REMEDY
Welcome to Remedy, a blog by U.S. Pain Foundation. Remedy features information about promising treatments, tips and strategies for self-management, unique perspectives from patients, clinicians, and caregivers–and much more. To submit an article idea, email us.
Please note: U.S. Pain Foundation does not endorse any specific treatment options; blog posts are educational only. Views expressed by authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the organization.
How I manage EDS, part two: Safety tips
By Ellen Lenox Smith In this second part of my series on living with EDS, I wanted to share these safety tips that I have learned to follow that I hope will help others, like myself. (You can read the first part here.) Please note the information in this post should not be considered as...
How I manage EDS, part one: Body, mind, and spirit
By Ellen Lenox Smith Everyone’s journey living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is different, making it difficult for the medical community to learn how to help us. There are 13 different subtypes, with various levels of severity and impact. While some are able to live a decent life with little...
Are you getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
By: Ellen Lenox Smith I think we have almost lost count of how long we have had to keep our distance, wear masks, and try to remain isolated from others. And then after almost 11 months since learning about COVID-19, the news comes that our amazing scientists have created not one but a few...
How to talk about pain so your doctor will listen
By Diane Cleverly, PhD, Founder of Concierge Conversations Did you know that by 2020, there will be a shortage of about 46,000 primary care doctors in the U.S.? Not only that, but Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements per patient have dropped. That means physicians are increasingly pressured to see...
Independence redefined
By Elisa Friedlander, LMFT Recently, during a dinner outing with my wife and another couple, I mentioned my plan to try driving again (it's been several years since disabling neck pain and other medical problems made driving a thing of the past). One friend responded, "Great! You can finally be...
Metaphoring into pain
By Sonya Huber Writing about pain--describing it--has been said to be an impossible challenge, but participants in the U.S. Pain Foundation’s webinar on writing pain through metaphor have proved that assumption wrong. During the webinar, I shared steps that I used in the writing of the essay...
Gift guide for people with pain
By Janet Jay The holiday season is here and with it, the need for gift ideas! If you’ve got someone with chronic pain in your life-- or if you have chronic pain yourself-- here are some ideas to make life a little easier. The products were selected by U.S. Pain Foundation staff, the majority of...
Tips for surviving the holidays with chronic pain
By Amy Orr ‘Tis the season - for stress, excess, and expectations. No matter what holiday you celebrate, this time of year can be a lot. There are elaborate dinners to prepare, parties to host and attend, presents to find, decorations to hang, families to visit, traditions to respect, and very...
Five Surprising Ways You Might Be Worsening Your Sciatica
Brent Wells, DC, explores the symptoms, causes, most common ways you may be triggering your sciatica, and what you can do to finally find consistent relief.
Stayin’ alive
By Mia Maysack There's no limit to the unconditional amount of reasons a person could be in pain: genetics, an accident, injury, or surgery gone array. Swimming/diving were my passions. It has been said, fear wasn’t an emotion I demonstrated often – at the age of 3, I would attempt jumping into...
How to make flying less of an ordeal for your back
By Daniel Singleton Living with chronic back pain is tough and it can really drain you physically, mentally and emotionally. So, if anyone needs a good holiday it’s us, right? However, while thoughts of jetting off to a sandy beach paradise can get you through the darkest of pain days, when...
How genetics might impact the way you respond to medication
By Scott T. Roethle, MD, FASA. Board certified, American Board of Anesthesiology. Did you know that your genes can affect how you respond to certain medications and whether you experience adverse side effects? For example, about 10 percent of people will receive little or no pain relief from...