Avoid Back Pain With These 3 Tips

Millions upon millions of people will experience some type of back pain in their lives. We use our spines much more often than we think, so years of overuse will take its toll.

Most people probably won’t have serious complications, but the pain will be enough to slow them down and ruin a few days. Others may develop chronic pain which is something that can last for weeks, months or even years.

While non-injury spinal problems such as age-related disorders, infection, and complications from an existing disease aren’t easily prevented, there are still ways to avoid back injuries by following a few simple, quick-and-easy tips.

3 Quick Tips to Avoid Back Pain

  1. Lift with your knees. Lift with your knees, not your back! You’ve heard this before, but it bears repeating. Using your knees to help carry the weight of a heavy object instead of your back is the proper way to lift something. If you use your lower back to lift, the muscles and ligaments can be strained, and your spine can suffer stress which can lead to complications like herniated discs.
  2. Exercise. Routinely exercising and stretching keeps your muscles and ligaments strong and loose. If your back is tight, it can’t perform properly and your movements will be stiff and limited. You don’t have to be a gym rat, but working out a few times a week will make a huge difference in what your body is able to handle, reducing the risk of injury.
  3. Take your vitamins. No, your mom wasn’t just trying to push vitamins on you as a kid for no reason. Lack of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, magnesium, and potassium can lead to weakened bones, causing them to be brittle and porous, putting them at risk for fracture or breaking. Additionally, vitamins and proper nutrition can help counterbalance the effects of age-related bone and joint deterioration.

Your Tampa Pain Doctors

The tips above are very easy to follow and will certainly help you avoid back injuries if you stick to them. However, if you’ve already suffered a back injury or you’re in pain now, contact Tampa pain specialists at Florida Pain Relief Group. We specialize in pain relief.

Are You Suffering From Chronic Headaches?

Chronic Headaches — This isn’t an article about your typical, run-of-the-mill headache. Take a couple aspirins and you’ll be fine after about thirty minutes. We’re here to discuss chronic daily headaches that are debilitating and stop you in your tracks. These types of headaches, often grouped together with migraines, can severely limit your ability to have a happy, normal life.

As we said, this isn’t the type of condition that a couple OTC pain relievers are going to fix. More involved, but still minimally invasive (if really “invasive” at all) measures are required to manage the pain and get your life back. While more effective prescription medications such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can help with the pain – as well as anti-depressants to counter the emotional stress experienced that actually makes the pain worse – an exciting new way of treating pain directly is offered by Florida Pain Relief Group.

Botox injections are not just for anti-aging anymore. Direct injections of Botox into the affected nerve can stop the pain signals and provide lasting relief. This method has proven very successful in pain management, as well as, not allowing for a potential drug dependency to form.

Risk Factors for Chronic Headaches

Out of the gate, you want to say stress is a major factor, don’t you? While you wouldn’t be wrong because stress is a major component, or agitator, of most illnesses, there are other factors that seriously put someone at risk for chronic headaches.

Three Major Risk Factors for Chronic Headaches

  • Genetics. If there is a genetic predisposition for chronic headaches or migraines, such as one of your parents suffers with them, you run a higher risk of getting them as well.
  • Age. As we age, our bodies and body chemistry are altered by time and external circumstances, in addition to effects during certain physical stages in our lives. If they are going to be an issue in the future, people experience their first chronic headache or a migraine during adolescence.
  • Gender. Women get chronic headaches and migraines three times as much as men. If a woman suffers from chronic headaches, she may notice that the headaches begin just before or shortly after menstruation.

Chronic Headache Pain Relief in Tampa

Don’t suffer with your chronic headaches alone when a Florida Pain Relief Group clinic is so close to home. Our pain experts are right here in Tampa and ready to help manage your pain today. Contact us now!

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & You

While it’s not written in concrete that being a typist, data entry clerk, or any profession that requires constant, repetitive hand and finger motions will, itself, lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, it’s clearly a major contributing factor.

