An Ideal Pain Management Plan - You Describe!

I was recently asked why if I am a pain specialist, I write about loss, sadness, and other things that don't seem to relate to pain. This question enabled me to discuss the complexities and the interrelationships between physical pain and the many topics I write about.

I view pain in a very broad and comprehensive way. My personal/professional definition of pain relates distress of any kind in some or any aspect of life to the experience of pain. Pain is so much more than just a physical experience. It touches on the biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects of a person's life as well as effecting the life of those close to the victim.

To treat pain, it is vital to explore all of the areas of a person's life and take these into consideration. To prescribe treatment for only one aspect and neglect to investigate the others often does a great injustice to the patient who suffers.

If you were to define an effective treatment approach for victims of chronic pain, what components would it include? Please share your answers and comments on either my Pain Management or Migraine board. I look forward to talking with you!

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: The Link Between Chronic Pain and Stress
• WebMD Video: Prayer and Healing

Technorati Tags: pain management, chronic pain, health and wellness

Sticks and Stones...

The other evening I watched a TV show about a heavyweight teenager. She put up with a lot of ridicule and pain from her peers. But she also experienced a lot of ridicule from her own mother. The effect of this was very damaging to her. I was glad she became angry and determined to make something positive out of such a negative and destructive experience. It would have been so easy to turn her anger inward and become depressed. In that state, she might have tried to harm herself as a way to escape her pain; that would have been devastating. This girl made a lot of very important points about the fact that people link heaviness and obesity with ignorance and often use these victims as scapegoats to promote their own popularity.

I have been heavy most of my life. Pictures of myself as a kid showed I was a big kid for as long as I can remember. I remember being the brunt of other people's jokes on more than several occasions. I remember how it made me feel then and it hurts to this day when I think about it.

As a parent of a larger child, I made a point of letting her know on a regular basis how beautiful she was and how proud of her I was. She struggled through school and was also a victim of many cruel kids. Every time she came home in tears, I hurt right along with her. I wish for once people would stop before they speak and think about what they are saying.

One of my favorite sayings:

"What a person says about someone else, says a lot more about the person speaking than the one they are talking about."

~Indie

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Weight Loss Tips for Obese Teens
• What is a Healthy Weight?

Technorati Tags: teen weight, body image, healthy weight

Exploring Our Pain Management Toolbox

Pain management tool boxes are a concept I have discussed on occasion. I would like to ask folks what they have added to their tool boxes for 2008. What I am hoping to do is get an idea what types of things folks find helpful to add to it. It is my hope that folks will read the content of others' tool boxes and see what they lack. Those items can be explored further to determine if this might be a great addition to their own.

Way too often folks are too quick to say something will not work when in fact, they have never tried it or found that to be true. I would like to us to explore this to determine why people do this and where do they get the preconceived idea that something won't work and it is not worth trying. For some it might be the opinion of someone they hold dear. For others, it might be a stereotype that many folks adhere to and which often is scarred by misconceptions and myths that have come down through the ages.

I encourage people to write their responses to my blogs on my pain management message board here on WebMD. Start the thread with "Exploring our Pain Management Toolbox". When I review the board, I will read posts and respond with comments or thought provoking questions to clarify anything I am not sure of. I encourage others to comment or post your views on another's posts so we can develop a rich thread of feedback on this topic. I think this will be a great thread to share and learn more about don't you????

~Indie

Related Topics:

• WebMD Video: Distraction Therapy for Pain Control
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pain Management

Technorati Tags: chronic pain, pain tool box, pain management, health and wellness

Priorities for Pain Syndrome Victims

Well I think it is going to storm. I woke up this morning hardly able to move. Every step I took grabbed me and stabbed me. My first concern was the amount of work I had to accomplish today. Medications tend to make drowsy and good for nothing. I usually end up falling asleep and and feeling groggy when I wake up. So how do I handle this dilemma?

When I feel upset about how I feel and how it impacts my life, I immediately take a look at my priorities . I look at deadlines, and I check to see what is on my calendar. Flexibility is key. Those items that can wait must do so. The issues that must be dealt with take first priority. And the second priority is placed on my calendar. Only track the two most important priorities on your calendar. Write in the additional items and keep them handy so if you can get to you have the necessary information.

Begin working on your priorities as soon as possible. Seeing what needs to be done and the accomplishments you make will be an incentive to keep going. Block out a chunk of time to devote to the priorities and stick with it.

Being organized is key. Have a plan in place and follow it. Have the tools you need to do the job. And set it up so there is as little set up time as necesssary. Taking these steps can help you be productive in spite of pain and dscomfort.

Have you developed a plan? Is there a chance you need to get organized? How about sharing some of your plans and accomplishments with others? What are your plans for 2008?

Please post on either my Pain Management or Migraine boards where I can respond along with others! I look forward to talking with and learning from everyone who shares and cares!

~Indie

Related Topics:

• Keep Your Medical Records Organized
• A Clean Start

Technorati Tags: pain, priorities, time, organize, management, wellness, health