Tag Archives: phoenix chiropractors

The Pros and Cons of Spinal Decompression Therapy

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In the late 1990’s, the FDA cleared spinal decompression therapy for use in the United States. Over the past decade, the treatment has gained immense popularity as a nonoperative means of relieving back, leg, arm Pain Doctors Phoenixand neck pain.

The treatment is performed on a well padded table that allows low back or neck treatment.

Spinal decompression therapy involves intermittent spinal traction, which is very different than continuous traction. Studies have shown continuous types of traction often cause muscle spasms in the spine, which counteracts a lot of the benefits of the treatment.

With the intermittent type of traction, spasms are avoided. A negative pressure is created inside the disc, which promotes increased blood Pain Clinic Glendale AZflow. Along with the blood, increased oxygen and nutrients enter. This can repair some of the damage.

For those with degenerative disc disease, sciatica, facet arthritis, spinal stenosis, spinal decompression therapy works exceptionally well. Studies have shown that for over 80% of patients, the outcome is favorable and the pain relief may last for over six months.

For a treatment that is non-invasive, FDA cleared, and relatively painless,

Pain Management Scottsdale

Spinal decompression therapy works well for arthritis pain relief.

spinal decompression should definitely be looked at prior to undergoing spine surgery. It cost less than 5% of what spine surgery cost, and is usually involves approximately 20 treatments over 6-7 weeks.

If a person is pregnant, has severe osteoporosis, or has had a spinal fusion with instrumentation, then spinal decompression should be avoided.

With regards to the cons of decompression therapy, there are only a few. For one, the treatment does not fix the spinal problem. This is no different than the vast majority of pain management treatments in Spinal decompression therapy Phoenixexistence today, that provide a proverbial “band aid” for pain relief.

Most insurance companies do not cover the treatment, but thankfully the cost has dropped dramatically over the past decade. One issue is the length of treatment, but it is relatively painless and most patients fall asleep while on the table.

If you or a loved one is suffering from chronic neck or back pain, or symptoms of a pinched nerve(s) such as sciatica, spinal stenosis or radiculopathy, spinal decompression therapy may help you avoid surgery and obtain pain relief.

Arizona Pain Specialists has spinal decompression therapy at all locations under the supervision of Board Certified pain management doctors and Phoenix chiropractors. Arizona Pain has multiple locations across the Valley, and takes over 50 insurance plans along with personal injury claims, worker’s compensation and self pay.

Call (602) 507-6550 today for more information and scheduling!

Looking At Some Of The Myths Of Pain Management at an AZ pain center

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Pain management is a very large business. There are in excess of 100 million people in the US suffering every year from chronic pain, and pain management cost of this exceeds $500 billion annually. A lot of myths exist in pain management, and here are some of them.

1. Opiates are always bad. Every year, there are over 15,000 overdose deaths from narcotics and there is lots of bad press on a regular basis regarding “pill mill” medical practices. So a significant amount of the general population looks at narcotics as always being a bad thing when prescribed by pain management doctors in Arizona.

However,  opiates do have a place in pain management phoenix. In an patient who has cancer for example they can make the end-of-life very tolerable as opposed to enduring constant pain for  months.

And those patients who are not candidates for surgery and are handling chronic pain, opiates  as a treatment may folks to continue enjoying a functional life, working, playing with their kids. Also treatment with a chiropractor Scottsdale may help tremendously along with Phoenix Physical Therapy.

So opiates do have a place in the treatment dealing with acute and some types of chronic pain.

2. MRI will always give a diagnosis for  back pain. Even with the most highly trained medical doctors, currently it is only possible half of the time to give people a real definitive diagnosis for what is causing their back pain.

This includes those who have had a detailed workup including a history and physical, radiographs, and even an MRI.

3. Back surgery fixes all back pain. A lot of the time there is not really a surgical cure for a person’s lumbar pain. Spinal fusion surgeries have increased 15 times over the past decade  and the population in the US has not gone up nearly that much. The results have not improved over that time, so back surgery is not always the answer.

4. Only 3 steroid injections are allowed annually. Pain management Phoenix doctors are not in agreement with how many shots are ok. Research has not shown what is the best number. So some people say 4 injections per year and others say a lot more is okay.

With the steroid being injected in one are, the cortisone stays in that area and very little of  gets into the bloodstream. So more than 3 can be done each year, we just don’t know exactly what’s okay.

5. All pain management involves narcotic medications. This is truly a myth.  A comprehensive approach to back pain is now recommended for back pain. This includes such treatments as physical therapy, Tempe chiropractic treatment, along with interventional Phoenix pain management such as epidural injections, facet injections, or potentially trigger point injections. This  approach allows  pain relief without narcotics.

Preferred Pain Center has pain management doctors in Arizona along with chiropractors Phoenix and Phoenix physical therapy. A One Stop Shop!

Call (602) 507-6550 to make your appointment today.

FAQ’s – Facet Injections with Pain Management Doctors in Arizona

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Exactly what is a facet joint injection?

Injection into a  facet  is a procedure where steroid is placed into the thumbnail size joints on either side of the spine that are causing pain.

What is the purpose of a facet injection?

These joints develop arthritis like any other joint, and arthritis is one of the biggest problems in the US. As individuals age arthritis develops or it may set in after a traumatic incident, and if arthritis develops in one facet  typically it develops in several.

If a person has facet joint arthritis, surgery is not the best option since there is no surgery which effectively replaces the facet joint and replicates its native motion. Therefore, an injection may give people substantial symptomatic relief similar to an injection into the shoulder, knee, or hip. Also treatment with chiropractors Glendale may help a lot.

How long does the injection take?

Typically when a patient receives a facet joint injection they are receiving it into several painful joints. Each one may only take a few minutes, but when you add up several joints being injected the entire procedure may take 30 minutes or so.

What exactly is being injected with a facet injection?

When the facet injection is performed the pain management doctors in Arizona will often include a numbing medication like lidocaine in addition to the steroid. There are several steroids that the specialist at an Arizona pain clinic will use and typically it’s due to their personal preference. Options include methylprednisolone, Celestone, or triamcinolone.

Does a facet block hurt?

A needle is put through the skin to do a facet  block at a Phoenix pain center. So that does hurt slightly, however AZ pain doctors will typically put in some numbing medicine just under the skin as well as in the track down to the joint for pain relief. Therefore the injection should not be overly painful. Individuals can also receive IV sedation for the procedure which may help considerably.

Typically people do not need IV sedation for a facet injection. However, if the person has issues with claustrophobia or anxiety,  it may be prudent to include IV sedation.

How’s the injection done?

Typically patients are on their bellies for the procedure. Typically a fluoroscopy machine is used for the procedure.

The injection area is sterilized and the person has vital signs monitored during the procedure, especially if sedation is being used. Afterwards, the individual is watched for a while. The individual is then permitted to go home and if sedation was received they will need a ride home.

Can people go back to work the next day?

Most patients will be able to resume work the next day after a facet block. If sedation is not used, the person could actually go back to work the same day if they want.

How long will the pain be relieve afterwards?

Pain relief with a facet block at an AZ pain center is extremely variable. It may last several months, or may only last a few days. There really is no excellent method to predict the duration of pain relief. If treatment with a chiropractor phoenix is included it may boost the pain relief.

Can the procedure be repeated?

The answer is yes. If therelief wears off after a few months and comes back injection can be repeated. A radiofrequency ablation may then be indicated which can provide pain relief for over a year.

Preferred Pain Center is a comprehensive Arizona pain center providing the best pain management doctors in Arizona. Call (602) 507-6550 to make your appointment today.