If your job requires you to constantly handwrite notes or peck at the computer, you’re at a greater risk of getting carpal tunnel. There are also countless people who suffer from this uncomfortable disorder who work with power tools and on assembly lines. This syndrome is somewhat of an equal opportunity condition that targets those who work with their hands.

A Little Bit About Carpal Tunnel

The pain, tingling sensations and overall partial immobility one gets when suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome is due to compression of the median nerve or tendons that control hand and finger movement. The median nerve is located in the carpal tunnel, the narrow passageway located in the wrist. In addition to the median nerve, the nine tendons that bend your fingers also flow through the carpal tunnel.

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

There are several non-surgical ways to treat carpal tunnel syndrome such as anti-inflammatory medicine like aspirin or ibuprofen for short-term pain relief, or a wrist splint that holds your wrist in position while attempting to relieve pressure.

Another recommended minimally invasive pain relief option is steroid injections to directly target the pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief in Tampa

Even though we’ve listed some jobs that may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, there is no single cause that doctors have identified. The disorder can occur any time the median nerve or carpal tunnel is compressed or squeezed, and it may be that a combination of factors that leads to its onset.

If you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and want immediate pain relief, contact the pain experts at Florida Pain Relief Group in Tampa today.

Texas’ Drug Testing Rules and Regulations

Under Texas drug testing and federal laws, there is almost no limitation at all on the right of private employers to adopt drug and alcohol testing policies for their workers.

In a federal country like the U.S., the separate states have their own specific laws in terms of illegal drug abuse, drug testing, and punishment for those who sell or handle drugs. For example, cannabinoids are legal in some states and prohibited in others. Some states restrict employers to require drug testing from their employees. Some have not, including the second biggest state in the U.S.: Texas.

This means that if an employer in Texas asks someone to have a drug test, he or she must do so or else there are consequences to be suffered. This includes the possibility of being denied a job as stated under the provisions of the Texas Labor Code. Texas drug testing is also necessary to acquire a motoring carrier registration. These are just the basic Texas’ rules and regulations on drug testing.

In Texas drug testing, one of the testing models often used is from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TLDR). The general rules basically cover things like employees must not be under any medication unless prescribed by a doctor or licensed medical professional.

Regardless of where you live or work, there are three types of tests and the first one is pre-employment. People who received an initial job offer should undergo drug testing prior to getting a final offer. It is followed by the annual type of test which says that all employees must have a drug test once in every twelve months. The last one is random testing.

In random drug testing, this is a urine test conducted with at least 25% of a company’s employees tested each year. A consent form is also compulsory, stating that the subject permits testing and allows the release of the result to a medical review officer (MRO), the company and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. An employee who tested positive and went through rehabilitation has a chance to go back to the company; as long as that person submits a return-to-duty test. Follow-up tests are also necessitated and all of these should be negative.

With Texas drug testing, the question on everybody’s mind here and elsewhere is how do you fairly and objectively solve an age-old problem that has grown globally and continues to do so?

Countless methods and strategies have been tried and tested. Many of these have failed, some may seem to work, a few are sometimes unlawful. Millions of resources have been spent and yet it still goes on. How exactly do you fight and finally end illegal drug use and distribution? Governments and medical authorities from all over the world are in a quandary when it comes to this issue. Although there are ways and actions that are taken, the fight goes on.

World-wide, there are different approaches in fighting illegal drug distribution. It depends on the area. Some European countries focus on the treatment of drug abusers, some countries like the U.S. focus on the punishment of drug pushers. This worldwide effort requires all the cooperation from various parts of the society for it to work. It might be hard and there is no guarantee but it is better than nothing at all.

The biggest problem that Texas faces is that illegal drug distribution is a business. In fact, it is a billion-dollar business that encompasses the globe and one in which numerous governments outside of the U.S. benefit from it too. It is not easy to put a stop to a “business” with a world-wide reach and a web of connections. It just might not be possible. However, some countries are trying their best to fight illegal drug abuse and distribution by discouraging illegal drug use through routine testing of current and potential employees.

