Monday, July 21, 2014

Topic: Eliminating Stress Brings Pain Relief

Eliminating Stress Brings Pain Relief

Getting a handle on everyday stress can help you better manage the pain you're experiencing.
It's easy to get stressed out when the pressures of work, family, and everyday life are weighing on you. These stresses can have not only an emotional impact, they can cause physical pain as well.
 
Stress and pain are often closely linked. Each one can have an impact on the other, creating a vicious cycle that sets the stage for chronic pain and chronic stress. So, part of getting pain relief is learning how to better manage stress.
 
"Lots of studies support the conclusion that what happens in the brain — depression, anxiety, being stressed out — can increase pain. At the same time, if you have more pain, you may be more stressed," says Jennifer Schneider, MD, PhD, a chronic-pain specialist and author of the book Living With Chronic Pain. "Each makes the other worse, so if you decrease pain, you'll likely also decrease stress and anxiety."
Pain Relief: Understanding the Stress-Pain Connection
It's not completely clear yet to researchers how stress and pain are related. However, stressed-out people often experience neck, shoulder, and back pain. This could be due to the link between stress and tension in the muscles. It could also be related to brain chemicals.
 
To read more please click on this link:
http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12961452-eliminating-stress-brings-pain-relief

Topic: 7 big mistakes that make pain worse

7 big mistakes that make pain worse

An estimated 43 million Americans report living with chronic pain, defined as lasting for at least 3 months. Yet experts agree that it’s woefully undertreated in our country. Despite breakthroughs in the understanding of pain, few doctors are aware of these advances or are trained in pain management.



One major shift in thinking is that chronic pain is now believed to be a disease, not a symptom, and that treating pain is about not simply targeting the source but treating the whole person. Like heart disease or other chronic conditions, there’s no magic bullet, so you need to draw on a number of approaches, from exercise and medication to relaxation techniques and talk therapy.



Eliminating your pain entirely may not be realistic; what is attainable is to lower it enough to improve your life and do the things you love. If you’re making any of the mistakes that follow, we’ve got the right formula for lasting relief.



Mistake: You’re trying to tough it out



To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12961422-7-big-mistakes-that-make-pain-worse

Topic: 5-Hour Energy drink makers sued for false claims

5-Hour Energy drink makers sued for false claims

If you guzzle 5-Hour Energy shots, you should know three states are suing for "deceptive and misleading" advertising.



Oregon, Washington and Vermont have sued the makers of 5-Hour Energy, Living Essentials of Farmington Hills, Michigan, over claims, such as "hours of energy, no crash later" promoted in commercials. Other states are expected to file suits in the coming weeks.

"Plainly and simply, in Oregon you cannot promote a product as being effective if you don’t have sufficient evidence to back up your advertising claims,” Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement.


To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12961397-5-hour-energy-drink-makers-sued-for-false-claims

Topic: Can Virtual Reality Therapy Help Alleviate Chronic Pain?

Can Virtual Reality Therapy Help Alleviate Chronic Pain?

New Rochelle, NY — Chronic pain due to disease or injury is common, and even prescription pain medications cannot provide acceptable pain relief for many individuals.

Virtual reality as a means of distraction, inducing positive emotions, or creating the perception of “swapping” a limb or bodily area affected by chronic pain in a virtual environment can be a powerful therapeutic tool, as described in several articles in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The articles are available free on the Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking website.



Editor-in-Chief Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN and coauthors Kenneth Gao, Camelia Sulea, MD, and Mark Wiederhold, MD, PhD, FACP from the Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium and Virtual Reality Medical Center, San Diego, CA, created pleasant virtual experiences that patients could navigate through in simulated worlds to distract them from pain. They report both the patients’ subjective ratings of relief and how those compared to physiological measurements to assess pain responses in the article “Virtual Reality as a Distraction Technique in Chronic Pain Patients.”


