Pain Management as a Method of First Resort, Not Last

by: Leslie McKerns

In treating acute or chronic pain, it has long been accepted that physicians had two basic options to alleviate suffering: surgery or pain medication. Now there is a third option–pain alleviating, non-invasive pain management procedures used as the method of first resort, not last.

Creative, innovative solutions to previously persistent painful disorders are increasingly making surgery unnecessary. Pain management includes pain alleviating treatment for back pain, neck pain, nerve pain, work related injuries, cancer related pain, traumatic insult, Sciatica (compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve), Spinal Stenosis (build-up of bone in the spinal cavity), Spinal Cord Injuries, Post Stroke Pain, Shingles, Herniated Disks and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Pioneering pain management techniques performed by Board Certified Pain Management physicians include highly specific injection procedures eliminating pain at its source by isolating the nerve ending to the painful spot. The breakthrough process numbs or freezes the nerve and keeps it numb for up to a year. Benefits include avoiding costly major surgery, lengthy recovery times and the risks of infection or debilitating complications.

Who experiences pain?

According to the American Chronic Pain Association, pain affects 86 million Americans, causing losses to US business and industry of $90 billion. Back pain is the leading cause of disability in Americans under 45 years old, and more than 26 million Americans between the ages of 20 and 64 will have back pain during their lifetime. Many back pain problems occur following injury, strain and accidents causing fractures, lumbar muscle strains and ruptured/herniated discs.

Other causes of pain include degenerative changes caused by the normal aging process. The US Census bureau reported 78.2 million Baby Boomers in 2005, (nearly a quarter of the U.S. population). In 2006 there were 7,918 people turning 60 each day—representing 330 every hour. Baby Boomers are an active generation—working longer and playing harder than previous generations. Sports activities, repetitive stress and ambitious weekend projects account for painful conditions and injuries.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), osteoporosis is responsible for more than 300,000 bone fractures annually, costing the nation $17 billion. According to the NOF, osteoporosis affects 44 million American men and women age 50 and older, and one in two women and one in four men in this age group will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

Recent advances in technology, new techniques and minimally invasive procedures in interventional pain medicine have eliminated many of the sources of pain, allowing patients to return to a normal level of activity.

What is the non-invasive nature of the treatment?

Over the last twenty years, many chemical and anatomic pain pathways have been identified and studied. The Board Certified pain medicine specialist often performs diagnostic injections, usually with enhanced fluoroscopic guidance. These injections isolate and confirm the source of the patient’s pain. Once identified, these painful structures are medically treated.

Medication can be injected at the exact site of the injury or compressive lesion. Epiduroscopy is the insertion of a fiber optic filament through a needle directly into the spine. This is connected to a television monitor to visualize the inside of the spinal canal, spinal cord and spinal nerves. This procedure has been effective in making accurate diagnosis, accomplishing precise injections, cutting of epidural adhesions and scar tissue and the removal of toxins liberated by injured discs.

Injured or painful facet joints can be injected with steroids. If long-term pain relief is not accomplished, these patients are often treated with Radiofrequency rhyzotomies. These Radiofrequency procedures numb the facet joints and eliminate the patient’s pain for approximately one year. These are outpatient or office procedures, which often provide immediate pain relief and allow the patient to return home after a 30-45 minute recovery period.

Discogenic pain due to injured and herniated discs is now being treated with new outpatient procedures called an IDET (Intradiscal Electrothermal Treatment) procedure and a Nucleoplasty. A special wire electrode is inserted through a needle into a disc and directed to the affected area of the disc herniation. Once in place, the electrode is heated with Radiofrequency or designed to create an electromagnetic field. This causes cauterization and vaporization of the disc, proliferation and tightening of the protein matrix of the disc, shrinking of small herniations and disc denervation or numbing. The final effect of this process is the relief of pain and the creation of more collagen within the disc.

Rather than simply administering pain medication, Board Certified Pain Management physicians diagnose the sources of pain and provide pain relief through these and other minimally invasive techniques.

