Latest Technologies in Pain Management
Pain Management Doctors Tampa researches new technology helping patients.
Physical pain is a reality of life. Pain is a warning sign for us to pay attention to something will happen next. Pain management promotes you to be the manager of your body functions. The latest technology is spinal cord stimulation (SCS). How does this technology work? Does it have any connections with the popular government Stimulus program? Visit the office at www.painmanagementdoctorstampa.com and we can discuss it more.
Pain is always an unpleasant sensory experience. It is called the fifth vital sign. For health care workers, it should mean that pain assessment should be as automatic and as routine as taking a patient’s blood pressure.
There are countless conditions that cause intractable pain. Cancer, physical trauma, arthritis, HIV, and surgery cause pain so great as to warrant management that extends beyond hospital confinement.
A lot of treatment options are now at the disposal of every patient. Depending on the person’s pain threshold and the extent of tissue damage or progression of disease, a single modality or a combination of modalities may be used to counter the pain.
PHARMACOLOGIC INTERVENTION
Pain medications have proven successful in providing analgesia. Still, medications are not without side effects. Typical pain meds are classified as:
• NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) e.g. Ibuprofen - these drugs ease inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. Prostaglandins are responsible for the production of pain sensation
• Narcotic analgesics e.g. morphine - these types of drugs reduce stimuli from sensory nerve endings and increases pain threshold
• Anticonvulsants, anti-depressants - used when opioids are ineffective
• PCA (Patient-controlled analgesia) – uses an electronically-controlled pump to deliver safe and pre-determined amounts of infusions. At times of breakthrough pain or when the patient experiences a spike in pain sensation, the patient may self-administer an extra infusion.
PSYCHOLOGIC MEASURES
A number of measures aimed at targeting the mind to deal and live with pain:
• Relaxation
• Biofeedback
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Hypnosis
• Group therapy
• Behavioral therapy
• Individual therapy
• Guided imagery
CUTANEOUS STIMULATION
It is simply stimulation of the skin. The stimulation of skin that produces non-painful stimuli can block the transmission of pain. Several measures are:
• Massages
• Heat and cold application
• TENS (Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) - application of electrodes to the skin that produce a pleasant tingling or vibrating sensation
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
Alternative therapies abound and have actually been around for very long, accounting for the large number of its followers. These therapies’ efficacy lies in its thrust towards stress reduction. Some of these therapies include:
• Acupuncture/ Acupressure
• Aromatherapy
• Homeopathy
• Music therapy
• Magnetic therapy, etc.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Here come the new technology, that we save for last. Spinal Cord Stimulation, or SCS, is a relatively new treatment option that has been proven to be successful in providing pain relief for chronic back pain sufferers.
Its concept is much like in TENS, as a surgically-implanted device delivers an unpleasant tingling sensation that blocks off pain. Before it is implemented, the patient undergoes a trial period in which a device is implanted for 24 hours or more in order to determine if the patient actually receives pain relief. Also, this option is not for everybody. Patients who have existing pacemakers are not allowed to become candidates for spinal cord stimulation. Patients with pre-existing medical conditions also need to consult with their specialist if they can be ready candidates.
Whatever modality the patient chooses, it is always best to consult with the doctor in order to determine the best, most cost-effective and convenient method for the patient. Self-education will also help one in understanding a patient’s own pain response and threshold. A patient can always be in constant collaboration with his physician, but it is doubly important that the patient knows what triggers his pain and what relieves it in order to trample it over. Please give us a call (727) 548-1111 for your pain relief.
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