Psychosomatic Pain Part I

Have you ever felt as though your chronic pain was being downplayed because it was “all in your head?”  That may be true.  The fact of the matter is that mental and emotional states can have a profound and very real impact on pain levels.  A high stress level has physical consequences.  It can exacerbate pain that is already present, such as arthritis.  Or, it can generate new pains that were not previously present, as is often the case with those suffering from Fibromyalgia.  

There are some key players in the stress-pain correlation;

Adrenal Fatigue
Hypoadrenia (adrenal fatigue) occurs when your adrenal glands become overworked, expelling too much adrenaline and cortisol.  These are your ‘fight or flight’ hormones.  In the absence of need to flee from, say, saber tooth tigers, today’s human is expelling far too many of these hormones in response to things like getting the incorrect order at Starbucks.

Adrenal fatigue can express itself as chronic pain and is often misdiagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia.  Muscular pain is a common symptom of adrenal fatigue, most specifically those muscles found in the legs (sartorius, gracilis, posterior tibialis, gastrocnemius, and soleus.)  These muscles impact the balance of the pelvis and can subsequently cause low back pain. Left unremedied, this unbalance can travel up the spine, generating mid back, upper back, shoulder, and even neck pain.

Sleep is often disturbed by adrenal fatigue. The imbalance of cortisol production makes falling asleep and staying asleep difficult.  Lack of quality REM sleep has long been known to impact pain levels negatively.

Learn more symptoms of adrenal fatigue here.

Check back next month for part two of the Psychosomatic Pain article. 


*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

Cold Laser Therapy and Pain

Cold lasers are becoming more commonly implemented for pain management on a personal level and in alternative medicine and pain management offices.  These lasers interact with photo receptors in your cells to decrease inflammation and encourage tissues repair in injured areas.

Cold lasers penetrate through the upper layers of skin to reach their target area and stimulate mitochondria.  They may be useful in reducing pain and stimulating healing, which makes them a valuable asset to any pain or injury management regimen.

Find some more great information about cold lasers here;
Integrity Chiropractic 
ColdLasers.Org

{Sources: Coldlasers.org, Spine-Health, Integrity Chiropractic}


*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

Promoting Spinal Disc Health

{Source}

 Maybe you’re one of many who suffer from herniated/bulging discs or nerve impingement that cause you pain.  Maybe you’re just trying to be preemptive in avoiding future problems.  Either way, there are certain steps you can take to encourage spinal disc health

1.  Aerobic and Resistance Exercise.  Even something as simple as taking a brisk 20 minute walk 3-4 days a week can promote spinal health.

2.  Supplements.  Supplements like Vitamin C, Glucosamine and Magnesium can help promote bone and disc health as well as decreasing inflammation, which promotes back pain.

3.  Weight.  Excessive body weight strains the back and encourages bulging discs.

4.  Posture.  Poor posture puts undue stress on the spine, encouraging pain and herniation.

5.  Proper Alignment. A visit to a chiropractor will ensure that your spine is properly aligned, and that your discs are given proper space to function, as well as discouraging nerve impingement.

These are a few simple ways you can do your best to keep yourself healthy and pain free!  However, if you’re experiencing back pain, keeping Sore No More on hand is an excellent way to manage it naturally!

{Sources; Spine-Health, Livestrong, Dr. Weil Blog}

*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 Most Commons

Pain comes in all shapes and sizes and with many reasons. Below you'll find some of the most common injuries and causes of pain.

-Knee injuries are the most common disabling ski injury {source}

-Ankle and foot sprains are the most common hiking injury {source}

-150,000 people will injure themselves closing a car door each year. {source}

 -Spinal cord injuries are most commonly caused by automobile accidents. {source}

-The most common cause of rotator cuff pain is age related degeneration. {source}

-The most common type of chronic pain is back pain. {source}

-Stress is the most common headache trigger {source}

-Ladders and stools are the most common cause of home-based injuries. {source}

*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

Eat Your Arthritis Away

 It is well understood that what you put into your body can have a positive or negative impact on your health.  Different fresh foods can help with a variety of health problems including that which ails many of our customers, arthritis.  The following are a few food items that may help combat arthritis pain.

