tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35844935360965825062024-03-14T00:44:31.485-07:00SpecialistpainphysioSpecialist Pain Physio Clinics in Surrey & Central London are dedicated to the treatment of pain, chronic pain and injury such as back pain, neck pain, whiplash, complex regional pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, tendon pain and recurring sports injuries. The Specialist Pain Physio blog provides regular updates about pain, science and health highlighting the latest research and thinking in this fast changing field.Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.comBlogger330125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-18452738857277896092011-07-25T05:04:00.000-07:002011-07-25T05:06:20.442-07:00CRPS BlogThere are now two blogs to follow:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.specialistpainphysio/blog">www.specialistpainphysio/blog</a> for general infomation about pain, research, neuroscience and clinic updates<br /><br /><a href="http://www.crpsuk.com/">www.crpsuk.com</a> dedicated to CRPS and developing awareness and understandingRichmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-44500192171730491242011-04-03T02:01:00.000-07:002011-04-03T02:03:59.944-07:00New blog locationThe Specialist Pain Physio Blog is now on the website at www.specialistpainphysio.com<br /><br />Come and join in and see links to others interested in neuroscience, psychology and other sciences that we can use to help people understand and deal with their pain.<br /><br />Happy Mother's Day!Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-87581580451152237812010-11-14T02:53:00.003-08:002010-11-14T02:53:34.888-08:00Relationship of Common Pain Conditions in Mothers and Children<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <div class="posterous_quote_citation"> Check out this website I found at <a href="http://journals.lww.com/clinicalpain/Fulltext/2007/03000/Relationship_of_Common_Pain_Conditions_in_Mothers.2.aspx">journals.lww.com</a></div> <p></p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/relationship-of-common-pain-conditions-in-mot">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-68369626417127577412010-11-14T02:53:00.001-08:002010-11-14T02:53:01.702-08:00Effects of Acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6) on Prostaglandin Levels in Primary Dysmenorrhea Patients<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <div class="posterous_quote_citation"> Check out this website I found at <a href="http://pdfs.journals.lww.com/clinicalpain/9000/00000/Effects_of_Acupuncture_at_Sanyinjiao__SP6__on.99938.pdf">pdfs.journals.lww.com</a></div> <p></p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/effects-of-acupuncture-at-sanyinjiao-sp6-on-p">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-10493196582838538482010-11-09T01:12:00.001-08:002010-11-09T01:12:43.613-08:00Play with your kid, for their mental health's sake<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/painphysio/HgBzemebqJcACFHzeDedzssrCHcEEnrDsiHJDrmhovGbysFvasxnJnrxovmt/media_httpwwwscienced_qHuqw.gif.scaled500.gif" width="250" height="85"/> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101108140649.htm">sciencedaily.com</a></div> <p>Clearly there is a huge role for parents in their child's development blended with the genetic and epigenetic influences as the recent New Scientist feature suggests: <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827852.500-epigenetics-can-take-us-towards-a-saner-future.html">http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827852.500-epigenetics-can-take-us-to...</a></p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/play-with-your-kid-for-their-mental-healths-s">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-5590065071436361442010-11-09T01:07:00.001-08:002010-11-09T01:07:25.261-08:00Chronic Pain: A Disease in its Own Right<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote><div> <p>Melanie Thernstrom has written a superb book based on a historical, philosophical, and scientific review of pain: <cite>The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pain-Chronicles-Mysteries-Prayers-Suffering/dp/0865476810 ">Pain Chronicles: Cures, Myths, Mysteries, Prayers, Diaries, Brain Scans, Healing, and the Science of Suffering</a></cite>. Herself a victim of chronic pain, she brings a personal perspective to the subject and also includes informative vignettes of doctors and patients she encountered at the many pain clinics she visited in her investigations. She shows that medical treatment of pain is suboptimal because most doctors have not yet incorporated recent scientific discoveries into their thinking, discoveries indicating that chronic pain is a disease in its own right, a state of pathological pain sensitivity.</p> <blockquote><p>Chronic pain often outlives its original causes, worsens over time, and takes on a puzzling life of its own… there is increasing evidence that over time, untreated pain eventually rewrites the central nervous system, causing pathological changes to the brain and spinal cord, and that these in turn cause greater pain. Even more disturbingly, recent evidence suggests that prolonged pain actually damages parts of the brain, including those involved in cognition.<span></span></p></blockquote> <p>Sometimes the original problem creates new ones as the patient distorts posture and avoids exercise in an attempt to reduce the pain. In chronic pain, the protective mechanism of avoidance becomes maladaptive. Muscles atrophy from disuse and new sources of pain develop. Jerome Groopman, MD, in <cite>The Anatomy of Hope,</cite> told how he conquered years of chronic back pain by realizing that his pain was not a warning to avoid further damage but a false message that he could refuse to listen to; with exercise and physical therapy he rebuilt his muscles and became pain-free.</p> <p>Dr. John Sarno believes that chronic musculoskeletal pain is a manifestation of “tension myositis syndrome” due to repressed negative emotions. He recommends renouncing all treatments, accepting that pain is only in the mind, and resuming normal activities. I don’t accept his psychosomatic premise, but there is a grain of truth in his method. If patients can re-frame their thinking and resume normal activities despite the pain, they are more likely to improve than if they maintain the self-image of a sick, disabled victim.</p> <p>Distraction is effective in removing the awareness of pain. Thernstrom tells us that as she got better,</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"><p>I wasn’t aware of being in pain all the time, but whenever I thought about whether I had pain, I always did. There were pain-free moments owing to my being preoccupied — happily or unhappily — with something else, but I was never able to “catch” a pain-free moment and enjoy it, which meant that, in some sense, I was always in pain.