Maureen Connor

Let’s start off with a few simple propositions. Pain is just an extension of touch. We feel some levels of pressure represent pleasure or are merely acceptable. If the pressure becomes uncomfortable, we are immediately alerted. If the discomfort turns into pain, we are motivated to take action. So the gradations of touch into pain are a necessary part of the bodily process allowing us to avoid injury in our dangerous modern environment. Sadly, we do not have the means to switch off pain selectively. We continue to feel some pain unless the drugs literally induce unconsciousness. This is reality. There’s no sense in trying to deceive ourselves. So the big question is how we organize our lives to live a satisfying life with continuing pain?

This is not what you want to hear. The marketers who aim to sell you the range of drugs produced by the pharmaceutical industry have been brainwashing you for decades. They want you to believe there’s a pill to cure all your ills. Except that has always been a lie. Although some drugs are very effective for a time, all drugs slowly lose their effectiveness as the body adapts to them. This leaves you with the choice of giving up the drugs or increasing the dosage and risking dependence. In fact, we have millions of people addicted to prescription drugs. The majority could not stop without experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Long ago, the Europeans decided this was unacceptable so they have been working to change mindsets. People have to understand they cannot rely on drugs to solve their long-term health problems. They must become more self-sufficient. This is what pain management really means. Specialists have to teach people how to live without becoming dependent on drugs. It all starts with a thorough re-evaluation of the medical treatment to date. Fresh pairs of eyes look back through the records of surgical procedures and other therapies. If anything has been missed, they are now done. If anything may have been done wrongly, attempts are made to correct any adverse consequences. The idea is to ensure everything that can be done to treat the underlying cause of the pain has been done.

Now we come to the pain itself. This is recognized as a medical problem in its own right. There are specialist physicians and highly trained therapists grouped together in dedicated units. Their job is to evaluate each patient and devise a personal regime for maximizing the quality of life. It starts with occupational therapists who visit homes and workplaces, suggesting how living spaces can be designed to reduce problems, and looking to see if jobs can be redefined to reduce the causes of pain. Then come the physical therapists to introduce exercises and activity programs to rebuild strength and improve mobility. Finally, the cognitive behavioral therapists teach practical strategies for staying positive when life seems difficult. All the evidence shows this team approach is very effective. Making the patient the center of attention improves morale and fights off the threat of depression. This is not to deny the importance of a drug like Ultram. There can be a flare-up of pain and, as a short-term response, a painkiller can be essential. But, as soon as possible, the Ultram must go back into the cabinet. Life must go on without drugs.

If there is such a thing as good news about hemorrhoids, it is that in most cases, while they appear spontaneously, they will also disappear on their own. In some cases though, specifically internal hemorrhoids, thrombosed hemorrhoids, prolapsed hemorrhoids, or in persistent or recurring cases, surgery for hemorrhoids may be required.

There are a variety of types of surgery, and some of these include:

Hemorrhoidectomy – this is a procedure whereby internal or external hemorrhoids are excised by scalpel or cauterization. Laser Coagulation – a special laser is used to coagulate and shrink the vein that is causing the hemorrhoid. Infrared Coagulation – similar to laser coagulation, in this procedure, an infrared light source is used to shrink and treat the hemorrhoid. Rubber Band Ligation – a procedure used to treat internal hemorrhoids, this type of surgery for hemorrhoids involves the placement of a tight rubber band at the base of the hemorrhoid, which then shrivels due to the lack of blood flow, and drops off. Injection Sclerotherapy – this is another type of surgery for hemorrhoids internally, this involves the injection of a chemical near the vein, which causes it to contract and close, cutting off blood flow, and eliminating the hemorrhoid.

Of course, before you decide to have surgery for hemorrhoids, you should first try natural or home treatments, which are far less invasive, and speak to your doctor, who should be able to advise you on the best course of treatment.

If your doctor does recommend surgery for hemorrhoids, make sure that you are clear on what the procedure entails, and that you are aware of preventative measures, so that you can avoid any future hemorrhoid problems, and the necessity for a second surgery! As they say, prevention is always better than cure.

A rotator cuff injury therapy based on specific exercises is the best approach for a fast rehabilitation from injury or disorder. Physical therapy program should be the core aspect of an injury recovery program along typical remedies like anti inflammatories. There is a variety of reasons why a shoulder injury may occur, from occupational reasons to sport activities.

Sports like baseball, golf, weight lifting or tennis have a tendency to put undue stress over the rotator cuff, often resulting in tears or inflammations like shoulder tendonitis or shoulder bursitis. Over use in working conditions is also another major cause of injury or the ground for developing disorders like Impingement Syndrome. The common symptom for any rotator cuff injury or condition is pain.

Normally, the pain grows over time from a little tingle to a dull ache, especially over night. Of course, in the case of a dislocation or a large tear, the pain is more immediate, but sometimes a little tear can go undetected and made worse by the person affected who carries on his/her daily activities or sports, fueling a vicious circle of inflammation. For most injuries or disorders, the common response is the prescription of over the counter drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen, or prescription only drugs. Costisone injections are also used for more severe cases, but the best and most effective solution is a program or exercises for the rotator cuff.

A physical therapy program of specific rotational exercises is the best medicine to recover from an injury. These movements are quite different from common shoulder exercises and should be performed without resistance or with a very light one. Sometimes, following surgery or a severe tear, such rotational exercises should be performed not just without resistance, but passively, which means the therapist performs the movement so as to start training the rotator cuff four muscles and its tendons without undue stress.

I any case, a rotator cuff injury therapy program should be performed on a daily basis for best results. The strengthening of the cuff will also result in reduced pain and increased resistance to future injuries or disorders. In fact, it is often the case that such injuries occur because the rotator cuff is somewhat lagging behind the strength of the big shoulder muscles like the Deltoid or the Trapezius. Sport men often neglect this very important muscle group beneath the Deltoid, stressing it to the limit on a daily basis.

Hence, a rotator cuff injury therapy is useful not just as a recovery tool for a shoulder injury, but also as a preventive measure to strengthen the cuff and provide the shoulder with a solid foundation onto which all movements can be performed, without risking injury. The function of the rotator cuff is to stabilize the arm into the shoulder socket whilst performing all movements. It is only when these muscles are strong enough that the Deltoid and Trapezius can exert power at will.

Sometimes though, an injury can occur even with the best preventive program or by bad luck. Following a dislocation, a tear, or surgery, a rehabilitation program based on specific exercises can greatly cut down recovery tomes to a fraction, eliminating soon the need for pain killers and anti inflammatories. Most importantly, such program should be undertaken under the supervision of a qualified doctor or therapist and follow a professional protocol, not exercises taken here and there at random.