This study uses healthy volunteers, but the anecdotal evidence and related science in those of us with pain conditions does suggest a profound correlation between sleep and pain:
Extended Sleep Reduces Pain Sensitivity
Interesting that they specifically note that less than 2 hours’ extra sleep is more effective than a substantial dose of codeine!
We are putting together a program called, “CRPS: Art & Spirit.” We aim to collect information — and creative work — from those who manage this disease with extra poise, focusing on what works (rather than profits or politics) and finding our way towards a cure.
The paperwork involved in getting funding and charitable status is a bit more than … Continue reading..
This article describes a new, life- and reality-based map of the white matter in the human brain:
First Micro-Structure Atlas of Human Brain Completed
It addresses two crippling gaps in our understanding of the brain:
1. Hitherto, brain models have been derived from microscopic analysis of a handful (so to speak) of cadaver brains. Since significant physical and chemical … Continue reading..
This table shows the antioxidant contents of 3,000 foods:
On first glance, I was annoyed, because there was so much redundancy in the foods examined: 11 entries for blackberries? Couldn’t they make up their minds?
On closer inspection, a deeper story emerged. Take a look at this and see what you find:
Product
This article discusses suicide among returning veterans:
Suicide Prevention Expert Outlines New Steps to Tackle Military Suicide
The up-side is, it brings more attention to this national shame: “..while only 1% of Americans serve in the military, the suicide rate of veterans accounts for [20 %] of the overall total in the US.” [Emphasis mine.] They’re overrepresented in … Continue reading..
Most doctors do good. They do lots of good, all the time, every working day. They’re not perfect (nobody is) but they do far more good than most of us have a chance to.
Moreover, most specialists were drawn to their specialty because they thought it was the coolest and most intriguing use of their … Continue reading..
I got a remarkably thoughtless comment from someone on the physician-driven site, crpsnews.org:
“Everyday is certainly a struggle for people with CRPS because they live in pain 24/7. While there is no cure for the disease, it can be slowed and likely to go into remission if treated early, ideally within three months of the first symptoms.”
This remark … Continue reading..
This study looks at how the eyes behave when reading:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070910092543.htm
It explains an observation I first made about 35 years ago, sitting on the rug and watching my family read.
The old assumption was that both eyes look at the same letter at the same time. Speaking as a reader, I had sometimes wondered about that, especially … Continue reading..
http://www.painjournalonline.com/article/S0304-3959%2809%2900267-X/abstract
Until now, medicos thought that first we perceived touch, then we assigned meaning to it. This study indicates that, in heterosexual men anyway, meaning is assigned to touch at the same moment the touch is perceived.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120604155709.htm#.T84zYXI1EKw.mailto
Fortunately, they do plan on investigating other demographic groups, including other ages, gender and sexual orientations.
I tend to assume … Continue reading..
