pain Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Inflammation May Be the Link Between Chronic Pain and Depression

The AHA! Team — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 05:18:17 +0000

Yale School of Medicine via Newswise – A new study published in Science Advances shows that a person’s risk of depression increases alongside the number of places in the body in which they experience pain. Chronic pain—or pain that lasts at least three months—is closely intertwined with depression. Individuals living with pain’s persistent symptoms may be up to four times more likely to experience depression, research shows. Almost 30% of people worldwide suffer from a chronic pain condition such as low back pain and migraines, and one in three of these patients also report co-existing pain conditions. A new study published in Science Advances Now, a new study published in Science Advances shows that a person’s risk of depression increases alongside the number of places in the body in which they experience pain. Furthermore, inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation) help explain the association between pain and depression. This finding suggests that the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and depression may be driven by systemic inflammation, the researchers say. “Pain isn’t only physical,” says Dustin Scheinost, PhD, associate professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine (YSM), and the study’s principal investigator. “Our study adds to the evidence that physical conditions can have mental health consequences.” Inflammatory markers may explain depression risk The Yale team analyzed data from the UK Biobank—a long-term study in the United Kingdom that has collected extensive health information from more than 400,000 individuals over 14 years. UK Biobank participants reported whether they were experiencing pain that interfered with daily life and identified the sites and duration of their pain. The categories for pain sites included head, face, neck, back, stomach, hip, knee, and general pain. The dataset also included if and when the participants were diagnosed with depression. The researchers analyzed data from participants with both chronic and acute (lasting less than three months) pain. They found that both types of pain from all body sites were associated with depression, and that chronic pain was more strongly associated than acute pain. Furthermore, having chronic pain in multiple parts of the body was linked to a greater risk of depression than having pain at a single site. The UK Biobank also included assessments of participants’ blood. The Yale researchers used these data to look for inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive proteins, platelets, and white blood cells. They found that several of these inflammatory markers helped explain the relationship between pain and depression—and C-reactive proteins in particular were the strongest variable. “This gives us some preliminary evidence about the inflammatory mechanisms underlying the association between pain and depression,” says Rongtao Jiang, PhD, postdoctoral associate at YSM and the study’s first author. Illuminating the brain-body connection The study adds to growing evidence highlighting the significance of the brain-body connection, the authors say. “We often think of brain health or mental health as separate from cardiac health or liver health, for instance,” says Scheinost. “But all of these body systems influence each other.” Further research into the underlying drivers of pain and depression could help scientists develop new intervention strategies, he adds. Most of the participants studied were of European ancestry. In future studies, Jiang says he is interested in studying whether these findings also apply to individuals of other ethnicities. Scheinost’s team is also studying the association between chronic pain and opioid use disorder. “This is another disorder that goes hand-in-hand with the experience of chronic pain,” Scheinost says. To read the original article click here.

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Green Eyeglasses Reduce Pain-Related Anxiety in Fibromyalgia Patients, Study Shows

AHA Publisher — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 07:00:52 +0000

American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) via Newswise – NEW ORLEANS — Wearing special green eyeglasses for several hours a day reduces pain-related anxiety and may help decrease the need for opioids to manage severe pain in fibromyalgia patients and possibly others who experience chronic pain, according to a study being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2022 annual meeting. “Our research found that certain wavelengths of green light stimulate the pathways in the brain that help manage pain,” said Padma Gulur, M.D., lead author of the study and executive vice chair of Duke Anesthesiology and Duke Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “There is an urgent need for additional treatments to reduce the use of opioids among patients with fibromyalgia and other types of chronic pain, and green eyeglasses could provide an easy-to-use, non-drug option.” Few alternatives to opioids — especially non-drug options — exist for patients with severe and chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, which causes pain all over the body. Fibromyalgia affects about 4 million U.S. adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pain and anxiety share similar biological mechanisms. Additionally, fear of pain exacerbates anxiety, often leading to increased opioid use, said Dr. Gulur. The researchers studied 34 fibromyalgia patients who were randomized to wear various shades of eyeglasses four hours a day for two weeks: 10 patients wore blue eyeglasses, 12 wore clear eyeglasses and 12 wore green eyeglasses. Patients who wore green eyeglasses were four times more likely to have reduced anxiety than those in the other groups, which saw no reduction in anxiety. “We found that although their pain scores remained the same, those who wore the green eyeglasses used fewer opioids, demonstrating that their pain was adequately controlled,” said Dr. Gulur. “We would recommend the green eyeglasses treatment for those with fibromyalgia and are studying patients with other chronic pain conditions to determine if it would be beneficial.” The eyeglasses are specially formulated to filter a specific wavelength on the green light spectrum, said Dr. Gulur. She noted that most patients who wore the green eyeglasses reported feeling better and asked to keep wearing them. To read the original article click here.

