Opioids Not The Way to Treat Chronic Pain

CDC recommends sharp reduction in prescriptions of opioids

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has entered the national conversation around the use of opioids to treat chronic pain.

The United States has seen a sharp increase in the use and abuse of pharmacological pain management medications that are prescribed to treat chronic pain.

As a result, the CDC has issued a number of guidelines for physicians. The main recommendation is the use of non-pharmacological treatment and therapy as the preferred method for treatment of chronic non-cancer pain.

What are non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain?

Depending on the severity, location, and length of time you have experienced your chronic pain, we may suggest one or more of the following alternative pain management solutions:

  • Acupuncture: This ancient Eastern practice involves inserting several small needles into the skin at different pain centers to change the flow of energy in the body. Acupuncture allows the body to self-heal by releasing energy from main trigger points, thereby reducing or eliminating inflammation, pain, and nausea.
  • Chiropractic Treatment: Regular chiropractic adjustments are an attractive method of chronic pain management for patients struggling with neck, spine, and lower back pain.
  • Massage Therapy: Deep tissue, Swedish, and hot stone massages are just some of the alternative management techniques we can use to reduce pain and inflammation.
  • Physical Therapy: Regular physical therapy sessions help you regain strength in areas weakened by an accident or illness.
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: We use this low-voltage electric stimulation to relieve pain by connecting two electrodes to the closest nerve fibers.

When is opioid treatment appropriate?

The CDC states that use of opioids to treat chronic pain should only be used if the benefit of pain relief outweighs the potential risk of patient addiction/dependency and overdose.

According to data released by the CDC, in 2013, more than 16,000 people died in the United States from overdose related to opioid pain relievers, four times the number in 1999.

Learn More About Your Non-Pharmacological Chronic Pain Treatment Options

Our staff is happy to answer your questions about our chronic pain relief treatment methods as well as the types of conditions we treat using natural therapies.

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Study Links Migraines and Low Back Pain

According to a new study from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, patients who experience chronic lower back pain may be at a higher risk of experiencing migraines.

The study of risk factors of a migraine is important, not least because migraine prevalence seems to increase. The knowledge of risk factors remains limited, however, despite years of research. The objective was to evaluate some possible somatic and environmental risk factors for the development of a migraine.

This study comprised 13,498 subjects (6,513 men and 6,985 women). The 8-year risk of developing migraine was significantly increased in subjects who already had low back pain

What are Causes of Chronic Migraines?

Chronic daily headaches fall into two categories: primary and non-primary. Primary chronic headaches don’t have an underlying cause. This can be frustrating for doctors and headache sufferers alike. Non-primary chronic headaches can be the caused by several conditions, including:

  • An infection such as meningitis
  • Intracranial pressure
  • Inflammation of the blood vessels
  • Having experienced a stroke
  • Having sustained a severe injury to the brain

Learn More about Your Migraine Treatment Options

Our staff is happy to answer your questions about our chronic pain relief treatment methods as well as the types of conditions we treat using natural therapies. Please contact your nearest office for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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Massage Therapy for Chronic Pain Management

Find Chronic Pain Relief with Alternative Pain Management

While some view massage therapy simply as a luxurious form of relaxation, others find it to be a crucial form of chronic pain relief. Texas Pain Relief Group is pleased to offer massage therapy as an alternative pain management option at our Dallas-Fort Worth area treatment centers.

Many do not realize that a massage is an ideal method of alternative pain management, especially when compared to taking strong prescription painkillers that could have serious side effects. Massage and spinal cord stimulation used for therapeutic purposes both offer numerous benefits, including:

What is Alternative Pain Management?

Alternative pain management can be defined as a medical treatment, therapy, or intervention that exists outside the realm of conventional medical practices. Some popular examples of alternative therapies and non-pharmacological treatments include:

