by Pain Pathways Magazine | Nov 30, 2016 | Featured, Only Online
Maintaining good posture is incredibly important for keeping the body pain-free and healthy.When posture is compromised, pain and other unintended consequences can ensue. Fortunately, posture can be fixed and pain from poor posture alleviated by identifying the...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jul 21, 2016 | Only Online, Wellness
Are you planning a vacation and worried about how you will feel away from home? With a little planning, you can make your trip smoother and lower your anxiety. Here are some suggestions to consider when traveling this summer: Plan Ahead Evaluate where you are going...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 17, 2016 | Inspirational Quote
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by Pain Pathways Magazine | Mar 15, 2016 | Featured, Only Online, Wellness
For chronic pain sufferers, frustration, exhaustion, medications, depression, anxiety and even the pain, itself, can cause tears. But crying can cause people, including friends, family and caregivers, to become impatient, especially with someone who is already...
by PainPathways Magazine | Dec 1, 2015 | Inspirational Quote
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by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Oct 28, 2015 | Communication, Wellness, Wellness Blog
You may have noticed that pain puts a strain on friendship. Whether you have fibromyalgia, headaches, back pain, arthritis, or other type of chronic pain, chronic pain can take a toll on your relationships, especially with friends. You may see friends...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Oct 14, 2015 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized, Wellness
Who knew our Facebook post on adult coloring books would cause such a stir? The post and article – Why Coloring Could Be the New Alternative to Meditation – received numerous comments and photos of your beautiful artwork. Many of you said that coloring relieves stress...
by Carol Harper | Oct 2, 2015 | Inspirational Quote
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by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Sep 9, 2015 | Depression, Wellness, Wellness Blog
If you have chronic pain, you may be at risk for depression. In one study, 35% of the participants who reported chronic pain were also depressed. Risk of depression was not associated with any particular pain type or site. Pain and depression seem to...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Jul 28, 2015 | Wellness, Wellness Blog
Life is richer when you can pursue the things that matter, such as love, work, feelings of competence, being part of a caring social network of family and friends, growing as a person. Chronic pain makes goal pursuit more difficult. Pain can interfere...
by Carol Harper | Jul 6, 2015 | Inspirational Quote
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by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jun 24, 2015 | Celebrities, Chronic, Featured, Only Online, Personal Stories, Uncategorized
Since June is Men’s Health Month and manly Lou Ferrigno is gracing the cover of our summer issue, we want to put the spotlight on men. When dealing with chronic pain, do men cope differently than women and what do they have to say about their experiences? The...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Jun 10, 2015 | Only Online, Wellness, Wellness Blog
From birth, we are all faced with two basic questions: “What do I want or need?” and “How do I get it?” Of course, we start out wanting the same kinds of things: to eat, to sleep, to be safe, to sit up, to crawl, to walk… Throughout life, our goals...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 14, 2015 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized, Wellness
Everyone knows that healthy eating is good for you. However, good nutrition is especially important when you live with chronic pain and certain foods can make you feel better or worse. We reached out to Catherine Matthews, the senior nutritionist and project manager...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | May 14, 2015 | Wellness, Wellness Blog
I have written a great deal about the negative thoughts that are so easy to get caught up in when you live with chronic pain. I have covered topics such as rumination, self-talk, “negative fortune telling“, and anger. People with chronic pain sometimes...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Apr 9, 2015 | Wellness, Wellness Blog
If you have been living with chronic pain, you may have found that you worry about yourself. What if your future is one of loneliness and isolation? What if you can’t get the help you need? What if your relationships suffer? What if your pain gets so bad that you...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 25, 2015 | Featured, Headache, Only Online, Therapies, Uncategorized, Wellness
One of the most natural ways to manage everyday aches and pains – and even chronic pain – is the application of essential oils. Essential oils are potent and highly concentrated oils of plants that many of our modern medicines are derived from, without added...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 10, 2015 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized, Wellness
February: The month of heart health. You know staying fit physically and mentally is good for your heart. But when you live with chronic pain, it can be difficult to follow all the advice, especially if faced with limitations. Our 14-day challenge is designed to help...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jan 13, 2015 | Chronic, Featured, IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Only Online, Uncategorized, Wellness
If you suffer from chronic abdominal pain due to IBS, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, ulcers, reflux, colitis and other conditions, you know that it can overwhelm your daily life. Living with symptoms like frequent constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or bowel...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Dec 3, 2014 | Wellness Blog
