What Can I Do About Pain Related Fatigue

Today's post from webmd.com (see link below) may seem like another simplistic self-help post, aimed at  the general public rather than those living with chronic pain but the fact is that many many people living with neuropathy are often desperately tired. Either from the constant pain, or from weakness caused by over-activity that others would see as normal, it doesn't really matter. The point is, what can we do about it, if anything? Some of the tips shown below may well be helpful for you but as long as you're aware of the problem, you're more likely to take steps to help it. One thing is sure; without regular and quality sleep periods, your whole day will be affected by tiredness - don't be ashamed to take naps when necessary and when your body tells you too. Far too many articles stress the need for exercise and activity and they are indeed helpful for neuropathy patients (however you may protest) but rest and recovery are equally important.
 

Why Am I So Tired?
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD

Are you always tired? That’s no surprise in these tightly scheduled, overloaded times.

The good news is, it’s simpler than you might think to get your energy back. The trick is to figure out why you’re fatigued. Then you can learn what to do about it. 

5 Common Reasons for Tiredness

1. What you eat. A shot of caffeine and sugar can seem like quick fix when you need an energy boost, but it soon makes things worse. After your blood sugar levels spike, they crash. You end up more fatigued, not less.

A far better solution is a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.

“Most people feel like they're less tired if they eat a healthy diet," says J. Fred Ralston Jr., MD. He's a past president of the American College of Physicians. "Eating healthy also means you'll carry less weight, and obesity is a big contributor to fatigue.”

2. How much water you drink. Instead of that caffeine-filled, sugary drink, try a glass of water.

Mild dehydration affects your mood, and it makes you feel more tired, research shows. It can set in when you drink just a little less H20 than you normally do.

The Institute of Medicine recommends that men get about 125 ounces of water a day and women get 91 ounces. Those amounts include water from all foods and beverages.

3. How much you sleep.

Millions of Americans just don’t get the ideal 7 to 9 hours of snooze time. If you’re one of them, avoid caffeine, alcohol, and large meals in the hours just before bedtime. Turn off the TV and unplug the computer before you turn in. Also, go to bed at the same time each night and keep your bedroom quiet and dark.

4. How much you exercise. Studies show that when inactive people start to work out, they feel much less fatigue than those who stay idle. When you move more, you not only use more energy, you also have more on a daily basis.

Ralston recommends you start with 30 minutes of exercise at least 4 days a week. Be sure to finish at least 3 hours before bedtime, so you have time to wind down. After a month, you should notice improvement in your fatigue. Within 3 to 6 months, you should feel much better.

5. What you do to handle stress. Stress is a fact of life. Fatigue sets in when you have more than you can handle. The first step in changing the way you deal with stress is to figure out your body’s stress signals -- aside from feeling fatigued, you might be angry, headachy, tense, or unable to focus.

Once you know how stress affects you, you can teach yourself to control it. Proven ways to limit the toll stress takes on you include:

Short, regular periods of meditation
Talks with friends or family about your challenges
Regular breaks from work
Taking time for yourself
Could It Be Something Else?

If you’ve taken steps to address all five of the most common causes of fatigue and you still feel worn out, visit your doctor.

Chronic tiredness is linked to medical conditions including these:

Anemia, or a lack of iron in the blood, is a common cause of fatigue, and it's easy to check with a simple blood test, says Sandra Fryhofer, MD. She's an associate professor of medicine at Emory University.

"It's particularly a problem for women, especially those who are having heavy menstrual periods,” she says.

An iron-rich diet that's heavy in meats and dark, leafy greens can correct low levels of iron. Ask your doctor if an iron supplement might help, too. Other key nutrients that can hold off fatigue include potassium and vitamins D and B12.

Thyroid problems. Both an over- and an underactive thyroid can cause fatigue. A blood test can help a doctor gauge how well your thyroid's working.

Diabetes. People who have uncontrolled diabetes "just plain don't feel good," Fryhofer says. "If you feel draggy and you're also having blurred vision or lots of urination, you should get that checked with a blood test."

Depression. If your feelings of exhaustion are accompanied by sadness and loss of appetite, and you just can't find any pleasure in things you once enjoyed, you might be depressed. Don't keep it to yourself. Your doctor, or a therapist, can start you on the path back to feeling better.

Sleep problems. Many different sleep issues can keep you from feeling rested and energized. Talk to your doctor about a sleep evaluation, especially if you snore, since that could point to a condition called obstructive sleep apnea, which briefly stops your breathing several times a night. Like other sleep disorders, it’s treatable.

