Questions and Answers - Recent questions and answers in Pain Management

How much surgery will you get to treat ovarian cancer?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:39:41 +0000

Answered: How can stress lead to a headache with neck pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:19:26 +0000

Stress can lead to a tension headache. If you're tense, muscles in your neck, scalp, shoulders, and jaw can tighten up. Depression or anxiety can also cause the same symptoms.

Answered: How can poor posture lead to a headache with neck pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:19:00 +0000

Poor posture strains your muscles and tendons. That can lead to a headache with neck pain. Things that could help include:

A body-friendly (ergonomic) workspace
A visit to a chiropractor or other health professional
Biofeedback
Massage therapy

Answered: Does osteoarthritis limit your range of motion?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:15:19 +0000

You may hear your doctor say you have less "range of motion," which means you can't move as much or as easily as before, especially right after resting.

Answered: How can osteoarthritis cause pain in your knees and hips?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:14:40 +0000

Osteoarthritis often attacks your knees and hips, along with your hands and spine. Your shoulder, elbow, wrist, and ankle can also get arthritis, but this is less common.

Answered: Does TENS help with treating fibromyalgia?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:14:10 +0000

TENS can be effective as a short-term treatment for fibromyalgia pain.

Answered: How can magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) help in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:13:43 +0000

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show damage in your cartilage, tendons, and other parts of the joint.

Answered: Does TENS help if you have facial nerve pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:12:14 +0000

TENS appears to be effective against a kind of facial nerve pain. It may also make activities like chewing, talking, and sleeping more comfortable for people with this condition.

Answered: Can osteoarthritis make your joints lock up?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:10:53 +0000

Locking up. Your joints, especially hips or knees, lock up or buckle under you. You may also lose your balance at times and feel weak in your muscles.

Answered: What should I know about chiropractic care for back pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 08:09:24 +0000

Among people seeking back pain relief alternatives, most choose chiropractic treatment. About 22 million Americans visit chiropractors annually. Of these, 7.7 million, or 35%, are seeking relief from back pain from various causes, including accidents, sports injuries, and muscle strains. Other complaints include pain in the neck, arms, and legs, as well as headaches.

Answered: What causes neuropathic pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:52:20 +0000

Neuropathic pain often seems to have no obvious cause, but some common causes of neuropathic pain include:

Alcoholism
Amputation
Chemotherapy
Diabetes
Facial nerve problems
HIV infection or AIDS
Multiple myeloma
Multiple sclerosis
Nerve or spinal cord compression from herniated discs or from arthritis in the spine
Shingles
Spine surgery
Syphilis
Thyroid problems

Answered: What are the side effects of taking opioid (narcotic) pain medications?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:49:17 +0000

One of the reasons why your doctor needs to manage pain medications so closely is that they can potentially cause side effects, such as:

Constipation
Drowsiness
Nausea and vomiting

Answered: How can lupus lead to elbow pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:48:33 +0000

This is an illness where your immune system attacks healthy parts of your body, including your joints and organs. It more commonly affects your hands and feet, but it can cause problems in your elbow.

Answered: What are anticonvulsants?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:48:00 +0000

Anticonvulsants are drugs typically used to treat seizure disorders. Some of these medications are shown to be effective in treating pain as well. The exact way in which these medicines control pain is unclear but it is thought that they minimize the effects of nerves that cause pain. Some examples include carbamazepine, gabapentin, and pregabalin.

Answered: What happens after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) ?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:46:32 +0000

After radiofrequency ablation, you'll stay in a recovery room for observation, and a nurse will check your blood pressure and pulse. You'll get a bandage over the injection site. The nurse will give you something to drink and review your discharge instructions with you. You'll need someone to drive you home.

Answered: What are the symptoms of hand arthritis?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:45:22 +0000

Arthritis is a leading source of hand pain. It causes joints to lose the cartilage that allows them to move smoothly against each other. As the cartilage deteriorates, painful, sometimes debilitating, swelling begins to occur.

In the hand, the areas where this most often occurs are the:

Base of the thumb
Middle joint of one or more fingers
End joint, which is closest to the finger tip

Answered: What are the benefits of chiropractic care for back pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:44:56 +0000

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care is generally considered a safe, effective treatment for acute low back pain, the type of sudden injury that results from moving furniture or getting tackled. Acute back pain, which is more common than chronic pain, lasts no more than six weeks and typically gets better on its own.

Answered: What are the side effects of using prescription corticosteroids for pain relief?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:44:25 +0000

Prescription corticosteroids are strong medicines and may have serious side effects, including:

To minimize these potential side effects, corticosteroids are prescribed in the lowest dose possible for as short of a length of time as needed to relieve the pain.

