Ouch! Do you suffer from fibromyalgia? Unfortunately, a simple blood test will not show this condition, which makes it particularly difficult to diagnose. To make things worse, many of the symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to other diseases/conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, which can also be accompanied by mysterious pain. At Strive, we are here to help patients understand where their pain is coming from and how to manage it!
Summer brings with it travel, water activities, food & fun. As most of us know, the relentless heat can be less than pleasant! Below are a few tips to help those who suffer from chronic pain to enjoy the outdoors. With just a few adaptations, it’s possible to be outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and fun.
Swimming is unique in that our spines don’t have to work as hard to support our bodies. The backstroke is excellent because it promotes a neutral spine and reduces the risk of hyperextension associated with other swim strokes. Beyond swimming, many of our patients with degenerative disc disease also tell us they find relief in light stretching or other aquatic exercises.
Have you been drinking enough, or do you need something more to wet your whistle? Over the past several months I’ve been talking a lot about chronic conditions or injuries, but with the long hot summer days upon us, I feel it’s important to discuss hydration. Let’s get into the importance of staying hydrated and the signs and symptoms that this need isn’t being met.
Between tempers flaring on social media and not so comforting headlines in the news, it’s no wonder why your smartphone might be giving you a headache! But in all seriousness, if you use a smartphone and suffer from headaches, it might be time to get to the bottom of it and break some habits.
When circumstances around us change quickly, we often complain of whiplash! In this sense, the phrase can refer to an emotional reaction.
But what exactly is whiplash in a physical sense? If you don’t know the answer, then that’s good news! You probably don’t have it.
“Whiplash-associated disorders” (WAD) is the term given to the variety of symptoms that patients often report following acceleration/deceleration injury to the neck.
It’s a bit of a chicken and egg conundrum. Is the pain the cause of the fatigue, or is fatigue a separate issue making pain worse?
The link between pain and energy loss is clear.
Patients who experience chronic pain often report daytime fatigue. The low energy can be just as difficult to manage as the pain itself.
Gardening for many, has up until recently, been an idea cast away on a list of hobbies to pursue one day when we have more time. Well, for many, that time is now. With the time off from jobs, school, and sports activities, there’s no time like the present to test out that green thumb and grow some of our own summer veggies.
If someone gives you the cold shoulder, don’t take it personally. They might be dealing with PAC, which can make folks a little grouchy…understandably. This pesky, aching inflammation issue known as primary/idiopathic adhesive capsulitis (PAC), affects an estimated 5% of the population. More common in women than men, those who have PAC may feel an intense pain in the shoulder,
Often when providers ask their patients if they engage in regular activity, they respond affirmatively. When asked to describe their exercise routine some patients begin to report various activities that they pursue through the course of their day. While other times, they respond that they get a lot of exercise as a result of their employment which involves being on their feet all day,