Mastalgia is the most frequently-encountered breast symptom in general surgery outpatient clinics, and it has no net definition. Mastalgia has effects on the physical, social, and work-school activities of individuals, as well as their sexual lives and family relations. Mastalgia patients may demonstrate loss of productivity and self-trust, and they may also show signs of despair. Severe pain may prevent these individuals from performing their daily activities and may lead to dependency on other people (1). It may also have negative effects on the quality of their lives (2).
It is well known that mastalgia isn’t associated with diet and alcohol consumption. But there are studies that presume that psychological disorders, stress, smoking, caffein, and exercise, augment mastalgia (3,4).
A high frequency of psychiatric symptoms such as minor and major depression has been noted in mastalgia patients (5). Studies have shown that stress perception is higher in mastalgia patients in comparison to individuals without mastalgia. It has also been demonstrated that patients with mastalgia are more prone to psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and panic disorders (6).
Alexithymia defines those personality properties which resemble difficulty in one’s perception, defining, and expression of his/her feelings, and depletion in solid thinking and ability to imagine. Various studies point to the fact that alexithymia is widely present in chronic patient groups such as those with mastalgia (7-10).
Only a few number of studies are present up to date concerning the investigation of psychotherapeutic approaches towards decreasing pain perception in mastalgia patients (10,11). There are in fact some studies which claim that acupuncture and educat...
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...a, ignoring the psychological factors and focusing only on organic etiology may even increase the intensity of the complaints of these patients. In this manner, it is important that these patients are investigated from a bio-psycho-social point of view and searches for psychologic aid are supported. A multidisciplinary approach must be made, and if it is impossible to eliminate the pain totally, efforts must be aimed to reinstitute physical function, develop psycho-social support factors, and increase the abilities to overcome pain. At the end of the study, it was concluded that psychoeducation has a healing effect on the mastalgia patient’s pain and anxiety.
There is need for new studies which must be conducted with bigger patient groups in order to develop a better understanding and management of chronic pain patients, including those suffering from mastalgia.
Tang, J and Gibson, S (2005). A psychophysical evaluation of the relationship between trait anxiety, pain perception, and induced state anxiety. The journal of pain: official journal of the American Pain Society 6 (9), p. 612
In the two previous papers for this class I have chosen to focus upon the inherent power of the brain in relation to healing. Studies of the placebo effect and psychoneuroimmunology have helped us gain insight into the nervous system's relationship with the immune system, the endocrine system, and others. Alternative therapies such as hypnosis, relaxation/ meditation, and humor have been discussed in association with this relationship. I feel that my exploration of the brain and alternative healing would not be complete without an investigation of the processing of pain and the role of acupuncture and touch in pain relief.
Hypnosis can be defined as a form of highly focused concentration with relative suspension perplexed awareness used to lessen pain experience. (King.B, 2001) It can also be used alongside analgesics such as morphine. (Bamford.C, 2006) This paper will be discussing the effectiveness of its use to manage pain and related areas based on the benefits and limitations highlighted by various methodologies. These methodologies include decade long observations of case studies, testing on amputees and cancer patients whilst comparing use of pharmacological medicines to use of hypnosis itself. Some of the advantages of hypnosis include how it increases self efficacy by actively allowing patient to control pain symptoms, (Williamson.A, 2004) compliments and in some cases lessens the need to take pharmacological medicines. It lessens anxiety and depression in patients with chronic pain or terminal illnesses while enhancing the function of the immune system. (Liosso.C, 2001)All these benefits are however undermined by the process’s lack of effect on activity level or physical quality of life, (Liosso.C, 2001) the existence of individual differences in hypnotic responsibility and the fact that the effects of hypnosis achievable in non hypnotic social situation context (Brian.R.V, 2010). Nonetheless, just as the effectiveness of other methods of pain management varies due to issues such as genetic makeup, hypnosis is more effective on some individuals than it is on others. Case studies have proven its success on its own and in some cases combined with pharmacological medicine. It is therefore better to compliment what is already available than reject it due to its psychologically driven success aspect.
Assessing and managing pain is an inevitable part of nursing and the care of patients. Incomplete relief of pain remains prevalent despite years of research due to barriers such as lack of kn...
