Aches and Gains show

Aches and Gains

Summary: Pain Relief

Podcasts:

 Osteoporosis: Silent, Searing, and Bone Breaking | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone isn’t able to keep up with the removal of old bone.  Bones then become weak, brittle, and painful — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses like bending over or coughing can cause what is known as a “fragility fracture.”  Our guest is Dr. Keith McCormick. He’s the author of The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis and shares his experience as both a patient who overcame 12 fragility fractures, and an osteoporosis expert who’s developed a nutrition based prevention and treatment program.   Our guest is Dr. Keith McCormick. He’s the author of The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis and shares his experience as both a patient who overcame 12 fragility fractures, and an osteoporosis expert who’s developed a nutrition based prevention and treatment program.

 Headaches | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:02

Jennifer Jett, migraine sufferer will provide insight into the ways she moved beyond a life filled with debilitating migraines, and then Dr. Jason Rosenberg, Johns Hopkins headache specialist will discuss effective pain-relieving strategies for headaches.

 Sports Pain | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:02

We will examine how sports injuries including knee and shoulder pain are relieved. Our Guests include Olympic Gold Medalist and figure skater, Peggy Fleming, former Baltimore Ravens defensive end, Michael McCreary, and Baltimore Orioles team orthopedic surgeon, Dr. John Wilckens. All will share their expertise in managing the pain.

 Regenerative Biomedicine for Pain: Platelet Rich Plasma | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

Regenerative therapies for pain are new and rapidly evolving. This innovative field includes platelet rich plasma (PRP) that was introduced in the 1970s. PRP is made from our own blood. Physicians inject concentrated platelets, growth factors, and proteins into a specific area of the body, and this mixture helps the body rebuild itself. PRP enabled Graham McDougal to overcome 15 yrs of pain and limitation from an Achilles tendon rupture. Orthopedist and sports medicine expert, Dr. Alan Hirahara explores the details behind this revolutionary, but still controversial therapy.

 Pain Pacemakers for the Brain: Deep Brain Stimulation | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

Electrical stimulation of areas deep inside the brain is used to treat severe tremors and movement disorders caused by conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Although not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for pain control, what we call Deep Brain Stimulation has actually been used to treat unyielding pain for over 40 years. Our first guest, Thomas Ashley shares a true story of triumph over “firelike” pain felt from his neck down to his big toe on the entire right side of his body following a stroke. Then, neurosurgeon Dr. Andre Machado from the Cleveland Clinic explores this fascinating therapy of accessing our inner brain for pain relief.

 Healing Touch | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:01

Modern medical science is just beginning to understand energy healing. We’re gaining more insight into how to tap biological energy fields, called biofields to support health and soothe pain. Healing Touch accesses these energy fields to restore flow and balance to the body. Practitioners use gentle hand techniques that release blocks to circulation of energy. Charlene Haskell shares some dramatic results with 20 years of back pain, and Nancy Lester, nurse and certified Healing Touch practitioner tells us all about holistic healing.

 JFK’s Pain-Medical Perspective | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

Many know that President John F. Kennedy suffered from low back pain. But, Kennedy’s medical history was far more serious and complex. In fact, his health was a closely guarded secret. It wasn’t until the release of his medical records in 2002 that the public became aware of his lifelong struggle with pain. We’re fortunate to have Dr. Robert Dallek and Dr. Forest Tennant as guests for this two part series on the story of JFK’s pain. Today’s show features Dr. Forest Tennant, pain specialist, researcher, and editor emeritus of the Practical Pain Management journal. He reveals JFKs struggle with a life of discomfort, and the pain therapies that got him through the Presidency.

 JFK’s Pain-Historical Perspective | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

Many know that President John F. Kennedy suffered from low back pain. But, Kennedy’s medical history was far more serious and complex. In fact, his health was a closely guarded secret. It wasn’t until the release of his medical records in 2002 that the public became aware of his lifelong struggle with pain.



We’re fortunate to have Dr. Robert Dallek and Dr. Forest Tennant as guests for this two part series on the story of JFK’s pain.





Today’s show features Robert Dallek, noted historian, Pulitzer Prize finalist, Bancroft Prize winner, and author of An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963. He’ll give us an intimate view of Kennedy’s personal life, health, and legacy.

