Pain Management and Chronic Pain - Symptoms

Leola, 78, lives in Montgomery, AL. She has suffered from arthritis for decades, but didn t give up on finding ways to cope with and manage this painful condition. Read on to see how she continues to overcome against the pain in her joints.

Learn how over-the-counter or custom orthotics (such as shoe inserts or braces) may give your feet the support they need.

Are aches your constant companion? You re not alone. Learn more about coping with chronic pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis doesn't define this funny guy. Learn how Matt is continuing to follow his dreams.

Shoulder pain shouldn't be ignored, especially if it limits your arm's mobility. Here's what you need to know.

Failing hips and arthritic knees can take a toll on your love life. Replacement surgery puts the pain in the past and improves mobility, which translates into better sex, too.

Have you been diagnosed with this rheumatic condition? Learn more about how you can manage gout with your diet.

While the logistics of air travel can be a pain in the neck, for some, flying can literally be a pain in the head.

Understanding what you're experiencing can help you find the appropriate treatment.

Do you often wake up with an aching back? Use these techniques to limber up.

For some, the most difficult part of coping with lupus is the way it hinders the ability to concentrate and focus.

If working with Lupus is becoming part of your job description, it s time to know your rights and responsibilities.

While some find relief from this ancient form of Chinese medicine, more research is needed to determine its true benefits.

Understanding the source of your discomfort is the first step in receiving the right treatment regimen.

Arthritis doesn t just affect adults. Many children have this chronic condition, too.

Are you familiar with this supplement, which may provide relief from osteoarthritis symptoms?

Learn the different stages of migraines and how you can better manage them.

While you can t control Mother Nature, you can take charge of your weather-related migraines.

Curb your sweet tooth, and you just may notice an improvement in your symptoms.

This treatment option enables doctors to effectively target scar tissue that may be causing pain or limiting range of motion.

Your head aches, your eyes hurt, and you're sneezing, coughing, and experiencing chills. Is it a bad cold, or could this be the start of the flu?

How long in the hospital? How long until recovered? How do they actually replace a knee? Get straightforward answers to these and other questions.

How is a hip replaced? What are symptoms after? What's the recovery time? Get straightforward answers to these and other questions.

The symptoms of lupus are similar to other diseases, and no two cases are alike making it difficult to diagnose.

It's important to know arthritis can strike at any age because early treatment is key.

You look well. What are the challenges when you feel anything but on the inside?

Why do these bursts of pain occur? How can you prevent them and address them quickly when they come on?

Back pain affects nearly everyone at some point. And for men there are some particular causes and solutions.

Find out what helps and what hurts when it comes to preventing gout.

Pain is a communication system, but what is it trying to say? Focus on the different types of pain to uncover its secrets.

It can be hard to tell the difference between these two common conditions, but migraine headaches and sinus infections do have some hallmark signs.

Is that burning, tingling, pain and numbness in your hands carpal tunnel syndrome? Your doctor can put it to the test.

The rigors of daily living make the occasional ache commonplace. But when have you crossed the line to chronic pain?

Don't get bogged down in the fallacies about lupus. Get the facts here.

Ouch! Ease those sharp muscle spasms, and try these preventative tips including keeping hydrated.

This medication can be a blessing and a curse. Here's how to tell if you, or a loved one, have crossed the line into addiction.

One startling example of the mind-body connection is the link between back pain and depression.

By taking care of your health on a daily basis, you ll be better equipped to live well with fibromyalgia.

Follow these tips to prevent a painful bout with gout.

Typically a treatment for patients suffering from depression, transcranial direct current stimulation shows benefits for those coping with chronic pain.

This form of massage combines the relaxation of yoga and the muscular benefits of physical therapy.

Officially called "cognitive dysfunction" or "cognitive impairment," many people living with lupus find this symptom the most difficult part.

Even when pain feels like it's in your bones or joints, the root cause might be located in your muscles.

Many different types of medications can be used to treat heartburn. But what works for one person may not work for another.

