Executive function is an umbrella term for mental processes enabling us to plan, focus attention, remember, and switch between multiple tasks. Impairments of these functions are prevalent in chronic pain patients and patients rate potential impairments as debilitating for their everyday lives. Current medical knowledge does not allow for describing differences in executive dysfunction between pain types, as most studies only include heterogeneous, poorly defined pain conditions. For example, a recent review cited no real comparison of executive functioning between pain types, despite clinical ..read more

Not too long ago, many doctors approached chronic pain as something that is “all in the head.” If you had pain without a discernible cause in the body, if there wasn’t all-singing, all-dancing inflammation, a doctor might say, ‘It’s probably in your head.’ And women are more likely to suffer from chronic pain, so you might have been labelled a hysterical woman, who should go see her therapist. When we cannot see pain, we arrogantly assume the body is not dysfunctional, rather than maybe we just don’t have the tools with the right sensitivity to detect the dysfunction. But, as science has advan ..read more

If you are living with chronic pain and are unsure how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect you, here is what you need to know, and what you can do now to find long-term relief. Chronic pain sufferers may be in a high-risk group when it comes to COVID-19. Every instance of chronic pain is different and can stem from a number of root causes. But, on the whole, patients with chronic pain may be more susceptible to COVID-19. And if they contract Covid, they could have: Worsened health issues Greater complications from Covid and their chronic pain condition Consequences from Covid, Covid medicat ..read more

Do you know bad weather is coming because your pain reacts differently? You’re not alone. People with chronic pain find that their joint and other chronic pain can worse during cold weather. Whether you have arthritis or inflammation problems, the cold can worsen your symptoms. There could be many reasons for increased pain during winter months, and it’s important to find ways to reduce your chronic pain during cold weather and stay active. During cold weather season, blood flow can lessen, which can cause pain in your extremities. It’s also pretty common not to be as physically active during ..read more

Decorating, planning, shopping, cooking and visiting with loved ones brings much to look forward to during the holidays — but for people with chronic pain, these things can also brings anxiety, stress and trepidation. If you live with chronic pain, you know how challenging it can be to perform simple chores and everyday functions. The thought of adding the holiday “stuff” too can be daunting. It can really put a damper on what could be a wonderful holiday season. Here are 6 holiday tips for a more enjoyable holiday season: Start Early Time flies. Before you know it, you have to ..read more

Neuropathic pain is caused by damage or injury to the nerves that transfer information between the brain and spinal cord from the skin, muscles and other parts of the body. The pain is usually described as a burning sensation and affected areas are often sensitive to the touch. It is often described as a shooting pain and can go away on its own, but is often chronic. Examples include post herpetic (or post-shingles) neuralgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy / causalgia (nerve trauma), components of cancer pain, phantom limb pain, entrapment neuropathy (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), and peripher ..read more

Chronic pain, or pain that lasts for more than 12 weeks, is common among the approximately 20 million veterans in the United States today. More than 50% of veterans receiving care at Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities across the country are affected by the condition. Below are a few more stats you may not be aware of regarding this unique population, as well as some best practices for pain management. Musculoskeletal pain (often caused by an injury to the bone, muscle, nerves, and/or connective tissues) is the most common chronic pain complaint among veterans. In the decade betw ..read more

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve mental health. CBT focuses on challenging and changing cognitive distortions and behaviors, improving emotional regulation, and the development of personal coping strategies that target solving current problems. CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behavior) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts determine our feelings and our behavior. Therefore, negative and unrealistic thoughts can cause us distress and result in problems. So, how do therapist ..read more

Source Daniel Scali, 28, of Australia, smashed the Guinness World Record for the longest time in the abdominal plank position (male) with 9 hours, 30 minutes and 1 second. Scali’s new record was set on August 6, 2021, in Adelaide, Australia. The new world record replaces the previously held record by former-marine American George Hood in February 2020, when Hood was 62 years old. The record of 8 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds stood for more than 18 months. What’s more incredible is that Scali completed this feat with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). “When I was 12 years old ..read more

When using opioids for pain management, one may find that the pain is not fully going away. Perhaps the body will respond better to other forms of pain management, or perhaps the medications are becoming less effective with use over time. Using more of an opioid isn’t necessarily going to make you feel better or in less pain. Increasing a dose of opioids will sometimes only increase the side effects. It may even cause hyperalgesia, a condition where the pain gets worse instead of better. Upping an opioid dosage also increases the risk for overdose. Opioids are powerful medications. U ..read more