe by eliminating, or greatly decreasing, dangerous diseases that were once easily spread through child to child contact.
A vaccine is a weakened version of, or part of, the “actual” germ and it cannot cause the disease being protected against. When children are exposed to a disease in vaccine form, their immune system can build up antibodies that protect them from contracting the disease if and when they are exposed to the actual disease.
In recent years, vaccines have generated controversy over fears of lack of safety, but no convincing evidence of harm has been proven. Although children can have a reaction to any vaccine, the important thing to know is that the benefits of vaccinations far outweigh the possible side effects.
2019 Recommended Immunizations from the CDC for Birth to 18 Years of Age
Trying to tease out myths surrounding vaccinations from the truth can seem overwhelming and never ending due to way misinformation can be disseminated so easily in this day and age. There is constant battling between the PRO (people for vaccination) and CON (people against vaccination) groups everywhere we look. Books, websites, and media videos are all vying for your attention, especially on the Internet where content providers are trying to get “clicks” to generate revenue. Studies have shown a negative influence on vaccination uptake through television and newspapers, as well as with new technology and social media having their share of misinformation. How do we, as consumers of information, know which sources are legitimate? Doctors and scientists use controlled experiments to generate data which can then be used to determine safety and efficacy. However, once vaccines are available to the public, it does not guarantee accurate information regarding their safety and efficacy reach the public. This can lead to various negative outcomes like reduced vaccinations. As evidence, according to a recent survey (2018), approximately 1 in 8 children under the age of 2 are under-vaccinated. The acceptance of vaccines is declining in the United States, and doctors need to play a more pivotal role than ever to help disseminate knowledge and positive attitudes toward vaccinations. With proper education, we can improve our decision-making process to one which is enlightened and our own.
The Science of Anti-Vaccination
For many the question of whether or not to vaccinate is daunting. Before anyone makes the decision to vaccinate or not, they should review information from creditable sources to guide their final decision.
Facciolà, A., Visalli, G., Orlando, A., Bertuccio, M. P., Spataro, P., Squeri, R., & Di Pietro, A. (2019). Vaccine hesitancy: An overview on parents’ opinions about vaccination and possible reasons of vaccine refusal. Journal of public health research, 8(1).
Orenstein, W. A., & Ahmed, R. (2017). Simply put: Vaccination saves lives.
Sarvesh Kumar, J., & Brundha, M. P. (2018). Awareness about childhood vaccination among parents with children below 15 years of age. Drug Invention Today, 10(12), 2481-2484.
It is no surprise that medication can be used for pain relief. How many of use an Advil or Tylenol every once in a while for a headache or joint pain? At times, just rest, ice or a heating pad will do the job. Unfortunately, for people dealing with chronic pain it’s not that easy. Until the recent opioid crisis, many people used opioids as the main way to treat their pain. From a legal standpoint, there are now stricter laws on what types of conditions they can be used for. Even though opioid use has led to many addictions and deaths, the law restriction makes it a lot harder for people who are actually dealing with chronic pain. Many doctors have chosen not to prescribe opioids because of drug abuse. So where does this leave those who need them for chronic pain? While some may not be open to it right away, research and medical professionals report that there are successful alternative ways to treat chronic pain aside from using only opioids.
For instance, the video below explains that hospitals are adapting alternative treatment methods for cancer patients dealing with chronic pain.
FACT: Regarding the video above, recent evidence from Gentile, Boselli, O’Neill, Yaguda, Bailey-Norton and Eaton (2018) suggest that using alternative methods like oncology massage and healing touch can reduce pain in cancer patients. The term “integrated oncology” refers to the widespread shift of using a combination of typical treatments and alternative therapies to target the mind, body and spirit of patients fighting cancer. Although the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) did not apply regulated guidelines of opioid use to cancer patients, The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have created guidelines focusing on the value of treatment approaches that are not geared only towards opioids (Gentile et al., 2018).
Since previous research exists only with smaller samples sizes (no more than 165 participants), researchers used a sample size of 572 cancer patients. They received one therapy session of oncology massage or healing touch. Healing touch focuses on regaining energetic balance within the body through light touch or hand sweeping motions. The idea is that any bad health has caused this energetic imbalance in the body (Gentile et al., 2018). Through healing touch, creating equal amounts of energy in the body helps to manage/alleviate pain. Oncology massage involves applying pressure at different areas of the body. Their pain was assessed before and after. Results showed that after both therapies, more than half of the patients reported significant pain relief as compared to before therapy (Gentile et al., 2018).
Addressing Pain: Mind, Body & Soul
The outcomes of using opioids are more negative than not. The video below represents the goal of focusing on an approach that looks at the whole person and not just providing opioids for neck, lower back pain, headaches or other muscle/joint pain conditions. For many patients, there are other areas of their life that can contribute to the pain.
FACT: Mehl-Madrona, Mainguy, and Plummer (2016) provide supporting evidence that pain can be deep-rooted in all aspects of life. Unlike cancer, the Centers for Disease Control placed regulations on use of opioids for other types of pain. With focus on treating the whole person (holistic approach), Mehl-Madrona et al. (2016) used psychological and behavioral treatment, mindfulness and physical exercise (also know as complementary and alternative medicine therapies) to treat chronic pain. Individuals experienced less pain, less need for opioids and better quality of life. Mehl-Madrona et al. (2016) used group medical visits (GMV) as their method for pain management. Patients could only receive opioid refills if they were willing to attend the group sessions. A nurse, behavioral health specialist and doctor specializing in behavior led the groups. There were 12 participants in a 2-hour group session. Within the groups, there were restrictions placed on obtaining medication. Opioids were monitored closely to make sure they were being used properly and refilled at the appropriate time. Patients continued group visits for almost 7½ months (Mehl-Madrona et al., 2016).