Weight gain and salt retention
Peptic ulcer disease
Mood changes
Trouble sleeping
Weakened immune system
Thinning of the bones and skin
High sugar levels

Answered: Which conditions does bioelectric therapy treat?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:43:46 +0000

Bioelectric therapy can be used to treat chronic and acute pain conditions including:

Complex regional pain syndrome, also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD
Back pain
Muscle pain
Headaches and migraines
Blood flow problems in youe arms and legs
Arthritis
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome
Nervous system conditions, like diabetic neuropathy
Pain and ulcers of the skin

Answered: What is visualization to help manage chronic pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:43:24 +0000

Visualization, also known as guided visualization, may be another worthwhile pain-controlling technique. Try this: Close your eyes and try to call up a visual image of the pain, giving it shape, color, size, motion. Now try slowly changing this image, replacing it with a calmer, more pleasing, and smaller image.

Answered: How often should I get bioelectric therapy?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:40:53 +0000

It depends on your condition and how you respond to treatment. One bioelectric therapy session doesn't usually ease your pain. Therapy usually begins with about five sessions in one week, followed by three treatments per week. Normally, you'll have 16 to 20 treatments.

Answered: Can herbal remedies help with treating chronic pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:39:40 +0000

It has been difficult to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of some herbal remedies. Others, such as white willow bark, devil’s claw, ginger, and turmeric have some evidence to support their use to treat pain. If you decide to use herbs to better manage your pain, talk to your doctor first. Some herbs may interact with other medications you take and may harm your health.

Answered: What is trigger point injection (TPI)?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:38:14 +0000

TPI is a procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax. Many times, such knots can be felt under the skin. Trigger points may irritate the nerves around them and cause pain in another part of the body.

Answered: How do doctors find the cause of pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:36:48 +0000

If you have pain, your doctor has many ways to find out what’s causing it. She will ask about your symptoms and your medical history, including any illness, injury, or surgery.

Your doctor will also examine you and may order blood tests or X-rays.

Answered: What's an aneurysm?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:34:19 +0000

It's an abnormal bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. One can form in any blood vessel, but aneurysms happen most often in the aorta, which is the main blood vessel leaving the heart.

Answered: What is TENS?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:33:05 +0000

A TENS machine is small -- about the size of an iPad mini. It’s connected to a series of electrodes, which are put on your skin to deliver a low-voltage electrical charge. The electrical pulses stimulate nerve fibers in the area where you have pain and reduce the pain signals to your brain. The electrical charge may also cause your body to release natural hormones that decrease your pain levels.

You can get TENS treatments from a machine you use at home or from a device at your doctor's or physical therapist's office.

Answered: How is a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) different from a medical doctor (MD)?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:29:14 +0000

DOs will likely check on your whole body, not just symptoms -- a “holistic” approach. Some MDs also use this approach.

Osteopathic doctors get extra training in the musculoskeletal system (your muscles, bones, and joints). This helps them understand how illness or injury can affect other parts of the body.

DOs also learn something MDs don’t: osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Using gentle pressure, stretching, and resistance, they can restore range of motion and encourage good health.

Answered: How can surgery treat shoulder or elbow bursitis?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:28:07 +0000

You can have surgery for bursitis if other treatments don’t work. Your doctor might suggest:

Elbow surgery: If your elbow bursa is infected and antibiotics don’t help, your doctor can remove it. You’ll wear a splint afterward, and you’ll get stretches to do as you recover.
Shoulder surgery: A type of surgery that requires only small cuts can remove your inflamed shoulder bursa. You’ll wear a shoulder sling afterward, and you’ll get exercises to stretch and strengthen your shoulder and arm.

Answered: How long will it take for corticosteroids to help knee pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:27:28 +0000

It can take about 2 to 3 days before you feel the effect. Most people can return to work or go home right after they get the shot.

Some people get what's called the "steroid flare," a burst of pain in the injection area for up to 48 hours.

Answered: How can bone scans help find the cause of pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:26:34 +0000

Bone scans help diagnose and track infection, fracture, or other bone disorders. A doctor injects a small amount of radioactive material into your bloodstream. The material will collect in the bones, particularly in areas that aren't normal. A computer then can identify those specific areas.

Answered: What does chest pain tied to coronary artery disease feel like?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:25:19 +0000

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a blockage in the heart blood vessels that slows blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle itself. This can cause pain known as angina. The chest pain may spread to your arm, shoulder, jaw, or back. It may feel like a pressure or squeezing sensation.

Angina can be triggered by exercise, excitement, or emotional distress, but rest can relieve it.

Answered: What does your pain management plan depend on?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:16:48 +0000

Each person and their pain are unique. The best way to manage your case could be very different from what works for someone else. Your treatment will depend upon things such as:

The cause
How intense it is
How long it’s lasted
What makes it worse or better

Answered: How can TENS help with treating diabetes nerve damage?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:16:05 +0000

Studies show that TENS can help relieve pain from diabetic nerve damage, most commonly in the hands and feet.