Although arthritis can be debilitating, there are a variety of treatment options to help keep symptoms in check. Here's a look at the disease by the numbers.

How could this therapy help you manage your worst pain symptoms?

While some exercises can cause your neck pain, performing these may remedy it.

Learn how to address pain, fatigue, and other obstacles in a way that works for you and your employer.

From traction tables to decompression belts, this form of back pain relief has critics and supporters.

People who live with depression often also suffer from headaches. What's the link?

"Barefoot" running shoes are gaining popularity. But do they benefit your body or cause more strain?

While it's praised for its meditative approach to exercise, some experts are critical of the high incidence of injury.

If you have ongoing back pain, OMT offers a holistic approach to pain relief that addresses a variety of physical conditions.

Learn about the most common forms of arthritis, from causes and symptoms to treatment.

Headaches are among the most common pain symptoms in the world. Learn about the different types of headaches and what causes them.

For millions of people living with lupus, having a satisfying love life can be complicated. It doesn't have to mean life without one, however. Here's how to keep your the bedroom sizzling even if lupus is part of your life.

Mind over matter: You've heard it so many times, it may seem meaningless. But new research shows how emotional therapy helps to make pain symptoms easier to bear.

Tender point exams have been the gold standard for diagnosing fibromyalgia. But could the process be flawed?

Typically thought of as a remedy for depression, some experts are studying the effects of talk therapy on chronic pain.

Bringing a pet into your home is a big commitment, but it can come with serious rewards including a potential reduction of your pain.

Pain often comes from the inside. But could items on your exterior contribute to your discomfort?

Up to10 percent of children under 18 suffer from migraines, but many go undiagnosed. Here are the migraine symptoms children most often experience.

Many headache sufferers swear there's a link between their pain and the weather. Now, studies are beginning to corroborate this belief.

If you live with chronic pain, you may need painkilling medications to help you make it through the day-to-day grind. However, if you rely too heavily on over-the-counter (OTC) medications, you may run the risk of developing long term and potentially deadly health risks.

Chronic pain doesn't just affect your body but your emotions as well. In fact nearly 30 percent of pain patients suffer from depression.

If you suffer from stress or tension headaches, find out what causes them and how you can prevent or effectively treat them.

It can be difficult to see someone you care about suffering from pain. You want to help, but you're not sure how. So you cast about for something to say...and you end up making your loved one more upset than before. How did your comment get taken so wrongly? And what should you have said instead?

Prescription glasses, over-the-counter reading glasses, and sunglasses may be contributing to your headaches. The good news is that there are clear solutions to solve this problem.

It's perfectly normal to be skeptical of lifting weights, especially if you never have or if you've always been told that you couldn't. Here, we outline how strength training can benefit those suffering from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and common injuries.

Losing that excess weight and becoming active can reduce and even eliminate your pain. But how can you safely get started? Our plan will get you exercising at almost any weight and with nearly any condition.

Research shows that as many as 60 percent of IBS patients also have fibromyalgia and as many as 70 percent of fibromyalgia patients have IBS. So what s the connection? Get the answer here.

Unlike other types of muscular back pain, which go away and typically don't come back, menstrual back pain can be a frequent, unwelcome visitor.

There's been much talk about the possibility that wearing high heels could be connected with getting migraines, but is there scientific weight to this claim?

If you live with frequent headaches or migraines, it's important to know what's causing them and what stops them. Sometimes it's all about what you eat.

The effects of fibromyalgia are far reaching and may even extend to your love life. But it doesn't have to ruin everything. We've got five tips for coping with fibro, so that you can enjoy your relationship.

Can one of America's most popular cosmetic treatments provide powerful relief for chronic back pain? Many doctors and patients say, "yes." Here's what you need to know about back pain, Botox, and the beauty of pain relief.

While over-the-counter pain relievers are convenient and readily available, they still come with certain risks.

Could little things you do every day be causing your back pain? They could if you're making these five common mistakes.

