Going back to work Going back to work after a painful injury or illness can be exciting and scary. Dealing with pain can be a process, and going back to work is often a process as well. While you may be able to do your job again, you can’t expect to jump right in as… Read more »
Tag: pain treatment
When acute pain becomes chronic
Acute pain vs. chronic pain Acute pain is usually short-lived (less than a month), and has a specific cause, such as having had oral surgery or spraining an ankle. Acute pain commonly goes away when the original cause of the pain is no longer present or when the healing takes place. Chronic pain, however, may… Read more »
Understanding short-term disability
What is short-term disability? Employees may quickly use up their paid sick days if they suffer from pain related to an illness or injury. Short-term disability plans are intended to replace a percentage of your work income when you have used up your paid sick time. Some employers and government agencies fund these plans for… Read more »
My journey with pain, children, gardening, and spirituality
Contributed by: Sue Reviewed by: Kevin L. Zacharoff, MD, February 2013 When you’re hurting physically or emotionally, it can be hard to find meaning and purpose in everyday life. You might ask yourself, “Why me? Why now? There’s so much I want to do, but the pain is all I can think about.” Meet Sue. She’s… Read more »
Tips for getting around in the winter
Contributed by: Michael Reviewed by: Jonas I. Bromberg, Psy.D. Living with chronic pain is a daily challenge. Your doctors and other healthcare providers can help you with medicines, physical therapy, and other treatments. But for coping with everyday life, the best advice often comes from other people like yourself—people with chronic pain. Snow can be… Read more »
Spirituality, religion, and chronic pain: Making a difference in non-traditional ways
A life that’s totally free of chronic pain is a great goal. But for some people, that goal is just out of reach. So if medication and other doctor-recommended treatments haven’t removed all of your pain, what’s left to bring comfort? For many people, “what’s left” has been part of their lives all along –… Read more »
Bolstering your resiliency
What is resiliency? Think of being resilient as the ability to bounce back in the face of difficulties. For people with chronic pain, it means not letting symptoms interfere with living a full life. Resiliency also may make you feel better; experts have found that people with positive outlooks often experience less pain and stress…. Read more »
Alternative treatments for pain: Telling fact from fraud
You’ve seen the ads on TV, online, in magazines, or even at the drugstore. They promise to end your back pain, stop your headaches, or fix your sore joints. The treatments they’re selling may be “traditional” and “natural,” or “the latest scientific breakthrough”– and all available without a doctor’s prescription. You may be tempted to… Read more »
Don’t let flare-ups be a pain!
Contributed by: Sandy Reviewed by: Wendy Williams, BSN, M.Ed., August 2012 Sandy says: “I am an author, a wife, mother of three, grandmother of four, at the beck and call to one dog and two cats, friend, author, wellness & lifestyle coach, facilitator for a wellness support group, collector of frogs, maker of chocolate candy,… Read more »
Day to day living with difficult pain
Contributed by: Julianne Reviewed by: Evelyn Corsini, MSW, July 2012 Julianne is a 51 year old woman who lives in Florida. Before an accidental fall she worked as a nurse. I live in Florida and was injured 13 years ago at work. I am an RN and fell down a flight of cement stairs and… Read more »