Make Pain a Thing of the Past – chronic – Physician Partners of America

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Dr. Jorge Leal Talks Chronic Pain: What Is It And Do You Suffer From It?

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Interviewer: When you’re in pain and you head to the doctor, you already know what’s coming. Rate your pain on a scale of one to ten. But is that really the best way to gauge it, and if so, then what? Dr. Jorge Leal from Florida Pain Relief joins us now to talk more about this. Okay, Dr. Leal, what exactly is pain management?

Dr. Leal: Pain management, it’s a relatively new specialty that is basically charged with trying to diagnose and then manage the chronic pain.

Interviewer: Now, we hear about doctors all the time saying, “Rate your pain from one to ten.” Is that really an accurate benchmark, and does that really help you when I say, “I’m at a seven”?

Dr. Leal: Well, it’s the best that we have. As you well know, pain is subjective, meaning that only the individual that is experiencing the sensation is capable of rating it, so we try to keep it simple. So just a numeric rating system has been effective and has been validated statistically that it is as good as we can achieve, given the circumstances that it is a purely subjective experience.

 

 

Interviewer: Is medication usually the best way to treat pain, or are there better alternatives out there?

Dr. Leal: Well as you well know in our society, pills seem to be the first thing that we reach for, but perhaps that may not be the correct one. Due to the fact that pain has been relatively under-treated in the past, we became to rely heavily on pills to try to keep the pain under control. And then eventually we started to realize that indeed may be doing some harm and there may not be any benefit in the long run in trying to control some person…individual’s pain.

Interviewer: So what is the best way then to treat pain? Because there are a lot of people that are taking pills as we speak right not to try to just get through the day. So, from the Florida Pain Relief Group, how do you approach somebody who’s got pain?

Dr. Leal: Well, the most important thing is to try to find out what is causing the pain. And for that, we need to approach the problem in a comprehensive fashion to find out what caused the pain, what has been done in the past, what worked, what hasn’t worked, have there been any side effects? So all those things get taken care of…into consideration, and then we formulate a plan of therapy. And that could be from medications to interventional techniques to sometimes surgical approaches, and some rehabilitative techniques are available.

Interviewer: What are some non-invasive options that you have for people who are dealing with pain?

Dr. Leal: Well, the most important thing is to treat any underlying psychological difficulties or problems that the individual may be having. Not uncommon, it’s almost akin to the chicken and egg. Which comes first, the pain causing anxiety or anxiety aggravating the pain? So they are intricately related, so they must be addressed. So psychological counseling, psychological therapies, including also pharmacological therapies, are very important in the management of pain.

Interviewer: But the bottom line is you want your patients to be free of this pain. They don’t want them to live with it.

Dr. Leal: That is correct. The idea is to manage it and allow them a better quality of life.

Interviewer: All right, a lot of people will be happy to hear that. Dr. Leal, thank you very much. You can visit their website. It is floridapainpeliefgroup.com, or you can give them a call, 844-KICK-PAIN to schedule your same-day appointment. There is relief out there. We’ll be right back with more Daytime, so don’t go away.

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Dr. Rodolfo Gari of Florida Pain Relief Group Talks Chronic Pain and How It Can Be Treated

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Interviewer: We hear the term chronic pain all too often. It’s a common problem, but what exactly is it? Dr. Rudy Gari from Florida Pain Relief Group joins us now to help. Dr. Gari, good to have you here.

Dr. Gari: My pleasure.

Interviewer: And unfortunately, over a billion people worldwide have chronic pain. So what exactly does that mean?

Dr. Gari: So chronic pain refers to pain that continues when it should have been gone. So for example, you sustain an injury and we know typically, the pain from that injury should be gone in about two weeks or more or less, whatever that might be. Well, maybe it’s three weeks, four weeks, and it lasts longer. That pain now becomes chronic and there are actually some patients that they’ve had pains for so long, so many months, so many years, where the pain, in and of itself, now becomes a disease. So now, you have an illness which is pain. Pain should be a symptom not an illness.

Interviewer: And that becomes their norm. That’s their everyday life.

Dr. Gari: That becomes their norm. It becomes…

Interviewer: They forget what feeling good feels like.

Dr. Gari: Sometimes you have patients that, you know, that are in chronic pain for years and it no different than if you have diabetes of high blood pressure.

Interviewer: Okay. So you see people like these I’m sure every day.

Dr. Gari: Every single day.

Interviewer: So what can you do for somebody who comes in and says, “Like I’ve had this pain for a lot longer than two weeks.”