Goals of the group medical visit:
Understand benefit of complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies
Become aware of harmful effects of opioids for pain management and possibly reduce amount of opioids used per day
Improve quality of life
Use CAM therapies as apart of lifestyle
Be responsible for own health
Group included the following:
Talking circle (sharing of any personal feelings, life experiences, pain, and moods)
Physical activity (yoga, stretching, yoga, quigong, t’ai chi or authentic movement)
Mindfulness or visualization
Behavioral therapy goal and discussion
Homework assignments issued at the end of the session
Consistently reminding patients that use of opiates can enhance pain and are not an effective method of pain management.
By 7 months, healthcare professionals found that there were improvements in many of the group members. Out of 42 patients, 8 stopped using opioids, while 18 decreased the amount. It is reported that group members overall mood/attitude changed as compared to the beginning of the study. They had less pain with a better sense of quality of life and negative effects of relying only on opioids to manage pain. Some participants chose to continue group medical visits up for 19 months (Mehl-Madrona et al., 2016).
Can Tai Chi and Exercise A Day Make the Pain Go Away?
Chronic pain can also be improved by increasing physical activity. Some might assume that this can contribute to the pain. However, the video below explains that Tai Chi is used to treat chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia.
FACT: According to Sawynok (2018), physical exercise is effective in treating chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia. Aerobic exercise is a common treatment method suggested for pain management in patients with fibromyalgia. Between the years of 2010 and 2017, Tai Chi became more widely recognized as an alternative physical exercise approach. Alongside meditation and yoga, Tai Chi is considered a mindful exercise. When comparing both exercises, Sawynok (2018) found Tai Chi to be more effective than aerobic exercise. Additional evidence suggests Tai Chi is useful in treating other chronic pain conditions like low back pain and osteoporosis. In the current study, there were 226 participants split into 5 groups. Four groups performed a Tai Chi regimen for 12 or 24 weeks one or twice a week along with home exercise for 30 minutes a day. Participants performing aerobic exercise were expected to do so twice a week for 24 weeks (Sawynok, 2018).
Group 1: Tai Chi once a day; 12 weeks; 30 minutes at home
Group 2: Tai Chi twice a day; 12 weeks; 30 minutes at home
Group 3: Tai Chi once a day; 24 weeks; 30 minutes at home
Group 4: Tai Chi twice a day; 24 weeks 30 minutes at home
Group 5: Aerobic Exercise twice a day; 24 weeks
Participants completed a questionnaire specific to assessing Fibromyalgia (Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised) before and after 24 weeks. The questionnaire reviewed overall well-being: pain, depression fatigue, anxiety, physical function morning tiredness and job difficulty (Sawynok, 2018). The results demonstrated that participants that performed Tai Chi had more benefits than those who performed aerobic exercise. All 226 participants had improved pain. They were able to lessen their amount of opioids used by the end of the study. Although one was found to be more effective than the other, the point here is that physical exercise is found to be effective in treating chronic pain (Sawynok, 2018).
So here’s the point…
For those reading this and dealing with chronic pain I understand that it’s not always that simple. Not everyone’s pain can be treated by methods other than medication. But there’s one thing everyone should know: Opioids are NOT the ONLY way to treat chronic pain. Other ways exist and have been effective in individuals who have tried them. This is promising. Not only can these alternative pain management therapies treat the specific point on your body, but they can address other areas in your life that you may not realize are adding to physical pain. Trying some alternative methods can help to decrease the dosage of opioids prescribed. The idea is to avoid the “quick fix” mentality with opioids and view pain with a more holistic approach. Only a few alternative treatment methods were named today. However, there are many to choose from. None of the studies found that participants reported complete relief from pain. But, if your pain could be more manageable and offer an improved quality of life isn’t that something you would want? Consult with your doctor regarding referral to a pain management specialist for more information about options that work best for you.
References
Anderson, K. [Cancer treatment of America, CCTA]. (2015 August 18). 3 alternative options for pain management [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjEXT_Lwvog
Gentile, D., Boselli, D., O’Neill, G., Yaguda, S., Bailey-Dorton, C., & Eaton, T. (2018). Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage, The Journal of Alternative And Complementary Medicine. 24(9&10), p 968-973. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2018.0192
Mehl-Madrona, L., Mainguy, B. & Plummer, J. (2016). The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 22(8), p. 621-626. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2015.0212
Sawynok, J. (2018). Benefits of Tai Chi for fibromyalgia. Pain Management, 8(4), p. 247-250. DOI: 10.2217/pmt-2018-0021
UCLA Health. (2017 September 13). Managing Chronic Pain Without Narcotics [Video File]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkAqOditKN0
WCVB Channel 5 Boston. (2018 April 19). Tai chi workout may make chronic pain easier to manage [Video File]. Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iatP4Ml9gNw
