Medical Breakthroughs: Jolt Away Pain

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Medical Breakthroughs: Jolt Away Pain

CHRONIC PAIN: Persistent, controlling pain that occurs for weeks, months, or

years is considered chronic pain. The pain may be in the form of headaches,

low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain or psychogenic

pain. While the main cause of chronic pain is still unknown, some causes of

chronic pain may include aging, surgery, nerve damage and injuries that

don't heal correctly.

Treatments for chronic pain include prescription drugs, acupuncture,

relaxation and meditation therapies, hypnosis and surgery. Of these,

prescription painkillers have been the most recommended treatment. However,

with prescription painkillers there is the risk of drug abuse, prescription

drug interactions, and harmful side effects. Resting to alleviate pain can

make muscles shorter, tighter, and weaker. This may actually intensify the

pain.

BREAKTHROUGH: Heit, M.D., Ph.D., Neurosurgeon at Stanford University

has found a way to relieve patients who suffer from chronic pain. The method

involves implanting a device over the motor cortex of the brain and

stimulating the painful area with a current to relieve the pain.

" You don't feel a thing, so we think it's just this very subtle backwards

activation of the sensory system that somehow confuses it and the pain just

disappears, " Dr. Heit says. He also states the procedure " Opens up a range

of relatively non-invasive therapy to a pool of chronic pain patients who,

to this point, really have no other options. "

PREVENTION: Following these steps may help prevent chronic pain:

* Maintain a low-fat diet

* Exercise regularly

* Learn good posture

* Strengthen your abdominal and muscles

* Follow good sleeping habits

* Wear shoes are comfortable

* Get checked for scoliosis

* Practice good dental hygiene

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Dybdahl

Stanford University Referral Service

1520 Page Mill Rd.

Room P104

Palo Alto, CA 94304

(800) 756-9000

mary.dybdahl@...

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