Welcome Letter
Welcome to the November issue of Arizona Pain Monthly. We hope this issue finds you and your families well.
November is truly the start of the holiday season. Most people are decorating their homes, shopping for gifts, cooking and baking for special events, and traveling many miles to spend time with family and friends. With all of these activities, it will come as no surprise that many people experience high pain levels near the holidays. While it’s important to participate in the activities you enjoy, we recommend you listen to your body and know what you can handle. We invite you to read this month’s Chiro Corner column for helpful tips while traveling and enjoying the holidays.
November also brings cooler weather, even in the state of Arizona. Many of you may find that the cooler weather affects joint conditions such as arthritis. Those with arthritis will notice their pain getting worse when the weather turns cooler, and will notice that they experience more stiffness and achiness than usual. For pain relief at home, topical creams can be used, and over-the-counter medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may be helpful. Additionally, both heat and cold therapy can help restore range of motion and can help with painful symptoms.
We are excited to bring you the “anti-inflammatory” versions of some of your favorite Thanksgiving foods in our recipes section this month. Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, ginger, rosemary and basil all have anti-inflammatory compounds, helping with flare-ups due to inflammatory conditions. We have often discussed the merits of an anti-inflammatory diet, and by being aware of some of the key anti-inflammatory foods, you can enjoy your favorite dishes and have fewer painful days at the same time.
Arizona Pain Specialists will be co-hosting the 3rd Annual Burmese Christmas party. Together with other local physicians and community members, each year we host a party for local refugees who are primarily from the country of Burma (Myanmar). Local and foreign missions alike are very important to Arizona Pain Specialists, and we consistently try to help as many as possible. There will be an opportunity for patients to help as well – we will have a box available in the lobbies of all three offices for patients to make donations of toys for children aged up to 14. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
We hope that this issue is educational and informative. We thank you for your continued loyalty if you are a long-standing patient, and we welcome you to the Arizona Pain Specialists family if you are a new patient.
Until next time, remember at Arizona Pain Specialists, we believe you can be pain free.
On behalf of the entire staff at Arizona Pain Specialists, we hope that you enjoy a great Thanksgiving with your families and friends.
Dr. Tory McJunkin & Dr. Paul Lynch
Please contact us at Newsletter@ ArizonaPain.com if you have questions or comments.
