Chronic Pain Expert Karen Lee Richards shares Chronic Pain management news and commentary at ChronicPainConnection.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949 http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949 http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/34591/healthcentral Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:21:00 -0400 Karen Lee Richards Today’s Washington Post features an article about our very own HealthCentral and other online health sites.  The article, “Seeking a Cure, Patients Find a Dose of Conversation Online,” discusses HealthCentral’s primary purpose – providing a place where you the user can have intimate health conversations on your own terms – as well as giving examples of how people have found help and encouragement on the... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/34591/healthcentral http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/34552/ct-malfunction Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:01:10 -0400 Karen Lee Richards The FDA has issued an alert warning of the possibility that the x-rays used for CT (Computed Tomography) scans may cause some implanted and external electronic medical devices to malfunction.  These devices include neurostimulators and implanted or externally worn drug infusion pumps.  Most patients with electronic medical devices undergo CT scans without any adverse consequences. However, the FDA has received a small number of... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/34552/ct-malfunction http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/33828/encounters Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:46:19 -0400 Karen Lee Richards I’ve read a lot of books about fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, but none have touched me like Dorothy Wall’s Encounters with the Invisible: Unseen Illness, Controversy and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  Although the book is a very intimate account of Wall’s experiences with chronic fatigue syndrome, you will relate to it equally as well if you have fibromyalgia, Gulf War syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, or any of a number... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/33828/encounters http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/33093/acupuncture Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:19:15 -0400 Karen Lee Richards I have recently read several studies that found acupuncture to be an effective treatment for relieving a number of different types of pain.  This has certainly been true in my own experience.  I’ve personally been seeing an acupuncturist for a few years now for fibromyalgia.  In addition to lower levels of pain, I’ve experienced significant improvement in my ability to sleep well and with irritable bowel... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/33093/acupuncture http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/32454/fibromyalgia Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:03:00 -0400 Karen Lee Richards A particularly frustrating problem for many fibromyalgia patients is the tendency to gain weight.  We eat less but notice little, if any, difference.  And it’s difficult to exercise more because of the pain.  According to Mark Pellegrino, MD, in his book Fibromyalgia: Up Close and Personal, it’s not unusual for someone to gain 25 – 30 pounds the first year after developing fibromyalgia.  Learn why... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/32454/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/31755/fibromyalgia Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:47:49 -0400 Karen Lee Richards If you have fibromyalgia and are facing a surgical procedure, you may be more concerned than the average patient because you have heard stories about post-operative fibro flares and long, painful recovery periods.  While it’s true your recuperation period will likely be a little longer than it would be for most people, there are steps that can be taken to reduce your pain levels and minimize your chances of a severe flare.   Be... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/31755/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/10549/travel-tips Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:32:00 -0400 Karen Lee Richards ‘Tis the season of summer vacations.  Many of you are planning to travel sometime over the next two or three months.  Are you looking forward to it or does the idea of traveling fill you with dread?  Vacations are supposed to be fun and relaxing but when you have a chronic pain illness, sometimes that dream vacation can become a nightmare.  There are, however, things you can do to avoid the nightmare––steps... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/10549/travel-tips http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/31045/fibromyalgia Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:36:21 -0400 Karen Lee Richards Today Eli Lilly and Co. announced the FDA approval of Cymbalta (duloxetine HCI) for the management of fibromyalgia.  Cymbalta is the first serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with proven efficacy for reducing pain in patients with fibromyalgia.  This makes Cymbalta the second medication ever to be approved for fibromyalgia, following Lyrica’s approval in June 2007.  This is exciting news for fibromyalgia... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/31045/fibromyalgia http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/30518/morphine Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:39:00 -0400 Karen Lee Richards The ETHEX Corporation has announced a voluntary recall of a single lot of morphine sulfate 60 mg extended release tablets (Lot No. 91762) because a tablet that was twice as thick as it should have been was discovered.  These oversized tablets could contain as much as double the amount of active morphine sulfate indicated on the label. The recalled lot was distributed under an “ETHEX” label between April 16th and April 27th of... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/30518/morphine http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/30348/time-talk-cam Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:15:42 -0400 Karen Lee Richards What is CAM, you ask?  CAM stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched “Time to Talk” – an educational campaign to encourage patients and their health care providers to openly discuss the use of complementary and alternative medicine.  The NCCAM defines CAM as a group of diverse medical... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/5949/30348/time-talk-cam