Archive for April, 2009
April 29th, 2009
Pain remains the number 1 reason that people seek medical attention.
More people are affected by pain than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined.
Most people would expect to have their pain managed by healthcare professionals, but there are many barriers that impede effective pain management; therefore, pain remains undertreated.
Barriers as listed by the American Pain Foundation:
Patients often do not tell their doctor about their suffering and may worry about using pain medicines based on misunderstandings about addiction and dependence.
Few health professionals are trained adequately in pain assessment and management. It is estimated that only 7% of physicians receive pain management education in their medical schooling.
Less than 1% of the National Institutes of Health research budget is dedicated to pain research.
Lack of understanding about regulatory policies, coupled with the perception that prescribing adequate amounts of pain medicines will result in unnecessary scrutiny by regulatory authorities, contributes to practioner’s reluctance to prescribe medicines for adequate pain management.
The good news is pain and all of these barriers are being addressed on the national level by the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009. This has passed through the House of Representatives and now needs to be supported to pass in the Senate. Go to www.painfoundation.org and click on “Take Action Now” which is located on the right margin of the website. It is very simple to support this important policy. You will need to enter your name, email address and zip code and the appropriate Senator will be contacted. There is also information on this Policy at the website. You or someone you know will likely be affected by pain at some point in your life. Please, take a minute to improve pain management now.
April 14th, 2009
While reading the HealthyRockford.com section in Life&Syles of last Sundays paper (4/12/09), I began thinking of the vicious cycle chronic pain creates. “Staying healthy as a senior” discussed keeping active in body, mind, and spirit. Chronic pain can interupt all 3 of those living aspects. It is very difficult to exercise while experiencing pain. Many people equate pain during exercise with exercise causing physical harm. In reality, not exercising creates inflexibility and deconditioning of your body. This leads to deterioration and increased pain. And don’t forget the endorphins released during exercise. These are “feel good” chemicals (spirit). Exercise gets your heart pumping and the blood flow to your brain will increase (mind). It is important to exercise regularly. Ask your doctor for appropriate exercise recommendations for your individual needs. It is important to have your pain managed to a level where you are able to function and participate in some exercise activity. This will help your body, mind and spirit.
Pain very often creates isolation. Most people do not want to interact when not feeling well or fear that physical contact may cause more pain. Human beings are social creatures. Isolation does affect both mind and spirit. Pain and depression often go hand in hand. Depression has been shown to increase pain and chronic pain can cause depression. Depression may also have physical consequences.
Pain interferes with sleep. It has been shown that REM sleep is often not reached when experiencing pain. Sleep deprivation may increase the pain experience. Sleep deprivation may have physical, mental and emotional consequences.
The vicious cycle of pain must be broken. Pain is a very complex and individual experience. Find a physician that is willing to work with you to manage your pain so you can function physicially, mentally and emotionally to your fullest potential.
The Kelly Epperson blog spoke to music being good for you. A study done with chronic pain patients confirmed this. It showed that listening to music for 1 hour every day caused a reduction in pain levels. This doesn’t mean “easy listening” music (easy listening music for my stepson would be like scratching nails on a chalkboard), but whatever music you enjoy. So grab your favorite CD, put on those headphones and let the music take you away. While listening it may feel good to sway your arms, your hips or do some fancy footwork (get some physical activity in there) or close your eyes and let the music take you to your favorite place. This may aid in breaking the cycle of chronic pain.
April 11th, 2009
Acetaminophen, a common over-the-counter pain medication, is safe when used properly. But it is not completely harmless. Acetaminophen is the most common cause of acute liver failure. This can happen if a person takes just 10 grams over 24 hours, an amount which can be found in 20 tablets of 500 mg each. This is called acute toxicity. Acetaminophen can also be harmful to the kidneys when used regularly over years. The risk of developing end-stage kidney failure is doubled in people taking more than 1000 tablets of acetaminophen (325 mg each) in their lifetime. The chance of kidney damage is further increased when acetaminophen is used along with asprin. As with all medications, only use as much as you really need. And never exceed the recommended dosage. John C Maynard, MD Rockford Nephrology Associates
April 6th, 2009
When talking to my mom a few weeks ago, she complained of feeling overwhelmingly tired, irritated, weak and depressed. As she has thyroid problems her entire adult life, we both mistakenly assumed her thyroid medication needed to be adjusted. A trip to the doctor and lab revealed a surprise to both of us: her thyroid level was fine. Thankfully, the lab results did not surprise her doctor. He figured it out right away: my mother was Vitamin B-12 deficient.
