Pain Management: Set the right expectations for yourself
In Pain Management, sometimes patients suffer too much pain, just want to make the pain go away instantaneously, however, in chronic pain, the pain will not go away. Patients need to have realistic expectations.
We all know and understand that chronic pain will last for a long time. The keyword is chronic, the pain has developed a long time ago and it will not suddenly disappear. Patients go to visit doctors and ask for the breakthrough medicine. Doctors will base his/her medical prescriptions on evidence based medicine. That is the correct procedure to determine your pain and write your prescriptions. Patients can help doctors a lot in every visit.
Patients can bring with them their MRI reports, their pharmacy history, and previous doctor’s notes.
MRI report either tells your doctor that you are normal or you suffered skeletal or muscular pain. The report has to be recent, at least less than two years old.
Pharmacy history tells your doctor the type of medicines that you are prescribed now, the dose and the strength.
Doctor’s notes are the most important part of the documentation, if you are discharge then why, what is the reasons. If your previous doctor reduced your dose, then what is the trend, how many pills are cut.
Patients can help building the case for the doctor to see the evidence, set your expectations based on your documentation. Without documentation, you should not expect your doctor can satisfy your needs. He or she has to start from the beginning and slowly move you up.
Pain Management Knowledge and alternative treatments
Pain Management is a very competitive field. Patients look for compassionated doctors who listen to their issues. Most chronic pain patients live with their pain for more than six months and understand their issues, doctors don’t need to explain the pain issue again and again.
Doctors can pay attention to the patient’s progress month to month, and listen to the patients, may be re-phrase the patient’s complaints.
Patients need to gain more knowledge of the pain by reading books, internet medical articles, positive attitude, search or google wikipedia for alternative methods to control the pain. The best approach probably creates a pain chart logging daily activity and pain levels. And bring your daily pain chart to your doctor appointment, showing him or her you are serious about tracking and controlling your pain issue.
Patients need to have a strong positive attitude, it is not easy, but positive thinking surely help in the long run.
Patients should check in to meditation, breathing exercises, to bring fresh oxygenated air in to your cells, your muscles and your brain. Meditation can be accomplished slowly at your own pace, but do it regularly even just five or ten minutes a day.
Please consult with your physician about your medical condition, everyone is in a different medical condition. Never base your decision about your health on the internet.
Pain Management at Park Blvd, Pinellas Park, FL 33781, 727 548-1111
Pain Management looks into Chronic Pain alternatives
Healthcare Reform
While healthcare reform seems to be at the forefront of the news lately, the focus is only on changing where the money is coming from. There doesn’t seem to be a real discussion about what the money is for. Will it cover a pre-existing condition? What treatments will be available? How much will have to be paid out of pocket? Will everyone qualify? This is for information only, please consult with your physician for all medical concerns.
Chronic Pain
There are more than 16 million American living in severe poverty. That’s the highest number in thirty-two years. There’s little money for the essentials, let alone insurance and healthcare costs. Many of those also suffer major medical problems, one of the worst being chronic pain which is often a secondary problem due to the types of jobs, diseases, and the higher instances of crime in lower income areas. While most poor Americans qualify, the current systems of Medicaid and Medicare only cover a limited number of treatments alternatives for chronic pain. Under this system, the time it takes just to see a doctor is often anywhere from days to months. Then there’s the possibility of being referred to a specialist, which will take more time and money. Drug therapy is the primary treatment used to combat pain. But because it is so difficult to see a doctor for a refill, many patients resort to the emergency room as a means to get the medications, usually narcotics, to fight the pain.
So on top of the original condition and the chronic pain that follows, there’s a third problem: Addiction. No one listens to a poor person with an addiction to pain medicines. It’s become a stigma. Others look at them as the cause of the healthcare crisis. They abuse the system looking for a fix instead of getting a job and their own insurance. Don’t they have other options? Do they?
They should. Chronic pain is a real issue in today’s current medical system. Treating chronic pain is another problem altogether. Medication is often the first choice for treatment, sometimes with or without other treatments such as physical therapy. But narcotics designed for chronic pain may have many side effects. They are meant to solve a short-term problem such as a broken leg or post-surgical pain. The main concern with narcotics is that they are addictive and tolerance often starts after only a few weeks, leaving patients looking for stronger doses or more potent narcotics. This dependency on narcotics is becoming such a widespread epidemic-like problem. There are other medications which have been used such as prescription sleep-aides, antidepressants, anti-epileptics, muscle, relaxers, and steroids. All have risk of tolerance and dependency and some cause further complications like seizures or insomnia.
