a journey with chronic pain
Central sensitization: the back story to just about every story I tell on this blog. I've written the phrase a million times, but always in passing, always with a link to an article somewhere else. I think it's high time the topic gets its own post. Practice Makes Perfect We've all heard the phrase “practice… Continue reading What is central sensitization?
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a ground-breaking report yesterday looking at the average prices charged by 3,000 U.S. hospitals for the “top 100 most frequently billed charges.” The report shows that different hospitals appear to charge wildly different prices for the same procedures, seemingly without any rhyme or reason. While one hospital… Continue reading Why do some hospitals get away with charging such exorbitant prices?
One of the reasons I am so optimistic about the future is that someday I believe we will have a way for doctors to see just how much pain a person is in. It won’t be a matter of taking the patient’s word for it (though that should be enough) or wondering whether or not… Continue reading Someday there could be a test for fibromyalgia
Do you believe in qi?"When I practice qi gong or t’ai qi, I do not trouble myself with whether or not the qi is “real.” Qi gong is an art. I practice it in a beautiful way. Like Japanese cuisine, it works best when it looks good. To do a thing in a beautiful way,… Continue reading Do you believe in qi?
Over the years, I've seen the words "evidence-based" used to justify a lot of concepts I find dubious. (Trust me-- I saw some pretty ridiculous things during the time I worked in a mental health group home). This article from Paul Ingraham at PainScience.com in favor of moving from evidence-based to science-based medicine was music to my ears. … Continue reading “Science-based” vs. “evidenced-based” medicine