    • Improved Blood Circulation: Patients with poor blood circulation can suffer from chronically cold hands and feet, general aches and pains, and persistent fatigue due to lactic acid that accumulates in the muscles. During a massage, the pressure exerted by the therapist breaks through the build-up of lactic acid and improve blood flow throughout the body, resulting in reduced pain and heightened comfort
    • Joint Pain Management: Arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other types of chronic medical conditions can cause painful swelling of the joints. Regular massage therapy for pain relief helps to reduce muscle spasms caused by joint pain. Additionally, it assists in improving the body’s natural ability to produce endorphins, which assist in the body’s natural process of reducing pain.
    • Lowered Blood Pressure: A number of factors can cause high blood pressure, including obesity, a health condition, and a stressful environment. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, trigger point massage therapy can significantly decrease heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure.
    • Muscle Pain Relief: Spinal cord stimulation and other types of deep massage help to work the tension out of sore muscles. The pressure causes the muscles to relax, which may prevent the recurrence of muscle pain and tension in the future. Patients with chronic lower back pain, neck and shoulder tension, and knee pain can benefit from regular massage.
  • Stress Reduction: Many patients carry the tension that is caused by stress within their upper back and neck. Because massage promotes relaxation, it is an excellent technique to reduce ongoing patient stress. Regular massage therapy allows people to feel calmer and respond better to the stress in their lives without tension or chronic pain. In addition to maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle, massage therapy is an excellent form of stress management, allowing patients to reduce the long-term effects of daily stress.
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Prescription Drug Alternatives: Pain Free, Naturally

Find Lasting Relief for Chronic Pain with Alternative Pain Management

The most stressful thing about suffering from chronic pain is being prescribed medication after medication, masking the pain for the time being, but offering little long-term relief. At Physician Partners of America, we offer patients alternative pain management methods to help you experience safer and lasting relief.

What is Alternative Pain Management?

Alternative pain management can be defined as a medical treatment, therapy, or intervention that exists outside the realm of conventional medical practices. Some popular examples of alternative therapies and non-pharmacological treatments include:

  • Chiropractic care
  • Yoga
  • Massage
  • Acupuncture

Here at the Physician Partners of America, we strive to avoid the use of prescription drugs when possible and rather focus on finding the best form of alternative pain management for the patient. We offer nearly two dozen drug-free treatment options to help you experience pain relief for chronic pain. Some of these include:

Which Conditions Can Be Treated with Alternative Pain Management Techniques?

Our physicians specialize in treating a wide variety of chronic pain problems using non-drug methods. Whether you suffer from chronic abdominal pain, arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, lower back pain, or another painful ailment, we can help. The beauty of Texas Pain Relief is that our team of physicians views each patient as a unique individual. Our physicians take the time to listen to each patient as they describe their symptoms and how their pain is affecting their everyday life. Based on feedback from the patient, along with thorough discussion of the patient’s medical history, we are able to recommend a specific technique or combination of techniques designed to treat the patient’s unique and chronic pain.

With traditional drug therapy, the goal is often to merely mask your symptoms. Unfortunately, this is only a temporary solution. You may take a drug that helps to relieve the physical pain of arthritis, while not actually offering long-term remedy. In this case, the problem may actually be worsening beneath the surface. At our clinic, we seek to understand the root cause of your problem so that we can alleviate your pain permanently. Our doctors take their calling seriously to improve the quality of life of every patient they treat.

Learn More About Your Chronic Pain Treatment Options

Our staff is happy to answer your questions about our chronic pain relief treatment methods as well as the types of conditions we treat using natural therapies.

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3 Risk Factors for Sciatica

Are You At Risk for Sciatica?

A factory worker has to lift heavy boxes all day and toss them in a truck. The sheer amount of pressure applied to their spine with each lift and toss is potentially dangerous.

An elderly man who doesn’t like getting assistance who wants to continue doing things on his own. The natural wear-and-tear on his spine over the many years makes his back incapable of handling what would otherwise be routine movements and physical activities like sweeping the porch or sliding an end table over.

An overweight woman who has been battling obesity for years and can’t seem to manage it. The sheer amount of excess weight bearing down on her spine at every movement will eventually cause spinal disorders.

What do these people have in common? They are each at risk for sciatica due to increased risk of a pinched sciatic nerve in their spine due to a herniated disc. Occupation, age and obesity are three major risk factors for sciatica. While one cannot easily change their job or weight, extra care must be taken when doing strenuous activities to avoid injury. When it comes to age, at some point the body simply can’t do what it once did and this is why medical assistance is available.

Sciatica Pain Relief in Tampa

Sciatica is often lumped together with lower back pain, which in some instances it can be, but this disorder also speaks to pain in your hips, buttocks and legs. The pain is often only felt on one side of the body or the other, and it can be either be mild or extremely painful.