Fatigue is one of lupus hallmark symptoms, but because the damage caused by Lupus is largely unseen, patients may be confused about why they re so tired. Read on for five tips that tackle fatigue caused by Lupus.

New studies find that the power of positive thinking applies to how well pain medication works.

Your back pain can be the result of a variety of causes; however, there is one that is often overlooked. Read on to find out if muscle weakness is what's causing your symptoms.

How do you get back to your active lifestyle once you've had knee surgery? Step by step. Here's how to make the most of your "new knee" and regain your active lifestyle after surgery.

What does it mean when your joints get puffy and sore? If you've had an injury or accident, you know what caused it. But what if it comes out of nowhere? Here, our list for what causes unexplained joint inflammation.

Don't let fibromyalgia rob you of the pep of a productive morning. These seven tips will help you give you the start you deserve.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a new risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) to combat widespread prescription painkiller abuse. How will it impact patients who take prescription medications for chronic pain? Get the facts here.

Digestive problems tend to disguise themselves as other conditions, and as a result, it can be difficult to get an accurate diagnosis. But your health depends on it.

Bone spurs are smooth overgrowths of normal bone that can occur anywhere on your body, although they're commonly found on the spine, hips, knees, shoulders, and neck.

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a jaw disorder that at its most basic may cause minor pain and at its most involved may include myriad overlapping conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column resulting from the simultaneous shrinking and drying out of the spinal discs and the swelling or growth of the spinal bones and ligaments. But it also may also have other causes.

Is it possible that your pain is caused by the way you walk and sit? If so, the Alexander Technique might be for you.

When it hurts to be active, it's hard to stay connected. Read on to break free from pain's captivity.

Depression is one of the most common complications in people with chronic illness, occurring in up to one-third of chronically ill patients. Learn how to manage your symptoms with these tips.

If you're a regular weekend warrior, it's essential that you give your ankles proper support. Let us sift through the myths and give you all the facts.

For a disease that affects 2.4 million Americans, we don't hear enough about Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), a painful and potentially debilitating disease. Could you be one of the millions? Find out here.

Some people say caffeine gives them a headache. Others say it's the only thing that cures theirs. The truth about caffeine is somewhere in the middle. Here, we've sorted the myths from the facts about caffeine and headaches.

Now that the sun is making an appearance, don't let pain keep you indoors. Indulge in these easy, pain-friendly, outdoor activities to let you enjoy your day in the sun.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are generally acknowledged to be two separate conditions, but some experts now believe they're actually part of the same underlying disorder.

The healing power of music has been well known for as long as men and women have played and enjoyed it. But does it really possess healing power for pain patients? Find out here.

Could the key to good health be all in your feet? According to patients and practitioners of reflexology, the remedy for many symptoms, illnesses and conditions is one touch away. Could reflexology help you?

Spinal manipulation has become a common treatment for many patients with chronic pain. In fact, as many as 60 percent of patients who see a traditional doctor for back pain will also see a chiropractor for spinal manipulation. But does it really work?

Did you know that joint wear and tear, also known as osteoarthritis, may be the cause of some head pain?

Also known as hereditary hemochromatosis, the body absorbs too much iron from foods you eat. The excess iron then gets stored in your organs, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas, which over time can damage them and lead to life-threatening illnesses.

More often than not, back pain is caused by repeated irritation spurred by poor practices. You can prevent and reverse damage to your back by cleaning up these five bad habits.

Learn the essential rule of thumb for knowing the difference between heartburn and heart trouble.

Chronic pelvic pain isn t just a problem for women. Plenty of men suffer from it too. What are the common sources of pelvic pain for men and women? Find out here.

Many people only discover they have cancer when something turns up on an x-ray, ultrasound, or other routine test. Unfortunately, the disease may then be in its later (and more difficult-to-treat) stages.

Chronic pain can take a toll on a relationship, but it's important to remember that your spouse isn't a mind reader and neither are you. Good communication is important in any marriage, but it's crucial in a partnership in which one person has a medical condition.