</p></blockquote> <p>Pain perception in the brain involves two different pain systems: one of pain perception and one of pain modulation. Acute injuries always hurt more later as the modulation effects diminish and the brain releases neurotransmitters into the spinal cord that amplify incoming signals and augment pain. This serves the adaptive purpose of enabling flight at first and then enforcing rest. It is possible to induce complete analgesia in humans and animals by electrically stimulating pain-modulating areas of the brain. Various cognitive and affective states activate the two systems, especially attention and expectation. Simply asking patients to think about their pain activates the pain-perception circuits. Anticipation of a placebo effect causes the pain-modulating release of endorphins in the brain.</p> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote"><p>One medication requires the placebo effect for <em>all</em> of its effectiveness. An intriguing 1995 clinical trial proved an analgesic called proglumide to be a more effective pain reliever than a placebo when both groups were told they were being given an exciting new painkiller. But then subjects were slipped proglumide without their knowledge, thus ensuring they had no placebo effect, they felt no relief at all. None.</p></blockquote> <p>It turns out proglumide enhances the endorphin response by blocking cholecystokinin receptors. Thernstrom speculates that drugs could be designed to enhance or create a placebo effect. Hmm… what would medical ethicists have to say about that? For that matter, how can a treatment still be called a placebo if it is shown to have the effect of producing endorphins in the brain?</p> <p>Opioids relieve pain, but they are both under-used and over-used. If acute pain were better controlled, fewer patients would develop chronic pain. On the other hand, many chronic pain patients develop opioid-induced hyperalgesia, where their body becomes more sensitive to pain stimuli or even ordinary stimuli; they develop pain in parts of their bodies remote from the original injury site.</p> <p>Caution is required. Relieving pain sometimes causes harm. <a href="http://www.network54.com/Forum/281849/thread/1279625005/Pfizer+halts+tanezumab+trials+on+FDA+advice">A phase 3 study of tanezumab</a> was recently halted by the FDA. Although the drug relieved the pain of osteoarthritis, it also resulted in more joint failure, presumably because there was more wear and tear on the joints when pain was absent.</p> <p><cite>The Pain Chronicles</cite> is a fascinating glimpse into the world of pain sufferers as well as a good overview of our current scientific knowledge. It suggests avenues of investigation that may vastly improve our management of pain. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about any aspect of the pain experience and the science.</p> </div></blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=7763">sciencebasedmedicine.org</a></div> <p>I am always interested in reading and hearing about individual's experiences. This could be a worthwhile insight.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/chronic-pain-a-disease-in-its-own-right">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-90364964389759083532010-11-03T09:19:00.000-07:002010-11-03T09:22:15.959-07:00Central sensitisationThis new article by one of the most respected academics in pain is an excellent description of the current understanding of this most important concept. A pain mechanism appraoch to the treatment and management of pain seems to be the most sensible.<br /><br />Woolf (2010)<br /><strong>Abstract</strong><a href="http://http//www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T0K-518F0DK-3&_user=10&_coverDate=10%2F18%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=dedf7d23816d739ee21bfda38d07205a&searchtype=a" name="sp005"></a><br />Nociceptor inputs can trigger a prolonged but reversible increase in the excitability and synaptic efficacy of neurons in central nociceptive pathways, the phenomenon of central sensitization. Central sensitization manifests as pain hypersensitivity, particularly dynamic tactile allodynia, secondary punctate or pressure hyperalgesia, aftersensations, and enhanced temporal summation. It can be readily and rapidly elicited in human volunteers by diverse experimental noxious conditioning stimuli to skin, muscles or viscera, and in addition to producing pain hypersensitivity, results in secondary changes in brain activity that can be detected by electrophysiological or imaging techniques. Studies in clinical cohorts reveal changes in pain sensitivity that have been interpreted as revealing an important contribution of central sensitization to the pain phenotype in patients with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, musculoskeletal disorders with generalized pain hypersensitivity, headache, temporomandibular joint disorders, dental pain, neuropathic pain, visceral pain hypersensitivity disorders and post-surgical pain. The comorbidity of those pain hypersensitivity syndromes that present in the absence of inflammation or a neural lesion, their similar pattern of clinical presentation and response to centrally acting analgesics, may reflect a commonality of central sensitization to their pathophysiology. An important question that still needs to be determined is whether there are individuals with a higher inherited propensity for developing central sensitization than others, and if so, whether this conveys an increased risk in both developing conditions with pain hypersensitivity, and their chronification. Diagnostic criteria to establish the presence of central sensitization in patients will greatly assist the phenotyping of patients for choosing treatments that produce analgesia by normalizing hyperexcitable central neural activity. We have certainly come a long way since the first discovery of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in the spinal cord and the revelation that it occurs and produces pain hypersensitivity in patients. Nevertheless, discovering the genetic and environmental contributors to and objective biomarkers of central sensitization will be highly beneficial, as will additional treatment options to prevent or reduce this prevalent and promiscuous form of pain plasticity.Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-79041303670018467312010-11-03T04:01:00.000-07:002010-11-03T04:03:31.163-07:00Glial activation in the rostroventromedial medulla promotes descending facilitation to mediate inflammatory hypersensitivityRoberts et al. (2009), Eur J Neurosci<br /><strong>Abstract<br /></strong>Substantial evidence shows that activation of glial cells in the spinal cord may promote central sensitization and pain. Descending facilitation from the rostroventromedial medulla (RVM) is a critical component in the maintenance of chronic pain states, although the precise mechanisms through which facilitation maintains pain are unclear. Here, we investigated the possibility that glial activation in the RVM could promote descending facilitation from the RVM in states of inflammatory pain. Peripheral inflammation was induced with carrageenan injected into the hindpaws of male Sprague-Dawley rats, and behavioral responses to noxious thermal and light tactile stimuli were determined. Microinjection of the glial inhibitors minocycline or fluorocitrate, or of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor SB 203580, produced a significant and time-related attenuation of behavioral hypersensitivity resulting from hindpaw inflammation. Carrageenan-induced inflammation increased immunolabeling for microglia and astrocytes in the RVM, as well as for phosphorylated p38 MAPK. Phosphorylated p38 MAPK was found in microglia and neurons of the RVM. Inflammation-induced microglial and astrocytic activation in the RVM were attenuated by RVM microinjection of the glial inhibitors. The data show that inflammatory pain is associated with glial activation in the RVM that probably participates in driving descending pain facilitation. These findings reveal a novel site of glial modulation of inflammatory pain.