The social construction of fibromyalgia is a quite complicated issue and requires much research. Social constructions are not always this difficult, but the general two paths seem to always be there: Should physicians medicalize a set of symptoms into a disorder or disease, and attempt to treat the illness, or should they attempt to figure out the underlying causes of the symptoms and try not to medicalize something which doesn’t need medicalization? Both arguments about fibromyalgia are strong, and both are backed up by valid claims, although each does have its positive and negative aspects. The social construction of illnesses in the medical field is an extremely assiduous task and requires years of dedication, time and research before final decisions are made. They must be made carefully, since they will affect millions and millions of people.
Many studies have shown a link between fibromyalgia and generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder but the way they are linked is still not fully understood. While both are considered chronic conditions, both have no cure and neither of them are fully understood.
Discovering a way to treat Pain means there is a way to stop the misery in which so many of us are mired every day of our lives. After two decades of research, after dealing with thousands of patients with every imaginable psychological and physical affliction, we have arrived at a precise, predictable therapy that reduces the amount of time one spends in treatment and eliminates all the wasted motion. It is a therapy that has been investigated by independent scientists and the findings are consistent. Primal Therapy is able to reduce or eliminate a host of physical and psychic ailments in a relatively short period of time with lasting
Staats, P.S., Hekmat, H., & Staats, A.W. (2004). The psychological behaviorism theory of pain and the
Most of the time when going to the doctor’s office they will prescribe a prescription drug to the patient to help manage their pain. This pain can be described as a “sensation of physical or mental suffering or hurt that usually causes distress or agony to the one experiencing it.” (Taylor, Lillis, LeMone, and Lynn, 2011) However, there are some instances where medication may not be enough for some patients; they may require more relief than what a prescription drug can offer. This is why many patients may benefit from complementary and alternative therapies (CAT). These types of interventions are “complementary therapies (they can be used with traditional medical interventions and thus complement them).” (Taylor et al., 2011)
Pain, which is defined in its widest sense as an emotion which is the opposite of pleasure (White, 2004, p.455), is one of the major symptoms of cancer, affecting a majority of sufferers at some point during their condition (De Conno & Caraceni, 1996, p.8). The World Health Organization (WHO, 2009, online) suggests that relief from pain may be achieved in more than 90 percent of patients; however, Fitzgibbon and Loeser (2010, p.190) stress that pain may often be undertreated, even in the UK. Foley and Abernathy (2008, p.2759) identify numerous barriers to effective pain management, among which are professional barriers such as inadequate knowledge of pain mechanisms, assessment and management strategies.
Fibromyalgia is a human disorder that often causes pain in the musculoskeletal section, fatigue and muscle stiffness. Pains can be felt in joints particularly in the knees, ankle and elbows. It is a serious disorder that can cause an individual to be ineffective in performing daily chores and activities. Depression on the other hand is characterized by intense dejection. It involves the feelings of sadness and worthlessness. In particular, this paper examines a case study of Beverly, a 42 year old woman, who happens to have been diagnosed with the two disorders. The aim is to explore some of the causes that might have led to the development of the disorders and how the problems can be reversed in order to restore the well-being of the patient.
doctor in this article believes that if you change one's attitude towards pain it can decrease the
“[Acupuncture] addresses the root of the problem. . . . Symptoms [are] the way[s] that [the] body [is] trying to tell . . . there’s something wrong . . . That particular symptom takes [the acupuncturist to] the root of the problem. So [the acupuncturist has] to address the root of the problem [in order to] get rid of the symptoms” (Damdin Interview). Due to the integration of the five elements and the meridians, the source of pain may not be the cause of the problem. According to the Generative and Destructive cycles, another organ or meridian may influence the symptoms by overly supporting or excessively restraining the affected part of the body. Therefore, the acupuncturist must fix the cause of the problem in order to relieve the body of the illness. If the cause is not resolved, the illness will persist due to the continuing imbalance which initially caused the health
Marion Good, PhD, RN, has focused her study, “A Middle-Range Theory of Acute pain Management: Use in Research,” on complementary medicine for pain and stress, acute pain, and stress immunity. The purpose of this theory is to put into practice guidelines for pain management. Good, 1998, noted the need for a balance between medication usage and side effects of pain medications. The theory also promoted patient education related to pain management following surgery and encouraged plan development for acceptable levels of pain management. This theory was developed through deductive reasoning. Chinn & Kramer, 2008, defined deductive reasoning as going from a general concept to a more specific concept. Good, 1998, related that there was a balance between analgesia and side effects in which two outcomes can be deduced: (1) a decrease in pain, and (2) a decrease in side effects. These outcomes can be studied further or more detailed concepts can be deduced from them.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2009). Studying anxiety disorders. NIH Medline plus, 5, 13-15. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/complete-index.shtml