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Time and time again, you’re reminded to drink plenty of water throughout the day. In fact, it’s recommended that individuals drink eight 8-oz of water every day. Is it possible? Yes. Do we actually do it? Probably not. Why is it so hard to drink a refreshing glass of water? After all, it’s essential to our survival. I hate to say this, but it might be easier for most people to run a marathon, work a 50-hour week or go skydiving, then drink their daily allowance of water.

Pain is just a figment of your imagination, right? Well, yes and no. Pain is perceived differently from one individual to the next. How you react to pain will vary. For those tortured by chronic nerve pain, it can consume every waking hour and minute. But, what if you could take your mind off the pain for just a second?  Could you do it? Your mind may tend to focus on a lot of things throughout the day (and for some into the night) without even taking a minute to rest. You may focus on only the pain and how it affects you in a negative way.

Do I dare ask the question — what has you stressed? For the purpose of this blog and the time (mere seconds) you have to spare, these are some of the leading stress conducers that come to mind. Feel free to toss in your favorites. Work (Deadlines, bosses, long commutes, little pay) School (Homework, tests, student loans, after-school events) Bills (House, daycare, utilities, gardeners, cable service, etc.) Family (Where are the kids? Is it time to have kids? Summer vacation or not?) Health (Is there a treatment for chronic nerve pain?) Did anything jump out at you?

First, let me just say how excited and honored I am to share this exciting new treatment with the Loma Linda University Health community and its patients. Intraneural Facilitation or INF™ has always been near-and-dear to my heart beginning with my cancer diagnosis in 2010. It was this very treatment that I found relief from nerve pain. Now, it’s my turn to help others find similar relief. INF™ was designed to reduce or eliminate chronic nerve pain often felt in the arms, hands, legs and feet.

What if we could live to be 100 years old? The idea isn’t far fetch, especially for those living in one of the five designated blue zone areas (Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California). Dan Buettner, with the support of National Geographic, traveled across the world to learn why certain populations were outliving others.

It’s been said that communication is the foundation to every successful relationship. If we are honest and open, it makes it easier for our loved ones and friends to better understand how we are feeling. The same can be said about a relationship between a doctor and a patient. Patients are encouraged to express concerns, questions or inquiries toward how they are feeling. How else will we know what is wrong? There’s no need to be afraid of talking to your doctor when it comes to any level of discomfort or pain.

Nerve pain affects a growing number of individuals undergoing chemotherapy treatment, living with diabetes or having suffered an injury. An estimated 20 million Americans suffer from peripheral nerve damage, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Nerve damage can cause a tingling, burning sensation in the arms, hands, legs and feet, making it impossible to function on a daily basis. The causes as to why and how certain patients are susceptible to nerve pain can vary.

Is it just me or have you noticed life seems to be flying by? Every day goes just a little faster as we try to keep up with work, school, and any other event that has us on the go. Even doctor appointments can become a daily chore for those of us living with chronic nerve pain. But just because everyone else is operating at the speed of fast and faster doesn’t mean we have to. The beauty is we have the time to rest. Though, we need to make it our priority. Remember Sabbath? This is the time God asks us to slow down. He did not intend for us to function seven days a week.

If you’re suffering chronic nerve pain in your hands, arms, legs or feet you know all too well the challenges to living a pain-free life. It seems that with each passing day the escalated pain can make the simple activities of cooking a meal for your family absolutely daunting. So, what can you do to make the tingling, burning or numbness simply go away? Even if just for an hour? The truth is nerve pain is what we consider a pesky bad habit. It’s hard to shake at first, but there are ways to reduce or alleviate the sensation.

Surprisingly, yes! Our bodies are meant to feel some form of pain at one time or another. Whether we want to or not, that’s a different story. Pain can come from a sprained ankle after a run, a burned finger from the stove top or the nagging pain of a headache after a long day of work. Pain is pain and it is not fun. But, what about nerve pain versus muscle pain?