When people talk about a high or low pain tolerance, it is mostly discussed as a static characteristic, but researchers have found that levels of pain sensitivity may be influenced by changes in a person’s lifestyle or environment that causes genes to switch on or off. This process is called epigenetics and has implications for chronic…
The very definition of chronic pain implies the difficulties that patients have with day to day activities. It can be hard to add physical activity into a daily routine where you find yourself battling painful symptoms. However, research has shown that exercising with chronic pain can actually help alleviate pain and restore the overall balance of…
We all know that the perceived experience of pain varies widely from individual to individual. Researchers are just now beginning to understand why that is by studying both genetic and environmental variables that contribute to pain sensitivity. What is pain sensitivity? Pain sensitivity, the point at which stimulus is regarded as painful or not, was…
Chronic back pain–that is, back pain that last six months or longer–can have negative effects on the health of our body, but also our mind. Those with chronic back pain are believed to suffer from clinical depression at rates four times higher than the general public. Likewise, 75% of people with depression also suffer from…
Especially in today’s hyper connected world, no one needs to experience chronic pain or stress related to these conditions alone. Online support groups and access to local groups are just a few clicks away. Here are some groups you can become involved with, as well as resources for finding others in your area. ChronicPainSupportGroup.com: Harnessing…
Does pain cause depression or does depression cause pain? Unfortunately there appears to be no clear picture on what comes first. However, pain specialists and other medical professionals are beginning to understand the correlation between the two conditions and are focusing efforts on treating patients holistically. Ignoring one condition over the other only seems to…
Depression and chronic pain often go hand in hand. Unfortunately, it can also be a chicken or egg situation. How do you know if your chronic pain has led to depression or the other way around? There have been several recent studies that try to better understand the links between this mental health condition and pain.…
With all of this talk about foods that are good for pain management, how do you know where to start? Just adding disparate ingredients to your grocery list doesn’t mean you’ll actually eat the new, healthier food. You’re in luck, though. There are some great resources for recipes and cookbooks that can help you cook…
So many people rely on caffeine to make it through the day. Coffee, diet Coke, energy drinks, or anything else containing the stimulant are very popular in our fast-paced culture. While caffeine is naturally occurring, it does have some negative consequences for some people, especially those already dealing with chronic pain conditions. Here are some…
You may be surprised to learn that there are some foods that can cause or exacerbate pain. You probably know about celiac disease and gluten intolerance, but sometimes the issues go beyond specific related conditions. What foods can cause pain or exacerbate chronic conditions such as arthritis? Sugars: Increased sugar intake, which increases the body’s production…