Over the past twenty-seven years I have seen many people struggling with pain management who use food as a comfort or coping tool. Some of these people had a coexisting addictive disorder that they put into remission by getting in recovery and were doing a good job with their pain management until they crossed over [...]

There has been an historical a lack of information and a great deal of misinformation regarding the role of proper nutrition for effective chronic pain management.  Research studies by the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) have confirmed that diet and nutrition play a significant role in the management of pain. The NFA reports that success relies [...]

Many self-help programs encourage its members to use the slogan “One Day at a Time.” The underlying purpose is to help members focus on what needs their time and attention in the here and now. It encourages people to let go of their obsession with the past and worry about what may or may not [...]

When it comes to the rate of chronic headaches in the United States, several studies have shown that roughly 45 million Americans suffer from them per year. There is an average of 20 million females in America that experience chronic headaches and an average of 25 million males. This represents a prevalence of chronic headaches [...]

Chronic pain is often misunderstood and untreated. In addition to the biopsychosocial impact of chronic pain frequently, a spiritual crisis accompanies the condition.  This is a body mind spirit problem that needs a multifaceted solution including addressing the spiritual component of pain. Spiritual healing can be an effective complementary and alternative approach.
Many people have found [...]

Depression is one of the common of coexisting disorders for someone living with chronic pain.  Unfortunately, the depression can sabotage a chronic pain management plan and chronic pain can intensify depression.  Another problem is when the depression doesn’t get identified and treated.  Below I’m posting a brief list of things to do and things to [...]

Looking for the Quick Fix
When you live with chronic pain it can become very frustrating when you aren’t getting the pain relief you want. I know that when I experience a pain flare up my first reaction is I want it to stop—now! Many of the pain medications were developed for acute pain conditions. It [...]

When you live with chronic pain it can become very frustrating when you aren’t getting the pain relief you want. I know that when I experience a pain flare up my first reaction is I want it to stop—now! Many of the pain medications were developed for acute pain conditions. It can soon become very [...]

Many people living with chronic pain with coexisting psychological disorders including addiction, are unwilling or unable to go into a structured treatment program.  Sometimes this is due to not having quality programs in their immediate area.  Other times it can be due to the financial commitment some of these inpatient or residential programs require.  While [...]

One trend I’ve seen over the past 27 years of working with people undergoing chronic pain management is how challenging it can be to describe what they’re going through. I also know this from a position of living with my own chronic pain for the past 29 years. I can still remember early in my [...]

While the vast majority of people undergoing chronic pain management may safely use pain medication, what may not be evident is that as many as 12 million people taking prescription drugs also suffer from coexisting abuse or addiction problems.  Often this problem only comes to the public’s awareness when a nationally recognized personality is “caught” [...]

In 1995 we were introduced to a new chronic pain management medication that was marketed inappropriately and eventually became a national problem.  The medication was OxyContin.  Now fifteen years later we have a new medication much more potent than OxyContin, and unlike OxyContin’s once every twelve hour formula this new medication is prescribed once every [...]