Drug testing for this war on drugs is viewed as essential by many employers. Recent numbers in Texas show that substance-abuse treatment inquires increased 22% since the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Texas HHS reports that an average of 128 people die every day from opioid use in the U.S. In Texas, the drug overdose death rate is 10.4 per 100,000, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention health statistics. It’s worth noting, however, that alcohol is the primary drug of abuse in Texas and although alcohol does not appear in standard drug tests, it can be included in a drug test if specifically requested.

In Texas drug testing, it’s common for large companies to even have their own designated Medical Review Officers (MROs) to review and analyze all the testing information that the medical laboratory submitted. It’s expected that the MRO should fully be qualified and with substantial experience in substance abuse disorders. It is strictly confidential and the laboratory should surrender the result only to the designated MRO.

So, what are the implications of a positive drug test? One, a person would be disqualified from being considered for a job position. If a person is already an employee in a Texas-based company, he or she might be dismissed or fired from the job. Some local state companies might dole out less disciplinary actions. However, there are several factors that are considered; work history, employment length, job position and performance, and past disciplinary actions, if any.

Legal Claims for Texas Drug Testing

The State of Texas requires companies that employ at least 15 people to enact comprehensive drug reduction policies, most of which include drug testing. An employer must give this policy in writing to its staff to sign. Employers cannot perform drug tests on employees who have not given their written consent. While workers do have the option of refusing to sign the policy, it is usually possible to fire them for declining.

In recent years, the State of Texas has gradually loosened restrictions and expanded legal applications for marijuana to treat certain medical conditions.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a marijuana “Compassionate Use” law that allows doctor-prescribed low-THC-level marijuana to epilepsy patients.

In 2019, the program was further expanded to include treatment for more ailments including other seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, ALS, autism, terminal cancer, and other non-specified incurable neurodegenerative diseases.

The Texas Legislature in 2019 basically ruled that cannabis with less than 0.3 percent concentration of THC, the psychoactive ingredient that gets you high, is “legal hemp”, while anything above that threshold is illegal marijuana.
Texas drug testing is considered essential in many of its large institutions. It is difficult to be in such a situation but it also a good way to get help.

Some drug abusers do not get the help they need because of being in denial; of convincing themselves that they do not have a problem. Yes, it is a struggle at first. But undergoing a local Texas drug test may just be what some need to jolt them back to reality. If this is the case, acknowledging is the first step in getting help. Then comes the responsibility. It is a person’s responsibility to take care of his or herself. This includes the will and determination to clean up their lives.

Reference URL:

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/IDCU/data/documents/2006_Binder7.doc
https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/efte/drug_testing_in_the_workplace.html
https://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/texas2014a.pdf

Florida drug testing continues to evolve for what it deems as illegal drug use. In the US, each state has its own laws and regulations regarding drugs, drug control and abuse. For instance, states like California, Alaska, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Florida etc. legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but not recreational. Some states like Alaska and Colorado allows recreational marijuana use. Each individual state has their own ways and laws to fight drug abuse. Some critics say that the war on drugs has failed, focusing more on punishment rather than treatment and prevention. Some believe that it is a war that has to be fought over and over again. Therefore, it has been a requirement nowadays for schools, workplaces, hospitals and so on to conduct drug testing. This an attempt to, if not eradicate, at least regulate substance usage and reliance.

Florida’s rules and regulations on drug testing

Look at Florida’s drug testing rules and regulations as an example. First off, when should be testing done or allowed? In Florida, drug testing is authorized if there is a valid reason for suspicion of substance abuse. Say for example a person exhibits erratic behavior, there is a report of drug abuse from a proper and credible source, and if there is evidence that he or she has used or possessed illegal substances in the workplace. This is defined as “reasonable-suspicion drug testing”. If an employer will be able to provide detailed occasions to back up claims and requests for a Florida drug test, then it should be compiled. If an employee has a history of drug abuse and participated in rehabilitation, counseling or intervention, a follow-up might be necessary.

