Blog - Medical Info - TriState Pain

SELF-MANAGEMENT

In conjunction with traditional pain management, there are, a number of self-management strategies that can help reduce pain levels and improve your quality of life. Don’t underestimate your ability to have an impact on your health and pain levels!

Here are some areas where lifestyle changes can help improve pain:

1. Activity modification 2. Exercise 3. Diet and nutrition 4. Sleep hygiene 5. Stress reduction

ACTIVITY MODIFICATION

Restricting or modifying your activities may seem obvious, but it can be difficult to adjust when you’re used to being able to do certain things a certain way. It can take many years of trial and error to identify your body’s limitations and specific triggers for pain, and then to... Read more

FOUR WAYS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TELEMEDICINE APPOINTMENT

April 13, 2020 By: Janet Jay With the explosion of COVID-19 and widespread social isolating, many people are using telemedicine appointments for the first time. “Telemedicine” may sound intimidating, but really, it simply means conducting your appointment over the phone or an online videoconferencing service. Whether you’re directly looking for a telemedicine appointment or have been offered one as a substitute for an in-person consultation, you should contact your insurance company to make sure they cover it and if there are any out-of-pocket costs.

1. PREPARE IN ADVANCE

Telemedicine appointments sometimes seem to go faster than they would in person—without travel, time in the waiting room, and interactions with nurses... Read more

COVID-19 Magnifies Stress on Caregivers Posted July 31, 2020

By Stu Smith

Over the past few months, the American public has been provided a great deal of scientific and medical information relative to COVID-19. We have learned from the nation’s best scientific minds that for the overwhelming majority of the general population, this disease presents a minimal threat to health and well being. The vast majority of healthy individuals, when infected with COVID-19 appear to experience physical symptoms, not unlike mild flu or a common cold. On the other hand, this virus can produce painful and debilitating symptoms when contracted by the elderly or those with underlying conditions. In fact, this virus has proven lethal for many in these vulnerable categories. Clearly, those suffering from... Read more

AN ESTIMATED 50 MILLION AMERICANS LIVE WITH CHRONIC PAIN

Pain is the body’s warning signal that something is not right. When painful symptoms first arise, patients and their health care providers work together to see if they can identify and address the underlying cause. For many conditions and injuries, however, there is no precise medical or surgical cure. As time passes, in addition to other diagnoses or even without an identifiable cause, patients may be diagnosed with chronic pain. Treatment goals will then shift from resolving the pain to reducing and managing it.

Typically, pain is considered chronic when it persists for six months or more. But for some patients, chronic pain can last for years or even a lifetime. There are many possible causes for long-term pain,... Read more

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Running Essential Errands

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Running Essential Errands

What you need to know

Stay home if sick. Use online services when available Wear cloth face coverings in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Use social distancing (stay at least 6 feet away from others). Use hand sanitizer after leaving stores. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.

Grocery Shopping

Stay home if sick

Avoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

Order online or use curbside pickup

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Stop the Spread of Rumors

Know the facts about coronavirus disease 2019

1) Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity. Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 can cause people to avoid or reject others even though they are not at risk for spreading the virus.

2) For most people, the immediate risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low.

3) Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.

4) There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20... Read more