Despite a federal ban, many states now allow the use of medical marijuana to treat muscle spasms and chronic nerve pain. Marijuana can be inhaled, smoked, or ingested with food or tea, and requires a prescription from a healthcare provider. Due to recent changes in opioid prescribing, the...

Chronic pain is physically and psychologically stressful and the constant discomfort it causes can lead to anger, frustration, and depressive thoughts towards you and loved ones. Individuals can use a variety of mental and sensory (sound, etc.) activities to help relax, distract, disassociate, and...

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune condition; it is often referred to as an overlap disease because the symptoms of MCTD overlap with other connective tissue conditions, including polymyositis, scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In some cases, MCTD also...

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a health condition in which the large intestine is affected by a simultaneously occurring group of intestinal symptoms. IBS causes stomach discomfort or pain, diarrhea or constipation, and changes in stool consistency (thin, hard, soft or liquid stools). It affects...

Avascular necrosis is a medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to a bone is reduced or interrupted. Without an adequate supply of blood, the tissue in the bone dies. As a result, tiny breaks in the bone occur, which can lead to the eventual collapse of the bone. If avascular necrosis...

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a medical condition involving inflammation of the peripheral nerves (the nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord). The term “demyelinating” denotes damage to the myelin sheath, which is the fatty, protective covering that...

Core strengthening exercise (stomach and back) can help the spine balance weight, support mobility, and prevent and/or reduce chronic back and neck pain. There are multiple ways physical and mental exercise can help relieve chronic pain symptoms. We have broken down these core strengthening...

Pain is a complicated condition. An individual who is living with chronic pain may develop symptoms that are only experienced in connection with a chronic pain condition. These symptoms can be considered pain specific. Symptoms that are related to treatments use for chronic pain can also fit in...

Topical pain relievers (analgesics) are applied to the skin over painful muscles or joints. They may include: creams, ointments, sprays and patches. They distract the mind from pain, block enzymes (cox-2), or decrease bodily substances (P) that pass pain signals to the brain.

Pudendal neuralgia is a condition that occurs when the pudendal nerve, which runs from the back of the pelvis near the base of the penis or vagina, is damaged or irritated. This nerve sends signals to the brain from the genitals, anus and other nearby body parts. It controls the sphincter muscles...