<br /><br />There is huge scientific evidence for the role of the immune system in pain providing forward routes for new thinking in treatmentRichmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-3885269014250757822010-11-03T02:31:00.000-07:002010-11-03T02:35:05.857-07:00Dysfunction of endogenous pain inhibition during exercise with painful muscles in patients with shoulder myalgia & fibromyalgiaLannersten & Kosek<br />Pain 151 (2010) 77-86<br /><br />The aim of this study was to investigate how exercise influenced endogenous pain modulation in healthy controls, shoulder myalgia patients and fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Twenty-one healthy subjects, 20 shoulder myalgia patients and 20 FM patients, all females, participated. They performed standardized static contractions, that is, outward shoulder rotation (m. infraspinatus) and knee extension (m. quadriceps). Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were determined bilaterally at m. infraspinatus and m. quadriceps. During contractions PPTs were assessed at the contracting muscle, the resting homologous contralateral muscle and contralaterally at a distant site (m. infraspinatus during contraction of m. quadriceps and vice versa). Myalgia patients had lower PPTs compared to healthy controls at m. infraspinatus bilaterally (p<0.01), but not at m. quadriceps. FM patients had lower PPTs at all sites compared to healthy controls (p<0.001) and myalgia patients (p<0.001). During contraction of m. infraspinatus PPTs increased compared to baseline at the end of contraction in healthy controls (all sites: p<0.003), but not in myalgia or FM patients. During contraction of m. quadriceps PPTs increased compared to baseline at the end of contraction in healthy controls (all sites: p<0.001) and myalgia patients (all sites: p<0.02), but not in FM patients. In conclusion, we found a normal activation of endogenous pain regulatory mechanisms in myalgia patients during contraction of the non-afflicted m. quadriceps, but a lack of pain inhibition during contraction of the painful m. infraspinatus. FM patients failed to activate their pain inhibitory mechanisms during all contractions.<br /><br />This is an intreating study that suggests to exercise remote areas of the body can have beneficial effects for myalgia by having a pain relieving effect whereas in fibromyalgia this can aggravate if the intensity is too great. For the latter, a progressive programme built from an individualised baseline would be more beneficial.Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-87685022140043088952010-11-02T04:46:00.001-07:002010-11-02T04:49:04.786-07:00New Specialist Pain Physio WebsiteThe new website for The Specialist Pain Physio Clinics is now live with information about our services, a regular blog, details about pain and the latest research.<br /><a href="http://www.specialistpainphysio.com">www.specialistpainphysio.com</a>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-68963636829221718262010-10-20T05:30:00.000-07:002010-10-20T05:31:47.360-07:00The human glucocorticoid receptor: molecular basis of biologic function<strong><a href="http://http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19818358">Abstract:</a></strong><br />The characterization of the subfamily of steroid hormone receptors has enhanced our understanding of how a set of hormonally derived lipophilic ligands controls cellular and molecular functions to influence development and help achieve homeostasis. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the first member of this subfamily, is a ubiquitously expressed intracellular protein, which functions as a ligand-dependent transcription factor that regulates the expression of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. The effector domains of the GR mediate transcriptional activation by recruiting coregulatory multi-subunit complexes that remodel chromatin, target initiation sites, and stabilize the RNA-polymerase II machinery for repeated rounds of transcription of target genes. This review summarizes the basic aspects of the structure and actions of the human (h) GR, and the molecular basis of its biologic functions.<br />Steroids (2010), 75(1):1-12Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-79985188890851394562010-10-20T05:26:00.001-07:002010-10-20T05:28:01.081-07:00Stress & disorders of the stress system<strong>Chrousos (2009). An excellent <a href="http://http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19488073">article</a>; abstract below</strong>:<br />All organisms must maintain a complex dynamic equilibrium, or homeostasis, which is constantly challenged by internal or external adverse forces termed stressors. Stress occurs when homeostasis is threatened or perceived to be so; homeostasis is re-established by various physiological and behavioral adaptive responses. Neuroendocrine hormones have major roles in the regulation of both basal homeostasis and responses to threats, and are involved in the pathogenesis of diseases characterized by dyshomeostasis or cacostasis. The stress response is mediated by the stress system, partly located in the central nervous system and partly in peripheral organs. The central, greatly interconnected effectors of this system include the hypothalamic hormones arginine vasopressin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides, and the locus ceruleus and autonomic norepinephrine centers in the brainstem. Targets of these effectors include the executive and/or cognitive, reward and fear systems, the wake-sleep centers of the brain, the growth, reproductive and thyroid hormone axes, and the gastrointestinal, cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and immune systems. Optimal basal activity and responsiveness of the stress system is essential for a sense of well-being, successful performance of tasks, and appropriate social interactions. By contrast, excessive or inadequate basal activity and responsiveness of this system might impair development, growth and body composition, and lead to a host of behavioral and somatic pathological conditions. Nat Rev Endocrinol 5(7):374-81Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-2302925920102244922010-10-20T05:21:00.000-07:002010-10-20T05:24:09.867-07:00Neuroendocrinology of post-traumatic stress disorderPervanidou & Chrousos (2010)<br /><strong>Abstract:</strong> Dysregulation of the stress system, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the locus caeruleus/norepinephrine-sympathetic nervous system (SNS), is involved in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an