From what we’ve learned, it appears Vitamin B-12 deficiency is quite common in persons over 60 years old. Symptoms include but are not limited to fatigue, weakness, poor memory, increased dementia, feeling depressed, tingling in extremities, problems with balance and even soreness in the mouth. Seniors with digestive problems and anemia are often at a higher risk for Vitamin B-12 deficiency than their peers. In addition, prescribed medications can also interfere with the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B-12. As a vegetarian, I was surprised to learn that I am at a higher risk than the general population to have B-12 deficiency. Take note, senior citizen vegetarians!
My mom’s doctor suggested she receive bi-monthly B-12 injections to address her deficiency. Oral pills, under-the-tongue capsules and nasal sprays are also means to supplement the need for B-12. Eating fortified and healthy foods such as fish, meat, poultry and dairy products will be part of my mom’s daily meals.
Since the symptoms of Vitamin B-12 deficiency are very similar or the same as other serious medical problems, seniors should make sure to work with their physician to rule out other medical conditions.
April 3rd, 2009
Warning Signs of Childhood Mental Illness
Mikey’s mother realized there was something different about Mikey very early on. He was fussier that her first child, and began having severe temper tantrums at age 2. He was not comforted easily and whined and cried easier than most 2 year olds. The older he got the more extreme these behaviors became. In addition, he became extremely rigid and inflexible, any change in routine could set off a temper tantrum that could last an hour.
While Mikey’s problems were noticed at an early age, seeing the warning signs of mental illness is not always that clear cut. If you remember in my first article I said that mental illness is a disorder in thought, mood or behavior that is abnormal for the developmental stage of the person and causes distress in her life and those around her. In order to see warning signs, we need to know what is developmentally appropriate for a given child in terms of their behavior, cognitions, and moods. For example, it is normal for a 3 or 4 year old to have an imaginary friend whom he talks to and plays with. It is not normal for a 11 year old to have an imaginary friend whom he talks to and plays with. In an 11 year old, this would be a cause for concern.
Some general guidelines around things to watch for include the following:
- Sad or hopeless for no reason
- Angry most of the time and over-reactive
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, anxiety or worry
- Unable to get over the loss of an important person
- Fears out of proportion to the threat
- Feeling that her mind is being controlled or out of control
- Declining performance in school
- Losing interest in things once enjoyed
- Unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits
- Avoiding friends and family, wishing to be alone most of the time
- Hearing voices that cannot be explained.
- Experiencing suicidal thoughts
- Poor concentration or decision making
- Inability to sit still, be quiet, or focus attention
- Obsessive or compulsive behaviors
- Racing thoughts
- Persistent Nightmares
- Using alcohol or drugs
- Anxiety upon being separated from a parent or caregiver
- Dieting or exercising excessively
- Violating the rights of others
- Firesetting
- Harming animals
- Harming self through cutting or other damage causing behaviors
- Extreme risk taking behaviors
While not exhaustive, this list is a sample of the types of things to watch for. If your child has some of these behaviors, you may want to find mental health services for your child—at least an assessment. The best way to find appropriate mental health services is to:
- Get accurate information from hotlines, libraries, or other sources
- Seek referrals from professionals
- Talk to other families in your community
- Find family network organizations
- Ask questions about treatments and services
- Find out if there is a local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter near you.
You may also call the
Health
Information
Center of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-789-2647.
In our next blog, we will take a look at the most frequently diagnoses behavior disorder / mental illness in kids: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