Answered: Can complementary treatments help you manage pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:15:10 +0000

You can talk to your doctor if you're considering ones like acupuncture, biofeedback, and spinal manipulation. In acupuncture, a trained practitioner briefly inserts very thin needles in certain places on your skin to tap into your “chi,” which is an inner energy noted in traditional Chinese medicine. It doesn’t hurt.

Answered: How will I know if I need surgery for pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:12:14 +0000

It depends on why you're in pain. If you’ve had a sudden injury or accident, you might need surgery right away.

But if you have chronic pain, you may or may not need an operation or another procedure.

Talk with your doctor about what results you can expect and any side effects, so you can weigh the risks and the benefits. Also ask how many times the doctor has done the procedure they recommend and what their patients have said about how much relief they’ve gotten.

Answered: What does the chest pain of myocarditis feel like?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:07:38 +0000

It's similar to that of a heart attack. You'll have severe, crushing pain usually in the center or left side of the chest.

Answered: How can esophageal hypersensitivity cause chest pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:06:45 +0000

Esophageal hypersensitivity is when the esophagus becomes very painful at the smallest change in pressure or exposure to acid. The cause of this sensitivity is unknown.

Because the heart and esophagus share a nerve network, this could cause chest pain.

Answered: What does the chest pain of pericarditis feel like?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:04:41 +0000

It can cause pain similar to that caused by angina. However, it often causes a sharp, steady pain along the upper neck and shoulder muscle. Sometimes it gets worse when you breathe, swallow food, or lie on your back.

Answered: What does the treatment for arthritis include?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:01:40 +0000

Treatment depends on the severity of the pain and disability. Treatment includes:

If these treatments do not provide relief, your doctor may reccommend surgery.

Anti-inflammatory or analgesic painkillers
Splints for the fingers or wrist
Heat
Physical therapy

Answered: Who is most likely to get trigger finger?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:59:38 +0000

Doctors don’t know what causes trigger finger. You’re more likely to get it if you have:

Women get the condition more often than men do. Trigger finger is more common in adults between ages 40 and 60.

Rheumatoid arthritis
Gout
Diabetes

Answered: What should you do if you want to change your opioid (narcotic) pain medications?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:58:31 +0000

Never change or stop taking any opioid medicine without first checking with your doctor. If a pain medication isn't working as well as it should, your doctor may switch you to a different dose -- or try another drug. When you're ready to stop taking opioids, your doctor may help wean you off them slowly, if you have taken them for an extended period of time, to give your body time to adjust. Otherwise, you may have withdrawal symptoms.

What causes chest pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:40:50 +0000

Answered: What are the side effects of using opioids for pain relief?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:40:04 +0000

Side effects of opioids may include:

Drowsiness
Nausea
Constipation
Itching
Breathing problems
Addiction

Answered: What are risks with chiropractic care for back pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:38:32 +0000

All treatment is based on an accurate diagnosis of your back pain. The chiropractor should be well informed regarding your medical history, including ongoing medical conditions, current medications, surgical history, and lifestyle factors. Although they're rare, there have been cases in which treatment worsened a herniated or slipped disc, or neck manipulation resulted in a spinal cord injury. To be safe, always check with your medical doctor to make sure your condition will benefit from chiropractic or other pain relief alternatives.

Answered: What causes nerve pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:11:28 +0000

Nerve pain is caused by damage to the nerve. Some health conditions, drugs, and toxins that can cause it include:

Diabetes
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Celiac disease
Trauma
Amyloidosis
Fabry's disease
Medications, including B6 (pyridoxine), isoniazid, HIV drugs, or chemotherapy
Toxins, such as heavy alcohol use
Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus and vasculitis
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Some cancers, such as lymphoma or myeloma
Lyme disease

Answered: Is the placebo effect real?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:10:50 +0000

The placebo effect may be caused by a person's expectations, but that doesn't mean it's imaginary or fake. Studies have shown that the placebo effect can cause actual physical changes in some cases.

Answered: Why does my hip hurt?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:09:09 +0000

Despite its durability, the hip joint isn't indestructible. With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Muscles and tendons in the hip can get overused. Bones in the hip can break during a fall or other injury. Any of these conditions can lead to hip pain.

Answered: How can stress fractures lead to elbow pain?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:08:25 +0000

With a stress fracture, you have a small crack in one of your arm bones, usually from overuse.

Answered: Can pinched nerves lead to other things?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:07:42 +0000

It can lead to conditions such as:

�Peripheral neuropathy

�Carpal tunnel syndrome

�Tennis elbow

If nerve compression lasts a long time, a protective barrier around the nerve may break down. Fluid may build up, which may cause:

�Swelling

�Extra pressure

�Scarring

The scarring may interfere with the nerve's function.

Answered: What is tendinitis?

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 06:07:08 +0000

Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of the tendons. It's usually caused by repetitive stress from overuse.