Mark's Musings - September 30

Below is an aggregation of the stories I posted on LinkedIn since my last edition. I curate them through the prism of an "intersection of chronic pain and appropriate treatment" and so they come attached with my opinion.

=============================

My Responsibility (1,523 views)

My goal for today (and every day) ... Focus on what is MY responsibility. And not worry about what is not my responsibility. Negativity - mine or somebody else's - impedes progress.

=============================

Man Arrested in Mass Overdose at Swanky Pittsburgh Building (279 views)

Jail is too good for this person if the allegations prove to be true. And that's why it is Buyer (User) Beware. Illicit #fentanyl can be anywhere, and wherever it is, can be deadly. Taking something you know nothing about from someone you don't know anything about reminds me of "skittles parties" where teens have died. Going to a party where something like this is going on is a choice. Taking whatever they're handing out is a choice. Ingesting it is a choice. Make a better choice.

=============================

Unused Brain Regions Can Be Repurposed via Neuroplasticity (724 views)

I've posted / spoken / written about #neuroplasticity on many occasions so this article was very interesting to me regarding research about how "unused" areas of the brain can be "repurposed". One of the studies identified how people that use their toes instead of their fingers to paint have switched what part of the brain helps them do that. This underscores how everyone's brain changes constantly, pruning areas not used and enhancing areas used often. This fact (not opinion) should give hope to anyone that feels like who they are today dooms them to be the same for eternity. As long as you're a living organism, so is your brain. Neuroplasticity is such an important concept to understand. Read this to dive into the science. A number of behavioral psychologists have educated me on how the brain rewires itself constantly and how each person can control what is rewired by conscious choice. That means the most effective tool people in #ChronicPain have to deploy is ... their brain. How each person processes the sensation of pain, thru genetic makeup and psychosocial filters that turns it into an experience, will dictate how they respond to pain. Who is the master - Pain or You?

=============================

To Pay Attention, the Brain Uses Filters, Not a Spotlight (929 views)

As scientists learn more about the brain, they are understanding better how it pays attention. As it turns out, it's not just about amplifying things of interest but also suppressing things not of interest. "The attentional searchlight metaphor was backward: The brain wasn’t brightening the light on stimuli of interest; it was lowering the lights on everything else." Essentially, there is a filter (the term they use is "gate") through which every input processes that determines whether the brain (i.e. you) should focus on it or not. Scientists have actually mapped out the pathway. Sounds cool, but what does it mean? If you can consciously better manage the gate, you can better manage what you focus on. And, ultimately, how you respond. This creates an intersection between #neuroplasticity (rewiring your brain) and #ChronicPain (more than just the sensation). If you can train your brain to filter in positivity and filter out negativity then there's a higher likelihood that you'll get better results. Which is why this subject, along with the previous post, leads to utilizing psychotherapy with modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). And ... Focusing on a #BioPsychoSocialSpiritual approach to care. In other words, maybe the best way for you to manage your pain is to manage your brain. Which includes every part of your brain. Hat tip to Shan Padda for the article.

=============================

Arthritis group offers first guidelines for patients who use CBD for joint pain (484 views)

Interesting insight on medical #cannabis by The Arthritis Foundation (TAF). They surveyed "more than 2,600 patients, finding that nearly 80 percent are either currently using #CBD, have used it, or are considering it for their joint pain." Regardless of the participant selection criteria, 80% is a lot. Following are their thoughts (or what they call guidance):

1. Patients should not abandon arthritis medications already prescribed by doctors
2. Evidence showing CBD might be an effective pain reliever is anecdotal and (TAF) encourages more scientific research needed to prove safety and efficacy
3. People who want to try CBD (should) start slowly with the lowest dose and track symptoms over time
4. For both CBD and THC products, TAF urges patients to work with a physician to find products from reputable retailers who use independent, third-party testing
5. TAF does not recommend CBD edibles or lotions because less is known about how the ingredient acts when it's digested or absorbed through the skin
6. CBD should not be vaped
7. CBD may interact with some medications, such as naproxen (sold over the counter as Aleve), corticosteroids and some anti-depressants

While all of the points above are important to keep in mind, #3 and #4 are the ones that resonate most with me. With the "wild west" that CBD has become since hemp was federally legalized in December 2018 via the Farm Bill (which the FDA is now trying to manage retroactively), it's important to know what you're taking. Trust But Verify.

=============================

US House passes bill giving pot businesses access to banking (576 views)

BREAKING: The Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act passed the U.S. House yesterday (Sep 25) by a vote of 321-103. It would "grant legal #marijuana businesses access to banking" and transform the industry from a cash business into the 21st century. Passage in the Senate is not guaranteed although Sen. Mike Crapo (chairman of the Senate Banking Committee) is an advocate. I've mentioned this SAFE act before, as well as the Clarifying Law Around Insurance of Marijuana (CLAIM) Act that would give marijuana businesses greater access to insurance policies. Obviously neither of these bills legalize #cannabis at the Federal level. But both would provide legitimacy - and staying power - to the industry. The implications to Work Comp are fairly obvious - reimbursement of medical cannabis could be fully embraced without fear of penalty. We shall see if either / both make it into law. While both have bipartisan support there are no guarantees in the other chamber.

=============================

Staying Healthy (77 views)

Dry Bar Comedy ("clean" comedy so no needless profanity) is a nice way for me to chill and I thought Matt Falk had a funny take on being healthy that will only require 4:30 of your time. In his mind, a good way to lose weight is to remove food from your plate until you’re no longer happy (good humor always has a grain of truth ... portion control). And "knock on wood" is not a strategy.

=============================

In addition, I published two blogposts:

• "Mark's Musings - September 23" on September 24
• "Opioid Sadness and Hope" on September 27 by WorkCompWire

=============================

"It's Never the Wrong Time to do the Right Thing" - Martin Luther King, Jr.

#PreventTheMess + #CleanUpTheMess = The Answer.