 Cabbage- Eat three or more times a week, preferably in raw form to maintain vital nutrients.   
Added bonus: Also helps protect against colds

Ginger- Use to spice foods or make into a tea a few times a week.  Fresh ginger has the greatest health benefits.
Added bonus: Stimulates digestion

Flax Seed- 2-3 tablespoons per day.  It's best to get whole flax seeds and store them in the fridge, grind them up so that your body can absorb the nutrients.  They can be added to cereals, salads and baked goods for an added nutritional punch and they are full of healthful oils.
Added bonus: Lowers levels of bad cholesterol.


Other foods that may help combat arthritis pain: cherries, 'fatty' fish, garlic, lettuce, orange and turmeric.

Consider adding some of these foods and see if your arthritis pain decreases.

*Information taken from the book 'The Very Best Healing Foods' by Rachel Fontaine.  Sore No More is in no way affiliated with this book and has not been compensated in any way for its use in this article*

*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

5 Ways To Manage Your Pain TODAY!

Chronic pain can be a real motivational drain.  It can impact your desire to get out of bed in the morning, your inclination to exercise and even distract from daily tasks like work or household chores.  Sometimes you can't even get yourself to do the things you know will help.

The following are five simple things that you can do in the next hour to make your pain a little more bearable and your outlook a little brighter.

1. Take a Hot Shower or Bath.  While you're in there, don't think about what you should be doing instead, try not to focus on your body hurting.  Just enjoy the feeling of the hot water relaxing your muscles.  Bonus: Add 1 tablespoon of Sore No More to your bath for extra pain relief.  Extra credit: This is a great time to do some guided meditation (you can purchase CDs for this, find many options on the web, or download an iPhone app such as Stitcher that will allow you to search for meditation podcasts.

2.  Stretch.  Stretching is one of those things many people avoid doing when their body hurts, but it is SO helpful.  As soon as you step out of the bath/shower, do a few stretches.  Stretch your target areas that hurt the most.  Remember, if the pain increases when you stretch you are going too far.  Be gentle with yourself. Bonus: Do some breathing exercises while you stretch.  Extra Credit: Going for a walk later in the day will make you feel even better.

3. Look at Yourself In the Mirror and Smile.  Smiling automatically increases endorphin production, which will make you feel better.  Bonus: Give yourself a compliment. Improving your mental state will make doing the things you need to do to feel more manageable.  Extra Credit:  Watch a funny movie later in the day!

4.  Make a list.  People with chronic pain often feel that they have heard it all. Compartmentalizing all of the information you've received from friends, doctors and the internet can be a challenge.  Sit down and make a list of all of the things that you've heard might help your condition.  Bonus: Cross off the items that you're not interested in/don't believe in. Put stars next to the ones you'd be willing to try and select one or two that you actively want to start working on...highlight those.  Extra Credit: Get started today! Take the first step toward a new pain  management plan.

5.  Do Some Research.  Have you been meaning to try out a new yoga class, find a chiropractor or ask a friend about her massage therapist? Maybe someone mentioned a supplement that you wanted to get more information on?  Get online and do some research.  Bonus:  Maybe this is one of the things on your list!  Extra Credit:  Call and set up an appointment/consultation or sign up for a class.

Now you're well on your way to having a happier, healthier, pain-free day (and life!)



*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 Vitamin D and Pain Connection

You may recall our past post on how sunlight can help with chronic pain.  Amongst its other benefits, sunlight allows your body to produce vitamin D.  Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency can cause more chronic pain and even suggest that Fibromyalgia may have its roots there.  

While fifteen minutes of sunlight a day is enough to get your required amount of vitamin D, sometimes even fifteen minutes can be hard to manage.  Vitamin D supplements are available in both capsule and liquid form.

The following articles discuss vitamin D deficiency and its relation to chronic pain.

Chronic Pain Linked To Low Vitamin D

Mayo Clinic Researchers Link Vitamin D and Chronic Pain Relief


Vitamin D for Chronic Pain Syndromes

Lack of Vitamin D Linked To 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