Does Stress Cause Chronic Neck Pain? How Relaxation Strategies Can Help You Keep Pain At Bay
By Dr. Asim Aijaz Stress can certainly cause or even exacerbate chronic neck pain. When you experience stress, whether a chronic stress disorder, or bouts of anxiety, or depression, your body will trigger the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for your “fight or flight” response. This response, when triggered, will produce and release an increase in cortisol and adrenaline hormones. Elevations in cortisol, particularly, can lead to a loss in muscle mass and an increase in fat accumulation. In moments of threat, your body’s stress response is a helpful reaction because it can help you either fight
What Triggers Migraines and How Can You Manage Them?
By Pamela Howard, MD If you’ve been experiencing migraines more than usual lately, you’re not alone. Seasonal changes (yes, even here in mild and pleasant Texas) are one of the many triggers of this impairing head pain. What makes migraines different from regular headaches is the associated symptoms that go along with them. If other ailments like nausea, sensitivity to lights or noise, or dizziness accompany your throbbing head, there’s a good chance you’re suffering from a migraine. The good news is that there are lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the chances of encountering this unpleasant affair. What Does a
How We at APC Address Mental Health and Chronic Pain Together
By Robin Hendershot, LPC You might not think that a pain care clinic pays much attention to mental health, but one of the things that I love most about working here is being part of a team that knows the importance of addressing both chronic pain and mental health together. I’d estimate that 50%-70% of the clients here at Advanced Pain Care have some sort of combination of chronic pain and depression or anxiety symptoms. That’s a huge number. Let’s answer some questions about how we at Advanced Pain Care address mental health and chronic pain together. Can chronic pain come from depression or
Have Chronic Back Pain? It Might Be Sciatica
By Paul H Le, M.D. About 35% of the population over 40 will have back pain, many of which is chronic pain. There are all different types of back pain, but one of the more common ones is Sciatica. By learning more about signs and symptoms, it’ll be easier for you to get help early on so you can treat your pain easier. Read on to learn more about a common back pain that radiates all the way down to your legs and what you can do if you think you’re suffering from it. What is Sciatica? Essentially, Sciatica is radiating pain, typically down the
Self-Care Tips for Managing Chronic Pain at Home
Discover how you can begin managing chronic pain with easy at-home self-care tips from Advanced Pain Care’s Dr. Adam Spjute.
3 Ways to Treat Chronic Back Pain Without Surgery
By Dr. Raphael Ye After years of treating chronic back pain patients with motor deficits, we've found that back surgery is frequently never 100% successful. The thing is, surgery is the most invasive, intense, and risky of all treatments. There is never a guarantee that the surgery will work, and there's always the risk that your pain will persist and worsen, or the operation will introduce new pain sensations. Some patients suffer from a condition defined by chronic back pain after surgery, called 'Failed Back Surgery Syndrome' (FBSS). Before taking the risk with surgery, it's always best practice to put as much space between you
Could the Secret to Pain Management Lie in Shaking Things Up?
Could whole-body vibration shake up your outdated view of pain management? This article has all of the earth-moving details.
The Side Effects of Long-Term Pain
When your aches and pains last for more than 12 weeks, they meet the definition of long-term pain and it may be anindicator of more serious problems.
Pain and Sleep Quality: How Each One Affects the Other
It's easy to understand how pain keeps you from getting a decent night's rest, but did you know that not sleeping can make your pain even worse?
The Many Faces of Nerve Pain
Our experts talk about pain care for those that suffer from paresthesia, also known as the "pins and needles" nerve pain.