News & Blog

Coping with Stress and Chronic Pain during the Holiday Season By Dr. Mark Skellie, Psy.D. “Stress” is a term that is frequently used and sometimes overused by people, because we tend to live highly stressed lives. As defined by engineers, stress is pressure or tension from force applied to a…

Although it might not seem that pain and the arts have much in common, the two can sometimes reflect one another. Art can be a utilized as a treatment or method of self-expression for those in pain, and pain can be a subject for art. Pain comes together with a…

It turns out that gender has a lot to do with pain. Medical research has identified significant differences between the sexes, both in the likelihood of getting a painful condition and the experience of pain. In her new book A Nation in Pain, health columnist Judy Foreman devotes an entire…

Most people know that prolonged sitting can be detrimental to your health, but you don’t necessarily have to become an athlete, or, according to a recent report, even move around much to achieve health benefits. In last week’s article ‘Sit Less, Live Longer?‘, Gretchen Reynolds of The New York Times…

Whether you are already under treatment for chronic pain with a pain doctor, have recently received a referral from your primary care doctor to a pain doctor, or are experiencing pain that you think may need to be managed by a specialist, you may be wondering what qualifies someone to…

In July, the CDC released a report highlighting the difference in painkiller prescriptions per person by state, and Louisiana didn’t fare well. According to the report, Louisiana is one of the 13 states with the highest number of painkiller prescriptions (96 to 143 prescriptions per 100 people); much higher than…

The Wall Street Journal reports today that access to the most commonly prescribed painkillers in the U.S. will soon be more tightly regulated. Hydrocodone combination drugs such as Vicodin will be reclassified into the category of medical substances that are most likely to cause harm. This means that patients will be…

Eating a wide variety of healthy foods provides a good foundation for improving overall health and combating illness. A balanced, nutrient rich diet is a key component of managing any health issue, including chronic pain. According to the CDC, (cdc.gov/healthyweight) a balanced diet means: Centering meals on fruits, vegetables, and…

Dr. Mark Skellie, Psy.D., provides insight on the mental health services he offers patients of Louisiana Pain Specialists and on coping with chronic pain By Lucey Wright, M.S. Dr. Mark Skellie has a profound and distinctive understanding of pain. While the physicians at Louisiana Pain Specialists focus on the physical…

Tyler Dugas is a 15 year-old culinary student in his second year at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He has cooked at a wide variety of local events including French Quarter Fest, Boudin Bourbon & Beer Fest, and JazzFest. Tyler loves the pressure of the kitchen and…