Everyday things like sitting or exercising can be virtually impossible if you are suffering from pudendal neuralgia, commonly called cyclist’s syndrome, which affects the pelvic floor. Patients feel stabbing, stinging, or burning sensations around the anal, scrotal, or labial regions of the body. Leslie describes how normal childbirth led to a feeling of having a “lit …
Shoulder pain is so common that it affects up to 66% of the population at some point in life. Conditions like impingement, tendinitis and rotator cuff tears are the most common. Johns Hopkins orthopedist and shoulder expert Dr. Ed McFarland discusses what we need to know about the causes and treatments of shoulder pain. Former …
If all efforts to relieve your pain fail or if the pain of cancer plagues you, an implantable pain pump may be the answer. This device delivers tiny, controlled doses of pain medicine directly to the spinal cord. We are joined by Ami McCarty, who will describe what a difference her pain pump has made …
It was commonly thought that the nervous system of newborn babies wasn’t developed enough at birth to experience pain. Even though medical thinking has changed, it’s frightening to realize that under treating or simply not treating pain in sick babies may lead to a life of pain. Pam McFadyen shares an intimate portrait of having …
Electrical stimulation of areas deep inside the brain is used to treat severe tremors and movement disorders caused by conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Our guests Thomas Ashley shares a true story of triumph over “firelike” pain and neurosurgeon Dr. Andre Machado, the Cleveland Clinic, explores this fascinating therapy of accessing our inner brain for pain …
Biofeedback sounds mysterious and technical, but it’s been in use since the mid-to-late 1960’s. Today, we’ll examine Biofeedback with the help of two of our guests. Retired anesthesiologist Dr. Blossom Sanger shares how this therapy has given her much better control of her pain and her life. Jim Cahill, Biofeedback Therapist from the Scripps Center …
Nerve stimulation with small doses of electricity has been used for pain relief since Egyptian and Roman times. In this show, we’ll learn about exciting advances in neurostimulation for controlling pain. Andy Magruder shares his compelling story of how a pain pacemaker transformed his life following three spinal surgeries. And then, Dr. Giancarlo Barolat, neurosurgeon …
Almost 70% of those suffering from pain complain of sleep problems and the relationship is reciprocal: pain often disrupts sleep, and poor sleep can worsen pain. Dr. William Kohler, Medical Director of the Florida Sleep Institute, may have just the right medicine. Gwenn Herman is the Executive Director of Pain Connection, a chronic pain outreach center. A serious automobile accident caused …