Children With Chronic Pain

When you think of chronic pain, you probably think of adults with injuries or age related problems.  Maybe with an unpleasant condition that they’re forced to live with.   However, how often do we think of chronic pain in terms of children?


It is a sad fact that there are children who do suffer from chronic pain.   Some have sustained injuries, others have ailments that cause them pain.  Children can have a very difficult time dealing with chronic pain, especially when it interferes with school, sleep cycles and time with friends.  


These links will provide some information of children with chronic pain.

• Talk Therapy for Kids’ Pain: Better Than Pills?
  This Time magazine article talks about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and how it can be used to help kids deal with their chronic pain.

• Conquering Chronic Pain In Children
  This article discusses the book ‘Conquering Your Child’s Chronic Pain’ and discusses how adults can help children with chronic pain.
  
• Managing Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents
  This article discusses child and adolescent pain in a medical light.

These article discuss the three most common types of chronic pain in children and teens; headaches, abdominal pain and musculoskeletal pain.  


Perhaps the most important thing to remember when you are interacting with a child with chronic pain is patience and empathy.  Anyone who has ever been in pain knows how frustrating it can be.  It is even more so for kids and teens who or of an age that is rarely associated with this type of pain.  Being supportive is vital to helping a child cope!

How Dehydration Makes You Hurt

The human body is more than 55% water.

Water is VITAL to most of the body’s functions.  So why are most of us not optimally hydrated?

How does dehydration affect your level of pain?   Dehydrated muscles won’t function as well as hydrated ones.  Hydration plays an important role in circulation which is vital to muscle movement.  Being poorly hydrated can results in more lengthy muscle soreness, as muscles try to heal themselves and can also contribute to muscle cramping.

Being dehydrated can also cause headaches.  Keep in mind next time you’ve got a headache after having a few cups of coffee and it might not be a caffeine headache, it might be a dehydration headache!

You should drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day.

• In example: If you way 150lbs, you should be drinking 75oz of water daily.  
• That’s 9.4 8oz glasses of water.   
• 8oz of water is equivalent to a measuring cup full of water.
• Most standard sized kitchen glasses are 16oz.

Next time you’re experiencing muscle pain or headaches, after you’ve applied your Sore No More, drink an extra glass of water to help your body function its best and stay pain free!

{Sources: One, Two, Three}

Explaining Chronic Pain To Your Friends and Family

The purpose of Sore No More is to help you manage your pain.   While many of our customers keep a tub on hand to sooth over-worked calves after a day of hiking or shoulders after a stressful day at the office, many also use it regularly to help them deal with their chronic pain.

Nearly everyone who has to live with chronic pain has experienced the affect it can have on relationships with others.  Whether you snapped at your kids or bailed on dinner with friends, it can be hard to express to those we love how pain impacts our lives.  

We want to help you manage your chronic pain above and beyond the topical qualities of our product.  The following is a list of links that will provide you with resources regarding how to explain your chronic pain to friends and family.  

• Chronic Pain Message Board Post - How to Explain Chronic Pain to a Four Year Old
• How Do You Explain Chronic Pain To Others
• Yahoo Answers- How Can Chronic Pain Be Explained to Those Who Don’t Suffer From It?
• “The Spoon Theory” How to explain a day in the life of someone who is chronically ill.

Remember that there is always help and support to be found online and there are MANY resources available to remind you that you’re not alone and to help you communicate to those around you.

Is It Time to See A Doctor?

We wish that an ice pack, a bit of Sore No More and a good night’s rest could solve all of your ailments and keep you living a pain free lifestyle.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case.   Sometimes a problem requires medical attention.

So when should you seek out a physician for your pain?

• When your pain lasts more than a reasonable amount of time.  If you’ve fallen on your elbow and it’s still aching a month later, it’s probably time to see a doctor.
• When pain, discomfort or pressure is experienced in your throat, chest, abdomen or arms without cause.  You could be experiencing a heart attack.  Learn more HERE.
• When pain inhibits you from doing something you could do in the recent past.  If suddenly you can’t reach the coffee canister on the third shelf of your cupboard, (barring left over soreness from other circumstances. of course) you need to find out why.
• When inflammation is not subsiding despite use of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) methods.
• When pain is not responding to pain relievers you may be taking.