Most of what I write about in this blog is derived from the science of pain management. But, I also find lessons about coping with pain in daily life. Those lessons often correspond to science-based recommendations. Today I want to talk about something I...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Nov 12, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized, Wellness
It’s a great time of year to feel thankful and show gratitude. When living with chronic pain, it may be difficult to connect to the positive aspects of your life. However, if you stop to think about your relationships and focus outside of yourself, you may discover...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Oct 27, 2014 | Cancer, Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized, Women
Pink ribbons are everywhere. It must be October. While almost everyone knows someone who has had breast cancer, many people might not know about the very real, difficult and lasting effects some people experience. Since women tend to put on a brave face and act like...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Oct 22, 2014 | Wellness Blog
When you think about your own pain experience, you may first think about how much you hurt. But, the full pain experience is actually broader than “how much”. The Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT) is a...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Sep 26, 2014 | Central Pain Syndrome, Featured, Fibromyalgia, Only Online, Uncategorized
What does pain-free clothing mean if you suffer from fibromyalgia, CRPS/RSD or another condition that makes getting dressed a painful experience? If your shirts drive you crazy, shoes hurt your feet or pants always feel tight, read on to see what you can do. (Be sure...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Sep 24, 2014 | Wellness Blog
People with chronic pain often say that their partner, family, friends, co-workers, or boss don’t seem to understand their pain problem or what it is like to live with pain. You may wonder if others understand the impact of chronic pain on daily life,...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Sep 23, 2014 | Wellness Blog
Your chronic pain problem may have knocked you off course. Your personal, family, work, health, and social goals may have been derailed. You may feel as though you are simply stuck, unable to go forward and incapable of going back to your old life....
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 28, 2014 | Featured, Only Online
Even if you’re one of the lucky ones who do not have a psychological condition as a result of chronic pain, you can still benefit greatly from certain psychological treatments that are designed to help people with chronic pain. Here are five well-proven, fairly simple...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Aug 12, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized
It’s easy to do. You attend a friend’s wedding, visit your sister or simply play with your grandchildren. You’re having a good time but the next thing you know your body is telling you that you’re overdoing it. When you live with chronic pain, you may push yourself on...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jul 30, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Research
Never thought about participating in clinical trials? This might change your perspective. Those afflicted with pain or an illness often have a feeling of helplessness – especially if treatments for their condition are not working. While they may not be able to impact...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jul 17, 2014 | Featured, Foot, Only Online
Last summer we suggested that flip flops may not be the best choice of summer footwear in an online article. This year, sports medicine doctor, Dr. Joseph Tauro offers many reasons to forget about these popular summer sandals and provides some good advice for making...
by PainPathways Magazine | May 21, 2014 | Articles, Featured, Only Online
It is sobering to see any young athlete felled by injury. Friday-night crowds fall silent when a high school football player remains motionless on the field after the pile of players rises. Parents watch anxiously when a pitcher grabs his elbow after an inning and...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | May 19, 2014 | Articles, Print
Are you suffering from a sports-related injury? Each year, millions of people experience acute pain ranging from muscle cramps to runner’s knee. Take this quiz to see how much you know about sports and pain. 1 At sports practice, you think you’ve pulled a...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Apr 25, 2014 | Advocacy, Celebrities, Featured, Fibromyalgia, Headache, Only Online, Personal Stories, Uncategorized, Women
Many celebrities have graced the covers of PainPathways and told their stories to our readers. There are many more who are familiar with pain both on and off the set. When it comes to celebrities and chronic pain, those who share their experiences can be an...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Apr 10, 2014 | Featured, Only Online
No matter how old you are or what you do for a living, you are always using your hands. They perform countless tasks, from brushing your teeth to keying emails. Aching hands can make even the simplest of tasks a painful ordeal. Beneath the skin, your hands are an...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Mar 17, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Wellness Blog
Fear is a natural and common reaction to pain. When pain becomes chronic, fear can become an ongoing part of the pain experience. I have talked about ways to manage fear in a previous blog. Today, I want to talk about another aspect of fear. Chronic fear...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Mar 6, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized, Women