While fibro affects people from all social statuses, races and ethnic groups, approximately 75-90 percent of fibromyalgia patients are women. But do men experience it differently? Find out here.

Forget about that famous "runner's high." Serious runners will tell you: running hurts, at least at first. If you can't run away from the pain, should you run through it?

A recent study from the National Institutes of Health says many women who suffer from migraines also suffer with chronic pelvic pain. Is there a connection between what s going on upstairs and what s going on below the belt? Find out here.

Poor sleep and chronic pain often go hand-in-hand. While there are a variety of treatments to help you through the night, could Cognitive Behavioral Therapy be the best bet? Find out here.

How do you know if you have degenerative disc disease? If you have low back pain, are in your thirties or forties, and are otherwise healthy, you're a typical sufferer.

Mood and pain are strongly connected. We've got tips for how to control mood when you're in pain.

Restless leg syndrome is 10 times more likely to affect people who have fibromyalgia than those who don't and may be one reason why they have trouble sleeping.

How do you know if you have a pinched nerve? Watch out for these signs.

Learn more about how to balance your symptoms and work-life and when to consider disability.

While there's no singular cause for stress headaches, they often occur when the body is literally under duress like when you're tired, worried, hungry, over-stimulated, working too hard or just fed up.

Many patients with fibromyalgia, especially women, suffer with pelvic complaints and bladder problems.

Scientists and doctors are making new discoveries every day about how the immune and autoimmune systems are intricately involved in all areas of our health, including our skeletal system and back health.

Read on for a TMJ primer and tips for how to alleviate TMJ-related headaches.

Choosing pain medication is challenging considering the dizzying array of options available. How do you know which one choose? That depends on what type of pain you re treating and your individual health profile.

Our 5 tried-and-true tips will keep recurring or chronic pain from ruining your holidays so you can ring in the season with true holiday spirit.

Why do some people get arthritis of the thumb and how can you manage this condition?

Do you know the difference between chronic and recurring pain? If not, learning more about these very different pain conditions may make a big difference in how you eliminate pain from your life.

If you're among those who can feel the weather in your bones via stiff, achy joints, here's what you need to know about what may (or may not) be causing it and what you can do to loosen up.

Many patients report pain several months or more after having surgery and scientists are developing clues as to why. Several studies have focused on understanding the interlinking roles of genetics, anxiety and pain.

Exercise is key to healing your current backache and preventing the next one. Some types of exercise, however, are bad news for backs. Others are just what the doctor ordered.

How do you know if it's time to visit an orthopedic surgeon? Well, you may want to consider scheduling an appointment if you have pain that won't let up, diminished function, or any deformity of your musculoskeletal system.

If nerve pain from diabetes is keeping you up, here's how to cope.

Tender points are the telltale sign that often leads to a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. But what are tender points and how do you know if you have them? Find out here.

It can be hard to determine if your child is attempting to delay lights out during bed time or if she is in serious pain. Read on to see when you should worry about your child's aches and pain.

Although no specific test can definitively confirm the condition's presence, certain criteria can help physicians make a proper diagnosis.

While most people of a certain age are healthy and living full, productive lives, growing older often comes with a few aches and pains. Not surprisingly, many older adults go through the same changes.

Once you ve gotten through back surgery, you re most likely eager to start your pain-free life. Unfortunately, simple activities like sitting can be a struggle.

People who suffer from chronic pain are three times more likely to develop mood or anxiety disorders, and depressed people are three times more likely to develop chronic pain.

Since fatigue is one of the main painful characteristics of fibromyalgia, getting sufficient quality sleep is essential.

If you are struggling with tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, there are a range of treatments to consider.

Dietary modification, environmental modifications, and allergy medications can all help in preventing the onset of allergy-related migraines.

Suffering from a rare pain disorder not only affects your physical health, but also your mental health.

