Natural Health and Herbal Remedies Blog

Different people react in different ways when they are confronted with pain. The way we react is important, as it has its effect on how we feel the pain, both in its severity and its duration. There are two very common types of reaction: the hostile and the depressive. Both have a bad effect and make the pain worse. These reactions come about unconsciously without our thinking about them, but a little understanding can do much to modify them, and thus help in the

self-management of the pain.

The Hostile Reaction to Pain-”Why should this happen to me?” We hear these words often enough. It means the patient is reacting with hostility to the situation in which he finds himself. He feels that what he is suffering is an injustice. He is angry about it. and because there is no appropriate way for him to vent his anger he has to contain it. This results in an increase in his general level of anxiety. There is increased tension and increased perception of pain.

You have done nothing wrong. Do you think that some of these remarks could apply to yourself? If so, remember that we do not expect this sort of justice in other spheres of life. Perhaps we can expect something grander and deeper. Remember too, we strive for understanding; and when we can understand that some things transcend conventional logic, then we have come to understand something important indeed.

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Q. I suppose appendicitis is one of the most common causes for emergency surgery.

A. True, and most people are unaware that about 60 Australians die each year from this disorder, mostly from a delay in seeking medical attention. This should never happen.

Q. What are the symptoms?

A. Appendicitis commonly commences with pain around the epigastrium and navel. From 2-12 hours later, it slowly extends to the right lower side of the abdomen, the so-called iliac fossa. There may be some vomiting, increase in pain, mild fever and constipation, although often symptoms are minimum. The pain may be worse with coughing, walking or running.

Q. What treatment is advised?

A. Any symptom that could indicate appendicitis should receive prompt medical attention. Deep tenderness in the R.I.F. region is usually felt on firm pressure at the doctor’s examination. Sometimes tests are ordered, for urinary infections can often mimic a diseased appendix.

However, if there is any doubt, surgical removal is advised and this is often carried out promptly. An acute appendix may burst, causing serious symptoms. Uncomplicated cases recover well, the patient being up the next day and home a few days later. A light diet for a few days, reduced activity for a couple of weeks and the patient soon returns to normal.

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Using treatments that are extremely similar in many ways to those employed by osteopaths, chiropractic techniques are particularly successful in treating low back pain, slipped discs and sports injuries.

A well-established health care system that originated in America, chiropractic’s underlying principle is that a patient’s overall state of health will be greatly governed by how comfortably and easily the various parts of his body move, naturally paying special attention to the back and the neck.

In general, chiropractors are more likely to use more vigorous techniques than osteopaths when freeing ‘stuck joints’ through manipulation.

This works broadly on the same principles as acupuncture, but the essential difference between the two is that in acupressure the various points on the patient’s body are stimulated by the practitioner’s finger or thumb instead of by the insertion of needles. One major advantage of this approach is that a patient (or a relative or friend) can perhaps be taught to perform the treatment and therefore it can be repeated as often as required at home. Most practitioners of acupuncture also offer acupressure therapy because some patients cannot face the idea of having needles stuck into them.

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