Outpatient Surgery Center at Physician Partners of America provides advanced surgical techniques, convenient, compassionate care to all our patients. Contact us today!

Do I need surgery for my chronic pain?

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For most people, surgery is the last step they want to take to treat joint or nerve pain. You’re worried about recovery time, expense, effectiveness after surgery, and the often intimidating process of going under. All of these concerns are valid, so we usually avoid surgery to save our patients time and emotional stress. 

However, there are times when surgery is not only the best care option but the best choice for you financially. While surgeries can be expensive, years of chronic pain care adds up quickly and is often not as effective as a single procedure to cure your condition. 

When Surgery Is The Best Option

Surgical interventions are your best option when your nerve or joint pain is severe, and other treatments are not working long-term. Conditions such as carpal tunnel and spinal stenosis can be tricky to treat with injections and steroids, often leading to medication dependence. 

At PPOA, we never want our patients to rely on a pill to treat pain. Medications are used for short-term pain or to help patients get through other treatments, but chronic use of pain killers can cause just as many problems as the joint pain itself. If other treatments aren’t working, we try to avoid regular painkillers by planning surgeries that eliminate long-term pain and get you back to your everyday lifestyle. 

Ways PPOA Treats Pain Without Surgery

If surgery gives you second thoughts, PPOA offers a variety of methods to treat chronic pain. We often try these methods first if we believe the pain can be remedied without a procedure:

  • Physical Therapy – Physical therapy can help those recovering from injuries and chronic pain due to lifestyle issues such as poor posture or work-related repetitive injuries. Coupled with at-home adjustments, physical therapy can offer long-lasting relief that is easy to manage.
  • Medications and Injections – Medication and injections into the joints can help heal injuries or relieve chronic pain until a long-term solution is reached. Depending on the severity of the pain, medications can work as a long-term, non-addictive treatment that helps relieve pain as needed without interfering with your life. 
  • Regenerative Medicine – Regenerative medicine uses your stem cells to help heal joints and nerves without further invasive procedures. This novel technique helps rebuild the damaged areas of the body and speed up the healing process, thus eliminating pain. While this is not an option for every chronic pain issue, it has done wonders for many patients and is an ideal alternative to surgery when applicable. 

PPOA works with all types of pain treatments to ensure you can g back to leading an active lifestyle pain-free. To learn more about your options for pain relief with and without surgery, contact us today.

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How To Find The Right Pain Management Physician For You

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Chronic pain affects over 20% of the U.S. population every day. Injuries, illnesses like cancer, work-related stress, and degenerative diseases can all cause pain that is chronic, severe, and debilitating. However, despite its prevalence in the population, most chronic pain sufferers never seek the help they deserve. 

Chronic pain causes more than just disability. It can put someone out of work and unable to provide for their family. It can take away the joy of going on a morning walk, or playing with grandkids in the backyard. It can affect young as well as older patients and can limit even the simplest of daily activities. 

If you’re one of the millions of Americans living with chronic pain, there are options out there for you other than suffering in silence. 

Is my pain normal or should I see a doctor?

You may think that aching joints, a bad knee, or back pain are simply a part of the normal aging process. And while certain risk factors (such as the type of work you do and previous injuries you’ve sustained) can impact how frequently you experience pain, it is considered a medical issue if it lasts more than 3 to 6 months or longer than “normal healing” for an injury.

What does a pain management doctor do?

If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic pain, your next step should be to schedule a consultation with a pain management specialist. These physicians can help diagnose the root cause of your chronic pain and offer a variety of treatments ranging from surgeries to physical therapy, medications, and more. 

It’s a common misconception that chronic pain patients are always prescribed painkillers and become addicted. While this is a significant problem in America, it is not the only solution to chronic pain. If you’re looking for long-lasting solutions to your pain, PPOA can help. 

What should a patient look for when choosing a pain management specialist? 

