Number scale wrong way to treat pain

The list of NBA players’ injuries this season is astounding: Golden Stater Steph Curry (ankle, ankle, ankle, ankle, MCL of knee), Boston Celtic Kyrie Irving (knee), 76er Joel Embiid (broken eye socket) and many others.

They all must contend with post-op pain managementandthechallengesof rehab. That’s just like the 1.77 million of you who will rehab this year from a knee replacement, rotator cuff surgery or hernia repair.

But there’s a catch, according to a new study presented at this year’s Scientific Summit of the American Pain Society. It’s difficult for everyday athletes to get the post-op pain management they need to heal rapidly and endure rehab. That’s because too often nurses take you at your word when you rate your pain level. According to one of the study’s authors: “We’re sometimes fixated on this number scale. (‘Please, rate your pain 1 to 10.’) … We really need to go back to that patient and say: ‘Are you satisfied?’ ‘Can you tolerate this for a long period?’”

Generally, that’s not happening, so you or a family member should be prepared to give more information to your nurses. (“It’s OK now, but it won’t be if it persists.”) Then you’ll get more effective pain management (usually not narcotic-based), heal faster and need less pain medication in the long run.

De-stressing offline

In a 2008 installment of the comic strip Dilbert, Dilbert tells his doctor: “I’m addicted to the internet because it’s more interesting than people. Is there a pill you can give to everyone to make them more interesting?” He later complains to Dogbert, “Doctors never want to treat the underlying problem.”

While Dilbert’s cure for internet addiction might be off-target, looking for a solution isn’t.

Researchers tracked over 100 “active” Facebook users for five days after they deactivated from the social mediasiteandfoundthattheir levels of the stress hormone cortisol dropped significantly. Chronic elevated levels of cortisol have been associated with inflammation, anxietyanddamagetothe cardiovascular system.

This comes on the heels of a 2017 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The researchers reported that “the use of Facebook was negatively associated with overall well-being …”

We think everyone should disconnect for one week, every month. Use that time to reflect on whether your social media experience is generally positive.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.