Information and opinions on Chronic Pain from soul1383 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/95496 http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/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/95496 http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/18185/fda-patch Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:37:00 -0500 soul1383 By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter Friday, December 21, 2007; 3:00 PM Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.  FRIDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- For the second time in two years, U.S. health officials are warning of reports of deaths and dangerous side effects tied to misuse of fentanyl skin patches that are prescribed to treat chronic pain.The patches deliver a potent pain killer containing the narcotic fentanyl.... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/18185/fda-patch http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17830/pain-meds Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:35:00 -0500 soul1383 Do you still drive while taking pain meds?  Personally, I feel that I shouldn't drive while on these meds.  But, I know many people that after taking them for awhile and getting used to them, feel comfortable driving while on them.Peace,soul http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17830/pain-meds http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17822/disc-disease Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:00:00 -0500 soul1383 Mechanical Disorders: Degenerative Disc Disease Degenerative Disc Disease | Herniated Discs | Strains & Sprains Facet Arthropathy | Stenosis | Myelopathy | Spondylolysis Spondylolisthesis | Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is part of the natural process of growing older. Unfortunately, as we age, our intervertebral discs lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17822/disc-disease http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17821/failed-back Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:56:00 -0500 soul1383 Mechanical Disorders: Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) Degenerative Disc Disease | Herniated Discs | Strains & Sprains Facet Arthropathy | Stenosis | Myelopathy | Spondylolysis Spondylolisthesis | Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) Failed back syndrome (FBS) can be described as chronic, severe back and/or leg pain that occurs after back surgery. Multiple factors can contribute to FBS, which can be extremely troubling and... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17821/failed-back http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17820/spinal Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:54:00 -0500 soul1383 Mechanical Disorders: Stenosis Degenerative Disc Disease | Herniated Discs | Strains & Sprains Facet Arthropathy | Stenosis | Myelopathy | Spondylolysis Spondylolisthesis | Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) Lumbar spinal stenosis is a disease that is caused by a gradual narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing happens as a result of the degeneration of both the facet joints and the intervertebral discs. In this... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17820/spinal http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17819/myelopathy Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:52:00 -0500 soul1383 Mechanical Disorders: Myelopathy Degenerative Disc Disease | Herniated Discs | Strains & Sprains Facet Arthropathy | Stenosis | Myelopathy | Spondylolysis Spondylolisthesis | Failed Back Syndrome (FBS) Myelopathy is a term that means that there is something wrong with the spinal cord itself. This disease is very different from the radiculopathy that is caused by isolated points of pressure on individual nerve... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17819/myelopathy http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17762/pain-clinic Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:34:00 -0500 soul1383 I started going to our local pain clinic back in August when my neurosurgeon told me he didn't want to operate on my lower back yet because he felt my spine was too fragile to attempt a fusion at this point in time.  I agreed with him.  But, also I don't really want anymore surgeries if I can avoid it.In the meantime, my GP & neurosurgeon directed me to the pain clinic (a place I've long said I'd never go to). ... http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17762/pain-clinic http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17746/live-pain Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:32:00 -0500 soul1383 Do you have trouble explaining to others what it's like to live with chronic pain? I think most of us have run into this problem. Even the most caring people who genuinely try to be sympathetic can't really understand if they've never experienced it. But finding a way to explain chronic pain can be nearly impossible...until now. http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17746/live-pain http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17745/myth-fact Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:27:00 -0500 soul1383 Fibromyalgia: Myth or Fact? For many years, experts knew little about this mysterious disease. Can you separate the fibromyalgia myths from the facts? http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/c/95496/17745/myth-fact