When we shared a recent Wall Street Journal article on our Facebook page, it attracted attention. The article, Why Women Are Living in the Discomfort Zone, raises an interesting fact: There are 100 million American adults living with chronic pain, according to the...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Feb 25, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Wellness Blog
Pain can be scary. If you have chronic pain, you may have become chronically fearful – afraid of loss of control, scared that simple movement may increase your pain, afraid that you may re-injure yourself merely by doing what you need to do to live your...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Feb 13, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized
Written by three doctors, David Kloth, Andrea Trescot and Francis Riegler, with years of experience in pain management, Pain-Wise: A Patient’s Guide to Pain Management simplifies the confusing and often overwhelming process of finding treatment for chronic pain. It...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Feb 10, 2014 | Depression, Featured, Only Online, Wellness Blog
It can be difficult to feel thankful when you live with chronic pain. Because pain may interfere with important areas of life, you may have suffered some difficult losses. Over time, you may have become more resentful and less thankful. But, if you...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jan 7, 2014 | Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized, Wellness
Here are some New Year’s Resolutions from our Facebook followers: “Get back to the gym, strengthen my back, and stop pain meds.” – Sharon “Train to powerwalk 15-minute miles for the Boston Marathon to raise money for the US Pain Foundation.” – Lynn “Go to physical...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 2, 2014 | Articles, Print
“It was very uncomfortable to wear a shirt, and between the burning and sharp pain, I was in very bad shape,” Frazee recalls. “The doctor told me that it was shingles and treated me with Valtrex and pain medication. Eight months later, I broke out again with the same...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Dec 12, 2013 | Featured, Fibromyalgia, Only Online
Fibromyalgia sufferers deal with a multitude of symptoms that impact their daily lives. However, a recent survey reveals that pain is the #1 fibromyalgia symptom that affects patients on a daily basis. Functioning with Fibro surveyed 1,228 adults in the U.S. with...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Dec 5, 2013 | Back, Featured, Only Online, Uncategorized
We’ve all heard or exclaimed, “Oh, my aching back!” But how much do we know about low back pain? Take this quiz to find out. True or False: 1. Many people experience low back pain. True. Back pain affects eight out of ten people at some point during their lives,...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Dec 5, 2013 | Wellness Blog
Chronic pain can make your goals seem unimportant or unreachable. Your pain may interfere with your social goals, career goals, or family goals. Personal goals like exercise, hobbies, reading, or learning something new may have fallen by the wayside...
by PainPathways Magazine | Oct 21, 2013 | Arthritis, Articles, Print
YOU HAVE ARTHRITIS. YOUR JOINTS ACHE, YOU’RE FATIGUED AND YOU AREN’T SLEEPING WELL. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MAY BE THE LAST THING ON YOUR MIND, YET EXPERTS SAY THAT AVOIDING MOVEMENT CAN ONLY MAKE YOUR ACHES AND PAINS WORSE. WHILE EXERCISE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, TRY THIS...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Oct 16, 2013 | Wellness Blog
Chronic pain often gets in the way of life. Pain can cancel, interrupt, delay, interfere with, and diminish living. The worst part is that it can make you afraid to try again tomorrow. It can challenge your beliefs in your ability to do what you want...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Oct 9, 2013 | Articles, Featured, Only Online, Personal Stories
Artist Darryl Fossa may not suffer from a pain condition…but he knows how art can be even more than a powerful distraction for someone dealing with pain. Frida Kahlo said, “My painting carries with it the message of pain.” Fossa sees the art he creates as way...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Sep 26, 2013 | Wellness Blog
Stress can make chronic pain worse. Whether you suffer from headaches, arthritis, abdominal pain, temporomandibular disorder, or any other chronic pain condition you may benefit from identifying methods to reduce the stress in your life. One approach to...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Sep 19, 2013 | Wellness Blog
Maybe you see friends less often than you used to. Or maybe you have lost touch with friends you feel are too active, believing you can’t keep up. You may feel that some of your friends just don’t understand what you are experiencing and that some are even...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Sep 16, 2013 | Wellness Blog
Felix Naughton and his colleagues conducted a study to examine the relationship between sleep quality, depression, pain severity, and disability. Their results (reported in the journal Pain) showed that sleep quality did not directly affect disability, but...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Sep 3, 2013 | Articles, Chronic, Featured, Fibromyalgia, Only Online, Personal Stories, Women
As part of National Pain Awareness Month, PainPathways wants to honor some special individuals who have helped so many while suffering with chronic pain themselves. Nancy Laracy is one of those inspiring people. Here’s her story: PP: When did you first start...
by PainPathways Magazine | Aug 30, 2013 | Articles, Celebrities, Cover Stories, Print
While many people may define Maya Angelou, PhD, by her literary skill, humanitarianism and extraordinary list of achievements, this author, poet, professor, mother and humanitarian is a straight-talker whose powerful words inspire people the world over. “Love heals....