If you’re worried about finding a physician who can actually treat your pain instead of simply prescribing you a painkiller, there are a few qualities you should look for when consulting with your physician. Talk to a doctor who: 

  • Listens to your pain problems with empathy and respect
  • Encourages you to ask questions and who explains things in a way you understand
  • Offers a variety of pain management options, including but not limited to medications, physical therapy, surgery, and lifestyle adjustments
  • Offers preventative strategies after initial pain treatment to ensure you can lead a pain-free life both now and in the future

PPOA selects from top physicians around the U.S. to deliver you the best pain management care at an affordable price. We work with a variety of options to give you your life back, free of chronic and debilitating pain. If you want to learn more about your options with PPOA, give your local office a call! 

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When to see a doctor for ongoing pain

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Do you struggle with everyday pain in your neck, back, joints, Gi tract, or another part of the body? You may think its normal because of your job, lifestyle, or just another part of aging. However, there comes a point where chronic pain is no longer acceptable in daily life. 

Oftentimes patients wait well beyond that point to seek help. They make excuses, telling themselves, It’s not that bad, or I should just fix my posture or exercise more often; then I’d feel better. However, there are many circumstances where chronic pain is caused by a deeper issue, and cannot be fixed with self-care remedies even with the best intentions. 

If you notice these four signs, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a pain specialist to look into treatment options for your everyday pain: 

You take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers every day.

NSAID pain relievers are safe to take as directed without a doctor’s supervision for things like muscle aches, mild headaches, or menstrual pain. However, you should typically only take them for up to 10 days in a row maximum before speaking to a doctor about your issues. If you’re taking NSAIDs, aspirin, or acetaminophen on a daily basis, you should call a doctor to discuss your underlying pain. 

You take higher doses of OTCs than recommended. 

Not only is this dangerous, but it is a sign that you need more help than what can be given by over-the-counter medications. Some of these medications can cause adverse effects if taken with prescription medications and are almost always dangerous if you take more than recommended. If you’re watching the clock for your next OTC pill, it’s time to seek professional help. 

You can’t sleep, eat, or do normal activities because of your chronic pain. 

Aching joints are common among older Americans, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not serious. If pain is causing you to lose sleep, skip meals, or say no to fun activities with your family, you should seek a doctor’s guidance. They can give you your life and mobility back which is something worth fighting for. 

Pain is always on your mind. 

Pain should never be the first thing you think about when you wake up or the only thing that’s on your mind when doing something you enjoy. If pain is controlling your life, it’s time to take it back. Talk to a pain specialist to find lasting solutions that don’t limit your life as chronic pain does. 

AT PPOA, we create lasting solutions for pain patients to help them live healthy, happy lives without chronic pain. To learn more about your treatment options, schedule a visit with your local PPOA physician today!

 

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Five Things You’ll Want to Know About Anesthesia

Anesthesiology makes many aspects of modern medicine possible. Today’s precise dosing and range of pharmaceuticals allow doctors to target pain more efficiently, leading to shorter recovery times for the patient and a lower risk of complications. There’s a reason that anesthesiology is among the highest-paid professions: becoming an anesthesiologist requires detailed knowledge of biology and pharmacology. Anesthesiologists work with other doctors before a procedure to determine the right amount and type of anesthesia to administer and monitor patients while they are under anesthesia.

Ahead of the surgery, the method of anesthesia might be the last thing on your mind, but knowing about the details of their procedure makes many patients feel more at ease.

Here are five things to know about anesthesia:

1. It Varies by Magnitude

Patients getting a tooth pulled don’t receive the same kind of anesthesia as one having major invasive surgery. Local anesthesia affects only the area of the procedure, leaving the rest of the body with full sensation. Twilight anesthesia leaves you relaxed and pain-free but still aware of your surroundings. General anesthesia, the most extensive type, puts the patient in a sleep-like state that leaves no memory of the procedure.

2. It Has Been Used for 175 Years

The first synthetic anesthetic, ether, was first administered in Boston in 1846. A safer and more effective alternative to alcohol or existing drugs, it revolutionized surgery. A London newspaper declared at the time, “We have conquered pain.”