Keywords: back pain treatments, disc pain treatments, injured discs, minimally invasive treatment options for pain, outpatient procedures for treatment of pain, Board Certified Pain Management physicians, lumbar muscle strains, ruptured or herniated discs, osteoporosis and bone fractures, Baby Boomers and back pain, relief of pain, new treatments for painful conditions, diagnosing the sources of pain, IDET, Nucleoplasty, immediate pain relief, what to do for back pain, treating pain with pain management techniques

About The Author

Leslie McKerns of McKerns Development writes about issues in the professions. http://www.freewebs.com/mckernsdevelopment/

Want to know more about Board Certified Pain Management physicians and minimally invasive treatment options? Visit: http://www.helpain.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Pain Management Resources

Chronic Pain Management
Pain Management Clinic

You Don’t Have to Live With Stiff Neck Pain

by: DR. Joseph J. Berke, M.D., Ph.D.

Getting quality sleep has, for many, become an elusive goal in the modern day. We work longer hours, take less time off, and try to overcompensate by micromanaging what little free time is available to in order to enjoy all facets of our lives. More and more of us are becoming aware that we are fatigued, and this is further exaggerated by the countless advertisements and commercials that discuss the number of Americans who are not getting good sleep. Many of us wake up daily with sore muscles and stiff necks. Nothing is more tiresome than the combination of exhaustion and neck pain.

Complications caused from lack of sleep can detrimentally affect existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure. Furthermore, improper sleep can be attributed to lowering the immunity system and can cause depression and anxiety disorders in many people. Over a period of time, lack of quality sleep can turn into a serious sleep disorder, so resolving the problem is a necessity.

So are you destined to face the above complications without any form of relief? Thankfully, the answer is no. There are quite a few remedies that can help people to develop the ability to gain restful sleep. Obviously, treatment for any existing medical condition, including stiff neck treatment is necessary. An objective evaluation of one’s environment and behavior is necessary to resolve this dilemma. A healthy sleep pattern is contingent on a few basic rules that can be personalized for any individual. These are a healthy diet, exercise, and most of all, a comfortable sleeping environment.

A healthy diet and exercise program have been proven to not only reduce risks for certain medical conditions, but they are also known to reduce stress and to assist in sleep comfort. Stress is a leading contributor to many chronic health conditions as well as causing an imbalance in sleep patterns. Exercise does not have to be strenuous, a simple walk a few times a week is more than sufficient. A healthy diet also includes the reduction of caffeine and alcoholic intake, as well as reducing food consumption in the evening hours, which has been shown to prohibit some from sleeping better.

A thorough look at one’s sleeping environment is extremely important. Not only should one make sure the room they sleep in is dark and quiet, but also taking a close look at the bed and pillow is extremely important. The mattress should be of good quality and the sheets and blankets clean and comfortable. Pillows are quite important as they support the head and neck during rest. Stiff neck pain is one of the leading causes of disrupted sleep patterns, and finding the proper pillow is essential. Over the years, sleep pillows have become widely recognized as improving sleep comfort due to their design, which invites comfort and proper body, neck, and head alignment. Visco elastic or “memory foam” pillow have been recommended by doctors and chiropractors across the world. Many attribute their new-found and consistent sleep and dream patterns completely to a new sleep pillow.

While poor sleep habits and stiff neck pain are most definitely serious complications to one’s health, by taking the appropriate measures outlined above, you’ll be sleeping like you were meant to and you’ll feel fully rested in no time.

About The Author

Dr. Joseph J. Berke, M.D., Ph.D.
Discover how sleeping on The Better Sleep Pillow can change your life.
Visit: http://www.bettersleeppillow.com

Dr. Joseph J. Berke is an author and inventor dedicated to helping people get a better night rest.
articles@bettersleeppillow.com

Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

Neck Pain Resources

Neck Pain
Neck Pain Treatment