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Feeling Hopeless About Your Underactive Thyroid? These Two Nutrients May Help, Study Suggests

AHA Publisher — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 08:00:37 +0000

Edit Lang via NaturalHealth365 – According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 4.6 percent of the U.S. population over 12 years old lives with hypothyroidism, with women far more likely to develop the condition than men. Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, occurs when your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This diminished thyroid function can potentially lead to devastating health consequences, such as weight gain, muscle weakness, pain, depression, plus much more. Although thyroid medications are the gold standard for managing hypothyroidism symptoms, they are certainly not the only way to nudge your thyroid gland to release more of its vital hormones. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition put two nutrients to the test to see if they can help improve thyroid function. Study Questions Effectiveness of Medications Used to Treat Underactive Thyroid If you live with low thyroid, you know how the condition progresses over time and symptoms worsen. Upon diagnosis, most doctors recommend patients to begin taking one of the many thyroid medications on the market, likely for the rest of their life. This approach might sound reasonable if we did not consider the long list of possible side effects and severe long-term health consequences, such as breast cancer associated with thyroid medications. In addition, scientists also raised questions about medication efficacy, as a whopping 40 percent of patients on thyroid medications continue to have abnormal TSH levels, according to the Colorado thyroid disease prevalence study. Such dismal results with commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals may partially explain why researchers looked at nutrients to boost thyroid hormone levels naturally. Supplementing with These Two Nutrients Can Increase Thyroid Hormone Levels In this 12-week study, researchers divided 68 obese women with underactive thyroid into four groups. Group 1 received 30 milligrams of zinc (as zinc gluconate) and 200 micrograms of selenium (as selenium yeast) Group 2 received 30 mg of zinc Group 3 received 200 micrograms of selenium Group 4 received a placebo At the end of the study period, researchers noted significant improvements in several areas. First, participants in the zinc-selenium group saw a 9.2 percent increase in Free T3 hormone levels. The zinc only group had an even more remarkable, 27 percent increase. Second, Free T4 levels also went up by 12.4 percent among patients taking both zinc and selenium. Finally, the ratio between Free T3 and Free T4 also improved by 23.8 percent. Researchers concluded that yes, indeed, supplementing with zinc or zinc and selenium has a beneficial effect on thyroid function. Discover the Various Ways Zinc and Selenium Affect Your Thyroid To better appreciate the above findings, let’s take a closer look at the connection between thyroid and zinc. One of the most important functions of zinc is its role in the T4 to T3 conversion. This process is also called the peripheral thyroid conversion, by which your body converts the inactive thyroid hormone T4 into the active hormone T3. Although zinc is not the only nutrient playing a role in this conversion, it is undeniably the most important of all. Zinc deficiency impairs your body’s ability to convert T4 to T3 and may lead to low thyroid development. On the contrary, maintaining adequate zinc levels can help optimize your health in multiple ways. Selenium, an essential micronutrient for thyroid function, also boosts T4 to T3 conversion, protects the gland against damage, and plays a vital role in thyroid hormone synthesis. Of all the organs, your thyroid contains the highest concentration of selenium in your body. Know This Before Supplementing With Zinc or Selenium Although avoiding deficiency in zinc and selenium is essential for optimum health, you should always consult with your healthcare professional before starting a new supplement regiment. Taking high amounts (especially over 40 mg) of zinc for long periods can deplete copper stores in your body. If you have celiac disease or other digestive disorders, you may not be able to absorb zinc at all. Selenium requires similar precautions as it can be toxic at high amounts. Experts have set the daily upper limits of selenium at 400 mcg. Brazil nuts are a popular way to ensure you meet the recommended daily intake of selenium. Be mindful, however, that according to the NIH, one ounce, or about 4 to 6 Brazil nuts contain approximately 544 micrograms of selenium, which is more than nine times the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 55 mcg for most adults. A good rule of thumb is to limit the number of Brazil nuts to a couple of them a day. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov, NIH.gov, NaturalHealth365.com, NaturalHealth365.com To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Back Pain Down Your Leg? Discover Natural Relief for Sciatica