Florida drug testing may also be required to prove that an applicant is fit to work. A written notice for the testing should be given 60 days in advance as declared by the law. All Florida drug testing should be administered by a certified SAMHSA or Florida Agency Health Care Administration (FL-AHCA) approved laboratories. Then, it must be checked by a licensed medical professional. Non-compliance or refusal to undergo the testing may be grounds for discharge or being fired.

For job applicants, a positive Florida drug testing result will hinder any chance of being hired. Also, companies are legally bound to compensate their employees who went through the testing and proved to be negative. If the Florida drug test results are initially negative, companies can have a confirmation test or a “second” test.

Florida Drug Testing Laws

Furthermore, there are a lot of terms that are defined in the Florida drug testing statutes. These are important terms to familiarize with, especially those who are requested to undergo the testing.

The word “drugs” is generally known as an umbrella term for abused chemical substances which may be medical or otherwise. In the Florida statutes, there are certain drugs that may be tested in a person. These are as follows; alcoholic beverages e.g. wine or intoxicating liquors, amphetamine, cannabinoid, phencyclidine (PCP), barbiturate, benzodiazepine, synthetic narcotics and designer drugs. If a person is positive, the state requires that he or she go through a “drug rehabilitation program”. This refers to a service provider that aims to solve the problem, mainly to help the addict recover from the substance abuse. Other than the “reasonable-suspicion drug testing” (as aforementioned), there is also what is known as “mandatory-testing position” which is applicable to jobs that necessitate the person to handle firearms or work in life-threatening environs.

Even though Florida law allows employer to drug test, employees and applicants may have legal claims based on how the test was conducted, who was tested, or how the results were used. … Although an employer has the legal right to test, it must follow the state’s requirements.

Drug addiction has become one of the world’s greatest problems to solve. Some countries even launched an all-out war on drugs led by the United States. It is a continuous battle that requires cooperation with the government, institutions, and other essential parts of the society. Since time immemorial, the war has been waged. Even though there are milestones and achievements, it is still quite a struggle to stop the production and distribution of illegal drugs.

Post-Covid, there has been a reported spike in serious drug use leading to hospitalization. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied more than 180 million ER visits from Dec. 30, 2018, to Oct. 10, 2020, and found that weekly counts of all drug overdoses were up to 45% higher in 2020 than in 2019, according to the study published Feb. 3 in the peer-reviewed JAMA Psychiatry. Opioid overdoses, specifically, increased about 29% compared with before the pandemic.

It is a well-known fact that drugs disrupt a person’s life in ways more than one. People who are addicted or reliant on drugs might find themselves ruining personal relationships, employment chances and having physical and mental health problems. That is why it is very important to be able to learn more about drug abuse and drug testing. Researching and knowing more will enable a person to know about their rights, not only as employees of a certain company but human rights as well. Some companies might overstep their boundaries and violate certain human rights. Reading on these topics will enable a person to understand and know where he or she stands. Finally, it might a hassle for some people but it is better to deal with it and follow the law.

Get relief from fibromyalgia pain in Tampa with Dr. Gari.

The pain that comes with fibromyalgia is often all-encompassing. Patients who have it are always looking for a way to achieve some level of relief from the daily struggle with pain.

In a recent appearance on DayTime, Dr. Rodolfo Gari, Medical Director of Florida Pain Relief Group in Tampa, FL, discussed the various treatment options that are available.

In the video below, Dr. Gari discusses the signs and symptoms of Fibromyalgia, and how to get treatment in Tampa for Fibromyalgia.

Interviewer: We’ve all had headaches that come and go, but then there are those who deal with chronic headaches that just won’t go away. Dr Rudy Gari from the Florida Pain Relief Group joins us now to help us get rid of them. And Dr. Gari, this is perfect timing, because I’ve had a headache for the past four days. So what’s the difference between a regular headache and a chronic headache?

Dr. Gari: Well the key term, Cindy, is called chronic. So chronic means anything that lasts longer than what it should.

Interviewer: What should it last, a couple of hours?

Dr. Gari: Maybe an hour or two. Anything more than that, if you get them frequent… You can have irregular chronic headaches, you can have regular chronic headaches there’s all kinds of different nomenclature for headaches and it has to do with the type of headaches that you get and also the duration and the treatment for it.

