WELCOME to the July 1-15, 2008 edition of Pain-Health-News, your very best resource for tips, techniques and information on dealing with PAIN. Whether you suffer from chronic, temporary or transient pain, you'll find helpful information right here. I collect links to news and resources all over the internet, sort out what I think may be most useful and post it in monthly listings. And I'll occasionally write an article or send a special email about things I think are important.
	Hi, I'm Bonnie Boots, publisher of Pain-Health-News. If you've read my free report, 10 Surprising Ways To Reduce Pain, you know I'm a big believer in using alternative health care methods in combination with traditional medicine. That's what helped me get out of chronic pain and back to work. But exactly what is "alternative"? In the United States, traditional medical care consists almost entirely of surgery and prescription drugs. Most AMA (American Medical Association) doctors would consider anything beyond that to be "alternative" and possible even "quack" medicine. On the other side of the planet, in China, where acupuncture has been the traditional form of health care for thousands of years, the AMA approach to medicine might well be considered "alternative."  And if you live far from the reach of city-type civilization, it's possible that "traditional" medicine in your area involves a shaman or native healer and acupuncture or penicillin would be considered "alternative.". It's all a matter of perspective, then. And as I learned on my own journey to pain relief, whatever works, works, no matter what label you apply. The number one reason so many of us reach out to try the "alternative" is because whatever is traditional in our area isn't working for us. In the United States, traditional medicine isn't working for millions of people because of the cost. More than 46 millions Americans do not have health insurance and can't afford to see a doctor. Deprived of traditional medical care, millions of these people reach out for alternatives. And traditional medicine isn't working for people that have been misdiagnosed or mistreated. That was my own story. I had health insurance--for a time--and access to doctors. But the first doctors to treat me were not competent. They had MD behind their names, but they did not have "healer" in their hearts. When I began investigating alternative methods of pain relief, these doctors were the first to warn me away. Tapping his finger accusingly on the cover of a book I was reading, one doctor said, "You won't find help in here. There's nothing to back it up but anecdotal evidence." The book I was reading was about nutrition. And as I eventually found out, that doctor had not been given even the tiniest bit of training in nutrition when he was in medical school. To his way of thinking, anything that wasn't taught at his alma matter was pure quackery, and he naturally tried to impress his bias on his patients. The charge that alternative treatments have nothing but "anecdotal evidence" to back them up is one worthy of consideration. Anecdotal evidence consists of stories, or anecdotes, told by healers and patients about the results they obtained from a treatment, traditional or non-traditional. Because this evidence is not backed up by testing, it is not considered scientific, but merely anecdotal. All science is based on testing. Test results that can be duplicated, time after time, by anyone, anywhere, working with the same protocols, are considered scientifically valid. Science has lead us to vaccines that have wiped out smallpox, polio and other diseases that were once the scourge of mankind. I have deep respect for the researchers and the testing that created these medical miracles. But scientific research costs a great deal of money. Generally, such research is only done on drugs that stand a chance of paying back their research costs millions of times over. That "money barrier" is why so many alternative treatments have only anecdotal evidence to show. And sometime it's anecdotal evidence that leads to  scientific testing in the first place. For instance, native healers in the United States told doctors that the plant Foxglove could heal bad hearts. When researchers investigated these claims, they were able to synthesize the drug digitalis and prove, through scientific testing, that it was beneficial to heart patients--just as the native healers had told them. All of us are called upon to make decisions about our health care. We often make these decisions without adequate medical knowledge, even when a doctor is guiding us. I believe it makes good sense to look at both the scientific and the anecdotal evidence given for any treatment. Luckily, the internet makes it easy to investigate claims of any sort. Your best weapon in your quest for pain relief and good health is your favorite search engine. Using it to search for evidence, scientific and anecdotal, can go a long way toward protecting you from fraudulent cures and quackery, from incompetent doctors and profiteers of all sorts. Be sure, before making any decision, to search far and wide. Don't get all your information from sales pages. When you read a claim, research it. Look for websites that publish medical research. Ask questions in forums. And always ask your doctor or pharmacist to tell you if anything you are considering taking--whether herbs, foods or nutritional supplements--will interact with your prescription medications. Anecdotal Evidence From Readers of Pain-Health-News: Health care is an entirely personal matter. No one but you can know what actually works for your unique situation. Sometimes what works can seem so odd or outlandish that we hesitate to even mention it for fear of being laughed at or called delusional. Yet I know from my own experience that true healing happens within a far wider sphere than just surgery and drugs. I'm grateful to the readers that shared the following stories: "Bonnie, I just wanted to let you know some more of that antidotal evidence. I have fibromyalgia. Aspartame made the neurological symptoms worse. Eliminating it helped but I still need one crutch to walk and couldn't really walk more than 100 feet without experiencing excruciating pain. Steps were a nightmare. I had also been taking Actos for insulin resistance. Last summer after being laid off and my health insurance expiring, I could no longer afford the $300/month so I stopped taking Actos and tried Cinnamon to control my blood sugar. I found out that cinnamon works at a cost of about $3/month. ($25 if you buy the Cinnulin in the health food stores). The part I wanted to tell you about is that within a month of stopping the Actos, I didn't need the crutch anymore. I can even cut my 1/2 acre lawn (I calculated that I have to walk 1.8 miles when I cut the grass. I have a bad knee from an old injury. However, If I have two rails to hold, I can walk up and down steps like a normal human being. Peace, D. Warren" (I was unfamiliar with Cinnulin, so used Google to search for information. I found that Cinnulin PF is a concentrated  extract of cinnamon packed into a gel capsule. It is said to be helpful for Type II diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance and high blood sugar. Bonnie Boots)   Hi Bonnie, thanks for your great information and interesting newsletter. Let me tell you my story with pain and the relief that I have achieved. In 1996 I tripped on a broken footpath and broke both feet and dislocated both ankles. I have suffered chronic pain since then. I was averaging 7-8 on pain scale out of 10. In 2005 some friends gave me a series called Emotional Freedom Techniques or EFT. (www.emofree.com ) I watched and tapped along as instructed and felt a "gurgling sensation in my feet and the pain dropped to 2-3 on a scale of 10. This amazed me so I purchased the remaining sets of CDs and was watching and tapping along with a series called borrowing benefits and once again I felt the gurgling sensations in my feet and the pain dropped to 1-2 on a scale of 10. This has remained that way ever since. When I am on my feet for long periods of time my pain escalates but it goes down when I get off them. If it is a really bad day then I Tap and down it goes. Finally I have been able to go back to part time work as a trainer of people with a disability in IT. There is so much information regarding pain and relieving it on the EFT website. I recommend that you could send people there and they will learn how to relieve the pain. It is being used for all sorts of things and going through the process of tapping and using an affirmation really works by taking away the emotions associated with pain. Thanks for listening S. Grigor (EFT is one of the therapies I discuss in my report 10 Surprising Ways To Reduce Pain. I learned the technique to help myself, then went on to be certified in EFT so I could help others. I highly recommend the Emofree web site, where you will find a free training manual and many helpful articles. Bonnie Boots.)