 Calmare Therapy | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:02

Electrical stimulation can reduce pain in the form of spinal cord stimulator devices and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy. Today, we’ll examine another way of using electricity to control pain. Calmare is a new device that uses electrocutaneous nerve stimulation to relieve chronic pain. It was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 for treating both neuropathic and cancer pain.

 Cynthia Chauhan, retired clinical social worker and cancer research advocate details the dramatic relief she’s experienced while Dr. Michael Cooney shares his expertise in using Calmare therapy on a variety of painful conditions.

 Emotional Pain | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

It seems surprising, but pain caused by emotional distress can be felt more deeply and for a longer period of time than pain caused by physical injuries. In its most severe form, depression can lead to suicide and represents a way to “end the pain”. And, there’s a real overlap between our mental states and our brain. On today’s show, we’ll talk to Julie Hersh, author of Struck by Living: From Depression to Hope. Julie shares her journey from the depths of painful depression and three suicide attempts to the path of recovery and hope. Then Dr. Judith Orloff, psychiatrist and New York Times bestselling author of Emotional Freedom provides a unique perspective on healing emotional pain.

 Babies in Pain | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:01

It’s hard to believe, but sick babies are suffering in pain today. It was commonly thought that the nervous system of newborn babies wasn’t developed enough at birth to experience pain. Even though medical thinking has changed, it’s frightening to realize that under treating or simply not treating pain in sick babies may lead to a life of pain. Both of our guests provide a beacon of hope that we’re making strides in controlling this problem. Pam McFadyen, a Canadian from Toronto shares an intimate portrait of having her twin boys exposed to over 100 painful procedures during almost 5 months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Bonnie Stevens, PhD Signy Hildur Eaton Chair in Pediatric Nursing Research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, then describes how best to reduce pain in this vulnerable population.

 Pain Pumps | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

If all efforts to relieve your pain fail or if the pain of cancer plagues you, an implantable pain pump may be the answer. This device delivers tiny, controlled doses of pain medicine directly to the spinal cord. Since the 1980s, pain pumps have been an accepted, but lesser known alternative to standard medical management for treating unrelieved pain from cancer and non cancerous conditions. We are joined by Ami McCarty, who will describe what a difference her pain pump has made in managing her constant abdominal pain and low back pain. Then, pain specialist Dr. Richard Rauck from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the Carolinas Pain Institute gives us the most current information on this amazing therapy for pain relief. Dr. Richard Rauck is the editor-in-chief of PainPathways, a magazine for acute, chronic and cancer pain. To subscribe or to learn more, visit www.painpathways.org.

 Chakra Healing | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

Many mind-body therapies help us cope with life events and optimize personal health. A specific mind-body therapy called Chakra Balancing is rooted in the tantric and yoga traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. There are seven main Chakras that represent energy sources which can be accessed for pain relief. Each is connected to a physical place in the body that governs a certain set of organs or glands. We will explore this rich and complex system of energy healing with both of our guests. Jennifer Becker describes how well chakra balancing has controlled many years of neck and back pain. Then, Kim Meisinger, accomplished energy healer reveals the power of mind-body healing for pain.

 Biofeedback | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:00

Biofeedback sounds mysterious and technical, but it’s been in use since the mid-to-late 1960’s. Basic physiological functions like blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension are measured. Then computer generated, audio generated, or visual generated systems provide feedback to patients about their body while using cognitive and breathing strategies to control pain and stress. Today, we’ll examine Biofeedback with the help of two of our guests. Retired anesthesiologist, Dr. Blossom Sanger shares how this therapy has given her much better control of her pain and her life. Jim Cahill, Biofeedback Therapist from the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, and Founder of Mindfulness-Based Biofeedback Therapy™ then gives us an in-depth look at how this treatment can be so effective.

 Innovations in Spinal Cord Stimulation | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 25:01

Nerve stimulation with small doses of electricity has been used for pain relief since Egyptian and Roman times. But it wasn’t until 1965 that we gained a basic understanding that electrical stimulation of the spinal cord can block pain signals in the cord itself and alleviate chronic, neuropathic pain. On today’s show, we’ll learn about exciting advances in neurostimulation for controlling pain. Andy Magruder shares his compelling story of how a nerve stimulator transformed his life following three spinal surgeries. And then, Dr. Giancarlo Barolat, neurosurgeon and medical director of Barolat Neuroscience in Denver, Colorado returns to tell us about specific innovations in the field.

Comments

Login or signup comment.