anxiety disorder that develops after exposure to traumatic life events. Neuroendocrine studies in individuals with PTSD have demonstrated elevated basal cerebrospinal fluid corticotropin-releasing hormone concentrations and contradictory results from peripheral measurements, exhibiting low 24 hours excretion of urinary free cortisol, low or normal circulating cortisol levels or even high plasma cortisol levels. The direction of HPA axis activity (hyper-/or hypo-activation), as evidenced by peripheral cortisol measures, may depend on variables such as genetic vulnerability and epigenetic changes, age and developmental stage of the individual, type and chronicity of trauma, co-morbid depression or other psychopathology, alcohol or other drug abuse and time since the traumatic experience. On the other hand, peripheral biomarkers of the SNS activity are more consistent, showing increased 24h urinary or plasma catecholamines in PTSD patients compared to control individuals. Chronically disturbed hormones in PTSD may contribute to brain changes and further emotional and behavior symptoms and disorders, as well as to an increased cardiometabolic risk. Prog Brain Res. 182:149-60Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-6143899331077068222010-10-17T01:14:00.000-07:002010-10-17T02:18:18.425-07:00Positve mood & thinking - the benefitsAsk most people and of course they would agree that positive thinking is going to make life better. Asking people how often they spend time in a positive mood can be an interesting self-reflective exercise. It all seems quite obvious really, but it does seem that in many cases negative thinking and rumination prevails. An increasingly popular method of dealing with this way of living is the Buddhist approach of mindfulness. Maintaining awareness of the present moment without judgement is the essence of this practice underpinned by regular meditation. The argument is that we spend far too much time pondering on the past (it's too late, nothing can be done about that) or the future (that has not happened yet) and not enough in appreciating the now. The mind is blamed for taking us off into past events or into scenarios that have not even occurred (e.g. the argument that you are going to have with the boss). How about reducing this mind activity?<br /><br />Research shows us that positive moods increase our visual attention aiding the collection of information about the world around us, improves creativity, social skills, ability to deal with criticism, our verbal reasoning and problem-solving ability. Practicing postive thinking regualarly seems to build our resilience and ability to gain benefit. There is likely to be a genetic disposition (accounting for around 50% of the variability) but we also have the ability to change through learning and adaptation.<br /><br />It is likely that personality type will affect the way in which you create your positive mood. Therefore trying different methods is best. Some ideas to change your mood for the better include challenging your negative thoughts (cognitive restructuring), meditation and developing relationships with family and friends.<br /><br />Those suffering pain often present with a negative mindset that is understandable. Working to restructure the beliefs and thoughts and subsequently how the pain is interpreted is an excellent way of improving control. At Specialist Pain Physio we work closely with patients to lessen the impact of pain and suffering with techniques that increase positivity for the aforementioned reasons. Additionally it has a good effect upon the immune system that is very much involved in pain. It takes time and effort as part of the treatment and rehabilitation programme for pain, chronic pain & injury.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reading</span><br />Be Happy, Dan Jones. New Scientist 25th Sept 2010Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-58390168597560346052010-10-15T01:09:00.000-07:002010-10-15T01:46:10.078-07:00Using langauge in rehabilitationOne of the most interesting aspects to keeping an on current science is the application of the findings to the rehabilitation process. A recent article in the <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/">New Scientist</a> by David Robson discussed the effects of language upon perception. It seems that the words we use have an impact upon what we see. The example used describes words related to up and down movements such as 'climb' and 'drip' have an impact upon the eye's sensitivity to vertical motion. This is based upon the work of <a href="http://www.icn.ucl.ac.uk/Staff-Lists/MemberDetails.php?Title=Prof&FirstName=Gabriella&LastName=Vigliocco">Gabriella Vigliocco</a> at UCL who found that individuals were more likely to determine the direction of moving dots when accompanied by a verb that described the movement.<br /><br />Robson suggests that words prime the visual system, further evidenced by a studies that show when we hear a word we are more able to find obscured images and letters. Creating a mental image from the word may allow us to identify the object more rapidly. It seems that the sounds could also be important and further enhance our perception.<br /><br />Clearly there is a huge integration and scrutiny of the massive input of information from within and around us to create our sense of self. Many people have spoken about this including Melzack who describes the sentient hub and Bud Craig who discusses interoception. Our representation is known to be altered with pain and injury as demonstrated in many fMRI studies but also from descriptions that patients give of their experience of their body. For example, joints feel 'out of place' and hands feel bigger ('sausage fingers'). <a href="http://bodyinmind.com.au/">Lorimer Moseley</a> has done some interesting work where he asked individuals with chronic low back pain to draw their perception of their trunk and spine. The results demonstrated altered awareness and quite distorted images. <br /><br />I see a role for perceptual tasks within a rehabilitation programme and most definitely in a multimodal sense. Working with our mental representation of the body whilst performing motor control exercises seems to enhance the quality of the movement. We know about <a href="http://www.gradedmotorimagery.com/">graded motor imagery</a> and imagined movements and how this can be really effective as part of a programme of care for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Applying these principles to altered perception of body shape, size and position with mental imagery is an interesting application and potentially reconfiguring the <a href="http://painphysio.blogspot.com/2010/10/pain-neuromatrix.html">neuromatrix</a>. Adding language and sounds to the process may enhance this process on the basis that any additional and 'normal' input can reduce the threat value and restore function. Clearly this need to be studied appropriately to discover whether the idea is tangible, however in the meantime, if the individual's perception of their body and its motion can be enhanced with a few simple words, it is a simple application.