Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and one of the most disabling diseases in developed countries. Many patients have restricted movements, and some can’t even perform basic activities of daily living. July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. It is a common misconception that only “old” people are afflicted with arthritis. Yet, nearly 300,000 …
Vagus Nerve Stimulation: What You Should Know
Overview Thirty to 40 percent of people with epilepsy don’t fully respond to anti-seizure drugs. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a technique used to treat epilepsy when other treatments haven’t worked. It can also be used as a treatment for hard-to-treat depression that hasn’t responded to typical therapies.
The Pros and Cons of Over the Counter Pain Relief
Over the counter pain relief is a major advantage to living in today’s world. Think about a time before pain medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or simple ibuprofen (Motrin) were available for headaches, muscle pain, or joint pain. What was life like without them? What did those people do without that relief? Sometimes we take these …
Pain Pumps: What You Need to Know
Pain pumps deliver controlled doses of pain medicine directly to the spinal cord. Pain pumps have been another way to reduce pain since the 1980s. It was originally created as an alternative treatment for unrelieved pain from cancer, and eventually was applied to non-cancerous conditions. The device is actually fairly simple and comfortable for most …
National Public Health Week: How Are You Managing Your Pain?
National Public Health Week has arrived and I wanted to touch base and see how all of you are doing. During the first full week of April each year, communities across the United States are brought together to observe National Public Health Week as a time to acknowledge the influences of public health and spotlight …
Chronic Pain and Your Brain: What’s the Deal with Depression?
Those who suffer from pain know that it can be very difficult to cope both physically and emotionally. On my radio show, we have discussed many traditional and alternative options for easing physical pain. Often, chronic pain not only hurts physically, but emotionally. Today, let’s delve into the emotional side of pain. For example, depression …
Pharmacogenetics & Personalized Medicine, Part II
Have you ever wondered why that pill you’re taking for pain isn’t really helping, or why it’s causing side effects? Well, the “one size fits all” strategy for medicines is yielding to genetic profiling that predicts disease risk and drug response in a way that personalizes medicine. Mary Dugan-Jordan, an oncology nurse has suffered from …
Pharmacogenetics & Personalized Medicine, Part I
Have you ever wondered why that pill you’re taking for pain isn’t really helping, or why it’s causing side effects? Well, the “one size fits all” strategy for medicines is yielding to genetic profiling that predicts disease risk and drug response in a way that personalizes medicine. Mary Dugan-Jordan, an oncology nurse has suffered from …