Aches And Gains With Dr. Paul Christo

We’re familiar with blood testing, but other specimens like sweat, hair, saliva, and nails can be tested too. How about testing our urine? Patients using opioids or other controlled substances for pain relief typically do have their urine checked. Jackie, our first guest has been a nurse for 30 years. Opioids have given her the […]

We’re familiar with blood testing, but other specimens like sweat, hair, saliva, and nails can be tested too. How about testing our urine? Patients using opioids or other controlled substances for pain relief typically do have their urine checked. Jackie, our first guest has been a nurse for 30 years. Opioids have given her the […]

The headlines say that obesity is a death sentence. It can lead to hypertension, diabetes, and even cancer. Jeanette DePatie (A.K.A. “The Fat Chick”) is a plus sized, certified fitness instructor. She helps those who haven’t worked out in years to safely start and continue an exercise program. She’s seen firsthand how chronic pain sufferers […]

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) attacks the nervous system and can cause painful, stinging, needle-like sensations along with numbness and weakness. The cause is unknown, but this type of neuropathy can be associated with HIV and Lupus. Ellen Schecter, an award-winning writer takes us through a time when she felt her life was shattered by […]

The risk of having chronic chest pain after breast surgery (mastectomy and lumpectomy) for cancer is high at 20-30%. When a woman is confronted with breast cancer, many questions arise – not the least of which is post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Janet Ladd, a professional coach shares her experience with mastectomy, breast reconstruction, and pain-free living […]

You’re feeling some indigestion after a meal, and then a little chest heaviness. It’s probably nothing. Or is it? If you’re a woman, you could be having a heart attack and not even know it. Our guests today will lead us through maze to answer that question and more. Eliz Green had a heart attack […]

Can you imagine feeling like your nerves were doused in gasoline and lit on fire? Many patients with active disease or the chronic form of the disease called, Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome develop pain. It ranges from flu like headaches and joint aches to shooting pain down the arms, muscle spasms, or widespread arthritis. […]

It seems surprising, but pain caused by emotional distress can be felt more deeply and for a longer period of time than pain caused by physical injuries. On today’s show, we’ll talk to Julie Hersh, author of Struck by Living: From Depression to Hope. Julie shares her journey from the depths of painful depression and three suicide […]

Most of us have heard of this ancient Chinese traditional medical treatment. Today, it’s used more and more to treat pain. We’ll hear how successful acupuncture has been for Jamie Shimmel’s fibromyalgia and plantar fasciits. Then, a leading specialist in this field, Dr. Robert Bonakdar from the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine surprises us with […]

Electrical stimulation can reduce pain in the form of spinal cord stimulator devices and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy. Today, we’ll learn about Calmare, a new device for relieving chronic pain from Cynthia Chauhan, retired clinical social worker and cancer research advocate, and Dr. Michael Cooney. https://paulchristomd.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/13.5-Aches-And-Gains-061-Calmare-XM.mp3

Most of us have heard of this ancient Chinese traditional medical treatment. Today, it’s used more and more to treat pain. We’ll hear how successful acupuncture has been for Jamie Shimmel’s fibromyalgia and plantar fasciits. Then, a leading specialist in this field, Dr. Robert Bonakdar from the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine surprises us with […]

Many of us have heard people say that passing a kidney stone is the most painful experience ever. What if it happens to you, and how can you prevent it from happening? Ty Ford, audio engineer and co-producer of Aches and Gains, will revisit his experience with passing a kidney stone and how he got […]

When walking, standing, balancing, even jumping for joy, becomes too painful to even think about, we need answers, treatment, and some sweet relief. We seek out a podiatrist and Dr. Elliott Udell is one of the best.  In fact, he’s the past president of the American Society of Podiatric Medicine.  Over the last 30 years, […]

Musculoskeletal pain is among the most common reasons for seeing a doctor and affects about 30% of adults. Treating this type of pain can be tough, but our first guest, Pete Egoscue has developed a unique exercise therapy program that focuses on posture realignment.  Pete has been an anatomical physiologist since 1978 and been a […]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects over 2 million people and is one of the most costly diseases to our nation’s health care system. Amye Leong, president and CEO of Healthy Motivation was just 18 years old when she was diagnosed with RA and became wheelchair bound within six years while now running her own consulting firm. […]

In part two of our show, Mike Hill (director, writer, and producer) shares some powerful, behind the scenes moments that he experienced while filming the compelling documentary, “Life Before Death”.  Dr. Kathleen Foley then gives us the hope we need to ease our fear of dying a painful death. https://paulchristomd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Aches-And-Gains-028-Will-We-Die-In-Pain-II.mp3

“Life Before Death” is a moving, award winning documentary film that features the worldwide battle by physicians and nurses to stop the epidemic of pain that threatens to condemn one in every ten of us to die a painful death. Through the eyes of patients and their families, we experience very personally the agony of […]

It’s estimated that over 12 million Americans have cancer. Sadly, severe and chronic pain occurs in over 30% of patients undergoing therapy and in almost 70% of patients with advanced disease. Nancy Amato, who is actively battling pancreatic cancer, shares an intimate portrait of her experience while Dr. Oscar De Leon of the Roswell Park […]

Marijuana is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. It’s one of the oldest documented medicines in history, and there are many therapeutic uses: it manages pain, including the pain of childbirth, relieves spasticity (from multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury), reduces nausea, stimulates appetite and can control glaucoma. On the other […]

Have you thought about using Feverfew, Cat’s Claw, or Ginger to ease your pain? The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 billion people or 80% of the world population use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Dr. Chad Wilde, a pain specialist and herbalist will give us his recommendations on effective […]