<br /><br />The Voice of Reason. Robson, D. New Scientist 4th September 2010Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-64510869610941768802010-10-14T07:43:00.001-07:002010-10-17T02:19:14.717-07:00The Pain NeuromatrixThe pain neuromatrix was a concept that came from Ron Melzack who partnered Pat Wall in developing our understanding of pain in a modern sense. Moving on from the Pain Gate Theory, Melzack described a widespread distribution of neurons (brain cells) that imprint a 'neurosignature' upon nerve impulse patterns that pass through the matrix. The neurosignature creates our experience of self including movement and pain. We have an overall neurosignature for our sense of self and subsets of patterns that give us unique experiences such as pain, warmth and other qualities that are produced by these modules.<br /><br />Melzack (2004) describes four components of this concept including the 'body self' where we have the experience of ourselves as a result of the unification of information from the body, the processing and synthesis of the signature, the sentient neural hub that converts the processes into awareness and the subsequent action to achieve the desired goal. In terms of pain as an output from the brain, this would be the end result of an activation of the pain neuromatrix with a characteristic signature, the pain signature. Pain is part of a multi system response to a perceived threat. There are many inputs to the brain that can trigger the pain neuromatrix including movement, thoughts, emotions, touch, memories, fear and visual stimuli to name but a few. The reason that these stimuli can trigger a pain response is in essence due to a perceived threat but also due to the fact that the widespread neurones that make up the pain matrix are involved in all of the aforementioned activities but are also part of the pain neuromatrix.<br /><br />The neuromatrix model provides an excellent explanation for higher level parallel processing of information and the output that occurs as a smooth mechanism creating our conscious experience. Melzack points out that the matrix is genetically determined and moulded by sensory input. This makes sense as we continue to learn as we have new experiences, the nervous system being incredibly plastic (Doidge, 2007). Describing this to patients allows them to understand why there are so many influences upon the pain that they suffer, even if they are unaware of the exact stimulus. In many cases of chronic pain the patient describes an increase in symptoms despite no change in their daily routine. The neuromatrix allows us to look at some of the possible reasons for a flare-up and give reassurance that they have done no 'damage' in the case that there has been no further injury. Empowering the individual with the knowledge that hurt does not mean harm can be extremely useful in many cases.<br /><br />Evolution of the neuromatrix theory of pain. The Prithvi Raj Lecture: Presented at the Third World Congress of World Institute of Pain, Barcelona 2004. Pain Practice, 5(2), 85-94<br />The brain that changes itself. Doidge, N. (2007)Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-60086422166589473772010-10-04T05:32:00.001-07:002010-10-17T02:19:38.097-07:00Pain Medication<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Below are some of the common medications that can be prescribed by your doctor or consultant</span></span><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Paracetemol </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is a simple analgesic that can be beneficial for mild pain. Widely available and safe within prescribed doseages, paracetemol probably works by indirectly inhibiting enzymes known as cyclooxygenases (COX-1 & COX-2). In addition to analgesic effects, there is the well-known antipyretic action (reduces temperature).</span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), e.g. neurofen, ibuprofen, diclofenac </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Commonly prescribed for inflammatory pain, NSAIDs are active in the inhibition of the COX exnzymes. This has been demonstrated scientifically with both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes although many anti-inflammatories are not able to be selective and hence inhibit both. This is the reason for the well-documented side-effects such as gastric irritation and renal failure. Your doctor will advise you on the use of these drugs according to your current medical condition.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">COX-1 is expressed constitutvely and gives rise to prostaglandins which have a a role in normal cell function. COX-2 is expressed when an inflammatory process is underway to produce more prostanoids. Inhibiting the prostaglandin activity by the use of NSAIDs means that normal physiology is affected and therefore the adverse effects can be experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Prostaglandins are metabolised from arachidonic acid by the COX enzymes following tissue damage. NSAIDs act by inhibiting these enzymes and therefore inhibit prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins have the ability to sensitise nerve endings by altering the membrane excitability, therefore the nerve becomes more likely to send 'danger' signals to the spinal cord. There are other breakdown products that have this action, but prostaglandins are one of the best understood. Following sensitisation, pripheral nerves become more respondant to mechanical, chemical and thermal stimuli, hence the reason for pain when we press on or near injured tissue (mechanical), why it is painful to take a shower with sunburn (temperature) and why exercise can be painful (release of acids, i.e. chemical).</span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Opioids (e.g. morphine, tramadol, codeine, dihydrocodeine, pethidine)</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Opioids have been studied in detail over the last 30 years and now we have a great deal of knowledge about how they work and how they affect the nervous system. The discovery of the opioid receptor (like a lock that a specific key would fit, the key being the opiate drug and the lock being the receptor) and where these receptors are situtated. Knowing that there are receptors in the brain for example, means that we can explain the feelings of drowsiness and cognitive impairment (ability to concentrate).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Once an opiate has bound upon a receptor, it inhibits several channels that cross the nerve membrane (calcium and potassium) because it is linked to these channels. The channels allow for the passing of specific ions which alter the excitability of the nerve (i.e. become more excited and sensitive with a change in the balance of flow of these ions). There are further effects within the cell that reduce excitability of the nerve (inhibition of several pathways of activity that lead to increased excitability; cAMP & MAP kinase cascades).