Pain. Conditions

Back pain is very common. It can be acute, chronic, episodic. A lot of patients do have episodic pain. So each episode has different nature, it depends on what type of back condition it is. Let’s say if it is chronic or episodic back pain, typically the pain can last a few weeks and then […] Read More

The medical world is still researching the exact cause of phantom limb pain. This pain occurs when you have a body part removed, but you still feel discomfort in that area. Mastectomies and limb removal procedures often precede phantom limb pain. Speak to your doctor about this pain if it does occur. Currently, medical professionals […] Read More

When you sleep, your body focuses on healing itself. Although sleep doesn’t heal your illness, rest does ward off some of your daily pain. However, you might deal with insomnia caused by diagnosis stress. As a result, you feel more pain as insomnia continues. Ideally, add any restless nights to your pain diary, so that […] Read More

Pain isn’t directly caused by mental anguish, but it can be exasperated by it. It’s understandable if you’re worried or anxious about your prognosis. Dealing with mortality on a personal level is a serious subject. You might feel mad, scared, alone, and hopeless all at one time. All of these conflicting emotions can make your […] Read More

Cancer is a widespread disease that can affect nearly any part of the body. You might know people who seem perfectly healthy, but they’re currently fighting a cancer diagnosis. These individuals may be in mild, moderate, or severe pain because cancer affects everyone differently. A tumor might grow large and press against organs, for example. […] Read More

You might notice at times that you are in more pain than usual (such as at the end of a tiring day or as a result of certain activities). If you notice that certain activities contribute to your pain or that you feel worse at certain times of the day, medication can be taken prior […] Read More

Tell your doctor which activities you’ve had to adjust, and which ones you now avoid entirely because of your pain.  Just as important as the level of pain you feel is the impact it has on your life.  Examples of life changes:  • Skipping a morning jog because of the pain; • Missing work; • […] Read More

Explain the intensity of your pain to your doctor. That’s where the pain scale comes in. Your doctor will ask you to “rate” your pain on a scale of 0 to 10 – where 0 is pain-free and 10 is unimaginable pain. The doctor can use the score to help determine the amount and type […] Read More

Describe exactly where it hurts. Also, tell your doctor if the pain is changing or not. Here are some examples:  • Deep in your shoulder joint or in the muscles near the surface. • Under the kneecap or in the back of the knee. • The outside of your hip or in your groin.  • […] Read More

Be as specific as possible about how your pain feels to help your doctor figure out what’s wrong.  Here are a few words you can use to describe the way your pain feels, and how your doctor might interpret them: • Aching, dull: muscle strains, arthritis pain; • Shooting, electric, tingling, burning, pins-and-needles: nerve pain; […] Read More