To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12961376-can-virtual-reality-therapy-help-alleviate-chronic-pain-

Topic: HEALTH LINE: Understanding and Managing Chronic Pain

HEALTH LINE: Understanding and Managing Chronic Pain

CINCINNATI—Acupuncture, exercise and massage and physical therapy are among the ways to deal with chronic pain that don't require narcotic painkillers, says Nancy Elder, MD, professor of family and community medicine at the University of Cincinnati.

"A lot of patients think, ‘Oh, I hurt a lot, I hurt a lot all the time, the doctor should give me OxyContin and Vicodin,’" says Elder. "I think the most important thing that doctors and patients need to know is there is much we can do to help patients with chronic pain outside of narcotics.



"That doesn’t mean narcotics aren't appropriate for some people in certain situations, but there are a whole lot of people that can get better without them," she adds.



Elder says more doctors must have initial conversations with patients to manage expectations in dealing with chronic pain.


To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12961362-health-line-understanding-and-managing-chronic-pain

Topic: Opioid painkiller prescribing varies widely among states

Opioid painkiller prescribing varies widely among states
Where you live makes a difference

Where you live makes a difference
Health care providers in some states prescribed far more painkillers than those in other states.

Health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid painkillers in 2012 – many more in some states than in others – according to a Vital Signs report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that highlights the danger of overdose. The report also has an example of a state that reversed its overdose trend.

Health care providers in the highest prescribing state, Alabama, wrote almost three times as many of these prescriptions per person as those in the lowest prescribing state, Hawaii. Most of the highest prescribing states were in the South. Previous research has shown that regional variation in use of prescriptions cannot be explained by the underlying health status of the population.

The Vital Signs report also contains a study highlighting the success of Florida in reversing prescription drug overdose trends. Results showed that after statewide legislative and enforcement actions in 2010 and 2011, the death rate from prescription drug overdose decreased 23 percent between 2010 and 2012. Florida officials had taken these actions in response to a 28 percent increase in the drug overdose death rate over the preceding years (2006-2010).



To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12961249-opioid-painkiller-prescribing-varies-widely-among-states

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Topic: Director Of Google Sites (Volunteer Position):











Director Of Google Sites (Volunteer Position):

This position will require you to moderate any of our Google+ sites.

You must be familiar with Google+ Groups, Google Pages and how to get around Google+.

You must be able to work with, and take direction from the President, CEO, and Vice President.

*Remove/delete any comments that are not appropriate.

*Answer any questions that members have. (If you are unsure or unable to answer member questions, you will need to forward the question to Dr. Patty-President, Dennis Verdugo-CEO, or Karla Rabel-Vice President).

*Remove and ban a members that are not following the rules, and add them to the “Banned List” on the Staff Site. A member will get one (1) warning, and you will write the warning letter to the member.

*Remove any advertising posts that are made by members on the Google+ Cipay Group and Fan Pages. (Advertising for anything is NOT allowed by members). Only staff is allowed to advertise on the site.

*Post articles on the Google+ Feed, Google Pages and our Google Group only after they are posted on the Main Site. (Depending upon the content of the article, will depend upon which site you post it in on our websites).

*Check in with the President, CEO, or Vice President at least once a week, (or more often if the Director feels necessary), with updates, by email or phone calls.

*Be able to communicate well with Dr. Patty, the CEO, and Karla Rabel, and give recommendations that you think will help the site.

*Teaching will be given by Dr. Patty-President or Karla Rabel-Vice President.

The work time for this position will be approximately 2-3 hours per week.

We understand that you have chronic and/or Intractable pain and may not be able to work these hours straight through, so you can break your weekly time up as you need to. We understand that your health comes first, so please take frequent breaks and don’t push yourself to the point of extreme fatigue and make yourself sick. If you need help, please don’t be afraid to ask.

All of our positions have the ability for the volunteer to move up to a higher position in our website.

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12882586-director-of-google-sites-volunteer-position-


Topic: Administrative Assistant (Multiple Openings) For Dr. Patty Verdugo, PsyD (President & Founder of CIPAY)





















Administrative Assistant (Multiple Openings) For Dr. Patty Verdugo, PsyD
(President & Founder of CIPAY)


 You must be familiar with our main website.