Our pain management doctors offer sciatica relief in Tampa. Please contact Florida Pain Relief Group if you feel you are suffering from lower back, hip, buttock or leg pain and can identify with any of the three risk factors listed above. Pain relief can begin immediately.

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Dr. Rodolfo Gari Talks About The Effects of Anxiety And Stress On Our Bodies

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Interviewer: We’ve all been stressed out and felt anxious at some point in life, and many times, this kind of mental pain is often accompanied by physical pain. Anxiety and pain can be a never-ending cycle, but Dr. Rudi Gari from, well, Florida Pain Relief Group, a good person to talk to right now, and he’s here to tell us how you can help and how your group can help. And this is, obviously, everybody could relate to, even the word pain because we all have it from, you know, time to time. So tell us the difference between mental versus physical pain. Does one…I mean, do they go hand in hand?

Dr. Gari: Well, one of the things that we talk about is that if a patient has pain, the patient has pain. And so one of the problems in medicine is that, unless we find something physical, something objective, MRI, CAT scan, and so forth, just go, “Oh, you have pain there?” Sometimes we incorrectly label our patients in saying, “You have no reason to be in pain”. We take a different approach. If you tell us you have pain, we take you at your word. Because the fact of the matter is, it’s real, and we know it’s real. And there is actually, there’s quite an association with your cerebrum or your brain and your physical body. We think about something called tension headaches.

Interviewer: Sure.

Dr. Gari: Okay, so we know about that, right? Headache is pain. Pain in the head area. And so tension, what it does is, it increases your blood pressure. It constricts your blood vessels. That constriction causes at least an inflammation in your cerebral arteries and that leads to headaches. There’s tension-type headaches, there’s stress. We have what’s called fibromyalgia, we know that stress and mental anxiety exacerbates that, we know that people that have physical pain actually get much worsening of their pain through stress. It’s almost like a fight or flight reaction that we talk about.

Interviewer: So physical pain and mental pain are really interrelated?

Dr. Gari: They’re real.

Interviewer: It’s pretty much what you’re saying.

Dr. Gari: If you have pain, or whether it’s a mental pain, or organic pain if you’d like to call it, it’s real pain. Just think about, people talk about heartaches, for example. That’s real pain. You know, when you’ve lost a loved one, and your heart really does hurt. And maybe we can’t find it on an MRI or a CAT scan, but it’s painful. And we have to treat both of them. We have to treat both, and that’s one of the things that we do. We are a comprehensive…we can evaluate you as a person.

We’re gonna talk about…one of the things that we do is, we do several tests when you first come in and see us. Number one, we’re gonna check your genetic makeup and make sure the medication we give you are exactly the right medications for you. Whether it’s for anxiety or a pain or so forth. The next thing we’re gonna do is, we’re gonna evaluate your mental status. We wanna know, how has this pain associated your psychosocial issues? What are some of the things going on that actually…your family life, you know, those things really interact, and that stress and tension leads to this. So we have to treat the entire amount.

Interviewer: Absolutely. So a lot of times, people…and we have 30 seconds, so if you can cover this in that amount of time. A lot of times, people say, “It’s just in your head. It’s not really in your body.” So you’re saying that it is real.

Dr. Gari: What I’m saying, it’s both. It’s in your head, and it’s real. What’s in your head is real pain. You’re feeling it. And you’re feeling the effects, and that needs to be treated. And physicians need to take that seriously. And we do.

Interviewer: Okay. All right. And if you wanna have any of your aches and pains taken care of, Dr. Gari is the man to do it. You can visit their website, floridapainreliefgroup.com, to schedule your same-day appointment. Or you can give the good doctor a call at 844-KICK-PAIN. Easy enough. Which is what you do.

Dr. Gari: It’s what you do.

Interviewer: There we go. Thanks so much, Dr. Gari. We’ll be right back.

 

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3 Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

Are You Suffering From Osteoporosis?

Like a thief in the night steals your valuables without warning, osteoporosis can suddenly arrive without you knowing it. All of a sudden your bones are frail, weak and can easily become fractured by the simplest of falls and your ability to live an active lifestyle goes out the window.