Alternatives to Traditional Pain Medications
But there are alternatives to chemical-based medications. There are several alternative treatments available to treat several ailments, including chronic pain. A natropathic physician is a medical doctor who specializes in alternative therapies. While most doctors treat symptoms, a natropathic physician will also look at the whole body, treating any underlying conditions, changing the diet, and possibly even offer counseling services to deal with the pain and addiction. They will often refer patients to those who specialize in each field. They may even recommend herbs as an alternative to drugs to help the severity of pain during treatment.
There are a small group of herbs such as black haw, vervain, and white willow that can treat pain. But like chemical-based medications, herbs can have several side effects. Vervain in particular can depress the heart rate and constrict the bronchial passages. The main issue is that herbs as a medical treatment are not currently regulated by the FDA which means dosing is not regulated. However, since herbs have been used for centuries in many countries around the world, there is a basic idea of how much, what route, and most side effects are well known and documented. The chances of dependency and tolerance are also lower. The other drawback is that not all herbs and herbalists who can prepare them are easy to come by. They can be purchased over the Internet, but the poor often don’t always have Internet access or a credit card to purchase them with.
Other herbal therapies include oils such as allspice, cinnamon, clove, mint, and tarragon oils that can be used as a topical anesthetic. These are only used topically on the skin, rubbed into area of pain. The main side effects are redness to the skin and possible allergic reaction. They also only work for a short amount of time and can be expensive.
As mentioned above, there are other alternatives to medication of any kind altogether. The best therapies, such as yoga and acupuncture are generally inexpensive, minimally invasive, and drug-free. However, while most are not currently covered by insurance, the long-term expense is often lower than chemical therapy. This makes out of pocket expense less and the likelihood that these therapies will be approved for insurance coverage in the near future.
Chiropractic therapy is always at the top of the list. Chiropractic practice is basically spinal manipulation used to adjust the spine into ‘homeostasis‘ thereby relieving pain without the use of medicine. The problem is that almost every Chiropractor has a different technique and often has a risk of spinal damage and occurence of new injury. Many insurance companies cover treatment, but only a certain amount a year, which often means the rest will be the patient’s responsibility. Several chiropractors offer payment options and don’t always use credit as a factor.
Acupuncture is another alternative with promising results and fewer side effects. It’s becoming such a popular alternative that insurance companies are making it the most insured complementary therapy as well as affordable. It’s also proving to be very effective. Acupuncture is performed by inserting hair-sized needles into certain sites all over the body to help relieve pain as well as treating other ailments. There are few side effects including temporary pain at the site where the needle is placed, and mild redness after the needle is removed.
Another recently popular therapy is yoga. Yoga is a series of movements that increase circulation and flexibility, but also strengthen muscles, joints, and bones. Certain poses have been proven to treat chronic pain by making the body stronger. Yoga is a cheap alternative as classes are usually affordable and offered all over the country now. While videos, books, and web sites can teach yoga, for pain relief, a live teacher is recommended to teach the poses properly so as to not injure the body further. The obvious side effects are similar to that of chiropractic treatment with further injury to the body. Yoga is also not recommended for all types of chronic pain. Consulting a yoga teacher before practicing yoga is best.
While medication and other chemical therapies are still the standard for chronic pain management, there is a whole world of alternative therapies that are usually more effective and more cost-efficient. This is only a small list of what can be offered. While most insurance companies still don’t recognize the use of alternative therapy, the out of pocket expense is still low. The other drawback is the stigma that alternative medicine still has. People tend to forget that there way a time when herbs were the only methods of treating any ailment. Acupuncture and yoga have been around for thousands of years, meaning their practice is well studied and mastered.
The problem is getting the poor person out of the rut of pain medications and into an active, more productive lifestyle again. Narcotics do work but have side effects. Shuffling from one doctor to another does not work. Alternative treatments can be good compliments to traditional pain medications. Treating the patient and not the symptom can work. It’s not more insurance that needed. It’s a system with better alternatives available to every patient regardless of income, social standing, and current insurance coverage. It would reduce overall cost, lower emergency room visits, and allow people to get their lives back.
