Rob has regular columns in Diabetes Self-Management and Pain-Free Living, featuring definitions related to the diseases. To view the definitions, go to diabetes definitions or pain free living.
The Fix
How I Would Relapse, Oct. 27, 2017, by Robert Dinsmoor
When I think about relapsing, I have a few different scenarios in my head, but like recurring nightmares, they all share a single thread.
Throughout my five years of sobriety, I have often thought about how I might relapse.
The most amazing story I heard in rehab was from a very rational-looking middle-aged man. He had been sober for a number of years. One day, he stopped for gas, went into the gas station to buy a soda, came out with a six pack, drained it in the parking lot, and now he was back here in rehab.
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Pain-Free Living
Raynauds Phenomenon, Oct. 27, 2015, by Robert Dinsmoor
A medical condition in which the blood vessels, particularly those in the fingers and toes, narrow in response to cold or psychological stress. There are two basic forms of Raynaud’s phenomenon—primary and secondary. The primary form more commonly affects women and people residing in cold climates. The secondary form, which usually starts after age 35, is more common in people with connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Blood vessels naturally narrow in response to cold to help the body retain heat, but in Raynaud’s phenomenon, this reaction is stronger than normal. Attacks of Raynaud’s phenomenon may cause fingers and toes to change color from white to blue to red and to become cold and numb. They can throb and tingle as the blood flow returns. In severe cases, Raynaud’s can lead to tissue damage and sores.
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Pain-Free Living
All Headaches Are Not Created Equal, Sep. 30, 2015, by Robert Dinsmoor
All Headaches are not Created Equal – Most people have headaches at some point in their lives. Doctors have identified 200 different types of headaches, and the proper treatment depends on which type you have. Most headaches are relatively harmless, but some can be debilitating or may point to serious or even life-threatening underlying conditions. Fortunately, there are several measures you can take to treat the most common headaches, and certain “red flags” can help you recognize when you need immediate medical attention.
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March 25, 2019 @ 3:31 pm
Hello!
Do you address diabetic neuropathy and pain management? It took me 5 years of persistence to reach my current status of having a neuro-stimulator along my spine that provides moderate pain relief from buttock and leg neuropathy caused by 55+ years of type 1 diabetes. I also require 3600mg gabapentin qd as a continuing supplement. I’m living in the Philippines during Seattle winters, but still get freezing feet almost daily. Taking care of myself is a full time job, 24/7/365 that’s never boring.
May 6, 2019 @ 12:56 pm
Hi, Mike:
Sorry,but I just saw this message. Glad you’re finding at least some relief. I haven’t written anything about neuropathic pain recently but it might be time for an article. I’ve written about neurostimulation for another publication, Pain-Free Living, now defunct, but I perhaps I should address it in regard to painful diabetic neuropathy. Thanks for posting!
Best,
Rob