“Friend” Dr. Patty and all staff.

Customize your profile and put up a picture, it can be a tag or a pet or an avatar.

Check your private email daily as notifications and private messages are sometimes routed through general email.

(A CIPAY mailbox will be provided for you for CIPAY business only). (yourname@chronicintractablepainandyou.net)

Check your inbox.

Must be a member of CIPAY and join all our sub-websites.

You will report to Dr. Patty.

Know how to write documents, letters, etc.

Know computer operations and have a Word or other writing program.

Know more than the basics of writing.

Research and help with whatever projects Dr. Patty needs assistance on.

Familiarize yourself with the New Chronic-Intractable Pain and You Sites.

Must be extremely organized!

Be able to talk with Dr. Patty on the phone at least once a week.

Be a self-starter and also to be able to ask questions and follow directions.

Be able to give Dr. Patty recommendations on things that you think will help our website.

Know how to copy and paste.

Know how to proofread documents, letters and other things.

Training will be given by Dr. Patty PsyD.

The work time for this position will be approximately 4-6 hours per week.

We understand that you have chronic and/or intractable pain and may not be able to work these hours straight through, so you can break your weekly time up as you need to. We understand that your health comes first, so please take frequent breaks and don’t push yourself to the point of extreme fatigue and make yourself sick. If you need help, please don’t be afraid to ask.

All of our positions have the ability for the volunteer to move up to a higher position in our website.



To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12882593-administrative-assistant-multiple-openings-for-dr-patty-verdugo-psyd-president-founder-of-cipay-

Topic: Facebook Manager Volunteer Position





















Facebook Manager Volunteer Position


This position will require you to moderate any of our Facebook sites.

You must be familiar with Facebook Groups, Fan Pages and how to get around Facebook.

You must be able to communicate well and take direction from our Facebook Director, Diane Adcox.

*Approve all potential members.

*Approve all pending posts by members.

*Remove/delete any comments that are not appropriate.

*Answer any questions that members have. (If you are unsure or unable to answer member questions, you will need to forward the question to your director).

*Remove and ban a members that are not following the rules, and add them to the “Banned List” on the Staff Site. (Before banning, please make a copy of the members name, what they were doing wrong and/or the inappropriate comment they made, and pass it on to your Director). Members will get one (1) warning (depending upon what they did), and the warning letter will be written by your director.

*Remove any advertising posts that are made by members on the Facebook Cipay group. (Advertising for anything is NOT allowed by members). See Member Rules and Regulations in the “Files” Tab.

*Check in with your Director, the President, CEO, or Vice President at least once a week, (or more often if necessary), by email or FB Personal Messages.

*Be able to communicate well with your Director, Diane Adcox, and not be afraid to ask questions.

*Teaching will be given by your Director-Diane, President-Dr. Patty, or Vice President-Karla.

The work time for this position will be approximately 1-2 hours per week.

We understand that you have chronic and/or intractable pain and may not be able to work these hours straight through, so you can break your weekly time up as you need to. We understand that your health comes first, so please take frequent breaks and don’t push yourself to the point of extreme fatigue and make yourself sick. If you need help, please don’t be afraid to ask.

All of our positions have the ability for the volunteer to move up to a higher position in our website.



http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12882595-facebook-manager-volunteer-position

Topic: Writer/Editor To Rewrite Dr. Patty's Pain Journey (Volunteer Position)





















Writer/Editor To Rewrite Dr. Patty's Pain Journey (Volunteer Position)



I am looking for someone to help rewrite and update my pain journey.

You would work closely with Dr. Patty in updating it and making it more readable.