AHA Publisher — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 08:00:04 +0000

Dr. Matthew Roe via NaturalHealth365 – Sciatica pain can cause severe and debilitating pain along with tingling, burning, numbness and weakness of the legs. Sciatica usually occurs when the sciatica nerve is irritated or compressed by a problem in the lower back sending pain down the buttock, hamstring, calf and foot. This is a serious health issue. It is estimated that 40% of the population will experience some degree of sciatica pain in their lifetime. Sciatica pain can vary and encompasses mild cramping, a tightening sensation in the hamstring or calf muscles to an all out constant shooting pain from the buttock down to the foot. And, in case you’re wondering: the sciatic nerve runs from the lower part of the spine down the back of both legs forming what can be though of as an electrical cable to and from the brain. What Exactly Causes Sciatica? When the upper cervical spine is misaligned, it puts pressure on the nerve channel that travels all the way down the back and to the sciatic nerve. This happens when the head and neck are off balance and the body is compensating by raising one shoulder and one hip thus putting pressure on the lower back. Pressure is also caused by the shortening and tightening of the piriformis muscle. This is almost always due to months or years of muscle imbalances in the hip rotator muscles. The piriformis muscle is a flat, band-like muscle located in the buttocks near the top of the hip joint. This muscle is important in lower body movement because it stabilizes the hip joint and lifts and rotates the thigh away from the body. This is what enables us to walk, shift our weight from one foot to another, and maintain balance. Basically, the piriformis is used in almost every motion of the hips and legs. To Avoid Pain: Understand the Cause A study in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, published in 2005, showed that about 70 percent of sciatica cases are caused by the pirifomis muscle. If the piriformis is tight (and it often is), it exerts pressure on the sciatic nerve and pushes it against the tendons beneath it, which can cause excruciating pain; this is known as the “piriformis syndrome.” Other causes include spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back; degeneration disc disease, the breakdown of cushions between the vertebrae; a herniated or bulging disc; or back injury. Spondylolisthesis, which can causes sciatica pain, is a slippage of one vertebra so that it is out of line with the one above it, narrowing the opening through which the sciatica nerve exits. What Is the Best Way to Treat Sciatica? Obviously, weight management, physical activity such as walking and stretching and avoiding prolonged sitting are essential components to pain-free living. One of the most overlooked causes of sciatica is poor posture, which increases the compression of the sciatic nerve. When standing or sitting keep the back straight and shoulders back – to relieve some of the pressure. When sleeping on your back, place a pillow under your knees or when on your side, place a pillow between your knees – to relieve pressure. Adjust the height of chairs – so your feet are flat on the floor and the knees are a little higher than the hips. Keep your feet flat on the floor and do not cross your legs when sitting. You may also want to lie on the floor with a heating pad for relaxation purposes. Should I stretch? The quick answer is yes! There are specific stretching exercises that are helpful. Exercises which stretch the hamstrings are needed. Most low back pain and sciatica problems will benefit from a regular routine of hamstring stretching. Tightness in the hamstrings places increased stress on the low back and often aggravates or even causes some of the conditions that lead to low back pain and/or sciatica pain. The hamstrings are a group of three muscles located in the back of the thigh. They run from the pelvis down to the knee, and help bend the knee and extend the hip. Most daily activities do not stretch the hamstrings – which causes them to become tight and specific stretching exercises are needed to keep them healthy and extended. Relieve Back Pain with Massage and Physical Therapy Massage is a wonderful tool as is some specific yoga exercises. Yoga is considered therapeutic and should be done when the movements are easy to perform. Key point: don’t overdo it. Physical therapy exercises incorporating strengthening, stretching, and aerobic conditioning are often components of a good sciatica treatment program. For example, the goal of chiropractic care is to restore spinal movement, thereby improving function while decreasing pain and inflammation. Depending on the cause of the sciatica, a chiropractic treatment will use spinal adjustments along with ice/heat therapy, and rehabilitative exercises for maximum results. What Is Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care? Upper cervical chiropractic treatments allow the body to correct a spinal misalignment – which drastically increases the pressure on the discs of the low back. It doesn’t correct the spine with any snapping, popping or twisting of the neck or back. The adjustments are not only safe and effective but gentle. When in the mist of a sciatica flare-up, it is important not to use vigorous manual adjustments because pressure to an inflamed nerve can create more irritation. So while chiropractor care is typically used to help with sciatica pain it is also important to note that nerves are extremely sensitive to compression. Remember, while suffering with severe back pain, gentle chiropractic adjustments can be quite beneficial. About the author: Dr. Matthew Roe is a practicing upper cervical chiropractor and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science. He has a Doctor of Chiropractic degree graduating Cum Laude from Life University College of Chiropractic. Having studied with the best Upper Cervical specific doctors in the world he understands true healing. His practice focus is to help people fine true health naturally. For more information about Dr. Roe – visit: WinterGardenChiropractors.com Sources for this article include: Health.Harvard.edu, NHS.uk, Spine-Health.com, Mayoclinic.org To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

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Could Pineapples Be a New Weapon Against COVID-19?