Lifestyle, Pain and The Prevention And Treatment Of Cancer
Pain management doctors in Pinellas would like to know how lifestyle of an individual affects the outcome of cancer pain patients. Clearly lifestyle choices affect the incidence and treatment of cancer , according to a study published by AJLM. The article “Lifestyle Interventions in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer” looks at recent research on the five most common forms of cancer (lung, colorectal, breast, prostate and skin) and how some risk factors for these cancers can be lifestyle based and therefore controllable through alterations in human behavior. There is more studies needed to help the vast population understanding our pain patients. Pain management is not new, pain patients do not have to suffer in silence. Pain patients need to tell how they feel about excruciating pain, the more people know about pain, more people will accept that pain is a serious conditions that need to be consistently monitored and treated. Hospitals and medical staffs do no good to anybody by under treat pain management. It should be a malpractice to neglect or under treat pain. Hospitals and medical staffs need to spend time and explain in detail all alternatives and treat pain patients with the utmost care.
Please consult your physician for any medical condition. We are proud to serve our community and discuss with you about chronic pain. Phone 727 548-1111
Questions to ask Pain Management Office
Questions for Pain Management Offices/Centers
A few days before your initial appoinment, you need to ask the staff or the manager. You may want to talk with your doctor to determine what his or her opinion is of pain treatment. Here are a few questions that may be pertinent to ask when inquiring about a pain management office center.
* What types of MRI regarding pain treatment does the office need to have?
* How will my family be involved in the treatment process?
* Do you offer other types of treatments?
* Do you references?
* What does it cost per visit?
* Has anyone ever been through the program with my specific pain condition? What was the result?
* How is prescription fill?
* What medical treatment methods does your facility provide?
* Can my insurance be used to pay for your facility?
* Does your facility provide non-medical treatments for pain?
* Do you accept PIP insurance?
* What are the qualifications of the staff assisting with chronic pain in residents?
* How long do most pain patients wait?
* Why should I attend your pain management?
In addition to the questions listed above, you may ask about pharmacy coupons, discounts?
Pain Management doctors of Pinellas and Tampa office is at 6251 Park Blvd suite 1, Pinellas Park, FLorida
Office hours 9 to 6 PM by appointment only.
Back Pain
Filed under: Pain Management Pinellas, Tampa Pain Management Doctors
The back is most complex structures of human with lots of bones.
Four out of five workers suffers back pain during their work life. That is a lot of back pain. Work related back pain is the most common disorders. This injury will prevent people return to work; causes employers a lot of nervous and headache. The employers are not sure whether my reliable workers will show up for work today;
How do I schedule for the rest of the week? Who will be here? and who will be absent?
This is one of the most common challenges both employers and employees have to deal with.
Back pain is most often felt in the lower back, sometimes it is acute and then continuously progress to chronic pain. Chronic pain can come and go for awhile. Chronic pain increases its frequency month to month and week to week. Any little motion can start a chronic pain after a while.
There are 24 or 25 bones forming out back, just imagine that you stack the bones up and ensure that they stay up properly when you twist and turn. That is a difficult task.
The muscles and ligaments form around the bones and keep the bone in place after all the twists and turns.
Despite modern technology, the exact causes of back pain are hard to pinpoint because there are a lot causes and effects related to back pain.
Pain Management Options
More than $55 Billions are spent on back pain diagnosis and treatments. Surgery, medications, physical therapy and acupuncture.
All treatments work with some people, but there is no one single treatment is the preferred choice. Surgery is expensive. Medications can control pain and relief anxieties, give your control back to your normal life, however medications have side effects. If you have ulcers or bleeding, do not just use over the counter medications, consult with a physicians first. Physical exercise is good for long term, you have to try with small steps, the key is to continue pushing daily.
Back pain is very common and you can be treated at Pain Management Doctors Tampa, You don’t have to suffer alone, you deserve a good understanding staff of pain management. We are here for YOU.
Back Pain Questions lost works
Pain Management doctors Pinellas and back pain.
Toughest pain to get out of bed in the morning.
Pain in the back, also known as dorsalgia, accounts for a large number of lost days at work and frequent visits to the physician. Back pain is so common that it is, more often than not, given disregard by the patients themselves. However, pain, regardless of where it is felt, is a warning sign that should be given prompt attention to prevent it from worsening and to detect the underlying cause. It is a symptom, not a disease in itself, which should stand for a red flag for everybody.
Back pain may either be acute, sub-acute, or chronic. Acute pain is felt for less than 4 weeks, sub-acute pain 4-12 weeks, and chronic pain, which is pain lasting beyond 12 weeks. Anatomically, back pain can be subdivided into neck pain, upper back pain, and lower back pain. Back pain, regardless of its location and duration, has to be evaluated by a physician in order to determine underlying causes that may or may not be life-threatening. Listening to the warning signs given by a back pain can help you address possible medical problems such as kidney diseases, abdominal aortic aneurysm and appendicitis.