A new study in men hints that popping over-the-counter painkillers regularly can also lead to hearing loss, especially in younger men.

It seems that trigger finger is not the most common of injuries that people experience, but when it occurs, it is a real nuisance. It affects your ability to grab objects and can be very painful.

While there are many back surgery success stories, surgeons advise that the decision for surgery should not be rushed.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most misdiagnosed syndromes.

Back pain can be caused by a number of conditions, but one that is often overlooked in osteoporosis.

While chronic neck pain caused by mental and emotional stress is a modern American epidemic, there are some neck pain symptoms that are slightly more worrisome and may indicate a more serious problem.

Physical therapist Mitchell Yass answers readers' questions about back pain in our exclusive weekly series.

Studies show that most people with fibromyalgia syndrome also suffer from fatigue.

A hernia is a result of part of an organ or tissue pushing through a weak area of muscle. If you have experienced a hernia already, there are some steps you can take to prevent a hernia from recurring.

A look into how the medical standards for assessing hip pain can fall short.

Kidney stones are one of the most painful urinary problems one could have. Passing one is even compared to the pain of giving birth. Although not a guarantee, doctors recommend some measures to prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Learn how to work with your doctor to get a correct diagnosis.

Have you or a loved one survived a life-threatening disease? Are you currently struggling with depression, chronic pain, heart disease, or other health-related condition? Have you gone to extraordinary lengths to help someone in a health crisis? If so, we want to hear from you!

Five factors that separate fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis.

Forty million people are estimated to suffer from sciatica. But is there a misconception about its cause?

You'd be surprised by the cause of your pain.

Lupus can cause neuropathy, also known as nerve damage. Learn about the symptoms, prevention and coping strategies you can use.

Learn what causes an inguinal hernia and the best treatment options for this common health problem.

Here, an overview of the causes of lupus, an autoimmune condition characterized by pain, fatigue, photosensitivity and skin rashes.

Chronic pain and sex are not good bedfellows. Learn ways to reduce the impact that pain can have on your sex life and relationship.

Other illnesses have similar symptoms to fibromyalgia, which can lead to misdiagnosis and treatment. Learn how to tell the difference.

When is pain a sign that something might be seriously wrong? Here, four pains you should never shrug off.

Scientists discover that concussions can damage brain tissue and impair brain function. Find out more about these common injuries, prevention and treatment.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common, but very treatable, condition. This article reveals the causes, tests and treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome.

Three of the most common lupus symptoms are skin rashes, joint pain and stiffness and muscle pain. Learn about effective ways to cope with them.

Sky-high stilettos may be fashionable, but podiatrists advocate more down-to-earth footwear.

Is night pain ruining your after-work activities and sleep? Here, ten ways to relieve it.

Neck pain can be fleeting, but accompanying symptoms and duration may be signs that it s time to call a doctor.

When it comes to migraines, it can be difficult separating fact from fiction. Get the real story on the disease's biggest misconceptions.

Although no specific test can definitively confirm the condition's presence, certain criteria can help physicians make a proper diagnosis.

Millions of Americans are affected by migraines. Here, a look at this common neurological disease, from symptoms to treatment.

These good eats get the thumbs-up for heartburn sufferers.

See how this disorder that affects 6 million Americans can be a burden to your heart.

Ear infections are very common in children. Here, a guide to their symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

Millions of people have difficulty digesting milk and other dairy products. Find out how to identify and diagnose lactose intolerance.

Millions of Americans are living with exercise-induced asthma. Here, a guide to the condition, from symptoms to treatment.

This painful arthritic condition affects approximately eight out of every 1,000 Americans. Learn about symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Hip pain is an increasingly common phenomenon that tends to occur with age. Find out what causes hip pain and what you can do about it.

Irritable bowel syndrome affects up to 20 percent of the U.S. adult population, and the disorder has no known cause. Here, a look at IBS, from symptoms to treatment.

Parkinson's disease affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans. Here, a guide for patients and their loved ones.