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Aug 30, 2013 | Wellness Blog
Living with severe pain can be a trigger for depression, a sense of loss of who you are and who you will become, and a belief that you can’t manage your pain or your life. It is true that pain often changes people. You may have lost some of the positive...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Aug 15, 2013 | Featured, Foot, Only Online
As the summer draws to a close, many of you may be lamenting that your favorite shoes of the summer will be packed away until next year. But should you be tossing them out instead? The experts are divided on just how bad flip flops are for your feet, as well as the...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Aug 2, 2013 | Articles, Chronic, Featured, Only Online, Personal Stories, Relationships, Wellness
Most pet owners will tell you how their furry family members provide companionship, unconditional love and joy. For those with chronic pain, pets can also provide comfort and even help with pain management. How Pets Can Ease Pain Research has shown that pets...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jul 16, 2013 | Featured, Only Online, Wellness
You know what they say…..”Laughter is the best medicine”? According to an article with that title on http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm, laughter is that and so much more. The article states that “More than just a respite...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jul 8, 2013 | Articles, Caregiving, Pain Resources, Print, Wellness
It is hard to imagine what it’s like to live with chronic, severe pain. If you’re a caregiver, or simply know someone in pain, there’s also another challenge; appearances may be deceiving. Many people who suffer from chronic pain may appear well on the outside, making...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jul 5, 2013 | Featured, Only Online, Wellness
Are you planning a vacation and worried about how you will feel away from home? With a little planning, you can make your trip smoother and lower your anxiety. Here are some suggestions to consider when traveling this summer: Plan Ahead Evaluate where you are...
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jun 25, 2013 | Featured, Fibromyalgia, Only Online, Uncategorized
Though classified as a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, the condition is now seen as a central nervous system problem. Symptoms include increased sensitivity to pain, achy and stiff joints, fatigue, and specific tender points on the back, chest, arms, and legs....
by Pain Pathways Magazine | Jun 12, 2013 | Articles, Featured, Only Online, Relationships, Wellness
It might be helpful to reflect on how pain can impact relationships, both within families and among friends. Unfortunately pain can lead to stress. Stress can compromise relationships. Strained relationships lead to more stress. When the constant stress of pain...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 22, 2013 | CRPS, Print
At 21 years of age, Cynthia Toussaint thought she had her future all mapped out. She was an aspiring triple-threat performer, with ballet dancing at the center of her passion. Like many young people, Cynthia never anticipated that anything would get in the way of the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Apr 1, 2013 | Featured, Only Online, Wellness
Does food affect pain? When an individual is suffering with chronic pain, establishing a nutritionally sound diet can often fall low on the priorities list. But can the foods, spices and drinks we have daily reduce or prevent pain? Test your knowledge. Are the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Mar 27, 2013 | Articles, Chronic, Print
Part One of a Four-Part Series by Deborah Barrett, PhD , LCSW WHAT IS PAINTRACKING? Nearly 20 years ago, when I first developed pain, I assumed I needed rest to heal – but instead, my pain worsened with inactivity, until I could barely hold a paper or open a door....
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Mar 18, 2013 | Wellness Blog
If you are like many people with chronic pain, you maintain a full- or part-time job, despite your pain. Working with chronic pain can be challenging. Sometimes your performance may be reduced or you may miss full or partial work days. You may operate on...
by Linda S. Ruehlman, PhD | Feb 11, 2013 | Wellness Blog
Your family lives with your pain too. Although they can’t feel what you feel, they suffer from knowing that you suffer. They may feel helpless and lost at times, not knowing how to help or what the future holds. They may struggle with feelings...
by PainPathways Magazine | Feb 7, 2013 | Articles, Communication
What’s the one aspect of pain management you think is NOT talked about enough? We asked you to share your thoughts, and we thank you for your many great responses on our Facebook page. Here’s what some of you had to say: “How difficult it is to get correct care in the...
by PainPathways Magazine | Jan 31, 2013 | Featured, Headache, Only Online, Wellness
Managing Your Pain: There’s an App for That! If it’s a challenge to keep track of your pain in order to share details with your physician, technology can make your life a little easier. There are many pain management apps available. Here are some that may be...
