Many of us make end-of-year donations to our favorite charities.  Perhaps this year you’d like to consider supporting some of the wonderful charities that help people with pain.  These charities:

support patients by providing information and connections
support physicians and other health care providers in providing better treatment
sponsor research to learn more about pain, so that better […]

We traveled for Christmas, and a family member who’ll remain nameless forgot to bring my suitcase down to the car to pack it. No luggage = no medication. I still take 2 medications at low doses for my pain disorder, so this was a problem.
Here’s a secret to know…

A patient I saw recently had a bad experience in her doctor’s office related to narcotics. A new doctor decided to quickly get her off narcotics - and the patient experienced needless physical and emotion suffering.
Unfortunately, problems related to narcotics are common. The issues surrounding narcotics are very complicated, and include…

medical (what types of pain […]

The holidays are wonderful, yet they can also increase our stress levels.  I’m always on the look-out for quick soothers.  Here are some I found in an Escrips newsletter (a company that lets you donate to schools when you shop.)

Have 2 minutes?
Massage your lower back by lying on a tennis ball and rolling away tension

5 […]

Part II: “Fear Avoidance”
We know that 2 types of thinking can make your pain worse and cause greater disability:  1) catastrophizing and 2) fear avoidance.  We previously looked at “catastrophizing,” or seeing your situation as a catastrophe, and learned ways to change that type of thinking.  Today we’ll look at “fear avoidance.”  This is a tendency […]

Part I: “Catastrophizing”
Your pain is bad enough, but yes, some types of thinking can make it feel worse and cause greater disability. 2 types of thinking can make your pain worse, 1) catastrophizing and 2) fear avoidance. Today we’ll look at “catastrophizing.” This is a tendency to:

focus more so than necessary […]

Has this happened to you?  You go to see a necompletely different treatment plan from your current pain management plan is recommended.  Or you seek out a 2nd opinion and get a completely different game plan.  Or a physical therapist or psychiatrist recommends a different approach.
This can be confusing and scary…especially if you’re told that […]

Noc-turtle!
What’s a joke doing in a pain blog?  Well, laughing can help you feel better.  No, pain isn’t funny, but ‘funny’ can help your pain.
Laughing makes you feel good.  And there are other ways it’s good for you.  Laughing:

reduces pain by releasing endorphins, your natural pain killers

improves your immune system

perks you up by getting your blood […]

Hello!  I’m a Board Certified Psychiatrist in practice for 15 years in Pennsylvania.  I have a private practice, working mostly with patients in chronic pain.  I also teach psychiatry residents and do research in chronic pain.  My guiding principle in practicing as a physician is to help patients in all areas of their lives - medical, […]

Welcome to www.howtocopewithpain.org/blog, a resource for those with chronic pain, their families and friends, and for those who treat patients with chronic pain. You’ll find a wide range of information related to pain, including medical, psychological, and psychiatric information. As pain can affect all areas of life, I also address work and relationship issues, improving […]