Once again I had to use avoidance by distraction to help cope with a chronic pain flare up.  This led me to writing about it tonight.  Sometimes when I have a pain flare up I’m fortunate to be able to just stop everything, but most of the time I need to keep functioning.  When necessary I have learned—and taught many other people—that avoidance by distracting myself will help take the focus off the unpleasant sensation of pain.

The pain doesn’t magically “go away” but it is much less problematic if I’m focused on something more interesting and exciting for example.  Today I used reading something fun and exciting to take the focus off of my pain.  At other times I’ll talk to someone about what’s going on with them.  I also can watch a movie I’ve been putting off or go for a walk in a peaceful place.  If I’m out teaching or training people I can put my entire focus on them.

Will this always work?  Of course not.  But it does help take the edge off while I implement other nonpharmacological pain management tools or take appropriately prescribed medication in rare instances.  My pain management is not a rigid approach but it first and foremost must also protect my recovery.  I’m always looking for new ways to live with pain flare ups because sometimes they come at the most inconvenient times.

A final word of caution:  Using distracting or avoidance techniques should not be used until you are sure that it won’t make your overall situation worse.  I’ve made that particular mistake many times and ended up causing myself more pain than I needed to have.  Remember, pain is a signal that something is wrong and needs attention.  Unfortunately though, sometimes pain signals get turned on or amplified when no actual damage or danger is present.  Telling the difference is a very important part of ongoing chronic pain management.

To learn more about chronic pain management please check out our website at www.addiction-free.com and go to our Publications page and check out my book Managing Pain and Coexisting Disorders: Using the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System. You can also check out our Articles page to download my free article The Right to Quality Chronic Pain Management.

Migraine is a tough chronic pain condition for both patients and healthcare providers. Many people living with chronic migraines often get to the point were medication isn’t helping or the side effects from the medication becomes problematic—including addiction. I just ran across new research about a device that may help alleviate the need for medication management for migraines. I’m posting some of that information below. For more information please go to www.efluxmedia.com and search under migraine research.

Medtronic, the medical device maker, sponsored a study called the Occipital Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Intractable Migraine (ONSTIM), in which they collected data from 66 patients, who they followed for three months.  According to Dr. Joel R. Saper, M.D., founder and director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute, occipital nerve stimulation could prove to be the alternative therapy option for patients suffering from chronic migraine.

The study consisted of planting thin lead wires under the skin, near the occipital nerves, which were connected to a neurostimulator that delivered controlled electrical pulses to the occipital nerves.  Patients were randomly divided into three groups: one group received a neurostimulator, having the ability to control the level of stimulation, others were given a neurostimulator as part of a device control group, while the third group received standard medical treatment.

The occipital nerve stimulation therapy received a positive response, with a 50 percent reduction in the number of headache days a month, or a reduction in the pain intensity of three points on a 0-10 scale.  The effects of occipital nerve stimulation for chronic migraine have not been fully studied yet, but according to Saper, the early experience in the study was enough to prove that some chronic migraine patients who have ran out of treatment options might benefit from it.

Approximately 28 million Americans suffer from migraines, and 70 of them are women. The treatments available to date work in most cases, however, 3 to 14 percent of people suffering from migraines become intractable to medical therapies. According to Medtronic, these people could be perfect candidates for the occipital nerve stimulation treatment.

To learn more about chronic pain management please check out our website at www.addiction-free.com and go to our Publications page and check out my book Managing Pain and Coexisting Disorders: Using the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System. You can also check out our Research page to review additional information about Migraine Management.

I’ve spent this past week at Sunshine Coast Health Center in picturesque Powel River British Columbia.  This program is tucked away in a relaxing and peaceful setting where clients’ can be free of the frenetic urban stressors and yet is only a mere 30 minute flight from Vancouver. This is a private all male treatment program that addresses the specific needs of their clients. They are in an expansion process and soon will have the ability to serve 36 clients starting with detoxification if needed and start the discharge and continuing care planning during the first week in treatment.

Sunshine Coast is completing the process of becoming the first Canadian Gorski-CENAPS® Relapse Prevention Center of Excellence. Sunshine Coast is committed to de-mystifying the relapse process.  Relapse Prevention has been a missing component in most Canadian treatment programs so Sunshine Coast is breaking new ground in a powerful manner.

The staff is committed helping clients who have a history or risk of relapse stop the revolving door of going in and out of recovery and/or treatment programs. They are resolved to using science-based best practice principles of treatment including the Gorski-CENAPS® model of Relapse Prevention Counseling (identifying and managing high-risk situations) and Relapse Prevention Therapy (identifying and managing warning signs related to core personality and life-style issues).
 
One of the most important interventions Sunshine Coast staff provides is allowing the clients to become accountable and responsible for their own recovery process. The entire staff walks along side the clients in their heroic journey.  They see their clients as “heroes” on their personal journey through life who have hit obstacles and road blocks caused by their use of alcohol and other drugs and other self-defeating behaviors.  Sunshine Center’s motto is “Your Partner in Recovery” reflects thier commitment to treat clients with the respect they deserve.

If you want to learn more about Sunshine Coast please check out their website at www.sunshinecoasthealthcentre.ca.  

To learn more about chronic pain management please check out our website at www.addiction-free.com and go to our Publications page and check out my book Managing Pain and Coexisting Disorders: Using the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System. You can also check out our Articles page to download my free article Relapse Prevention and Chronic Pain Management.