I recently came across a book review of Saints to Lean On and wanted to interview the author, Sister Janice McCrane.   Sister McGrane was diagnosed at age 25 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a form of arthritis which is painful and which also creates deformities in the joints. She shares some of her wisdom below. How […]

What do doctors want from patients?  What helps doctors give you the best care? But first, 2 precautions, so this article isn’t taken the wrong way… 1. Don’t worry about needing to be a perfect patient. 2. These suggestions aren’t so your doctor’s life is better, but so you can help your doctor be able to give you the best treatment. […]

This post is part of a series on how Hinduism views pain and suffering. Today we’ll look at What Do Researchers Find When They Put Acceptance To The Test As A Way To Cope With Pain? Acceptance of chronic pain is defined by pain researcher Lance McCracken as living with pain without reaction, disapproval, or attempts to […]

This article is part of a series about how Hinduism views pain and suffering. Today we’ll look at What published studies tell us about acceptance as a coping skill. In pain medicine journals, an excellent researcher Lance McCracken defines acceptance of chronic pain as living with pain without reaction, disapproval, or attempts to reduce or […]

Mirror, mirror on the wall Can you help my pain, after all? Well, that’ a version of the rhyme that never made it into Snow White! But if you’re looking for pain relief (instead of finding out who’s the fairest of them all :), mirror boxes might offer an answer. Mirror image therapy is an exciting treatment for […]

This post is part of a series about how Hinduism views pain and suffering. Today we’ll look at acceptance strategies to cope with pain. Of the Hindu concepts we’ve talked about, acceptance, from a nonreligious perspective, has been studied in pain research. Although acceptance isn’t unique to Hinduism, it’s certainly central to the religion, and includes […]

Reflect (ha-ha) for a moment, how nice it would be, if something as simple as looking in a mirror could help lessen your pain. Well, you might like what you see!! Mirror image therapy is an exciting treatment for an increasing number of pain conditions. Today we’ll look at an uncommon pain disorder, phantom pain, but one that […]

This post is part of a series about how Hinduism views pain and suffering.  Today, we’ll look at When Religion Becomes A Hindrance, Rather than A Help: Although religion can be a positive resource for some, there are times when religious coping can be ineffective. For Hindus, a first potential challenge may be the feeling of […]

Today we’re looking at how mindfulness relates to our experiences of chronic pain. I’ve asked my pain management colleague Dr. David Kannerstein to say more about this connection. Dr. Kannerstein: “Mindfulness can be understood in different ways. Fundamentally, it means focusing your attention on what you’re experiencing in the present moment, without judging it. This may […]

This post is in a series about Hinduism and Pain. Today, we’ll look at Attachment and Detachment to Things in this World. Attachment and detachment are concepts that in Hindu traditions relate to one’s level of involvement in this world and to the power this world holds over one’s state of mind. Attachment signifies overinvolvement in […]