Links to current news on the internet ...the following links were current for July 1, 2008. Please remember that these links are provided for information purposes only. Use this news to find and begin researching helpful therapies and to open a conversation with your doctor about what may be available and appropriate for you.

And sometimes when you can't find the words to tell a doctor how you really feel, the right article can say it for you.

We all know chronic pain can lead to financial strain, but here's news that people feeling financial strain are actually more prone to chronic pain.

Financial strain linked to physical pain
FinalCall.com - Chicago,IL,USA
If so, you are more at risk to suffer chronic pain, according to a recent study. About 1 in 4 Americans suffer from pain daily, and the majority of ...

Study suggests new medication may compare to Oxycodone IR with fewer side effects

BDSI's pain patch does well in human trial
Bizjournals.com - Charlotte,NC,USA
The patch, which is affixed to the lining of the cheek, met the study's primary goal of providing significantly more pain relief than placebo at all time ...
 

Exercise is good for what ails you...and stretch and one and two and stretch!

Exercise can ease fibromyalgia pain
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
TRAINING: Yoga and other mild physical activities have been shown to boost the quality of life of those with chronic pain. Studies show that chronic pain ...

Exercise is Effective for Fibromyalgia Pain Relief
By DR
Like most chronic pain conditions, the worst thing may not even be the pain itself. It is the effect that the pain has on the rest of your life. In my client’s case, she spent the first year of her daughter’s life in bed. Every day. ...
Physical fitness made simple - http://fitnessmadesimple.wordpress.com

Finding relief of a bulging disc by exercise
By Tim Beartoes
Let us review the anatomy of the back to understand how herniated discs affect our back and promote chronic pain. The back or vertebrae is a curved bone S shaped structure. The vertebrae are lined on top of each other and starting with ...
memory-101.com - http://memory-101.com/better-memory

Former teacher works out the kinks
Tacoma Weekly - Tacoma,WA,USA
Now, he feels like he is making a difference in another way – by removing people’s chronic pain. “Keeping people healthy without drugs is so rewarding,” he ...

Are fear and anxiety over exercise keeping you from moving? This doctor thinks so....

Fear/anxiety, pain and movement…
By admin
The best way to start this week's series of posts is by quoting Simmonds, Moseley & Vlaeyen (2008) who said: 'Chronic pain and its often associated movement dysfunction are pervasive, intriguing and complex problems ...
Health Blog - http://www.teambeefroast.com

Migraines are all in your head....

Dr. Mike M. Deldar: TMJ could be the cause of your migraines
Noblesville Daily Times - Noblesville,IN,USA
Have you ever experienced migraine headaches or chronic pain in your face, head, shoulders and back? How about earaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, ...

A man discussing his relief from chronic pain when he changed his diet....