</span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Anticonvulsants (e.g. carbamazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin) </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Anticonvulsants are used to treat neuropathic pain (see page on pain types) that is underpinned by changes in nerve excitability. This is as a result of an alteration in the channel (sodium & calcium) expression upon the nerve membrane (see opioids for brief explanation of channels) that is similar to changes that occur in epilepsy (this does not mean that you have epilepsy just because there are some similarities in channel changes).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Gabapentin decreases the on going firing of signals that are generated through sodium channel activity, inhibits calcium channels and acts with the NMDA receptor. The end result is reduced excitability and less signalling to the spinal cord from the periphery.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Carbamazepine is related to tricyclic antidepressants. It inhibits noradrenaline and has an effect upon sodium channels therefore has inhibitory effects by reducing spontaneous nerve activity (a feature of neuropathic pain) and promoting descending inhibition (signals descend from higher levels, brain & brain stem, to inhibit ascending danger signals).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pregabalin has a similar action to gabapentin. It has been shown to be effective in diabetic neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Antidepressants (e.g. tricyclics, SSRIs; amitriptyline, fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine) </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Antidepressants have been discovered to provide pain relief by activating the descending pain-inhibiting system (brain stem to spinal cord). This includes an endorphin release link between the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and the raphe nucleus and a serotonergic link between the raphe nucleus and the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. There is also a noradrenaline pathway from the locus coeruleus to the spinal cord. The most effective drugs appear to be those that have a combined effect upon both the serotonergic and noradrenaline pathways.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Antidepressants are effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain, relieving the stabbing and steady pains. There are side-effects that can be experienced. Your doctor should tell you about the dosage and how the drug is best taken.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-9474574386517040152010-09-30T01:19:00.000-07:002010-10-17T02:20:03.977-07:00Post-surgical inflammatory neuropathy<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20846945">Post-surgical inflammatory neuropathy</a> has been studied by these authors as they felt that other mechanisms maybe at play other than the usual mechanical factors (stretch, compression, contusion, transection). They analysed the clinical features, nerve conduction, imaging and biopsy of the nerves demonstrating some interesting findings indicative of an inflammatory-immune response. For example, Staff et al. (2010) found increased nerve size, abnormal biopsy (increased epineural perivascular lymphocyte inflammation, microvasculitis, ischaemic nerve injury and axon degeneration). Those treated with immunotherapy showed good improvements in pain and nerve function supporting the notion of an immune response.<br />Typically this kind of neuropathy is found remote to the surgical site and presents at a median time of 2 days (0-30 range). This does not fully explain a presentation that occurs on the same limb.<br />Overall this study suggests that the inflammatory-immune response is not uncommon and should be considered as a mechanism to guide treatment. The authors also point out that it may be difficult to distinguish between a mechanical cause and an inflammatory cause and therefore a biopsy would be required to confirm. Of course there could be concurrent mechanisms that we know occur in LBP.Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-13925416276624110052010-09-28T15:09:00.001-07:002010-09-28T15:09:46.242-07:00How to be happy<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote><div> <div> <div><b><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">Read full article</a></b></div> <div>Continue reading page <b> <span>|</span>1 <span>|</span><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">2</a> <span>|</span><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">3</a> </b></div> </div> <p><b>Editorial:</b> <i><a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727792.100-dont-get-too-happy.html">Don't get too happy</a></i></p> <p><i>It's good for your health, it makes you smarter – and our brains are hard-wired for it. <b>New Scientist</b> counts our reasons to be cheerful</i></p> <p>DOOM and gloom are the order of the day across most of the western world. Economies are faltering, the cost of living is going up and many people's real income is falling. For some, unemployment is a reality now or in the near future. If the pursuit of happiness is supposed to be one of our goals, prospects appear bleak.</p> <p>Take a closer look, and it isn't that simple. In fact, economic hard times have little impact on how happy most people feel. Indeed, it would appear that we humans are built to experience happiness, and understanding why is helping us work out what enhances our feelings of well-being. It even points to ways we can adapt to cope with the hardships the recession may bring, and keep smiling whatever happens.</p> <p>One thing that is clear is that once life's basics are paid for, the power of money to bring happiness is limited. In fact, it can be positively harmful to our sense of well-being. <a href="http://www.fapse.ulg.ac.be/web/myspace.php?id=u193853&lng=en" target="nsarticle">Jordi Quoidbach</a> of the University of Liège, Belgium, and colleagues recently asked a group of people to taste a piece of chocolate in their laboratory. They found that the wealthier members of the group spent less time savouring the experience, and reported enjoying the chocolate less than the subjects who weren't so well off. The same was also true of one group in a separate experiment. This time, half the people had been primed with images of money before they tasted the chocolate. These participants enjoyed the tasting less than a group who had not seen the images, suggesting that just the thought of money is enough to stem our enjoyment of life's simple pleasures (<a href="http://pss.sagepub.com/content/21/6/759.abstract" target="nsarticle"><i>Psychological Science</i>, vol 21, p 759</a>).</p> <p>So just what is it that makes us happy? Happiness can take the form of many different positive emotions <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">(See "Happiness is...")</a>, and some hints of what makes us happy may come from work that questions why these emotions first evolved. The answer isn't as obvious as it is in the case of negative emotions. These are clearly beneficial in the rough and tumble of survival: anger readies us to fight an opponent, fear makes us run away from danger, and disgust steers us away from contaminated foods and other sources of infection. Although there is no shortage of evidence that feelings of pleasure - obtained by finding a tasty meal or a sexy mate, for example - are important in rewarding and consolidating beneficial behaviours, it is harder to explain how the more diffuse positive emotions such as awe, hope or gratitude evolved.