Undiagnosed heart disease. Ongoing tiredness can be a warning sign of heart trouble, Ralston says. “If you have trouble with exercise you used to do easily, or if you start feeling worse when you exercise, this could be a red flag for heart trouble. If you have any doubts, see your doctor.”

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/reasons-tired

Why Do I Have Neuropathy A Personal Story

Today's relatable post from americannewsreport.com (see link below) is a very recognisable account of the way that neuropathy can take us by surprise when it arrives. You will undoubtedly recognise many of the experiences the author has gone through and sympathise with the frustrations that the disease can bring. Worth a read, if only because you may be reassured that you're not alone feeling the way you do, although at times it may feel like it.

My Story: Why Do I Have Peripheral Neuropathy?
October 13th, 2014 by Ed Coghlan
 
When we started the National Pain Report a couple of years ago, we had a pretty good idea that it was going to be successful. From prior work that I had in the field of chronic pain, I knew that pain patients were often frustrated about the lack of information that is available to them and how they are treated by the medical community.

So we figured we’d find an audience.

What I didn’t know at the time was that I was about to begin my own personal journey into chronic pain.

A couple of years ago, I was playing golf in Oxnard, California when I noticed that my feet were tingling — like I was walking with sand in my golf shoes — is how I would later describe to my doctor.

It didn’t hurt either my feet or the quality of my golf (such as it is) and I didn’t pay much attention to it. So I ignored it.

For much of the next year, I would get an episode or two, but it always receded and I never thought much about it. I never ever talked to my doctor about it.

Probably should have.

About a year ago, on a night before an important meeting I had in San Francisco, my body just went off. The tingling and numbness seemed to be everywhere in my body.

It didn’t hurt, but it was very unsettling.

So when I returned to Los Angeles, I began a journey I’m still on. To find out what the hell is the matter with me.

The first thing I did was what anyone born after World War II always does. I went to Google. It didn’t make me long to self diagnose.

I have peripheral neuropathy. It’s a tingling, burning and numbness that the Mayo Clinic compares to the loss of sensation that comes from wearing a thin stocking or glove.

There are a number of reasons for it — traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes.

My father had diabetes and my grandfather had multiple sclerosis, so off to the doctor I went.

My family physician, who I’ve known for 30 years, ran a bunch of blood tests and said he didn’t see anything problematic. In fact he congratulated me on my blood chemistry. He referred to me a neurologist, who thought my blood sugar was a little high (101) — not diabetic high — but enough that he suggested I eat like a diabetic and try to lose some weight. .

I’m a physical fitness nut, so losing weight never seemed like something I needed to do, but in fairness and out of respect for the neurologist, I ate like a diabetic and lost 15 pounds in about two months.

So I looked better.

But the tingling remained, and sometime the burning is so intense that when I get home from work, I’ll put ice packs on my feet. When it’s especially severe, I feel it in my hands and my face.

He also gave me a nerve conduction test and told me to start taking Vitamin B-12, which I do. I’m also taking Gabapentin (the generic for Neurontin) and I honestly can’t say that it’s working all that well. I stopped taking it for a while. I’m taking it again, because, well, I have to do something.

I’ve gone back to my family physician and the neurologist in the past couple of months, and their diagnosis is the same — which is they’re not sure.

I had back surgery thirty years ago, have banged myself around pretty good on racquetball and basketball courts and hiking trails, and thought maybe something happened during that active life that might have pinched a never or something. They pretty much rejected that.

I’ve never been this unsettled about anything physically.

I have learned that often the cause of the peripheral neuropathy goes undiagnosed.

I don’t like living under the cloud of doubt.

It was Francis Bacon who said, “If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties.”

I don’t think Bacon had peripheral neuropathy.

Ed Coghlan is the CEO of National Pain Report. He lives in southern California.

National Pain Report invites other readers to share their stories with us.

Send them to editor@nationalpainreport.com

The information in this column is not intended to be considered as professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is for informational purposes only and represents the author’s personal experiences and opinions alone. It does not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of National Pain Report or Microcast Media.

http://americannewsreport.com/nationalpainreport/my-story-why-do-i-have-peripheral-neuropathy-8824993.html

I Have Sciatica Why Are You Grabbing My Foot

It is 5 am in Badwater, CA. There are approximately 100 runners toeing the chalked line. There is 135 miles, over 10,000 ft in elevation gain and 120 degree heat under the Death Valley sun between them and the finish line. I see my runner crossing the horizon towards our support car, his stride looks shortened, but smooth for mile 60. Over the next 75 miles we take turns passing off race essentials. At 4 am, as a team, we cross the finish line at Whitney Portal.

