When An Accident Or Injury Leaves You With Joint Pain
Joint pain after an accident or injury is common. But, what if the pain doesn’t go away? Could it be chronic pain? Getting an injury from an accident or even while at work, is bad enough. To then suffer from joint pain that does not diminish can be even more challenging, especially when you want to get back to your pre-injury lifestyle. If you have joint pain, following an accident or injury, that is not going away, it is best to make an appointment with a pain specialist to get an assessment of the ongoing joint pain. Finding the right treatment for your pain could make all the difference in getting you back to life (and work)!
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Chronic Pain During the Holidays
No matter what holiday you celebrate, this time of year can be a lot. There are elaborate dinners to prepare, parties to host and attend, presents to find, decorations to hang, families to visit, traditions to respect, and very little time for self-care. But chronic pain is, if anything, exacerbated by stress and busy schedules. Here are some tips.
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Stress and Pain -- The Link Between Is Very Real
Many of my patient appointments start with the usual — BP, temperature check, current medication list, pain scale rating, etc. — and the question, “How would you rate your stress level?” Many patients are caught off-guard by the question and ask me why I always want to know the level of their stress.
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What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a painful and long-lasting condition. CRPS results in severe, constant, burning pain in the affected limb. As a physician, in the early stages of CRPS, we need to be very vigilant about pain, especially if the patient’s pain is disproportionate to the injury presented. Early intervention is key, to reduce pain and improve function, to helping control this disease
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Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation Versus A Traditional Spinal Cord Stimulator
Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation is an outpatient neuromodulation therapy, similar to traditional spinal cord (SCS) stimulation. Rather than placing the electrode leads within the lower part of the spinal cord as in SCS, DRG leads are implanted on the dorsal root ganglion, a cluster of neurons mid-spine, in the rear root of the spinal nerves.
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How You Describe Pain To Your Doctor, Makes A Difference.
Presenting a full picture of your pain, helps your doctor more quickly devise a treatment plan and recommend possible procedures that could help alleviate your discomfort.
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The Link Between Breast Cancer and Chronic Pain
With October dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, many people ask, “Is there a link between cancer treatment and chronic pain?” and “Is it possible I will have chronic pain following my cancer treatment?”
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Mental Health & Chronic Pain
Today is World Mental Health Day. It is the perfect time to talk about how having chronic pain can affect every aspect of your life, including mental health. Most times, physicians and patients are so focused on alleviating physical issues that they miss the need to address the psychological effects of chronic pain.
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What Does a Pain Doctor Do?
A pain doctor is a specialist with a high-level of training and experience diagnosing and treating acute and chronic pain. The field of pain management has grown so much over the years and continues to become increasingly complex. This makes it even more important to work with a pain specialist.
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September is Pain Awareness Month
September has been declared Pain Awareness Month. The goal being to work to raise public awareness of issues in the area of pain and pain management.
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GETTING A PERMANENT SCS : Step-by-step
The procedure for permanent implantation of a spinal cord stimulator is similar in many ways to the trial. The major difference is the implant of the generator. While the technology being used for spinal cord stimulation is rapidly changing, this is the typical process.
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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A SCS TRIAL
To be considered a good candidate for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) implant, a trial run is usually scheduled. This involves the insertion of thin wires with electrodes attached. The wires are aligned with the affected nerve and attached to an external battery. These are then programmed for the most effective stimulation and reduction in pain response.
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Why a Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS)?
Spinal cord stimulation therapy works to try to mask pain signals before these reach the brain. A small implanted device (think pacemaker for the nervous system) delivers electrical pulses (controlled by the patient) within the spinal cord. It helps chronic pain patients better manage their ongoing pain and, ideally, reduce the use of opioid medications.
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