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

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Strengthening the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Five easy steps to create a strong doctor-patient bond in the initial visit.

The relationship between doctor and patient continues to be the keystone in quality medical care. When a trusting healthy relationship is fostered initially, it is more readily maintained and set up for further growth. Quality relationships lead to an accurate description of symptoms, full medical history disclosure, and ultimately a more holistic view of the patient.

  1. Obtain Patient Consent

Obtain patient consent at every possible opportunity and work to maintain this mutual respect in which the patient feels autonomy over their own body. Frame things in a question as opposed to predetermined steps.

The simple act of asking permission rather than telling the patient what you are going to do immediately puts them at ease and makes them feel like a valued stakeholder in their own health.

2. Poker Face

Check your personal opinions at the door. While you may encounter patients that engage in unsafe or otherwise alarming behaviors it is not your job to pass judgment. Remain outwardly neutral as you explain the risks of a given activity and always appeal logically as opposed to emotionally. The moment you show your emotions on your face your patient will feel defensive and the trust that has been built in this short time will have already been broken.

3. Eye Contact

This one is easy! Keep your eyes on the patient as frequently as possible. If you are not engaged with your patient they will not engage with you. Eye contact is another way to help the patient feel valued and it reflects good listening skills when you are focused on your patient as they speak.

4. Assume Ability

Remember by now you know to check your judgments at the door so don’t stop at physical and mental ability. If you have a patient who appears to be differently abled, elderly, or young do not gloss over important questions you assume don’t apply to that patient. Your patient will notice, and the trust you have otherwise established will be damaged.

5. Simplify your Words

You have heard this one before; don’t spew medical jargon! While that is an important lesson let’s take it one step further and challenge you to be concise. If you lecture or over explain to your patient they will tune you out. Remember this is not your appointment this is about the patient. Making them feel important in their personal health will also motivate them to make healthy choices and continue to seek your input as well.

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Tampa Sciatica Pain Clinic

Got sciatica pain and nowhere to go?

Well, now you do. Physician Partners of America has pain clinics in Tampa to make sure sciatica pain relief is always just moments away.

Let’s talk a little bit about sciatica real quick.

The sciatic nerve runs from your lower back (lumbar region), down through your hips and buttocks and down each leg branching out into the feet. Half of your body can feel pain when this nerve suffers compression at any point.

This compression, or pressure on the nerves, is usually due to either: bone spurs, abnormal growths (cysts or tumors), herniated/slipped discs, or a disorder called spinal stenosis where the spinal canal is narrowed.

Symptoms of sciatica may be shooting pains down one leg, tingling sensations or numbness.

Tampa Sciatica Pain Relief Treatments

Treating your sciatica pain at our Tampa clinics can be done through minimally invasive surgeries or procedures using medication, or through non-pharmacological therapies where a more natural approach is taken. Our clinics offer a well-rounded, complete pain management environment where a variety of pain relief treatments can be utilized to get you better faster.

Depending upon the underlying cause for your sciatica pain, our doctors will discuss the best treatment options for you.

Selection of Sciatica Treatments

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection – Epidural steroid injections deliver medication directly (or as close as possible to) the source of pain generation.

Lumbar Sympathetic Block – A lumbar sympathetic block is an injection in the lower back that targets the lumbar sympathetic nerves, a series of nerves that carry pain signals from the lower extremities.

Nerve Block – A nerve block is an anesthetic or anti-inflammatory injection into a particular nerve or group of nerves for pain relief. The aim is to block pain signal(s) coming from a specific location in the body and/or decrease inflammation in that area.

Non-Pharmacological – A more organic and natural approach to healing with non-drug treatments, we offer such therapies as acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, physical therapy, massage, guided symbolism, pet therapy and more. Used in conjunction with our other methods, these procedures do very well to keep pain managed over time.

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