This is the last week to enter to win prizes at How to Cope with Pain!

Welcome to July’s Pain-Blog Carnival… the best articles of July.  And there’s a great selection this month.  Sit back in the shade with an ice-cold lemonade and enjoy!

In Sickness and in Health discussses 2 sides of pain in Chronic Pain: Tormentor and Mentor.

Healthskills: Skills for Healthy Living discusses Smoking and Pain.

A Chronic Dose sends in 2 articles.  What’s in a Treatment explores the promise of medical research and what makes “good” research for patients.  An Open Mind values open minds in physicians - being open to the less obvious diagnoses, and in patients - believing you can get answers.

One Big Health Nut also treats us to 2 posts.  Relaxation Alleviates Stress describes the health benefits of taking time to relax - are you enjoying that lemonade?  And The Alternative to Hip Replacement for Arthritis Sufferers talks about another, less-promoted procedure that could provide earlier and longer-lasting relief.

Speaking of that lemonade, Working with Chronic Illness realized that she made lemonade out of some pretty bitter lemons in writing a book about working with a chronic illness.  Her post:  Lemonade, Anyone?

Another article which evaluates a type of treatment is by Somebody Heal Me: The Musings of a Chronic Migraineur.  Deciding Whether to Gamble on Botox for Migraine Prevention evaluates the conflicting and confusing studies around Botox.  (And is that a pretty new picture at the top of your blog?)

And wondering about an epidural?  The Back Pain Blog presents a series on epidural injections, with Sciatica and the Epidural:  Are You a Candidate?

Fighting Fatigue shares some of the latest research which shows that exercise can improve both the mood and physical function of people with fibromyalgia.

Discussing an economic viewpoint on Interstitial Cystitis (a painful bladder condition) is a new contributor to the pain-blog carnival, IC Disease.

Easing Chronic Pain offers a resource to help you find a doctor in your area who specializes in fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue in Finding a Doctor.

Thanks to everyone for their submissions!
The August Pain-Blog Carnival will be Wednesday, August 27
Deadline for submissions:  Friday, August 22
Send in your submissions here.

And the medical Grand Rounds carnival is up at Edwin Leap, M.D.

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