Dr. Gari: So the first thing that we wanna do is we wanna cure that. So you know the field that I’m in is called Pain Management. I’d love it if it could be called Pain Curer. There are many things we can cure pain but unfortunately a lot of times, we have to find ways to get patients to live their life again through different means. So the first thing we wanna do is we wanna make sure, is this something that we can cure? So we have to make a diagnosis. We have to be physicians, we have to listen to that patient, look at all the medical records, perform an examination in the laboratory, whatever it takes. And there are actually some chronic pain that we have been able to successfully treat where it goes away.

Interviewer: I know a lot of people are on some kind of pain pill, opiates and I’m sure there are some doctors out there who say, “This is the only thing that’s going to help you cut through this pain.” You don’t believe that, right?

Dr. Gari: No. I don’t believe that. There are patients that are gonna need opioids, there’s no question about it. But if we can take that patient and instead of that patient taking 100 milligrams of morphine or, you know, per day, if we can reduce that to 30 milligrams a day, a two-thirds reduction in the amount of medication that you need to function, that is a significant and major improvement and we do that through different ways.

Interviewer: Well, we hear people overdosing on pain pills every single day. So obviously cutting back as much as possible is what you’re trying to aim for here. So let’s talk about different ways to manage pain. If it’s not popping a pill, what other things can you do?

Dr. Gari: So we have a tremendous toolbox for taking care of someone’s pain other than pain pills. A lot things that we do… So if you think about pain, pain is mediated by nerves. So there’s a thing called nerve blocks. We do a lot of those and because we wanna stop the pain transmission before you can feel that pain. So different types of nerve blocks, they are just typical injections done outpatient procedures. We give sedatives to relax you. Do those nerve blocks and we’ve had much success. I’ve been doing this for over 25 years, and we can help those patients by those types of nerve blocks where their pain drops from a very high level to a very low level and take a lot less pain medication than they were taking before.

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Healthy and Natural Habits for Managing Chronic Pain

Many daily habits can cause, exacerbate, or ease the amount of pain you experience, and there are several tried and true methods for dealing with chronic pain with or without the aid of pharmaceuticals and/or corrective surgery.

In all cases you should consult a doctor, nurse practitioner or physical therapist about what natural remedies are right for you and your condition, and whether medical interventions are necessary.

The best way to deal with chronic pain is to discuss the issues you are having and what medical interventions you are comfortable with participating in- openly with your doctor. Pain management professionals will work with you to ensure a natural, holistic approach to easing the chronic pain is taken and ensure your lifestyle habits and preferences are fully taken into consideration.

Types and Methods of Natural Pain Relief

Low Impact Hobbies and Exercise

Taking your mind off the pain is proven to be highly effective and can be done with a hobby or activity that is enjoyable, and perhaps, time-consuming. Reading, knitting, building models are great examples of ways we can train our brains on something other than chronic pain.

When engaged in such activities the brain releases chemical such as serotonin and dopamine that can ease anxiety and mitigate the amount of pain that is perceived.

Relaxation and meditation of often recognized ways to manage pain which fall into this category. According to Clinical Health Psychologist Dr. William Deardorff, “the brain can learn how to manage and decrease the sensation of pain using a combination of deep focus, breathing, and imagery techniques.” Such techniques combined with avoiding idle time can help limit the perceived amount of pain.

Stretching and Yoga

Many instances of lower back pain and some joint pain can be soothed by different yoga poses and stretching techniques. Yoga helps to strengthen and loosen the connecting muscles to areas where soreness and inflammation start.

One of the best ways to get active in yoga is to search for a yoga studio or a gym near you. You can also look up poses that can help you get started at home. If your doctor agrees that you are in fit condition to perform yoga, you may find that over time you will feel more mentally and spiritually fit. According to an article from Harvard Health citing two separate sources, Yoga has shown to help improve symptoms associated with ailments such as fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis and can even improve mental wellbeing.

Using Hot and Cold Temperatures for Pain Relief

Also known as cryotherapy and thermotherapy, there may be some confusion as to when it is best to employ hot or cold to painful areas, so always consult with your healthcare professional. Generally, though, you use ice on injuries and heat on muscle pain, according to Painscience.com.

Cryotherapy or “icing” can be useful for bruising, inflammation and other superficial injuries. While the evidence supporting the effectiveness of cryotherapy for injuries is tenuous, it can provide some minor comfort where inflammation and swelling are involved.

Heat can be used for muscle spasms, tension, chronic pain and other situations associated with throbbing or aching feelings. Warmth can have a calming effect as well, which can sooth some of the emotional aspects associated with pain.

Be careful when using temperature-based therapies in treating pain, because there could be an opposite-to-the-desired effect. The rule of thumb is to do what feels good to you.