So how did this journey begin?

From the moment I met him I could hear the “thud”. It was the sound that his foot made as it he walked through the clinic.  He tells me he is a runner, but not just a runner, but he is running in the Badwater Ultramarathon in July. 135 miles of “thudding” into the ground! To bring the pressure up a notch, this is going to be his 11th consecutive finish. As I watched him move and walk, I can't stop focusing on the stiffness of his foot which is causing the "thud". But how do I explain his lack of foot mobility is contributing to what he is actually coming to see me for… SCIATICA?

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a general term used to describe inflammation of the sciatic nerve or nerve roots which comprise it. Sciatica can be caused by a disc injury or stenosis (narrowing of spaces of the spine), which puts pressure on the nerve roots. When our foot hits the ground force is transferred up the leg and into our lower back. Our foot is designed to pronate upon impact to allow for shock absorption.  The bony anatomy of our foot and ankle causes a biomechanical chain reaction. This generates a rotation in the leg then into the pelvis which helps to recruit the gluteals to provide the stability of the back. However, if the foot remains supinated, ground reaction force is transferred into the spine instead of being absorbed through the foot and leg. When the mobility of the foot is limited, the lower back is forced to move more to compensate for the lack of motion. The increase motion of the back decreases the amount of space the nerve has to pass through the spine.

When the foot pronates it causes a rotation up the leg which
helps to dissipate force and maintain good motion of the back.

When the foot remains supinated the foot remains rigid forcing
the back to rotate more which decreases space for the nerves.

To improve his foot mobility I begin to facilitate pronation of his foot. IT worked! His sciatic pain decreased.  I worked on it some more and his pain was gone! He was able to walk and jog in the clinic without his symptoms. 

From the moment I helped his foot become more supple and pronate, his sciatic pain got better.

So when you foot hits the ground: is it supple (pronated) or rigid (supinated)?

             

You can even see from the pictures above the difference in the position of the pelvis.

Techniques

Mobility

The technique is performed to increase mobility of the foot to reduce stress to the lumbar spine. This will help minimize your risk of sciatica. Stenosis is narrowing of the canal in which the nerves exit the spine. If you have a herniated disc, this is NOT a technique for you.

For forefoot runners, it is also important to have a mobile foot. The motion of supination and pronation occurs in the forefoot instead of the mid and rear foot.

Strengthening
After mobilizing the foot, it is important to retrain the muscles and joints in this new motion. This allows the newly acquired motion to be recognized as a movement path. If your body doesn't use this motion, the foot and ankle will become stiff again.

Here are examples of exercises which use the muscles and joints in all 3 planes of motion to retrain the body.

Please consult with a health care professional prior to performing these exercises. If it increases your pain, STOP!

I believe

I really believe,

that if we start gathering together

again, not just to eat,

but to feast on homemade goodness

of all kinds;

foods, crafts, knowledge, art,

skills

and in the affirmation of friendship we form

alliances of wealth

through sharing

through teaching,

through doing,

the momentum of community will

gain force

authenticity

and power.

And the more powerful the people

and families are in their hearts,

their homes,

the less we fall

prey to consumption, despair.

I really believe that when we gather with

those who ignite our curiosity,

respect, and compassion,

that it's a fine gift given

of sharp tools

to make a structure we

can hinge our future on,

all while baking bread in a room

filled with side-splitting laughter.

I will not circumcise my plants

I have been reminded several times after my Blog entry: Song of the Salvia that the Labiatae family has been officially renamed the "Lamiaceae" Family.

So I am here to tell everyone that I won't do it. I won't circumcise myself, my children, nor will I circumcise an entire plant family. Just as Women are identified by their beautiful, life giving Vulva's and milk holding Breasts, the Labiatae family has been healing and nourishing Women and families for centuries. The flowers have lovely labias, an upper and lower lip, the whole flower being beautifully irregular just us humans, and the flowers are usually bisexual. That tells me that the flowers are generous in their healing and creativity for everyone ... a motherly trait indeed. There is no good reason in my eyes to take away it's namesake. I do not know, nor do I care, why they changed it.

To me, it has always been and always be, the LABIAtae family.

Humph.

I know exactly what he means!