Interviewer: Well, let’s talk about what can cause these chronic headaches because I need to know.

Dr. Gari: Chronic headaches can be caused by different factors. The underlying factor is the fact that when you get headaches, it’s essentially some sort of irritation in your brain and that’s usually vascular, it’s usually something that…your blood vessel either dilates or constricts. And that causes sort of an inflammatory process in those vessels and those nerves are associated around those blood vessels that gives you that pulsating type of headache [inaudible 00:01:17] that pulsating that you’re feeling is actually the pulse of your vessels. That can be aggravated by tension, stress.

Interviewer: Check, check.

Dr. Gari: Sometimes people are just predisposed to that, you know, just anything, sometimes with lights. Any activity you know can cause headaches to come on, stay there, and stay a lot longer. Sinus infections. I mean, all kinds of things can cause and make those headache worse.

Interviewer: Right. Are there some people that are more prone to these chronic headaches? Is there some underlying factor going on?

Dr. Gari: There is usually some sort of…there are certain types of headaches that are predisposed, they’re inherited, because we know that genes and your genetic make up can predispose you to certain type of headaches. So you know, a family history of chronic headaches usually leads to someone else also having a chronic headache.

Interviewer: If you’d have chronic headaches you know that popping pills is not going to give you much relief because it’s just going to come back the next day. So what can you do to help somebody who is through this?

Dr. Gari: Well one of things that people maybe don’t know about and I see on a regular basis is something that’s called hyperalgesic headaches. And what that is, you can actually get headaches from taking too many pain pills. So it has what’s called a paradoxical effect, meaning the opposite effect. So sometimes I have patients and they’ll come in, and they’re taking like massive quantities of morphine and other very highly potent medications and they have chronic headaches. And what I tell them is we’re going to have to place in what I call a drug holiday. Meaning that we’re gonna switch you over to a different type of medication and let your body reset itself. Your headaches actually get better by reducing the amount of medication that you’ve taken.

Interviewer: And if somebody’s got tension headache, can you help them with that?

Dr. Gari: Tension headaches we can definitely help them, and you have to work at all the cause of the tension, usually maybe there’s a lot of anxiety. So you know, so we tell them to have a good healthy lifestyle. Sometimes the patients are depressed, sometimes they need something for anxiety and then inflammation or just the pain itself.

Interviewer: Right, so you get to the source of the matter and fix it from there?

Dr. Gari: Absolutely.

Interviewer: Good stuff. Dr Gari, thank you very much. You can visit their website, it is floridapainreliefgroup.com and schedule your same day appointment. Get relief right now or give them a call at 844-KICK-PAIN. Dr.Gari, thank you again.

Dr. Gari: Pleasure.

Interviewer: We’ll be right back.

 

Determining Fibromyalgia Risk Factors

It’s estimated that more than 3 million people suffer from fibromyalgia in the United States. Fibromyalgia can cause chronic fatigue, disrupt sleep patterns, affect the memory, and alter the mood. It is marked by persistent widespread muscle pain in various parts of the body and is often debilitating.

There is no cure, but the chronic pain associated with the disorder can be managed with proper treatments and therapies right here in Tampa, Florida.

3 Risk Factors for Fibromyalgia

  1. If you’re a woman, then your chances of a fibromyalgia onset are greater. This painful disorder is diagnosed in woman far more often that men for physiological reasons (ie. the differences in human male and female bodies.)
  2. If another family member has fibromyalgia, you are more likely to suffer from it at some point as well. Genetic predispositions and inherited traits put some people at a higher risk of the disorder’s onset.
  3. If you have rheumatoid arthritis you may be more likely to develop fibromyalgia due to already being prone to painful nerve disorders.