To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12884409-writer-editor-to-rewrite-dr-patty-s-pain-journey-volunteer-position-

Topic: Fundraising Director (Volunteer Position)






















Fundraising Director (Volunteer Position)
This position can be shared between 2 or more volunteers
Basic Job Description:
Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.
Lead the planning and management of fundraising events
Work with the fundraising team to prospect and solicit major donors
Identify and approach potential business partners
Help increase communications with supporters
Assist with general fundraising activities as needed
Qualifications
Fundraising and/or event planning experience
Ability to build strong relationships with new people and organizations
Experience working in an online environment
Detail-oriented with excellent time management skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Works well independently and as part of a team
Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of programs, including Word, Excel and Outlook
Database and website maintenance experience an asset
This position requires a minimum for an average of 8-10 hours per week.
Benefits and recognition
This position provides valuable experience for fundraising management and event planning
students; individuals with an interest in gaining experience in the non-profit field; and anyone with a passion for helping the chronic and intractable pain sufferers and their family and friends.
http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12884209-fundraising-director-volunteer-position-

Dr. Patty's Pain Journey Of 31 Years (Part 1) Updated July 19, 2014


Dr. Patty's Pain Journey Of 31 Years (Part 1)
Updated July 19, 2014

Hello. My name is Dr. Patty Hagler-Verdugo, PsyD.
I am 51 years old. I am married to a wonderful man that I have known since 1995. We have been married for almost 10 years (2000). I was born in Freeport, NY and I lived on Long Island, NY for the first 11 years of my life (no, I don't have my accent still). I graduated high school in 1980 (Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, CA).
Upon graduation, I went to college at UCSD. I went there for 1 year. Due to financial difficulties, and the divorce of my parents, I did not return to UCSD for a second year. I worked full-time and went to Jr. College (LA Pierce College, Woodland Hills, CA). I saved money, applied for financial aid and then started a large university in LA in 1983. I worked really hard to help my mom pay for school. I had worked part-time since the beginning of my college education, then full-time before going to another school. Once at school I got 3 jobs. I worked in a law office as a clerk, worked at a preschool as an aftercare coordinator and worked in my dorm food service.
On May 15, 1983 at 12:00pm (A date and time that are forever ingrained in my head), While I was working in food service, I was helping another student worker. We were working on dishes in the kitchen. He was taking care of the conveyor belt and I was just taking dishes off one by one. This young man was getting behind on the conveyor belt and dishes; forks, etc. were almost at the end of the conveyor belt with more behind them. I gave him some help of moving a tray of silverware to another location. Unfortunately, at the! At time employers did not educate their staff on proper body mechanics, as they do now. While picking up the tray of silverware and carrying to another location, I felt a pull in my back. Apparently, what I did was not take the tray of dishes off of the conveyor belt correctly. I did not use my knees. Also, while walking the silverware to their location, I carried them in front of me (placing more weight on my spine). I held them too far in front of me. I didn’t think much of it so continued with my shift.
After the brunch rush I went to my dorm room to lie down. My roommate and I had bunk beds and I was on the top. When I awoke I had severe pain in my back and could barely move. I was told by my roommate (who also worked in food service) to go to the hospital. I felt uncomfortable about making a fuss. I thought that it was nothing. After a long discussion, I did what she said (she went to tell the supervisor). I thank the Lord she did.

To read more please click on this link:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12898974-dr-patty-s-pain-journey-of-31-years-updated-june-5-2014-part-1-T

Friday, July 18, 2014

Topic: Telecare Intervention Improves Chronic Pain for VA Patients



Telecare Intervention Improves Chronic Pain for VA Patients



A telecare intervention using basic telephone technology and collaborative care management resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with usual care, according to an article published online July 15 in JAMA.



Kurt Kroenke, MD, from the Veterans Administration (VA) Center for Health Information and Communication, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, and colleagues conducted a randomized trial involving 250 patients from 5 primary care clinics within the center between June 2010 and May 2012.



Of the 250 patients, research assistants randomly assigned 124 to an intervention group and 126 to a usual-care group. All patients had chronic musculoskeletal pain for at least 3 months of at least moderate intensity, meaning a Brief Pain Inventory score of 5 or more on a 10-point scale. Movement of 1 point on the scale is considered clinically meaningful.



To Read More, Please go to:

http://www.chronicintractablepainandyou.net/apps/forums/topics/show/12958084-telecare-intervention-improves-chronic-pain-for-va-patients