A comprehensive approach to the management of pain is guided by the history of the pain, its intensity, duration, aggravating and relieving conditions, and structures involved in causing the pain. In order for a structure to cause pain, it must have a nerve supply, be susceptible to injury, and stimulation of the structure will cause pain. The concept behind most interventional...
You may have tried prescription medications and physical therapy to attempt to relieve lower back pain. Perhaps you have had less than perfect pain relief. Injections are indeed growing in popularity, as they provide targeted and immediate relief in most cases. Instead of popping a pill and hoping that it will relieve your back pain, you can now choose to...
Finding the right treatment option for chronic back pain can be frustrating. From medications to ice packs to physical therapy, you may have tried several forms of treatment, to no avail. In the past several years, doctors have been using a new procedure, with much success. Radiofrequency ablation has been used to treat chronic pain in the neck, mid-back, lower back,...
Opioids are a type of narcotic pain medication. They can have serious side effects if not used correctly. Learn some facts about opioids: Most Opioids Are Legal By Prescription Even though opioids carry a bad reputation, all but one (heroin) are legal in the U.S. Opioid drugs like methadone and oxycodone are sometimes necessary for pain relief and legal by prescription. Humans Will...
If you have tried surgery and other major treatments to alleviate back and neck pain, but you are still not seeing relief, what options are left for you? Spinal cord stimulation is a procedure you should consider. Although this pain relief method has been around for 50 years, it is just beginning to gain in popularity as more and more...
Compression fractures can happen for a variety of reasons. Car accidents, falls, and other trauma can cause the spine to develop fractures and develop pain in the back and surrounding areas. Osteoporosis and cancer can also cause the spine to weaken, which can lead to fractures. These compression fractures often come with severe pain. They can also cause deformities in the...
Your health is one of the most important aspects of your life that, to a great extent, you can have control over - it is for this reason that when in pain, strong addictive drugs such as opioids should be avoided and therapies provided. Nutrition, diet, exercise, and medical treatment - these are all variables in which you have a...
Sciatica can cause a significant amount of back pain. You may have tried just about everything for relief, however; perhaps you have not considered injections. Epidural steroid injections have been used for 65 years and provide extended relief for about 50 percent of patients. When used in conjunction with other treatments, the pain is even more manageable for a longer...
If you have been dealing with pain for an extended amount of time, it may be time for you to consider a new alternative. As we all are “painfully“ aware, pain medications provide only short-term relief. Dealing with ongoing pain can disrupt your daily routine and can ultimately cause a negative outlook on life. Thankfully, there are now some interventional...
Spinal arthritis has the potential to be a debilitating condition that causes inflammation in the spinal facet joints. Because of the pressure they are forced to withstand, the spinal joints are especially prone to developing arthritis. There are five sets of facet joints located in the lower back, and they can become inflamed due to internal damage. The facet joints in...