A video from a blog entitled,Diabetic Neuropathy whats it all about hey! from a guy named Clayton. (Be patient, he's not the fastest speaker in the world but there will be many who can totally identify with what he says)

I Hate Christmas Thats My Truth

December 3, 2012

Dear Diary,

I hate Christmas.

I hate the lights, the fake cinnamon smells they blast at the store entrances, I hate the pressure, I hate the deadlines. 

I hate the feeling of a monumental annual failure. I hate the sugar overload, the ugly colored cookies, and the snow.

I especially hate the songs. Every last tinny jingle.

That's my truth. 

This is not an inspiring post,

or a post that suggests you should feel any other way than you do.

It's a post that is about truth.

Unedited, radical, shameless truth.

I hate Christmas.

And it's ok if you do, too. Or not.

This year, while I know I must and will go along and try to make some things go well for my family and I, I wish for myself a place of solace on Solstice. 

I ask for a bonfire, ceremony, special people, hot tea with strong herbs, and a moment of magickal stillness in the newborn sunrays.

I wish for a moment of intimacy with nature. A moment to say thank you. A moment to touch the moss and smell the bark. To put acorns in my pocket.

I wish for a chance to model truth and simple spiritual connection for my children.

My hope for you is that you dare to ask for what you really want.

Love,

Ananda

Allopathy Vs Homeopathy I

Allopathy Vs Homeopathy


In medicine world, different modes of treatment are available for the welfare of sufferers to bring Positive Health. They all approach in different ways with different principles to attain the goal “CURE”. In the race, Allopathy system of medicine stands first with its efficient acute management and Homeopathy stands first in treating chronic complaints without any adverse effects. Each one has its own efficacy, advantages, disadvantages and limitations. This is to show off how these two systems differ in the treatment of disease / patient and medicines derivation / selection / applications.
As a main point of deviation Allopathy don’t have any fixed law or relationship between drug & disease. As it evolves as the best for the period with advancement of science and series of lab analysis it won’t give importance to any principles and opt for most suitable method of that time whereas Homeopathy developed as a rational science, based on definite principle – law of similars (let likes be treated with likes).

Disease / patient

• Allopathy concentrates on disease, its diagnosis and causes whereas Homeopathy concentrates towards patient and their feelings, i.e. on the biological whole (mind and body) to individualize the patient.

• Allopath tries to label the disease at their first outlook – their task will become very easy once they diagnose the complaint, whereas in Homeopathy, Homeopath further needs to individualize the patient to anticipate cure. Homeopath uses diagnosis only in prognosis point of view.

• In Allopathy, once disease is diagnosed with specific disease name, they will find out specific drug and its treatment is common to everyone irrespective of their symptom presentation whereas In Homeopathy, treatment may differ from person to person depending upon the symptom presentation of the patient.

• Allopathy treats diseases with common symptoms of the diseases whereas Homeopathy treats patient by giving importance to patient symptoms, i.e., uncommon, rare, peculiar symptoms of the patients. For example – In jaundice, some may come with vomiting and fever, some may come with just yellow urine and tiredness, some may come with body itching, etc. Here, Homeopathy treatment point of view and drug selection varies depending upon patient’s presenting symptoms.

• Allopathy usually identifies bacteria, fungus or virus as material cause for the diseases whereas Homeopathy declares dynamic derangement of vital force / immune mechanism as the cause. For example, if 10 members happened to attend a party and had foods / water / ice creams in the same place and when only 3-4 members out of them suffers with food allergy or flu like symptoms, then here bacteria or virus alone cannot be blamed as the causative factor, i.e., It is further because of low resistance of those suffers, i.e. deranged or weak vital force.

• In Allopathy, treatment depends on pathological findings / lab reports / causative factors whereas Homeopathy concentrates to strengthen the immune mechanism / vital force to expel / prevent the disease. In homoeopathy, diagnosis with lab investigations and causative factor (bacteria or virus) won’t help much for medicine selection since medicines are not going to act against disease or kill bacteria or virus directly. Here, treatment with individualization makes resistance / immune mechanism to climb up giving no chance for recurrence / re-infection of the same bacteria or virus. Further, in allopathy if they could not find any abnormality with lab investigations / findings they need to remain cross hands, whereas in Homeopathy those patients can still get benefited since Homeopathy treats symptoms and aims for strengthening of immune mechanism to expel the disease. Anyhow, kindly aware that no one can deny the importance of diagnosis, laboratory investigations for the assessment of prognosis and to monitor the betterment.

