Chronic Pain Articles

Dr. Castillo is dedicated to providing information to help with healthcare decisions including articles about pain and pain management.

Spinal Cord Cells Control Pain

Spinal cord cells are responsible for controlling pain and itch, according to research published in the journal Neuron. Researchers from the University of Zurich used genetically modified viruses to interfere with the functions of neurons in mice in order to investigate how neurons contribute to pain and itch processing. The researchers drew on prior findings […]

Chronic Pain Conditions, Chronic Pain News, Nerve Pain

Shingles: The Pain and the Misery

Shingles is currently on the rise especially among those aged 60 and over, it is in essence a “reawakening” of the chickenpox virus. Never fully discharged from the body, this virus lies inactive for years and reactivates when immunity is weakened, traveling through the nerve pathways to your skin and producing shingles. The first symptoms

Chronic Pain Conditions, Chronic Pain News

Plantar Fasciitis: How to Deal with It

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment ranges from simple stretches to shock-wave therapy Connie Glen isn’t sure what she did exactly, but in February she started getting unexplained pain in her left heel — and seven months, several practitioners and about $2,000 later, it’s still not entirely healed, though she’s finally seeing some improvement. Glen has plantar fasciitis, a common foot injury that

Chronic Pain Conditions

Sciatica: Hitting the right nerves 

Sciatica symptoms explain conditions around the sciatic nerve A lot of people have their lives badly affected by sciatica. Like most other conditions, you can deal with sciatica effectively with a well planned and structured exercises program. But before we go into details of specific sciatica exercises, it is first important to explain what sciatica

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain

Injuries from Exercise – 6 Tips to Prevent It

  Injuries from exercise usually resulted from poor form, over-training, or for us klutzes out there common mishaps. These injuries from exercise can at the very least temporarily halt our fitness goals. More serious injuries can put us on the couch for a month or longer. Sometimes the fear surrounding the idea of injury can

Exercises to Help Pain

Chronic Nerve Pain Linked to Anxiety & Depression

Study links brain inflammation triggered by chronic paint to anxiety and depression. Brain inflammation caused by chronic nerve pain alters activity in regions that regulate mood and motivation, suggesting for the first time that a direct biophysical link exists between long-term pain and the depression, anxiety and substance abuse seen in more than half of these patients, UC Irvine

Nerve Pain

Vitamin B6 Boosts Your Mood and Your Nerves

Among vitamins, Vitamin B6 is one of the most essential vitamins for nerve health and is important for anyone suffering from painful nerve related health problems such as Neuropathy. What Are The Benefits of Vitamin B6? Vitamin B6 performs a variety of functions that are essential for your health.  According to Dee Sandquist, MS, RD, CD,

Nerve Pain
natural treatment for neuropathy. Image of acupuncture treatment

5 Natural Neuropathy Treatments

For those dealing with the painful effects of nerve damage, finding alternative or natural treatments can open new doors in the search for relief. While prescription medications simply mask the pain, natural neuropathy treatments often treat the underlying causes. In many cases, this can result in more lasting relief for the sufferer. Many people have experienced

Chronic Pain News

Massage Therapy Benefits

Massage Therapy is one of the oldest healing arts; it has been practiced for thousands of years to promote relaxation and well-being. The benefits of massage are far-reaching, having proven beneficial for many chronic conditions including: low back pain, arthritis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and more. According to a 2007 American Massage Therapy Association

Therapies & Treatments

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

  Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain condition affecting the limbs, hands, and feet, after an injury or limb trauma. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is believed to be caused by malfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. Individuals have characterized CRPS as prolonged severe pain, changes to the skin,

Chronic Pain Conditions, Nerve Pain