Even though there aren’t alarm bells alerting you to an oncoming onset of osteoporosis, there are certain factors that can lead to this disorder, some you can’t change, many you can. Things like age, sex, race and inherited family traits are beyond your ability to change. Don’t focus on those things, but instead do all you can to remove the risks of the things you can change.

 

3 Risk Factors for Getting Osteoporosis

As we said, there are things like your biology, sex and race that are unchangeable. It would be a waste of time to worry about these. Instead, there are definitely things you can do to reduce your risk of getting osteoporosis.

  1. Lifestyle. A sedentary lifestyle where your job and your leisure activities don’t require much movement can lead to osteoporosis. When your bones and muscles are at constant rest, they don’t have the ability to build up and become weaker. Additionally, a lifestyle that involves walking, running, and exercise promotes good posture, muscle strength and overall better health that can deter the onset of this disorder.
  2. Diet. You’ve heard that “milk does a body good” for a long time, but did you ever take the phrase to heart? A low intake of calcium can make your bones frail and brittle, causing a low bone density which is the key to strong bones and bone tissue replacement over your lifetime. Up the calcium intake to make your bones stronger and lessen the risk of osteoporosis.
  3. Medication. This one is a bit tougher to alter since it involves medications you’ve been taking for any other potential medical issues you may have. Regular use of steroids (oral or injected) can slow down bone tissue replacement to a crawl, causing lower bone density and raising the potential for broken or fractured bones.

Get Osteoporosis Treatment in Tampa

No matter your risk factor, if you’re suffering with – or are at risk for – osteoporosis, the pain experts at Florida Pain Relief Group in Tampa can help manage the pain and control the disorder. Don’t live in agony one more day when help is so close by. Contact us today!

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Abdominal Pain Relief

Are You Experiencing Chronic Abdominal Pain?

As we explained here, chronic pain in the abdomen (Abdominal Pain) and surrounding area may be the result of a multitude of triggers or causes. From more minor concerns like gas or indigestion to more serious concerns like a hernia or appendicitis, your discomfort can stem from a litany of sources.

Since the abdominal area contains so many vital organs, any number of medical concerns can arise in that region. So what do you do?

Before we get into the “what” let’s talk about the “why” with a brief selection of the causes for this disorder.

Chronic Abdominal Pain Causes

  • gas
  • indigestion
  • gallstones
  • pregnancy
  • appendicitis
  • kidney stones
  • an abdominal hernia
  • food poisoning
  • menstrual cramps

Of course, this is a partial list of the various causes of your abdominal pain. For a proper diagnosis, please contact our doctors at Florida Pain Relief Group today.

Relieving Chronic Abdominal Pain

Depending on your particular pain and cause, we offer a variety of treatments and therapies at our clinics.

  • Prescription strength pain relievers like acetaminophen. Note: Aspirin and ibuprofen are not recommended for stomach issues because they can further complicate the disorder due to how they are processed in the body.
  • IV (intravenous) therapy where pain relievers and necessary medications are dripped through an IV into your body. Medications can be regulated and dosages can be fine-tuned to your needs.

On the rare occasion that the situation is much more serious, emergency services may need to be provided from your local hospital ER. These situations include:

  • Appendix or gallbladder surgery.
  • Bowel obstruction surgery.
  • Ruptured or perforated organ surgery.

These surgeries are not performed by the pain relief specialists at Florida Pain Relief Group.

A Pain-Free Outcome

If the cause of the chronic abdominal pain can be treated in our clinics through our pain management processes, then the likelihood of discomfort relief is very good. While some pains go away after the first session, it is not too uncommon for the abdominal pain to return at some point, but our injection or IV therapies can be repeated to give you relief again if the situation calls for it.

Contact us today or schedule an appointment to get the chronic pain relief you need.

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Actionable Tips for Effective Drug Screening

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Effective Drug Screening

If you are an owner of a company, there are high chances that you would not want your employees to be under the influence of drugs while working or let them suffer from the after-effects of drugs while at work. This will result to making them less productive and worse, this may lead to an unsafe workplace.

Although drug testing is readily available, especially in today’s time when it has become almost a requirement for all companies and agencies to have their employees undergo the testing, it can be expensive. It might also be difficult for some employers to spend their money on such. However, there are ways that can help employers minimize the cost while still making sure that the workplace is safe and drug-free. One of them is to conduct an effective drug testing.