</p> <p>This troubled psychologist <a href="http://fredrickson.socialpsychology.org/" target="nsarticle">Barbara Fredrickson</a> of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, so she started looking for evolutionary benefits that pleasure might confer. "I thought there must be more to it than this," she recalls.</p> <p>Fredrickson's "broaden and build" theory proposes that happiness and similar positive states of mind improve our cognitive capacities while we are in safe situations, allowing us to build resources around us for the long term. That's in marked contrast to the effects of negative emotions like fear, which focus our attention so we can deal with short-term problems. "Positive feelings change the way our brains work and expand the boundaries of experience, allowing us to take in more information and see the big picture," Fredrickson argues.</p> <div><div><div> <div> Positive feelings change the way our brains work, allowing us to take in more information </div> </div></div></div> <p>Since she proposed it in 1998 in the <i>Review of General Psychology</i> (<a href="http://www.unc.edu/peplab/publications/what_good.pdf" target="nsarticle">vol 2, p 300</a>), her theory has gathered a wealth of experimental support. Eye-tracking and brain-imaging experiments, for example, have revealed that positive moods increase and broaden the scope of visual attention, helping the brain gather more information.</p> <h3>A happy solution</h3> <p>Feeling good has also been shown to improve people's creativity and ability to solve problems. In one experiment, subjects were shown a video of comedy bloopers to lighten their mood, before being presented with a practical problem involving a box of matches, a box of tacks and a candle. They were told to attach the candle to a pinboard in such a way that wax didn't drip on the floor (the solution is to use the matchbox as a plinth for the candle). The experimenters found that people who had viewed the comedy clips were more likely to solve the problem than controls who saw a mathematics documentary intended to put them in a more neutral mood (<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6X01-4NDX3Y3-5&_user=4200739&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F1987&_alid=1450040123&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_zone=rslt_list_item&_cdi=7201&_sort=r&_st=13&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=1&_acct=C000000593&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=4200739&md5=eaf392ad6f6a4ae3f9ffbf0e2a61a8c7&searchtype=a" target="nsarticle"><i>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</i>, vol 52, p 1122</a>).</p> <p>Other experiments have found that a good mood improves people's verbal reasoning skills (<a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/104/1/383.abstract" target="nsarticle"><i>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</i>, vol 104, p 383</a>). And various studies have shown that when people are in a good mood, their social skills improve: they become more gregarious and trusting of others, and deal more constructively with criticism.</p> <div> <div><b><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">Read full article</a></b></div> <div>Continue reading page <b> <span>|</span>1 <span>|</span><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">2</a> <span>|</span><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">3</a> </b></div> </div> <div> <div> <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#"> <img title="Issue 2779 of New Scientist magazine" src="http://feeds.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/covers/20100925.jpg" alt="Issue 2779 of New Scientist magazine" /></a><p> </p><div> <ul> <li><b><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">Subscribe to New Scientist</a></b> and you'll get:</li> <li>New Scientist magazine delivered to your door</li> <li>Unlimited access to all New Scientist online content - <br />a benefit only available to subscribers</li> <li>Great savings from the normal price</li> <li><b><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">Subscribe now!</a></b></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div><a></a></div> <p> </p><p> </p><div><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#"><img title="print" src="http://feeds.newscientist.com/img/icon/printv.jpg" alt="print" /></a><p></p></div> <div><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#"><img title="send" src="http://feeds.newscientist.com/img/icon/sendv.jpg" alt="send" /></a><p></p></div> <div> <a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php"><img src="http://feeds.newscientist.com/img/icon/sharev.jpg" alt="" /></a><p> </p></div> </div> <p>If you would like <b>to reuse any content</b> from New Scientist, either in print or online, please <b><a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/contact/syndication?titleOrURL=http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727791.000">contact the syndication</a></b> department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">variety of licensing options</a> available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.</p> <div> <h6>Have your say</h6> <p>Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.</p> </div> <div> <p> </p><div> <div> <h3>Optimistic Twaddle?</h3> <p>Tue Sep 28 21:29:48 BST 2010 by <b>Cannonfodderson</b> </p> </div> <div> <p>Here we have some 'cheer up your not dead yet' kind of optimistic nonsense and yet there's another article on your website saying there's only 5 billion years till the end of the Universe.</p><p> Optimism ? I'm not too happy about that</p> </div> <div> <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#"><b>login and reply</b></a> <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#"><b>report this comment</b></a> </div> </div> <p> </p><p>All comments should respect the <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">New Scientist House Rules</a>. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.</p> <p>If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm#">contact technical support</a>.</p> </div> </div></blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10904/s/e30ab14/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cmg20A7277910B0A0A0A0Ehow0Eto0Ebe0Ehappy0Ebut0Enot0Etoo0Emuch0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Flife/story01.htm">feeds.newscientist.com</a></div> <p></p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/how-to-be-happy">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-38320574548437876772010-09-28T05:05:00.000-07:002010-09-28T05:07:23.880-07:00How old do you feel?We all know of people who look fantastic ‘for their age’. How do some individuals achieve this status whilst others feel twice their age? There are a number of physical and psychological factors that affect the process of ageing such as general health and wellbeing, disease and our own perception of our age. It is this latter point that we shall focus upon with a growing body of scientific literature identifying the very real physiological links between thoughts, beliefs and the physical body.