3. The Anesthesiologist Remains During Surgery

Administering anesthesia is not the end of the anesthesiologist’s job. During the procedure, they remain in the room to monitor vital signs – blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and oxygen levels – and modify dosing if necessary.

4. There are a Variety of Ways to Administer It

How anesthesia is administered depends on whether you are receiving local, twilight, or general anesthesia, as well as the nature and location of the procedure. It can be administered in gas or liquid form via a gas mask, breathing tube, or intravenous drip.

5. The Specialty Requires Extensive Training

To become an anesthesiologist, one must first complete medical school, then proceed with an additional four years of special training and instruction. Nurse anesthetists complete two additional years after graduating from nursing school.

Because so much depends on anesthesia, we could not be prouder of our excellent anesthesiologists. Using the latest techniques and technologies, they smooth the journey through serious medical procedures for both patient and clinician. For more information on PPOA’s anesthesiologists, please contact us via social media or call your local PPOA clinic.

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GI Surgery: Sun City Ambulatory Surgery Center

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Sun City Ambulatory Surgery Center, a partnership with PPOA, is partnering with surgeons from across Hillsborough County to start treating gastrointestinal patients by the end of the year. This expansion of services will provide affordable, convenient healthcare options to Hillsborough County, currently an underserved market. With over 60 million Americans suffering from digestive diseases nationwide, these services are guaranteed to make an immediate impact on the local community and patients throughout Florida. 

The Sun City Ambulatory Surgery Center was established in 2020 between PPOA and local physician partners to provide outstanding care to Southern Hillsborough County residents. This brand-new facility is tailored to our mission of providing affordable, convenient, and personalized care to patients with all types of pain. Currently, the clinic serves chronic pain, spinal, and orthopedic patients as well as other non-pain-related specialties. However, the addition of gastrointestinal surgical services can advance not only healthcare solutions but the reach of PPOA across Central Florida. 

Hillsborough County is a magnet for retirees, with more than 14% of the population being over 65. As part of Florida’s substantial geriatric market, gastrointestinal care is essential for holistic healthcare. Patients over 65 are at higher risk for gastrointestinal issues than other patients, with issues ranging from issues swallowing to celiac disease and esophageal issues. 

Currently, there are only a handful of established gastroenterologists in the Hillsborough County region. This limits not only the availability of care but gives many regional patients few options for traveling to their preferred clinic. By adding these services, we hope to help patients who have nowhere else to go for their gastrointestinal and pain issues. 

Since the opening of the Sun City Ambulatory Surgery Center in 2020, we’ve been able to serve hundreds of patients and change lives every step of the way. The Sun City facility has two ORs, which gives us the opportunity to provide a more personalized experience for patients and their families. Even by treating a handful of gastrointestinal patients, we aim to make a real impact in the Tampa area healthcare system and give those without other options the chance at a pain-free life. 

We treat not only the disease but try to understand the person and what makes their issues debilitating to their lifestyle. Gastrointestinal diseases can make simple things like eating a meal with family or going on a road trip difficult if not incredibly painful. We believe that food should never be something that causes more pain than joy in your life and provide cutting-edge solutions that bring you lasting relief. 

To learn more about the Sun City Ambulatory Surgery Center, visit their website here.

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PPOA Offering Patient Shuttle Service

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Did you know Physician Partners of America offers complimentary transportation to and from procedures at our clinics? Our roomy, comfortable Ford Transit vans can take patients to their appointment and back home again in West Central Florida and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

“We recognize that not everyone has family or friends available to take them to their appointments, and we firmly believe lack of transportation should never keep people from getting the care they need,” said Tracie Lawson, Physician Partners of America president and COO. “The patient courtesy shuttle program is part of our commitment to providing convenient, compassionate care to all our patients.”

Patients undergoing minimally invasive procedures are given priority for use of the shuttles, however, PPOA is also making them available on a reservation basis for patients getting MRIs, and for appointments at our pain management clinics in many of our markets. The service will be expanded in the coming months.

Patients can request a courtesy shuttle ride when making their appointment.

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