Are you getting the right treatment for chronic headaches, back pain, and digestive issues? It’s time to RISE above it. You go to your doctor because you have unrelenting pain in your back, stomach, neck, head or (fill in the blank). Tests don’t show anything abnormal. So maybe you’re given an injection, a prescription for…
EXCERPT: Sunbreak: Understanding the Pain No One Can Explain © Shana Johnson 2023 Available on Amazon Sept. 2023 CHAPTER 1 EXCERPT When the sun breaks through When I lived in Seattle, the sky was gray for nine long months, from October through June. During this gloom, short bursts of sun appeared, lasting only a…
When stress gets physical: How your stress response connects with your health We all experience stress. Some people deal with it more often and more intensely than others. But those pressure-filled periods don’t just impact your mood. When stress gets physical, the result can be lasting problems. Do you know how your stress response connects…
Sunbreak explains the nerve disorder affecting 30 million Americans BUY NOW ON AMAZON Thirty million people in the United States suffer from a condition that causes chronic pain, but conventional medical testing doesn’t show the source of the problem. Central sensitization syndrome (CSS) stems from a dysfunction in the nervous system, where over-reactive nerves send exaggerated…
Does your doctor believe you? How to find one who does. Does your healthcare provider take the time to listen? Do you feel more like an inconvenience than a client? And when you share your symptoms and concerns, does your doctor believe you? You need to learn how to find one who does. The relationship…
From back pain to depression, one woman’s agonizing journey In my practice, I’ve worked with countless patients who were referred by their providers because their back pain had no physical cause. Exams, X-rays, and MRIs showed nothing abnormal. Those tests don’t show over-reactive, over-sensitized nerves! And when a physician doesn’t understand this stress-related condition, they…
30M people with a painful condition often go undiagnosed SCOTTSDALE AZ—Imagine being afraid to move, afraid to eat, or afraid to be close to your partner. An estimated 30 million people in the United States suffer from a central sensitization syndrome (CSS). A condition that stems from dysfunction in the nervous system leading to…
Work overload really blows your mind! Work stress and headaches go together. Too much angst hits you in physical ways you might not realize, resulting in a stress-related disorder. Here’s a story about how stress overload really blows your mind! Stress can destroy your health. When you go for long periods of time with…
Nerve Sensitization Symptom Evaluator Author: Shana L Johnson MD, AskDrShana Signs that pain is related to nerve sensitization (nociplastic pain) includes long-standing symptoms symptoms (> 3 months), spread of symptoms beyond the boundary of the injury area, marked increased sensitivity to painful stimuli, and non-pain symptoms that cause system-wide symptoms like severe fatigue, disrupted…
Author: Shana L Johnson MD, AskDrShana There are multiple classes of medications that lower the reactivity and pain signals from nerves. Many of the medications were developed for other medical conditions but were found to reduce nerve pain. I refer to them as “neuropathic agents” since they lower reactivity and pain signaling from the nerves.…