PAIN is a massive problem that affects 125 million Americans who are spending close to $300 billion on pills, pot, procedures and natural remedies to find relief. These numbers are fueling a national conversation
about pain relief and how it should be
addressed. Are doctors responsible for the
painkiller epidemic or is it the patient’s fault?

According to Dr. Lillie Rosenthal, DO, a board- certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in New York City, patients in pain are often looking for quick relief and frequently ask their doctor for a painkiller. It’s really important that doctors take the time to assess the root cause of the patient’s pain and explore the best protocol for immediate and long-term relief. She also says that pain medication may be
an ineffective treatment and frequent use of
over-the-counter painkillers can be a slippery slope to addiction. She says pain is your body’s way of alerting you to an underlying problem that needs to be resolved, not masked.

Dr. Lillie Rosenthal, DO is talks with Mark Alyn about some of the three most common pain complaints also she will share diet, lifestyle changes and natural remedies that can help pain sufferers get relief from

1) Muscle Pain: Tension, stress, overuse and minor injuries are the most common causes of muscle pain. Muscle pain is usually localized, affecting just a few muscles or a small part of your body with some of the most common complaint areas being the neck, back and shoulders. Causes of muscle pain include injuries, poor posture, sitting or standing for too long without movement and repetitive movements or overuse of certain muscles. In addition to pain, many sufferers feel fatigue and have trouble sleeping. A JAMA study reported the diseases with the largest number of years lived with disability in 2010 were low back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders including neck pain. Changes that help relieve muscle pain:

2) Joint Pain: Damage to the joints from disease or injury can cause pain in the form of 
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, gout, strains, sprains and other injuries. Joint pain can affect any part of your body but knee pain is the most common complaint. In one national study, one-third of all adults reported having joint pain within the past 30 days. Age and injuries increase your ris

3) Head Pain: Pain to the head can come in the form of migraines, tension-type and cluster headaches. Frequent headaches can affect relationships, employment and put you at risk of depression. Causes of headaches can be a result of poor posture, sleep deprivation, stress, side effects of medications, dehydration, common colds, hormonal changes and digestive issues. About half of all adults have a headache in a given year.

air date: 6/24/16