AHA Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 07:00:52 +0000

Dr. Tomislav Meštrović, MD, Ph.D. via News-Medical Net – Results of a recent research endeavor from the United States indicate that bromelain or bromelain rich pineapple stem may be utilized as an antiviral agent against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but also for potential future coronavirus outbreaks. This exciting paper is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is already well-known for its rapid human-to-human transmission, responsible for the relentless pandemic spread of dangerous COVID-19. But every day, we learn a bit more about SARS-CoV-2 immunology. The initial interaction between Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2), primed spike glycoprotein (S-protein), and host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is a pre-requisite for cell entry and COVID-19 pathogenesis. At the moment, infected patients are treated with different antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antimalarial agents. Nevertheless, the response rate is relatively modest, and there is a need to confirm both the safety and efficacy profile of those drugs against COVID-19. But repurposing existing drugs or develop new (either virus-based or host-based) antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 is still a way forward. The pertinent question is, could we maybe use bromelain – a dietary supplement isolated from pineapple stem used to treat patients with pain, inflammation, and thrombosis – for COVID-19 patients as well? This hypothesis was tackled by researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) in Silver Springin the United States, with rather exciting findings. Bromelain inhibits / cleaves the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2, it cleaves / degrades SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and inhibits S-Ectodomain binding and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cloning and Expressing Recombinant Proteins Since ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 are full of cysteine residues that establish disulfide bonds to support the protein structure, this research group primarily appraised the effect of bromelain (which is a cysteine protease) on ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 expression. The full-length genome sequences of 45 SARS-CoV-2 isolates were analyzed in-depth. At the same time, the African green monkey kidney epithelial cells (Vero E6) was chosen as the primary cell line utilized in this study. The researchers cloned and subsequently expressed SARS-CoV-2 S-protein ectodomain that contains insect cell secretion signal. Next, they have determined the interaction between the purified S-Ectodomain and human recombinant ACE-2 using surface plasmon resonance technology (i.e., real-time detection of biomolecular interactions). Finally, they have expressed SARS-CoV-2 S-Ectodomain tagged with a green fluorescent protein in Tni insect cells from Trichoplusia ni (i.e., cabbage looper). Surface resonance plasmon and Luminex assay were used to reveal the purified S-Ectodomain binding to human ACE-2, as well as immunoreactivity with COVID-19 positive samples. Multiple Ways of Halting SARS-CoV-2 “We demonstrate that bromelain (isolated from pineapple stem and used as a dietary supplement) treatment diminishes the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 in VeroE6 cells and dramatically lowers the expression of S-Ectodomain”, say study authors. More specifically, it was shown that bromelain decreases the expression of both ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 in a dose-dependent manner in Vero E6 cells. Moreover, bromelain’s cysteine proteolytic activity was notably higher in ACE-2 when compared to TMPRSS2. Even more important was the finding that the bromelain treatment was able to halt the interaction between S-Ectodomain and Vero E6 cells, significantly diminishing the SARS-CoV-2 infection in this cell line. Furthermore, this study indicates that the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein has both highly sialylated N- and O-linked glycans, and bromelain managed to cleave it. Consequently, a loss of negatively charged sialic acid groups in the N- and O-linked glycans may cause a decreased mobility shift of S-Ectodomain. Bromelain as a Broad-Spectrum Antiviral “For the first time, our results demonstrate that bromelain can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection by targeting all three host ACE-2 and TMPRSS2, and SARS-CoV-2 S-proteins”, summarize study authors in this bioRxiv paper. Previous studies have demonstrated that bromelain can be utilized to treat patients with inflammation and pain and that the compound is well absorbed and with prolonged biological activity. All of these advantages can be exploited when treating patients with COVID-19. In conclusion, either bromelain or bromelain rich pineapple stem represents a viable option as an antiviral for treating not only COVID-19 but also potential future outbreaks of other coronaviruses. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

