rubber duckie!

And R is also for:

Radiating pain: If you tell your doctor or nurse about the pain you are having, you’ll likely be asked if the pain is radiating. This means, does the pain go beyond the original spot. For example, if you have pain in your stomach area, does it radiate to the back or up into the chest?

Repetitive stress injury: These days, when we hear repetitive stress injury, or RSI, most people automatically think of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, RSIs are injuries that can happen anywhere on the body and are caused by doing the same motion again and again over a long period of time. This could be tennis elbow, back pain, neck pain, and so on.

Rebound pain: Sometimes, when people are living with chronic pain, they take more pain medications than they should. They feel better so they continue to do so. However, when their pain – often headaches – they just take more medication. But, what they may be feeling is called rebound pain. It’s the body’s reaction to the wearing off of the pain reliever.

Range of motion: As you move your arm or leg around, or your foot or hand, if you don’t have any pain or problems, you likely have a full range of motion. That means your joint is allowing you to move about as it should and as you want it. If you have problems with a joint, this range of motion may be limited. This limitation can tell your doctor or physiotherapist a lot about how well or how badly your joint is doing with treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis: A very common type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is caused by inflammation in the joints. The joints become thick, red, and painful. The joints can also become quite deformed as a result of the inflammation and pain.

Here are a few sites that can tell you more about RA:

• MedlinePlus: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis – MayoClinic.com
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

Radiculopathy: The term radiculopathy refers to a disease of the spinal nerve roots and spinal nerves. It results in pain going from the spine and radiating outwards.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD): This is the old name of what is now called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Image: Newscom

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Post from: Blisstree

ABCs of pain: R is for…

So, that being said, in order to prevent as many injuries in the house as possible, especially for seniors or people who have less mobility than others, here are 10 important tips to help prevent falls:

1. Throw out your scatter rugs. They may look nice, but they are a menace. I almost broke my arm wiping out on one of those. If you feel you must have scatter rugs, under no circumstances, put them near the tops of stairs.
2. Ensure that carpet edges are taped down. It is so easy to trip over the edge of a carpet that has curled up.
3. Makes sure all power cords and extension cords are completely out of the way of traffic.
4. Don’t try to go down stairs in the dark. Put night lights in the hallway if possible.
5. If you have runners on the stairs, be sure they are fastened down well.
6. Don’t leave clutter on the stairs. Many people like to leave things on the side of the stairs to remember to bring them up. These are tripping hazards.
7. Ensure all stairs have well-secured handrails.
8. Wipe up all spills as they happen, to avoid slipping.
9. Ensure you have good treads on your house shoes or slippers.
10. If you need to climb to reach something, use a sturdy stepladder, not a chair or stool.

Do you have anything to add to the list? Please share your in-home safety tips. I’ll gather up the comments – giving you credit – and make a new post.

Stay tuned for other safety tips for outside.

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Post from: Blisstree

10 ways to prevent injuries in your home

While there is no cure for CRPS, researchers are working on it. Here is an interesting audio for you to listen to. It is a radio interview of Anne Louise Oaklander, MD, PhD, director of the Nerve Injury Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, done in April 2006. Click on the radio image below to listen.

You can also read more about CRPS/RSD in this article:

Company’s calling: For Grace’s founder, Cynthia Toussaint speaks out

Image: Newscom

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Post from: Blisstree

Radio interview about CRPS/RSD

Since December, 2007, here are some blogs I’ve enjoyed and recommended:

How To Cope With Pain

Cranky Fitness

OneHealthPro

Nickie’s Nook

Life With Chronic Pain

the Vagina Dialogues

Type A with R. A.

Life in the Autoimmune Lane

One Year of Writing and Healing

RSD/CRPS=Pain

Chronic Babe

Lotsa Helping Hands

Resources for caregivers:

National Family Caregivers Association

Partners Against Pain

Mobility Limited

National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization

National Family Caregivers Association

National Institute on Adult Day Care

Arthritis Foundation National Office

Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc.

National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease Information Clearinghouse (NAMSIC)

The Caregiver Network, Inc. (not updated since 2004, but still has good information)

Caregiver.com

National Organization for Victim Assistance

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

I hope you find at least some of the blogs useful and/or enjoyable. As always, feel free to let me know of any that you feel should be added to the list.

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Post from: Blisstree

Help My Hurt presents: 25 useful blogs on pain and illness