Living With Chronic Pain

How Graded Exposure Therapy Works

Last week I explained how I used graded exposure therapy to start an exercise program thatโ€™s been a part of my life for decades, even though I didnโ€™t know what the process was labeled. For me, it was just a slow, methodical and persistent process that moved me forward, away from the fears and habits… Continue reading How Graded Exposure Therapy Works

Living With Chronic Pain

Graded Exposure Therapy

Living with chronic pain is overwhelming. We learn quickly to do whatever it takes to avoid pain. Canโ€™t walk more than a few yards? Then only walk a few feet before resting.ย Canโ€™t bend down to pick something up off the floor? Then leave it or use a device to help. Struggle with stairs? Never use… Continue reading Graded Exposure Therapy

Living With Chronic Pain

Restless Leg Syndrome

Ever felt an uncontrollable urge to move your legs or arms? Usually the legs, at night, when youโ€™re trying to sleep? Maybe not because of pain, per se, but just an uncomfortable feeling often described as a crawling, pulling, throbbing, aching, itchy feeling deep in the limbs not on the skin, that wonโ€™t stop until… Continue reading Restless Leg Syndrome

Living With Chronic Pain

Spinal Cord Stimulation

When all else has failed and chronic pain persists many have turned to a spinal cord stimulator. This is a medical device that has thin wire electrodes attached to a battery pack. The electrodes are placed between the spinal cord and veterbral body where the pain begins. The battery is usually tucked into a skin… Continue reading Spinal Cord Stimulation

Living With Chronic Pain

Radio Frequency Ablation

Radio frequency ablation (RFA), also called rhizotomy, is a relatively new treatment to control chronic pain. It is a non-surgical procedure that utilizes the thermal energy or heat produced by radio frequency waves to destroy nerve tissue and disrupt the pain signals they send to the brain. The radio frequency is sent through a needle… Continue reading Radio Frequency Ablation