Get Fibromyalgia Help in Tampa

Fibromyalgia is a tricky health concern. It is believed that repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of those suffering with fibromyalgia to change, leading to an abnormal increase in levels of neurotransmitters (the chemicals in the brain that signal “pain.”) Over time, it is thought that the brain’s pain receptors seem to develop a “memory” of the pain and become more sensitive, often overreacting to pain signals in the future.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine like aspirin can offer a brief respite, but the pain will return and you don’t want to become dependent on painkillers, the OTC or prescription-kind. There are alternatives to managing the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. Non-pharmalogical therapies can be a great way to reduce the pain without surgery or medication.

Our pain management experts at Florida Pain Relief Group can help relieve the awful pain that fibromyalgia causes. Get on board with us today to make fibromyalgia pain walk the plank!

 

Have you tried acupuncture yet?

You know, the thing where they stick you with a bunch of needles and it’s supposed to make you feel better? Does it even work? The answer is a resounding YES! The 3000-year-old ancient Chinese healing treatment is used to promote and restore balance to the energy that flows throughout the body.

Benefits gained from this non-invasive therapy include relief from anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as, relief from digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the following 5 amazing benefits you can get from regular acupuncture sessions.

Top 5  Benefits of Acupuncture

  1. Pain Relief. Acupuncture has been proven to help heal migraines and lower back aches. Regular sessions can relieve pain and discomfort for months at a time.
  2. Heart Health. Acupuncture helps to lower high blood pressure and stress which are two triggers for heart attacks and disorders.
  3. Mood Altering. In addition to the stress relieving just mentioned, acupuncture has been known to regulate the neurotransmitters in your body that promote happiness.
  4. Immune Boost. A skilled acupuncture therapist can place certain needles that trigger immune-boosting cells to target infections and irregularities.
  5. Sleep Assist. Acupuncture helps increase the production of the neurotransmitters that are associated with relaxation which can help those who suffer from troubling sleeping or insomnia.

These five reasons alone should have you ringing our phone off the hook right now, but there is so much more acupuncture can do for you and your pain! Contact our doctors today to find out more, or go ahead and schedule an appointment to get your session booked now.

Lower Back Pain Relief : Millions of people suffer from lower back pain. In fact, according to the American Chiropractic Association, it is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is the second leading cause of missed work. Pain the lower back, or lumbar spine, can take a variety of forms. Acute, or short-term pain, may arise due to a ligament sprain, muscle strain, or overexertion. This type of back pain will usually subside after a few days or weeks with treatments like rest, stretching, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

However, chronic low back pain can persist for weeks, months, or years. This type of long-term pain is usually due to some type of degenerative condition such as degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, herniated disc, ankylosing spondylitis, bone spurs, or chronic pain syndromes. Inflammation or degeneration of the spine can exert pressure on nerve roots in the spinal canal and cause the following symptoms:

  • Radiating pain that begins in the lower back and travels down through the hips, buttocks, and legs
  • Muscle weakness or spasms in the lower extremities
  • Tingling or a pins-and-needles sensation in the lower back, legs, and feet

Anatomical problems such as bone spurs, herniated discs, and inflamed vertebral joints will usually press on the spinal nerve root on one side of the spine, which means that symptoms are usually unilateral (only affecting one side).

Getting a Lower Back Pain Diagnosis

Several different types of lower back conditions can give rise to similar symptoms, though each disorder should be treated differently. It is extremely important to get a diagnosis for your lower back pain from a medical professional. A doctor will likely perform a thorough physical exam, ask you about your symptoms, and review your medical history. Imaging exams such as an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan may also be necessary to pinpoint the exact cause of your lower back pain. While some spine conditions respond to conservative treatments such as physical therapy, low-impact exercise, and chiropractic work, severe lower back pain may require more targeted pain management techniques.

Lower Back Pain Relief in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area

Some people think that chronic lower back pain is a fact of life. However, when lumbar spine discomfort affects your quality of living, it’s time to seek treatment. At Texas Pain Relief Group, we offer a variety of nonsurgical pain management therapies for the lower back:

  • Facet joint injections
  • Lumbar epidural steroid injections
  • Lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks
  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

If you’re ready to take the first step toward lasting pain relief, contact Texas Pain Relief Group to find out what lower back treatments may be right for you.