Generally speaking, if you’re experiencing pain that you can’t explain, if you’ve been in pain for an abnormal length of time, and/or if your friends and family are saying ‘maybe you should get that checked out,’’  it's time to call up your doctor and make an appointment.
{sources: here, here}

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

What Might Be Causing Your Migraine?

{source}

Here at Sore No More, we’re glad to provide you with a product that can help you manage and combat migraine pain.  When suffering from a migraine, apply a small amount of Sore No More to your temples (avoid the eyes!) no more than 3 times per day.  You may also view our post on other migraine-combating tips here.

Sometimes migraines can be triggered by environmental factors.  The following are some foods and smells that have been known to trigger migraines;

Foods:

• Those containing Tyramine, like aged cheeses
• Alcohol (especially red wine)
• Food additives or preservatives
• Nuts
• Artificial Sweeteners
• Caffeine (in some people)
• Fresh baked yeast breads or pastries
• Processed meats containing nitrate.
• Chocolate

{Sources: here and here}
Smells:

• Perfumes
• Cigarette Smoke
• Paint
• Exhaust fumes

Also, check out this CNN article: “Surprising Things That Give You Headaches” and "Natural Migraine Relief Now" for more information.

So, if you find yourself being particularly prone to migraines, or even headaches in general, keep in mind the things around you that might be contributing to your agony.

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Fire and Ice

Most of us are familiar with the concept of using heat or ice to combat our aches and pains.   What if you don’t have a heating pad or an ice pack handy, though?  Here are some easy ways to get around that.

*Please note: Be sure to apply your Sore No More after heating or icing an area, as some of the ingredients can cause intense tingling, burning, or coldness when extreme temperatures are applied. *

Heat it Up!
Heat should be applied to loosen a muscle.  Say you’ve had a stressful day at the office and you have knots in your shoulders.  This would be a good time to apply heat.

• Make your own heat pack: Fill a (clean) sock with uncooked rice or beans and then tie a knot at the open end.  Microwave for 1 minute, or until warm.  Apply to affected area.  (Note: this can become VERY warm, remove from microwave with caution and let cool before applying to skin if it’s too hot.)
• A hot bath.   Did you know that moist heat will actually penetrate the muscle better than dry heat?  Indulge in a hot bath with Epsom salts and Sore No More!  (In this instance, Sore No More may be used in conjunction with the application of heat.)
• Don’t have a tub?  Use a hot wash cloth.  Either run a wash cloth under hot water and ring it out, or microwave a moistened wash cloth for 20 seconds (longer if needed.)  Using this method, you'll want to reheat and apply 2-3 times.

Cool it Down!
Ice should be applied in the case of inflammation.  If you’ve pulled a muscle, or your joints are swollen, ice is the way to go.

• Make your own ice pack.  Following these directions, or you can try this out.
• Immersion.  Like heat, ice can be more effective moist.   Fill an appropriate sized container with ice and water and then immerse the problem area.  (This works best with extremities.)
• Ice Massage.  Perhaps the simplest of all- grab and ice cube and spend five minutes rubbing it over the affected area.  When the area becomes numb, discontinue use.

(Please Note: Ice should never be applied for more than 10 minutes when using an ice pack and never for more than 3-5 when using direct application.)

Don’t forget- contrast therapy can also be very helpful.  

Once you’ve applied heat or ice, you can apply some Sore No More and continue with your day or enjoy a good night’s rest!

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

The Care and Keeping of Knees

Image Found Here

Many of our customers use Sore No More on their knees to combat arthritis pain or pain from general wear and tear.  We wanted to give our fans a few tips on keeping their knees in tip top shape.   

• Warm up before you exercise.  Stretching is important to ensure that you don’t injure your knees.
• Taking supplements such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM may promote joint health (consult your physician.)
• Consider your weight.  The loss of even a few pounds for those that are overweight can lessen the load on joints and have a profound impact on pain and joint longevity.
• See the doctor if you have knee pain for more than a week. Many problems can be corrected if they’re caught early.
• Exercise! Keeping your muscles limber and strengthening them does wonders for joint health.  Check out these websites for some knee exercises;
      -6 Ways To Keep Your Knees Pain Free
      -Healthy Knees: 10 Tips To Prevent Pain
      -How to Strengthen Your Knees

We hope that with these tips, your use of Sore No More will become more geared toward relieving your post-exercise aches rather than chronic pain!


*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com