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Does Sciatica Cause Knee Pain?

Man experiencing knee pain
Does Sciatica Cause Knee Pain?

Sciatica is a pain that radiates from the lower spine of the buttock down to the back of the leg. The pain varies from one person to another. While some feel a mild ache, others may have excruciating pain. To others, they may feel numbness or muscle weakness in the affected leg. Mild sciatica may go away on its own but if the pain lasts for more than a week, it can become severe so you might be advised to get immediate medical care.

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High-Risk Medications in Older Patients

Prescription Medication in Orange Pill Bottles
Prescription medication cascading out of orange pharmacy vials isolated on white

For many older people, taking medications for ensuing ailments may appear to become a routine. As we age, we tend to acquire health conditions that may require medication management. However, drug therapy for an older person can be a challenge for more than one reason. 

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Taking Advantage Of The Fall Weather To Improve Physical Fitness

woman doing aerobics outdoors
slim sporty woman fitness in autumn city park

The air is getting colder and you can tell by the looks of it that fall is already here. Should you camp indoors? Should you stop your fitness routine because it’s fall? Exercising outside doesn’t have to stop when the first leaf falls! In fact, fall is a great time to get a new exercise routine. With the crisp air, crunchy leaves and rich colors of nature starting to show up, shouldn’t it be the best time to get fit outside?

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Evidence-Based Medicine For Chronic Pain Relief

woman experiencing back pain

Chronic pain has the potential to affect every aspect of your life, from your daily routines to your ability to perform job-related tasks without distracting discomfort. No wonder an estimated 100 million or so chronic pain sufferers in the United States are constantly looking for any possible option that could result in relief. With such a large amount of information out there, it is important that those suffering focus and rely on evidence-based medicine. Continue reading →

Opioid Alternative That Works

pills for spine
The opioid epidemic has become a major concern across the nation and rightly so. It shows no signs of letting up and is resulting in thousands of deaths each year. Many people have become addicted and prone to serious risks to drugs that they may have started taking innocently for pain due to injury, disease or surgery.

Experts are now recommending that physicians in clinics and hospitals work to find other options for pain control rather than constantly turning to medications including high-risk opioids for every diagnosis.

Here are just a few options available to a variety of patients that can often decrease pain and help them experience a better quality of life without the need for more addictive drugs. Continue reading →

The Healing Powers of a Good Night’s Sleep

sleep_ chronic painPain has emotional, physical, and mental aspects to it. The extent to which a person feels pain is based in part on behavioral and cognitive processes. When discussing pain management, you need to consider a number of factors, including the role that sleep plays in helping your body manage pain.

Evidence suggests that there are links between depression, sleep, and pain. A change in one of these three will impact the other two. If you are dealing with chronic pain, you know that pain can prevent you from sleeping well. You also know that pain can affect your emotional state, making you feel depressed. But what some people may not understand is that the reverse is also true. Not getting enough sleep can increase your pain level.

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Managing Chronic Pain for Patients Addicted to Opioids

The Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD), including the use of opioid medications, in America is worsening more than ever and claiming thousands of lives every year.

opioids orange bottle

Chronic pain patients are sometimes prescribed opioid medications. These block pain receptors in the nervous system, while also flooding the body with endorphins, which are most often known as the feel-good hormones. Partly because of this feeling, the patients may continue these medications and get addicted to them. This creates a vicious cycle of addiction and increased use of opioid medications. Added to this combination may be other medications and substances like sleeping pills and alcohol that may result in serious consequences, including death.

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How Exercise Can Help Your Pain

woman fixing shoesChronic pain is a serious matter. It causes depression, misery and damage to personal relationships. It can affect your education and goals. Chronic pain, if severe enough, can make it impossible for you to continue with your work. It robs you of sleep. If you have severe arthritis, for example, it might be that you can’t even open a bottle cap or climb a few stairs. Your joints ache all over. No matter the condition causing the pain, it can get to the point where it seems like there is nothing else in your life but pain. If this has happened to you, you need to know that help is available. A pain management specialist can help you reduce or eliminate your pain and get your life back.

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