• Allopathy usually stops treatment once the symptoms go off or if they have found normal lab reports whereas in Homeopathy it will be continued till the patient attains comfort and well being sensation. Here one need to aware that cure and comfort feeling (well being sensation) can be felt only by the patient and cannot be examined or diagnosed by doctor or lab findings. As Homeopathy gives importance to patient symptoms, their feelings and emotions, with startup of Homeopathic treatment itself one can start feeling comfort. For example, if one happened to take allopathic anti-pyretic drugs for fever, they may have profuse sweat and reduction in fever temperature but they may feel profound weakness / tiredness, i.e., there won’t be comfort feeling even after fever subsides. But every one can feel the well being sensation while getting Homeopathy treatment even when there is fever. It is because of start up of cure process by natural defense mechanism.

• Allopathy treats patients in parts (concentrate only in diseased part) whereas Homeopathy treats patient from the point of view of a biological whole i.e. for their entire physical complaints, feelings and emotions. As Allopathy treats patients in parts, there may be many doctors working in one human to bring / maintain good health whereas in Homeopathy, one Homeopath usually gives importance to the all presenting complaints of the patient.

• Allopathy usually suppresses the symptoms / complaints – for example in case of Back pain they will be providing pain killers to suppress pain without addressing the exact reason. Every one should aware that pain is the alarm of the body to take care of the parts. Likewise in case of cough, they will be providing cough syrups to suppress the cough. Every one should aware that suppressing the cough may lead to retention on phlegm in chest which can pave way for recurrent infection / constant phlegm in chest. Even though response may be instant with cough syrups / painkillers, it won’t be useful in long run. – Homeopathy is a non suppressive way of treatment without any complications later. It addresses the problem to the core with the aim of cure.

• Allopathy suppresses the body’s natural healing mechanisms whereas Homeopathy favours or utilizes the body efforts / natural healing powers. For example, Fever needs to be treated as friend and not as disease (likewise cough). It is the first alarming sign to point out the entry of disease. Further it works as a defense mechanism which creates circumstances that are not favourable for virus or bacteria to thrive. If you are going to off the fever (natural alarm / healing mechanism), without taking steps against the disease, then you are paving way for the disease force to progress, i.e., while suppressing a disease, patient may feel better at first, but sooner they will experience the disease in worst manner.

• Allopathy can provide instant relief (not cure) with their instant remedies whereas Homeopathy aims for cure always. Even though there may be some delay in the process of Homeopathic treatment in attaining comfort level when one happened to analyse the reach of destination – cure, Homeopathy can always leads the race. For example – if one happened to take pain killers for headache and get instant relief with allopathy, it is matter for that day only, later he may suffer often with same set of symptoms – every time one need to go for painkillers – here one cannot expect cure. Whereas in Homeopathy, if one opts for Homeopathy treatment for headache, it will address the problem to the core and cure the case, further it will abort the tendency of recurrent headache. Here, by analyzing the end result, one can realize the value of instant and proper approach. Further everyone should aware that if one happened to avail / start treatment as soon as the complaints get started, betterment / cure can also be attained at the earliest.

• Allopathy aims more in “Management” for chronic cases” so patient may sometime need to depend on treatment / drugs for their lifetime (for example, using supplement of thyroid hormones / thyroxine for Hypothyroidism, pain killers for back pain, etc) whereas in Homeopathy, Homeopath treats core of the disease with the aim of complete cure. Here, every one should also aware that complete cure is possible only when patients opt for treatment in earlier stages. When they come after complications or structural deformity, it cannot be cured but can be maintained.

• Allopathy treats patients with external mode of treatment too (i.e., with ointments / external applications) whereas Homeopathy gives importance only to internal treatment since in Homeopathic point of view, external treatment will usually be a suppressive one. For example – by using creams for pimples, every one might aware that pimples may remain only dormant until then they keep continue with the use of creams. Once they discontinue the creams, pimples may rebound in more numbers. From this one can understand suppressive treatment not only suppress the complaint but also internally allow the disease to grow.

(To be continued)

for new hope

Dr. S. Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)

Laxmi Homeo Clinic

24 E. New Mahalipatti Road

Madurai, TN 625 001

India

Tel:  +91-452-233-8833 | +91-984-319-1011 (Mob)

Fax: +91-452-233-0196

E-mail:  drcheena@yahoo.com

www.drcheena.com / www.drcheena.in

How Soon After Sex Can I Take A Pregnancy Test

George Walton

George Walton

Gone Too Soon Playboy Model Katie May Above 34 Passed Away In