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Garlic Supplementation Linked to LOWER Body Aches and Discomfort

AHA Publisher — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 07:00:16 +0000

Joy Jensen via NaturalHealth365 – As many as two percent of the population are affected by rheumatoid arthritis. Characterized by joint inflammation that often causes deformity, many individuals diagnosed with the disease deal with pain, tender joints, fatigue, and additional life-altering symptoms. Of course, conventionally speaking, there’s “no cure” for rheumatoid arthritis. However, a new studyfound that taking garlic supplements resulted in reduced body aches and discomfort for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Not only did garlic supplementation result in improvements in pain, it reduce inflammation, fatigue, and disease activity scores, as well. Inflammatory Markers IMPROVED for Those Taking Garlic Supplements Garlic – rich in compounds like diallyl sulfide and allicin – has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects on multiple studies, and researchers have documented its anti-fatigue and pain-relieving benefits in the past. Researchers wanted to dig deeper into how garlic would affect individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and gave 70 women with the disease 500 milligram garlic supplements or a placebo twice each day for eight weeks. At the beginning, they measured various biomarkers of inflammation and clinical symptoms in the study group. After eight weeks, the women with RA who’d received the garlic supplements saw a significant reduction in their serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) levels as compared to the placebo group, which indicates lower inflammation levels. Those taking garlic also saw improvements in tender joint count, pain, fatigue, and their disease activity scores after the eight-week trial. According to researchers, this study is the first one of its kind that investigated the effects of garlic on inflammatory biomarkers, clinical symptoms, and fatigue in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis. With the positive results, garlic should be considered as an adjunct treatment for patients with RA, although scientists believe that more long-term studies would be helpful. Garlic’s Antioxidant Properties Offer Additional Health Benefits It’s the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of garlic that make it so beneficial, and it offers health benefits beyond these new discoveries for treatment RA. Previous research found that garlic is associated with a lower mortality risk in individuals of all ages. Supplementing with garlic even helps boost liver health, detoxifying the liver and even helping to reverse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Taking garlic supplements daily also helps reduce blood pressure In addition, taking garlic supplements daily also helps reduce blood pressure – even as well as prescription blood pressure medications do. Garlic supplementation is also linked to better heart health, improved immunity, lower cholesterol levels, and blood clot prevention. One of the best ways to enjoy the benefits of garlic is to add more fresh, raw garlic to your diet. Toss it in salads, soups, or other dishes. Of course, most people don’t eat enough garlic to maximize the health benefits, which is where a supplement can help. Consider a quality garlic supplement to take advantage of the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties garlic offers for better health. Sources for this article include: Wiley.com, LifeExtension.com, NaturalHealth365.com To read the original article click here.

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Military Researcher Explores Ways to Prevent Chronic Pain

AHA Publisher — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 08:00:15 +0000