Herbal Remedies and Supplements

When considering supplements, as with all pain interventions and therapies you must consult with your healthcare provider. There are many on the market that can help with different types pain. WebMD offers a comprehensive article listing supplements that can ease different types of pain.

The following are some of the listed remedies:

  • For back and joint pain: turmeric, devil’s claw root, capsicum/capsaicin, comfrey, glucosamine and chondroitin
  • For a headache: white willow bark, boswellia, caffeine, feverfew and butterbur
  • For arthritis: SAM-e, glucosamine/chondroitin, and boswellia
  • Other remedies for inflammation: Omega 3 fatty acids, and probiotics

In all cases, consulting with your physician before starting natural and herbal interventions is the rule of thumb as some of these supplements may react adversely with others, or other medicines you are taking.

Alternative Medicine for Chronic Pain

When considering an “alternative” treatment for pain you may notice a re-reoccurring theme: Your doctor is always going to be your best guide, so have questions prepared. Also consider many treatments that were once deemed alternative, are now becoming mainstream such as acupuncture and marijuana.

It is important to keep in mind that treatments outside of the mainstream are there for a reason: They aren’t effective, or potentially harmful.

Sometimes the most natural method of pain relief is to abstain from bad habits or to engage in healthy ones. Minor lifestyle changes like exercise, avoiding substance abuse, proper diet and getting enough sleep can improve quality of life and by extension perceived pain.

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Treating Chronic Back Pain in Tampa

Finding relief from chronic back pain in Tampa can be a long journey of trial and error. Some doctors who are not specialists may simply recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment plan.

Others will take a dramatically different approach and suggest an invasive surgical procedure to determine the cause of the chronic back pain condition.

For many people, however, neither solution is the right one to help achieve lasting relief from chronic back pain.

In a recent appearance at the WFLA “DayTime” program, Dr. Rodolo Gari, medical director of Florida Pain Relief group in Tampa, FL, explained how a procedure called a Kyphoplasty is a viable non-surgical option for achieve lower back pain relief in Tampa.

Watch the video below to learn more:

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Dallas Pain Doctors

We’ve Got the Dallas Pain Experts for You.

Migraines. Neck pain. Shoulder pain. Elbow pain. Carpal tunnel. Low back pain. Knee pain. Have we listed your pain yet? If not, that’s just a small sample of the chronic pains people deal with all the time and what our Dallas pain doctors at Texas Pain Relief Group treat on a daily basis.

Causes of Chronic Pain

Ever wonder why your pain just won’t go away? Below is a list of chronic pain causes that may help explain why what you are dealing with isn’t ordinary, everyday pain. It’s something else entirely.

  • Age. Over time, the body ages and parts begin to wear down. Degenerative diseases, like degenerative disc disease, can develop and cause serious pain and lead to further medical concerns.
  • Poor posture. Over the years, slouching, stooping, slumping and hunching overtake a toll on your spine, weakening it and causing potentially permanent damage to the vertebrae. Additionally, the muscles, ligaments, and nerves up and down your spine are affected and can be strained and compressed causing damage and pain.
  • Improper lifting. Picking up heavy objects without bending your knees can injure your back. You’ve been told for years to “lift with your knees” and if you didn’t listen, you may have to pay the price.
  • Obesity. Extra, unhealthy weight puts undue strain on the spine, spinal muscles and on your knees. It also merits mentioning that obesity and being overweight is a trigger for many health concerns and diseases. A proper calorie-focused diet and regular exercise go a long way to keep your weight down and your body healthy.
  • Genetics. Inherited abnormalities like the curvature of the spine, in addition to predispositions to illness and disease, can lead to any number of medical conditions.
  • Injury. A traumatic event such as a car wreck or sports accident can produce lasting pain.
  • Fashion. Wearing clothes that are far more fashion than function, and that provide little support and even less comfort like high heels can be causes of chronic foot and ankle pain.

Contact the Premier Pain Doctors in Dallas

The items listed above are all possible triggers for your chronic pain, and depending upon where the pain is, perhaps we’ve answered a question or two for you. To have all your pain relief questions and concerns addressed, don’t hesitate to contact the pain relief doctors in Dallas at Texas Pain Relief Group today. We’re unparalleled in pain management and have the treatment and care you need.

Don’t live in pain if you don’t have to.

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Chronic Pain Treatment in Tampa

Recently Dr. Rodolfo Gari, a pain specialist in Tampa, FL, appeared on Studio 10 Live! in Tampa to discuss treatment options available to patients in chronic pain.

Dr. Gari has more than 20 years of experience treating chronic pain patients in Tampa.

At Florida Pain Relief Group he has the latest treatments and procedures available to him to treat any kind of chronic pain.

Watch the video here:

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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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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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