Tag Archives: phoenix pain doctor

Diagnosing and Treating Sacroiliac Joint Pain Is a Remarkably Difficult Challenge

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SI joint area pain may or may not be actually coming from the SI joint. It may be strictly situated in this area (the buttock) or it may radiate down the leg somewhat. It may be confused with myofascial type pain in the paraspinal muscles, piriformis, or gluteal muscles. Other patient problems that can mimic SI joint pain include intervertebral discs that have tears in the outer portion (annulus), or potentially arthritic and painful facet joints that have pain that radiates into the buttock region.

All of these issues may lead to pain in the same region, therefore, delineating the exact pain cause may take some significant mental consideration. A thorough history and exam of the patient is critical to ruling in or out some of the potential diagnostic sources.

The challenge for SI pain is finding the patients whose history and physical match true symptoms for SI joint pain, and then a diagnosis of SI joint pain can be confirmed by a positive response to an anesthetic intra-articular block.

A significant amount of time more than one anesthetic block will be necessary into the SI joint to definitely rule int the joint as the pain generator. Once this diagnosis occurs, the additional treatment options may begin. At times patients will obtain relief for a while from the anesthetic blocks themselves, or it could just be short term. Should the pain block not work after a while, a radiofrequency neurotomy has been shown to work well. Arizona pain doctors typically debate the exact techniques that are best for the joint.

The sacroiliac joint can be very difficult to enter for an interventional procedure. Fluoroscopic assistance is critical, as the SI joint is irregular and jagged. It may necessitate an unusual angle for entry. Understanding the exact entrance point with this real time x-ray may make the difference between a successful outcome with a satisfied patient versus missing the joint and the individual remaining in pain.

Along with the interventional pain efforts, additional treatment options include NSAIDS, physical therapy, Phoenix chiropractors treatment, spinal traction, and potentially massage and/or acupuncture. It may take several different options including both alternative and traditional medicine to help the patient get better.

No great surgery option for SI pain exists. There is a new fusion procedure for the SI joint, but no long term data exists as to its success. Currently, it seems prudent to avoid fusion and treat the issue with outpatient treatments such as radiofrequency neurotomy.

Preferred Pain Center is a Comprehensive Pain Center including Medical and Interventional Arizona Pain Doctors, Phoenix Chiropractors Treatment, Phoenix Physical Therapy, Spinal Decompression Therapy, and Manipulation Under Anesthesia.

Call (602) 507-6550 for your appointment TODAY!

How Well Does Massage Therapy Work for Back and Neck Pain?

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Over 100 million people in the US experience chronic pain, which makes it a true epidemic costing over $500 billion annually. With the variety of options available for decreasing pain, it typically requires several treatments to reach a new status quo of decreased pain at a pain clinic in Arizona. For back and neck pain, how well does massage therapy work?

Over 25% of men and women received a massage over the past year. Approximately 30% of these folks received their massage for health reasons. Out of the patients who receive massage, over eighty five percent believe massage to be helpful in decreasing pain and be helpful to health and wellness.

In the US, over 50% of people think their health insurance coverage should include massage.

Multiple studies have looked at whether massage works well for acute, subacute, or chronic forms of low back pain. The literature uniformly showed massage to entail very low risk. This research showed significant benefit for the subacute and chronic back pain with massage, especially when done along with education and exercises.

Some studies have also displayed massage benefits to potentially last for up to a year. Massage was shown to be better than relaxation, acupuncture, or education. It might not be as beneficial as chiropractors Phoenix spinal manipulation or TENS.

Evaluating neck pain, it can also be limiting to a person’s daily activities. Neck pain reviews with massage have looked at different types including Chinese, Western, occipital release, and other types. Studies have shown that neck pain treated with massage has questionable results. The reason for the question mark is most studies show effectiveness, but most of them were poorly done, and there was such variation between study methods that no valid conclusions could be drawn between them.

Because of the resultant questions remaining on massage’s effectiveness for neck pain, it simply cannot be recommended definitively for it with an Arizona pain management clinic. Hopefully, bigger studies in the future will be done and give statistically valid conclusions.

With regards to back pain, however, studies have in fact given us a substantial amount of data validating its effectiveness in the subacute and chronic timeframes. Some of the data actually showed effectiveness for up to a year. With its low risk profile, massage should definitely be considered as a treatment for patients with nonspecific back pain.

Preferred Pain Center is a Comprehensive Pain Center including Medical and Interventional Arizona Pain Doctors, Phoenix Chiropractors Treatment, Phoenix Physical Therapy, Spinal Decompression Therapy, and Manipulation Under Anesthesia.

Call (602) 507-6550 for your appointment TODAY!

Should Holistic Treatment Replace or Reduce Narcotic Treatment?

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The most popular chronic pain treatment method in the US is narcotics. Between the decade 1997 to 2007, narcotic use in the US increased 347 percent. Pain management physicians are now asking the question “Is this narcotic treatment usage effective?” Narcotics may be an easy option from physicians, but mixing in holistic treatments is a better option. The pain may not be erased, but improving function is a more important overall outcome.

Currently, over 100 million Americans are experiencing chronic pain of some sort at a cost of over $500 billion annually. Has it reached epidemic proportions? Absolutely it has, and opiate prescriptions are at the forefront of the issue. Why are they so popular? They comprise an easy solution for doctors, who may simply write a prescription in seeking a quick fix. The medication may relieve the pain, but it doesn’t fix the problem.

Opiates often work well by dulling the nervous system, but they are highly addictive. Tolerance often sets in, where the patient requires more and more medication to achieve the same effect. Even if the anatomical problem is no different, the amount of pain medication necessary for the same relief may start to spiral out of control. In addition, there is a condition called opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH) where a patient may experience increased pain with increased narcotic dosing.

Additional narcotic usage side effects can include depression, endocrine disorders, altered sleep, or immune system suppression.

There is not an objective test available for chronic pain which identifies the amount of pain an individual is feeling. It represents a subjective experience. It can end up with an inability to socialize, play with one’s children, going to work, or enjoying recreation.

Chronic pain is difficult to completely cure, and the focus should be increasing function rather than simply numbing the pain. Does this mean eliminating pain? Not necessarily. It may mean simply helping patients learn to live with their pain.

Non-narcotic methods of helping patients function better with chronic pain include phoenix physical therapy, relaxation exercises, phoenix chiropractors treatment, acupuncture, spinal decompression therapy, diet and exercise improvement, and stress management.

These types of treatment may be apparent in an integrated pain clinic with Arizona pain doctors, utilizing both traditional and alternative methods. One of the main issues is that the integrated treatments work, but are not routinely covered by insurance plans. In these economic tough times, patients often rely on their insurance and do not necessarily have the means to pursue alternative treatments, even if it would result in a better outcome.

Preferred Pain Center is a Comprehensive Pain Center including Medical and Interventional Arizona Pain Doctors, Phoenix Chiropractors Treatment, Phoenix Physical Therapy, Spinal Decompression Therapy, and Manipulation Under Anesthesia.

Call (602) 507-6550 for your appointment TODAY!