<p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Beliefs are grooved through our upbringing and molded by experience. Behaviours are driven by our beliefs and therefore the choices we make depend upon what we believe to be ‘true’. The importance of this in terms of ageing is that if we believe that we are ‘old’, ‘past it’ or ‘getting on a bit’, then typically the way that we go about our business will reflect this attitude. This of course includes our outward appearance to the world. Believing that you are ‘old’ may lead to the choice of clothing that supports this belief rather than considering an outfit that enhances your positive features and gives you a sense of femininity, glamour or sexiness. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Age can be noted in three ways, chronologically, physiologically and psychologically. Chronological age is the actual number of years that you have been alive, physiological age is the age of your organs and tissues and psychological age is your own perception of your age. The former is clearly unchangeable, however physiological and psychological ages vary according to our health. For example, smoking, drinking and a lack of exercise will have a detrimental effect upon our organs and tissues and hence the physiological ages of these structures. Interestingly, psychological age has an effect upon the physiology of the body as proven by a famous study completed in 1979. In placing individuals in a 1950s environment their measurable health parameters changed for the better, including eyesight. These individuals became ‘younger’ by manipulating the environment to alter their perception of the era.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So what does this mean? Essentially we can affect our health by feeling younger, changing our thought patterns and our beliefs. This is really very exciting as there are practical ways of becoming healthier and enjoying life to the full by changing our thinking and perception of ourselves. A makeover and styling session that optimises your look will have a significant impact upon your perception of who you are including how old you feel. Combining this with an exercise programme and healthy diet and you can really feel and look different. We know that exercise makes your brain fitter and more capable of concentrating, learning, remembering, reverses some of the effects of ageing by promoting the growth of new brain cells and improves mood. There’s no time like the present to ‘grow younger’.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">See NHJ Style website: click <a href="http://www.nhjstyle.com/">here</a><br /></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-83128990406347123432010-09-28T05:03:00.001-07:002010-09-28T05:03:24.345-07:00Clinical Investigation of Pain-related Fear and Pain Catastrophizing for Patients With Low Back Pain<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <div class="posterous_quote_citation"> Check out this website I found at <a href="http://pdfs.journals.lww.com/clinicalpain/9000/00000/Clinical_Investigation_of_Pain_related_Fear_and.99960.pdf">pdfs.journals.lww.com</a></div> <p>Useful measures to identify factors that can affect outcomes: FABQ-PA & PCS</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/clinical-investigation-of-pain-related-fear-a">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-81777993132339289622010-09-28T05:02:00.001-07:002010-09-28T05:02:06.683-07:00How injured nerves grow themselves back<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/painphysio/HlgeDADhEwgcerGbwGwIEGCtguGBmgzaqrJEsxiHlGhBqypuBqngEwkixhob/media_httpwwwscienced_peHlj.gif.scaled500.gif" width="250" height="85"/> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100927141144.htm">sciencedaily.com</a></div> <p>Good new information about how injured nerves grow back, in particular identifying Schwann cell and fibroblast activity and inter-communication.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/how-injured-nerves-grow-themselves-back">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-692375493300738002010-09-28T04:51:00.001-07:002010-09-28T04:51:45.944-07:00Mindfulness meditation may ease fatigue, depression in multiple sclerosis<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/painphysio/oqerugIFrnqfCxkuhbdrlwwHEEzvqmEIxybwAdmzHFGIysvJhEbnhkhCuurv/media_httpwwwscienced_CyzBy.gif.scaled500.gif" width="250" height="85"/> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100927162243.htm">sciencedaily.com</a></div> <p>More evidence for mindfulness.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/mindfulness-meditation-may-ease-fatigue-depre">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-55327788888843418002010-09-27T02:01:00.000-07:002010-09-27T02:03:23.451-07:00Pain Physio Tweeting<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">PAINPHYSIO ON TWITTER</span><o:p style="font-family: arial;"></o:p></span> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 105%;font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><a href="http://twitter.com/painphysio">http://twitter.com/painphysio</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 105%;" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="line-height: 105%;font-size:12pt;" lang="EN-US" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Having dabbled lightly in social media, my interest in Twitter was first aroused by hearing Aggers and Bumble talk of ‘tweeting’ during a test match. Wondering what it was all about, I thought I would check out this phenomena and here we are some 450 tweets later. In fact, Twitter is a really good way of passing on information in a quick and ‘no-fuss’ way, either making a brief comment or linking to a page on the web. If you take a moment and click on link above you will be able to see that the vast proportion of the painphysio tweets relate to pain, science, health and medicine that is relevant to clients and health professionals. </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3584493536096582506.post-87232154164374432422010-09-27T01:50:00.001-07:002010-09-27T01:50:36.358-07:00Can't focus? Maybe it's the wrong time of month, finds estrogen study on attention and learning<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/painphysio/IaokgqowcfopAFnIDeFssJrBqpdferJkxCAktEluBtmwgwxgFoqAAksqhoyy/media_httpwwwscienced_ipCiI.gif.scaled500.gif" width="250" height="85"/> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100924102955.htm">sciencedaily.com</a></div> <p>Pain is influenced by hormone activity. Focus and concentration are affected by pain. It is good to think about these interrelations and how we can consider our treatments in response. If pain is amplified at certain times in the cycle and focus is a problem at particular points or when in pain, education can be tailored and exercise programmes prescribed accordingly.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://painphysio.posterous.com/cant-focus-maybe-its-the-wrong-time-of-month">Specialist Pain Physio</a> </p> </div>Richmond Stacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16623571943551909444noreply@blogger.com0