University of Kentucky via Newswise – The ultimate goal of the study is to determine which factors are most influential toward the development of chronic pain, and then create a screening platform that can categorize patients into different levels of risk. Newswise — LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 7, 2019) – Josh Van Wyngaarden grew up in a military family, traveling all over the world during his father’s 22 years in the Air Force. “It’s really all I ever knew,” he said. “And I knew I wanted to serve in that way, too.” The University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences doctoral student was in high school when 9/11 occurred. It moved him to follow in his father’s footsteps by applying for the Air Force Academy, where he studied for four years. Knowing he wanted to pursue a medical career, he ultimately chose the path of physical therapy, earning his doctorate of physical therapy at San Antonio’s Army-Baylor DPT Program. While in San Antonio, Van Wyngaarden worked at the Brooke Army Medical Center’s Center for the Intrepid, a rehabilitation facility where military wounded warriors receive treatment for blast-related injuries experienced during deployment. Despite evidence-based treatment, many of the patients ultimately developed chronic pain. “Chronic pain and suffering were such huge problems in that population,” he said. “I knew then we need to find better ways to figure out who’s at risk for a bad outcome.” Van Wyngaarden spent the next several years traveling the world himself: a stint at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where he practiced clinical physical therapy. An assignment to Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, where he helped build a platform to transport patients with Ebola from West Africa to the United States for treatment. A humanitarian mission in Nepal to provide healthcare to people in need. Finally, a deployment to South Korea, where he both directed the physical therapy clinic and also led the team in charge of base decontamination in the case of a chemical, nuclear or biological attack. With years of experience in the field, Van Wyngaarden then decided to pursue a Ph.D. in rehabilitation sciences, which would allow him to teach and conduct research on the mechanisms behind chronic pain. The good news: the Air Force would cover the cost of his degree for three years. The bad news: most Ph.D. programs in the country take 4-5 years, and very few were willing to accelerate their programming to meet that three-year requirement. Fortunately, the University of Kentucky has a known track record of working with both active duty service members and veterans to achieve their scholarly goals. Van Wyngaarden emailed Brian Noehren, associate professor of physical therapy in the UK College of Health Sciences, to inquire about the possibility of getting his doctorate in three years. “When Josh reached out to me, I really thought long and hard about this – the fact that it was a year shorter for a Ph.D. is a really big deal,” Noehren said. “But I really felt that commitment to our service members, and I wanted to find a way that Josh could be successful here.” Noehren set up regular FaceTime meetings with Van Wyngaarden while he was still stationed in South Korea so he could begin working ahead of his arrival. The 13-hour time difference meant that one of the two was working early while the other worked late, but the effort paid off. “A lot of times, it takes a year or more for the student to really settle into their topic,” Noehren said. “But he was able to come in and hit the ground running.” Van Wyngaarden’s research at UK is inspired by his time at the Center for the Intrepid: he’s studying the potential for chronic pain in patients who have suffered a significant lower extremity fracture that required surgery. Working with UK HealthCare orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Paul Matuszewski to identify patients who agree to participate in the study, Van Wyngaarden monitors patients for 12 months after surgery, conducting surveys and sensory testing to determine possible risk factors for chronic pain. He’s particularly interested in the psychosocial aspects of recovery – in other words, what psychological and environmental factors might play a role in whether patients develop chronic pain over the years. Those issues were prevalent during his time working with wounded veterans. “A lot of those guys did really poorly – understandably – not just because of the trauma of the injury, but also the psychological influence of seeing their best friends injured or killed in action,” Van Wyngaarden said. “I saw the influence those factors carried in those patients, and I wanted to see how that played out in a less severe traumatic injury population.” The ultimate goal of the study is to determine which factors are most influential toward the development of chronic pain, and then create a screening platform that can categorize patients into different levels of risk. For example, a low-risk patient would recover as expected with standard of care; however, a high-risk patient may need some supplemental care focused on mental health to help control pain throughout recovery. While that goal has obvious applications in the military setting, it also has the potential to make an impact on a public health issue that’s particularly impacted the Commonwealth: the opioid crisis. Noehren notes that Van Wyngaarden’s work is unique and possibly the first of its kind. “With orthopaedic trauma, almost half of patients develop chronic pain and are at risk of long-term use of opioids,” Noehren said. “The best way to prevent opioid use disorder is to not need opioids in the first place. Josh’s work will give us really important insights for non-pharmacological treatments that we can administer to people before they develop chronic pain both in and outside the military setting.” Though his work is ongoing, Van Wyngaarden says they’re noticing definite trends: they can reliably predict those who are at risk for chronic pain at the six-month mark, and they are working to see if that trend holds at 12 months. So far, the most consistent predictor of pain and poor physical function is self-efficacy. “It’s basically the person’s belief and confidence that they can work through an injury – despite any pain they might be having – and return to full activity,” he said. In addition to the insights his research is providing, Noehren says having a student with Van Wyngaarden’s experience has been valuable for the whole rehabilitation sciences program. “It’s been great to have him in our lab because he sees things a little differently,” Noehren said. “Having an actual service member who’s treated individuals wounded in combat has been really important for us. The military system of medicine is different than the civilian, and I think it’s been enriching for our undergraduate and other graduate students who are just now becoming acquainted with the different healthcare systems.” Early next summer, Van Wyngaarden will finish up his degree and defend his dissertation. Though he’s not yet sure of his next assignment, he says he’ll likely be heading back to the Army-Baylor program to teach and train the next generation of military physical therapists. But he’s not finished with UK just yet – in addition to future intervention studies he’ll develop in his new role, he’ll also continue to collaborate on research with Noehren and Matuszewski. The team has secured funding for their work, which will take them through several more years of research. But wherever Van Wyngaarden’s career may take him, Noehren says he’s poised for great things. “We push people in our labs to really take risks and try new and bold ideas, and he has definitely done that,” Noehren said. “I’m really excited to see his future career trajectory. He’s on track to do some amazing things both inside and outside of the military.” To read the original article click here.

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