Pain Management Q & A
Is pain management right for me?
Pain management is a personalized approach to managing long-term discomfort associated with a wide variety of conditions. You may be a candidate for pain management treatments if you have pain that’s lasted for at least three months and you haven’t been able to find relief.
While your pain management plan is personalized to your unique needs, treatments can help minimize symptoms associated with:
• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Tendinitis
• Fractures
• Neuropathy
• Fibromyalgia
• Sprains or strains
• Cancer treatments
• Phantom limb pain
• Herniated or bulged discs
• Complex regional pain syndrome
Pain management may also be right for you if you have ongoing pain issues related to an old sports injury.
Which type of pain management treatment do I need?
When you come in to Advanced Healthcare Clinics for your pain management evaluation, our team of pain management physicians spends time examining you, evaluating your medical history, and discussing all of your symptoms with you.
They counsel you about which pain management treatments may be most effective for reducing your pain as quickly and efficiently as possible. Your pain management plan may include one or more of the following:
• Steroid injections
• Rhizotomy procedure
• Epidural injections
• Facet joint injections
• Corticosteroid injections
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
In some cases, medications are necessary, too. But in many cases, our pain management physicians find that these alternative solutions can minimize the need for medications.
When do pain management treatments provide relief?
It depends on your specific treatment. With most types of injections, for example, you should notice relief from pain almost instantly, with ongoing improvements over the following days. Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation pain management treatments also provide fast relief, although you need to undergo a minimally invasive procedure to implant the device first.
Our pain management specialists find that regenerative medicine treatments usually take several weeks to take effect. But the results are entirely long-lasting as the inflammation resolves.
Arthritis Q & A
What causes arthritis?
Used as an umbrella term for various conditions that affect your joints, arthritis can lead to debilitating joint pain and a lower quality of life. If you have arthritis, it may be caused by or related to:
• Infections (septic arthritis)
• Old injuries (post-traumatic arthritis)
• Autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis)
• Poor kidney function or poor diet (gout)
Of course, you can also develop arthritis as you get older due to wear-and-tear on your joints. This is known as osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis.
When should I see a doctor for arthritis?
Arthritis isn’t curable, although it’s certainly possible to delay the progression of your condition and prevent further symptoms by getting started on treatment at the first sign of symptoms. It’s important to come to Advanced Healthcare Clinics for an arthritis exam if you notice any of the following joint issues:
• Warmth
• Redness
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Tenderness
• Decreased range of motion
• Difficulty bearing weight on a limb
You should also visit Advanced Healthcare Clinics if you’re having difficulty with fine motor skills, such as buttoning your shirt or holding a pen. Your dedicated doctor spends quality time gathering diagnostic tests, often including imaging and labs, so they can determine the severity of your arthritis and help you find an ideal treatment solution.
How does a doctor treat arthritis?
Advanced Healthcare Clinics Pain Management specializes in regenerative medicine and other long-term pain management treatments. Depending on the severity of your arthritis, our physicians may recommend:
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
• Anti-inflammatory medications or injections
• Uric acid-reducing medications (for gout)
It’s also important to incorporate stretching exercises into your daily routine to improve joint mobility and minimize stiffness. Our team of pain management physicians can help you learn about exercises that can help. No matter which solution is right for your needs, you can expect effective and lasting relief from your arthritis pain management treatment from Advanced Healthcare Clinics Pain Management.
Back Pain Q & A
What causes back pain?
Known as one of the most common reasons Americans miss work, back pain can occur for a variety of reasons. You may have damage or injury to bones (vertebrae), joints, connective tissues, muscles, or nerves anywhere along your spine. Some of the most common causes of back pain include:
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Fractures
• Muscle or ligament strain
• Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis
• Bulged, herniated, or ruptured disc
Your chronic back pain may also be associated with your daily activities. For example, if you work in a position where you’re slouching at your desk for hours at a time, or are lifting heavy objects regularly, your risk of back pain increases.
Do I need to see a doctor for back pain?
Yes! Without proper medical intervention, your back pain can worsen and so can the underlying issue. We encourage you to come to Advanced Healthcare Clinics for a back pain evaluation if you have any of the following concerns:
• Pain that causes you to miss work, school, or daily activities
• Tingling, shooting, or numbness sensations in your extremities
• Weakness in your extremities
• Muscle aches or spasms
When you come to Advanced Healthcare Clinics for your back pain evaluation, you can undergo imaging tests, nerve studies, physical exams, and other screenings necessary to diagnose your condition. Once our pain management specialist confirms your diagnosis and rules out related problems, they counsel you about your treatment options.
How does a doctor treat back pain?
Advanced Healthcare Clinics specializes in cutting-edge back pain treatments designed to provide relief and to help restore your quality of life. Depending on your diagnosis and the severity of your back pain, your treatment plan may include:
• Traction
• Steroid injections
• Rhizotomy procedure
• Epidural injections
• Facet joint injections
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Advanced Healthcare Clinics is one of the few clinics in the area that offers regenerative medicine treatments. Our team of pain management physicians can provide regenerative medicine treatments in the three regions of your spine — lumbar, cervical, and thoracic — for optimal back pain relief and natural healing.