Politics
By CBFM
After a bout with some considerable and chronic physical pain a few years ago I had to completely re-evaluate my personal consumption habits. There is nothing like self induced chronic pain as a motivator. I had to overhaul the entire ...
Crested Butte Farmers Market - http://cbfarmersmarket.org/
 

Oatmeal for arthritis relief? Who knew?

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief... it's not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 ...

Research Leading The Way To More Effective Pain Treatment...

Scientists Find a Biological Link for Chronic Pain & Fatigue!
By Melanie(Melanie)
Recent further advances- an explanation for why women suffer from Chronic Pain and Fatigue syndromes more then Men! Gone are the myths of, women having chronic pain & fatigue more often because of psychological problems! ...
Mel's Real Life Drama Continues - http://melsreallifedrama.blogspot.com/

Researchers Identify Specific Targets For Pain Therapy - Professor ...
Medical News Today (press release) - UK
Researchers in Zurich, Switzerland have identified specific targets for the therapy of patients suffering from chronic pain. In experiments using mice, ...

Notes based on an article in The Journal Of the American Medical Association...

A philosophy for treating chronic pain
By JR
James Rathmell that presents a case history of a 50-year-old man with chronic back pain. Dr. Rathmell is Director of the Center for Pain Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I’ve focused on his thoughts as [...]
The CAM Report - http://www.thecamreport.com

Fibromyalgia...it's even a pain to spell!...

Fibromyalgia Pain Linked With Central Nervous System Disorder
Science Daily (press release) - USA
ScienceDaily (May 31, 2008) — Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness throughout the body. ...

Leading Pain Organizations' Support of Fibromyalgia Community ...
Denver Post - Denver,CO,USA
"Fibromyalgia, like so many chronic pain conditions, is difficult to diagnose, difficult to treat, and has led many in the medical community to label ...

Beat Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Syndrome
"Imagine Taking Back The Life You Once Had Before Fibromyalgia And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome By Treating The Cause Of The Disease Rather Than Just Relieving The Symptoms..." What If I Told You That New Techniques Are Astonishing The ...Note that the author is not a medical doctor.
recent posts - blip.tv (beta) - http://blip.tv
 

The problem with pain pills....

Pained Patients Fear Relief May Bring Addiction
MyFox Kansas City - Kansas City,MO,USA
Myra Christopher said she knows the hopelessness because she has also suffered from chronic pain, "Don't give up, don't give up because there can be relief. ...
 

Painkiller abuse less than 3% in chronic pain patients
By Richard Brassaw
Fifty years ago cancer patients were denied opioids for their pain because of possible addiction. Srinivasa Raja, MD, professor of anesthesiology, Johns Hopkins University Medical School, reports that less than 3% [...]
Disability Happens - http://www.disabilityhappens.com

The Lollipop That Can Kill
PharmaLive.com (press release) - Newtown,PA,USA
As a physician who deals with chronic pain relief issues, Dr. Smith has seen more than his share of patients who are addicted to prescription painkillers. ...

Interesting evidence that doctors should consider your entire life when planning pain management....

Our History Does Impact Chronic Pain Management
By admin
I believe and important part of developing an effective pain management plan includes having an understanding of each person’s lifetime history with pain and pain management going back to early childhood if possible. ...
addiction-free.com - http://www.addiction-free.com/blog

Interesting authors writing about pain....

Local author’s medical journey inspires him to write book
Amherstburg Echo - Ontario, Canada
Titled, "Personal Underworld; A Journey Through TMS", the book explores the power thought and emotion has on chronic pain. In 2005, Jarvis went through ...

A poem about chronic pain: Cut Short
By admin
Cut Short. There I was just living my life, And a lightning bolt fell from the sky. My life once so directed, fulfilled, Now was completely awry. The kids needed money for college, My husband went back to school, too; ...
Life with Chronic Pain - http://blog.healthtalk.com/chronic-pain/life-with-chronic-pain

Music and pain relief...

Middle And Lower Back Pain
By backpainrelief1
A study evaluated the influence of back pain medicine music therapy in hospitalized patients with chronic back pain. One of the best things you can do back pain medicine to prevent back pain is to exercise regularly and keep your back ...
Back Pain Relief - http://backpainrelief1.wordpress.com

Our pets feel pain, too...

Cold Lasers Treat Doggie Aches And Pains
WCSH-TV - Portland,ME,USA
... inflamed areas so it can take fluid and pull it away, the fluid that causes swelling, so when you pull it away you get pain relief," said Dr. Richman. ...

I do not  presume to give medical advice to anyone. I simply present information that may be helpful. I know, from my own experience with chronic pain,  that you can never tell in advance where you will find the one bit of news that will help you turn a corner and make progress.

Please use this information to further your search for your own best health care. Be pro-active, be persistent --and be careful. There will always be people looking to take advantage of your need for relief.  Remember, using Google to check a person or product's background is your best defense against scams and frauds.

If you have questions or concerns about anything you find on my web site, you can contact me at any time by clicking here to open a pre-addressed email form or email me at bonnie at pain-health-news dot com.