Below are some of the tips that will help employers conduct an efficient drug testing while creating a productive workplace without breaking the bank.

Be smart and sure about which drugs you test

You should answer this very important question to help your company conduct an Effective Drug Screening: Do you do prior research before choosing the drugs that you are going to test for? You would definitely not want to be tested for all drugs as this would only contribute to a greater deal of expense as far as the procedure is concerned. What needs to be done is to make sure that you are only testing for the drugs that have the highest tendencies to be used in the area where your employees are.

For example, if most of the employees are under the age thirty, research about the most common types of drugs that people of this age would likely use. On the other hand, twenty-year-olds are more inclined to do drugs than those in their thirties. Therefore, it is important to make a distinction when you decide for the drug to test.

Moreover, you should also research on the types of drugs that are available in your area. This is an important factor as the popular drugs may signify that they are available and are likely to be used by people. Doing your research in advance will make the drug testing more effective and will help you save a decent amount of money.

When opting for a urine test, be sure that the time frame is short enough for it to be effective

Passing a drug test can be easy- you just have to wait for one to two days for the drugs to pass out of the system. If you want to make the urine test effective, you need to require your employees to undergo the test in one day. But make sure that you check the laws present in your area and that you are within the set guidelines.

Consider a saliva test for on-site collection of samples

Lastly, if you are going to collect a sample for an on-site random drug test, it is important to go with a saliva test instead of a urine test. A urine test might be uncomfortable for people to take while in the workplace. However, since a saliva test would only involve a small, lollipop-shaped stick and put it in the mouth, it is unlikely to cause any discomfort on the employees. At the same time, saliva testing is not easy to fake, thus providing more accurate results and a more effective drug screening.

Today, technology has provided significant improvements in drug testing methodologies and different industries are catching up. Since drug testing is important in making sure that the company is safe and employees are productive, maximizing the benefits of these technologies will undoubtedly yield positive results.

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5 Ways to Alleviate Back Pain

Alleviate Back Pain

Back pain is something that a majority of American adults will go through at some point in their lives. It can begin with something as simple as doing yard work or bringing groceries into your house.

Though back pain is common, it can cause a lot of frustration in your life. Even minor back pain can keep you from enjoying your daily activities, and more serious back pain could make it difficult to work or drive.

If you are struggling with back pain, you are likely ready to try whatever it takes to make it go away. Here are five strategies for getting some relief from your back pain:

Use Heat and Ice 

For pain relief, both heat and ice can help with your back pain. When you injure your back, begin with ice as a treatment for a couple of days. It will help reduce your swelling and start the healing process.

After two days, switch to heat for your pain relief. A heating pad can help your back loosen up and soothe your pain. However, if you find one more relieving than the other, that’s fine. Whatever works for you is the best method for your pain relief.

Get Moving to Alleviate Back Pain

When you are in pain, you may be tempted to stay in bed until you feel better. However, you should try to get back on feet within a few days if possible. Mild activity can help you feel better, even something as simple as walking can help.

It is important to work on things like improving your flexibility and strengthening your core over time, as these will help keep your back pain at bay. However, keep in mind that you should avoid strenuous activity until you are fully healed to avoid making your injury worse.

Be Aware of Your Body, Day and Night

You may not realize how much the way you carry yourself can impact the level of your back pain. During the day, work on improving your posture. Whether you are sitting or standing, good posture can make a big difference in improving your back pain.

Another thing to pay attention to is the position that you sleep in. An unsupportive mattress or bad sleep position can make your back pain worse. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach, as that can aggravate your back. If you sleep on your side, try putting pillows in between your knees to keep your spine straight. If you sleep on your back, you can put pillows under your knees for relief.

Practice Healthy Habits

Healthy habits can be a huge help in alleviating your back pain. To start, if you are a smoker, you should quit as soon as you can. Smokers may be more likely to have back pain.

Other wellness techniques that might help your back pain include healthy eating habits and meditation. Since meditation focuses on breathing and relaxing, it can help your back loosen up.

See a Specialist to Alleviate Back Pain

Though all of these techniques can help your back improve, you still may need to see a specialist if you are in a lot of pain all of the time. Your medical professional can help you find the right path to getting your back healed and your pain alleviated.
Back pain does not have to ruin your life. Talk to a specialist and begin the healing process.

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