#PewPerspectives - Week of Apr 30

Following are the stories that I posted on LinkedIn during this week in case you missed them. View counts are as of 10:00am ET on May 11.

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

Dr. Marcos Iglesias: Worklessness May Be Dangerous To Your Health (1,950 views)

"The bottom line is this: Not working may be harmful to your health." Return to Work is not just good for employers - it's good (and maybe life-saving) for employees. Given that a majority of waking hours Monday-Friday are spent commuting to / at work and that many people receive most of their self-esteem from what they do at work, it's no wonder that not being able to work (because of an injury, because of down-sizing, etc.) can have a detrimental effect on health - physical, emotional, relational, financial, etc. Marcos' article describes the "death spiral" of emotions and deconditioning that can increase disability and reduce the possibility of return-to-work. So it's in everyone's best interest to focus ASAP on RTW.

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

21-Day Walking Plan That Will Help You Lose Weight (453 views)

As I always like to repeat from several clinical mentors, "motion is lotion." Here's a simple way to do it, even if you don't feel capable or motivated. Not only might this help you lose weight and increase cardiovascular health (especially at week two when you get to HIT) and physical stamina, but it gets you out of the house where many people in pain become imprisoned. You might even be able to have social interaction (it's fun in my neighborhood as I get to say hello beyond just the wave from the window), which is also good for health and the management of pain. Some may say they can't exercise, but I challenge anyone to not be able to do at least what's prescribed for week one. And the best thing? It's free! This plan starts at a reasonably low duration/pace and gradually builds it up until it becomes a habit. Contrary to the common "myth" that a new habit can be formed in 21 days, per a clinical study by Phillippa Lally it can actually take anywhere from 18 to 254 days. But if you follow this plan, you will eventually become "addicted" to the endorphins of exercise ... a habit!

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

The Power of Taking 10,000 Steps (Or More!) And How to Get There (1,831 views)

More about "motion is lotion," this time using the ubiquitous 10,000 steps. I love the author's point about strategically choosing to make his life as "inefficient as possible" in order to maximize his movement. I do that by choosing stairs instead of an elevator, walking to my airport gate rather than riding the train. He provides some other options, like parking as far away from the front door as possible (something else I like to do). Efficiency is great when it comes to time management, but it's counterproductive when trying to maintain an active lifestyle. Go out of your way to walk - it will be worth it. And the best part? It's free! 10,000 steps is a made up number. However, it's not achievable by mistake or happenstance. In other words, it's a strategic number, something for which planning is required. It's all about establishing a mindset of activity and letting that mindset dictate life choices from that day forward (i.e. a lifestyle). Is 10k steps possible every day? Sometimes not. But if that's the conscious goal for every day then the probability increases.

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

CDC Study Finds Opioid Dependency Begins Within a Few Days of Initial Use (532 views)

Hence the focus by many states on limiting #opioid day supply for acute pain ... Which, btw, have a DIRECT impact on #WorkComp. Per this CDC study, "Even a one-day opioid prescription carried a 6 percent risk of use at one year later and a 2.9 percent risk of use at three years later. The sharpest increases in the likelihood of long-term use came at five days after the initial prescription, with another spike seen at one month." So obviously reducing the total number of pills will reduce the number of people that can become dependent upon them. Why did I say these day supply caps enacted by states and even some retail pharmacies will have an impact on Work Comp? Because the laws / regulations / policies don't exclude prescriptions by specific payers - they're applicable to every prescription from every prescriber and paid for by anyone. Which means Work Comp. Don't be so Work Comp centric that you miss the bigger picture.

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

How Staying Present Can Improve Your Health (1,192 views)

Mindfulness - it's not just for monks or yoga instructors anymore. "Staying present" is an important concept whether dealing with pain, distracted by difficult circumstances, overcoming negativity (in your own brain or from others), or just plain dealing with life. And the best part? It's free!

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

Take Charge Ohio (407 views)

Ohio Gov. Kasich announced on May 2 new opioid prescribing rules for sub-acute and chronic pain to help opioid prescribers and their patients manage pain safely and reduce the risk of addiction and abuse. Among the rules "physicians will look for signs of opioid misuse when patients are upped to 50, 80 and 120 morphine equivalent doses per day." The "Take Charge Ohio" website from the Ohio Department of Health includes tools and resources for prescribers and patients. Watch their 30 second video that outlines their mission - "to help patients safely manage their pain through responsible medication practices." Ohio has been hard hit by the opioid epidemic - Rx and illicit - and they've been extremely responsive in deploying tactics to deal with the issue.

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

"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." -- Aristotle (765 views)

Something to keep in mind ... As Tom Petty once famously sang, "the waiting is the hardest part." But it's a skill - yes, a developed skill - that usually yields better choices and outcomes.

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

You Now Have a Shorter Attention Span Than a Goldfish (2,335 views)

The attention span of goldfish = 9 seconds

The attention span of humans = 8 seconds

Which is why patience is so hard. And making well-informed choices are even harder. And performing due diligence on healthcare options for pain is often not done. In an immediate gratification society, slowing things down to think thru the short and long term repercussions, strategically analyzing the risks vs. benefits, and asking questions for self-education is often not the first option. But it's the right option.

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

In addition, I published one blogpost:

• "#PewPerspectives - Week of Apr 9" on May 1

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

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

#CleanUpTheMess