As such, diagnostic procedures are in order for every determination of medical condition. The following will be employed in order to determine the cause of your back pain:
* Physical examination and an interview to secure a thorough medical history, so it is important not to leave out any condition/s you have or have had, including medications you are taking or have taken.
* Spinal X-ray, although this will be useless in the evaluation within the first 30 days from pain onset.
* MRI scans to determine tumors, fractures, or infections.
* Myelogram, when an MRI is not desirable.
* CT scan of the spine.
* Nerve tests e.g. electromyogram.
In treating back pain, it is of utmost importance to identify the underlying cause. However, treating the back pain as a symptom is also of equal importance. Non-prescription meds such as NSAIDS (commonly ibuprofen), will be beneficial in short-term pain relief. Consequently, as NSAIDS erode the stomach lining, caution should be taken in taking these types of analgesics. Make sure that you have eaten before taking one. Acetaminophens, such as Tylenol, will provide a good substitute for NSAIDS. Still, there?s a caveat: Acetaminophens thin the blood. If you have a clotting disorder, this is not for you. Opioid analgesics are discouraged. It may cause sedation and may afford you longer pain relief, but the danger lies in the risk for dependence.
Non-pharmacological means of pain relief will provide a good complement to any pain relief regimen. The use of intermittent heat and cold application, though not widely given credence, is found to be effective for some people. Just make sure that both hot and cold packs are not applied directly to the skin in order to avoid skin injury.
Bedrest may seem beneficial, but not if it is prolonged. Patients should take bedrest for up to 48 hours only. Any longer than that will put you at increased risk for deep vein thrombosis, a disorder attributed to immobility in which clots are formed in the deep veins of the legs, compromising venous circulation. Also, prolonged bedrest can lead to even more pain, as it can lead to contractures and muscle tension. You may return to your normal activities as you can tolerate, and make sure you are not pushing yourself beyond your limits. Increase your activities gradually. Ask for help in performing physical activities from your family.
The attainment of pain relief will surely seem a long way from where you are now, but getting there quickly will most likely afford you none. Surgery, seen by most as a sure-fire way of getting rid of pain quickly, is not a solution worth spending a fortune for. Surgery is useless for acute back pain. Unless you are in a medical emergency, such as cauda equina syndrome in which spinal disc material expands into the spine and causes nerve compression, surgery is out of the question. Again, patience coupled with a dedication to your pain relief regimen will help you live with pain and conduct a normal life without having to give up your usual activities.
Pain Management Doctors Tampa Pinellas 727 548-1111
How To Make Pain Management Doctor Run - Part I
Pain Management Pinellas/Tampa, our office knows a lot of things, seeing a doctor is the most stressful time of the day. We went to our dentist because we had to, we don’t get up in the morning and say: “I have fun letting stranger poke metal in my mouth”. Seeing a pain doctor is the same thing. We don’t know whether the doctor has a good day or not.
So here are a few tips to make your doctor running from you.
1. BAD MOUTH
You want to build a good relationship with the doctor and the medical assistants. The medical assistant can say positive things about you which give you points toward your behavior. Everybody can have a bad day, just don’t cary it to the office. We want to give you utmost care and fast services at our facility.
2. CLEANLINESS
On average, the doctor sees about twenty to thirty patients a day. One way to stand out from the crowd is to come in smell badly. That will make your doctor really wants to run from you. Please take a good twenty minute shower before your doctor appointment.
3. CONTINUOUS TALKING
My mother tells me that I can tell a story in two minutes, after that nothing is more important. Practice this at home, see how do you repeat yourself after two minutes. Your doctor needs to know your conditions, but tell her/him in two minutes, and give your doctor time to think. Your doctor will want to run from you, if you keep repeating yourself, there are enough time in two to five minutes, to tell a life story.
4. KNOW YOUR DAILY INTAKE
Be prepared, be prepared. That is the most simple advice, we can give you. You will be asked how many pills do you take a day. You should be able answer it correctly and fast. Please do not use “new” math. Doctor sees twenty four patients a day and five days a week. That is a hundred twenty patients a week. Doctor knows when you are not telling the truth.
Avoid this common mistakes, dress up and come see us.
These are some common sense advices, you can visit us at painmanagementdoctorstampa or cal (727) 548-1111 Pain management in Pinellas /Tampa