Overcoming Pain

Why people experience chronic pain, and the power they have to de-intensify it.

Dr. Mark Borigini is a board-certified rheumatologist who has devoted his career to treating, and training others to treat, a wide variety of illnesses that cause chronic pain and disability. See full bio

March 5, 2009

Breakthrough In Breakthrough Pain

Inadequate treatment of chronic pain remains a problem. In particular, breakthrough pain is a component of chronic pain that is often poorly recognized and poorly controlled; and the existence of breakthrough pain can lead to anxiety, depression, chronic insomnia and difficulties with day to day functioning. Read More

February 26, 2009

Chronic Low Back Pain and Depression

Many know the benefits of some drugs with an anti-depressant effect in the treatment of the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. Well, now it would seem that there is no overwhelming evidence supporting the use of anti-depressants in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Although, the authors of a recent review (in the "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews") of the subject are quick t Read More

February 23, 2009

Transcranial Stimulation: Magnets, Currents, and Fibromyalgia

I opened a recent issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism (the official journal of the American College of Rheumatology), and read an interesting study on the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on pain and quality of life in fibromyalgia patients. Read More

February 14, 2009

Is Treatment for Chronic Back Pain Creating Addiction, Not Relief?

An analysis of studies regarding the use of opioids in chronic back pain was published in the January 16, 2007 edition of "Annals of Internal Medicine".

Interestingly, the authors found that opioids may be effective for not more than four months for chronic back pain. But the prevalence of lifetime or current abuse of these drugs can be over 50%.

February 5, 2009

A Whole Lotta Hurtin’ In Our Future

In an issue last year in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, we are all reminded of one of the costs of living longer: having more arthritis in our midst.

Currently, rheumatic conditions, including arthritis, lupus, and fibromyalgia, affect approximately 46 million adults in the United States. As a society, the cost in treatment and time lost from work totals $128 billion each year.

January 26, 2009

Myofascial Pain Syndrome vs. Fibromyalgia

Many patients are labeled with fibromyalgia simply because they have chronic soft tissue pain. But it is important, at least for the sake of correctness, that not all chronic soft tissue pain be called fibromyalgia.

In fact, localized or regional pain is often due to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), a rather common condition which affects certain muscle areas.

January 21, 2009

A Farewell to Post-Racial Pain

It was a long day in the office yesterday. The patients were flocking in, the phone messages would not stop, and the on-line news websites were freezing up on me: I would have to wait until late tonight to see the reruns of the Obama inauguration.

In the interim, I heard Reverend Joseph Lowery's benediction.

January 16, 2009

Chronic Pain Is Age Neutral

Pain is the commonest complaint children with rheumatic disease offer.

We should not forget that children can experience pain on a chronic basis. Joint pain is a leading cause of disability in children with arthritis, even after definitive treatment for the arthritis has been initiated. Pain limits the activities of children, disrupts their school attendance, and affects the emotions.

January 8, 2009

Talking Away the Pain

The majority of patients with chronic pain experience some measure of relief only when they have effective communication with their physician. To this end, the American Pain Society enthusiastically supports patient outreach and education programs. It is important for patients to engage in productive two-way discussions with their physicians about pain. Read More

January 2, 2009

Genes to the Rescue for Those with Chronic Pain

Discussing the etiology of chronic pain when there is no clear reason for chronic pain will often lead to an exploration of the Psyche. This, unfortunately, often leads to resentment on the part of those patients who have more than once heard inquiries and therapeutic suggestions which the mind interprets, and just as quickly rejects, as being "all in my head". Read More

Self-Help Basics

Most of us have things about ourselves we wish we could improve. Lasting change is difficult—many of our habits are deeply ingrained, and certain aspects of ourselves, such as core personality attributes, may be immutable. But many more things can be changed.

Go to the Self-Help Basics page for more on Self-Help including:

Current Issue

Everyday Creativity

How to start living creatively and reap the benefits.

Subscribe to Overcoming Pain

Self-Help Basics

Current Issue