September 2016 - Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota

How to Change Pain Doctors Without Appearing to be Doctor Shopping

September 28, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

In a previous article we discussed the importance of having a trustworthy pain management doctor, and how to change physicians if necessary. However, when you’re thinking of changing physicians, you have to be careful about appearing to be doctor shopping. In this article, we will talk a little bit about doctor shopping, and how to find the right physician for your situation.

What is Doctor Shopping?

Doctor shopping is the process of visiting multiple physicians in the hopes of attaining second opinions or numerous prescriptions. There are two sides to doctor shopping – one bad and one good. Let’s start with the bad.

First off, visiting numerous doctors to get multiple prescriptions filled is a terrible practice. It is a waste of the physician’s time, and also illegal. That being said, doctor shopping is not entirely bad. It can be very useful in gaining second opinions and if your ultimate aim is simply to find a physician you trust.

Visiting a pain doctor is an important decision, and doing your research before deciding on a physician is instrumental in finding the right provider. As long as you’re not intentionally wasting the physician’s time, or trying to obtain multiple prescriptions, doctor shopping is a useful method for finding a physician to treat your condition or injury. Researching doctors online, asking other providers about specific doctors, and even scheduling appointments to see if you mesh well with a provider are all totally fine practices.

Minnesota Pain Management Clinic

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has been treating Minnesotans for pain conditions and injuries for over two decades. Our providers specialize in treating acute and chronic pain resulting from a variety of conditions and injuries. Feel free to check out our provider bios, or drop us a line to see if our clinic is a good fit for you. Contact us today at our Edina clinic and set up your appointment with one of our skilled, experienced Minnesota pain doctors. We treat patients throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs.

How to Remain Active When you suffer from Chronic Pain

September 26, 2016/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

When you’re in constant or off-and-on pain throughout the day, it can be difficult to find the motivation to do anything. Many chronic pain sufferers find themselves stuck in bed, or on the couch wallowing in their pain. But getting up and being active can have a huge impact on decreasing your pain levels. In this article, we are going to discuss the importance of remaining active despite your pain, and also offer some tips for doing just that.

Why it’s Important to Stay Active

Chronic pain patients who plant themselves on the couch day in and day out often find themselves in a self-perpetuating cycle. They don’t want to do anything because of their pain, and their pain is exacerbated by sitting around and doing nothing. Being active, even for short periods each day gets the blood flowing and improves both your physical and mental well-being. Here are some physical activities you can do to remain active and do your best to beat back your chronic pain:

Go for a walk around your neighborhood
Take a trip to the grocery store
Go for a job, or visit the gym for some exercise
Take your dog for a walk
Ride a bike
Clean your house

Suffering from a chronic pain condition can make it difficult to do an intensive workout routine, but even mild exercise and activities like those listed above can have a profound impact on your chronic pain and mental state.

Chronic Pain Management in Edina

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has over two decades of experience treating chronic pain patients in the state of Minnesota. Our primary clinic is located in Edina, but we treat patients in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding Twin Cities suburbs. If you are a chronic pain sufferer, there are treatment options for keeping your pain at bay so you can live your life. From pain medication, to injection therapy, to regenerative medicine techniques – there are always pain relief avenues to explore. Contact a Minnesota pain doctor at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics today and get on the road to living a pain free life!

Why you Shouldn’t Start Pain Management before Seeing a Specialist

September 21, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

These days many people who are in pain try to diagnose their issue and treat themselves without visiting a doctor. The internet makes it especially easy to read about pain conditions, injuries, and treatment options. But self-directed diagnosis and treatment can be dangerous, time-consuming, and ultimately fruitless. In this article, we are going to talk about why it’s always a good idea to see a physician who specializes in pain management before you begin a pain relief plan.

Shooting in the Dark

Starting a pain management plan without first seeing a pain management specialist is like shooting in the dark. You may get lucky enough to hit something and find a treatment option that actually reduces your pain, but even if you do, you will likely waste a lot of time and energy before getting there.

You need someone to guide you in your search for pain relief tactics that work. Pain management is not a one-size-fits-all sort of thing. Pain is subjective and each patient experiences it in different ways. As a result, it’s incredibly difficult for patients to self-diagnose the underlying issue that’s causing the pain. Rather, it takes a skilled and seasoned pain management doctor to evaluate the patient’s condition, situation, and medical history. This holistic approach allows the physician to figure out a diagnosis, determine what’s at the root of the pain, and recommend steps for treatment.

Minneapolis Pain Management Specialists

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics physicians have been treating Minnesota patients for acute and chronic pain conditions for the last two decades. We work hand-in-hand with patients and referring providers to make sure that each and every patient gets the specialized care they need. Contact us today if you are struggling through life in pain. Our primary clinic is located in Edina, but we serve the entire Twin Cities Metro area, as well as greater Minnesota. Drop us a line today to set up your appointment with one of our Minnesota pain specialists and get on the road to a pain free existence!

Tips for Describing your Pain

September 19, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Every single person experiences pain in their own way, which makes it difficult to objectively identify and diagnose the pain and underlying issue(s). However, there are some categories of pain that are common across many patients. In this article, we are going to offer a few tips for better describing the specifics of your pain to your doctor so they can quickly diagnose and treat the underlying cause. We will also talk about some specific types of pain, what the feel like, and what could potentially be causing each type.

Sharp Pain

Also referred to as “shooting pain,” sharp pain feels like a jabbing knife. This type of pain often occurs suddenly, and can be triggered by certain movements like twisting, or exercising. Sharp pain can be caused by many things, such as: nerve impingements, muscle strains, and acute injuries.

Burning Pain

With burning pain, the patient feels like the area of pain is hot or on fire. Burning pain is often the result of a nerve issue in the spine, or peripheral nervous system.

Dull or Throbbing Pain

Pain that is dull or throbbing in nature is quite common among chronic pain patients. This type of pain can be caused by arthritic conditions, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and other related injuries.

If you are having trouble describing or pinpointing your pain, the best thing you can do is set up an appointment with a skilled pain management physician. Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN consists of some of the best pain doctors in the state of Minnesota. Our physicians have over two decades of experience treating acute and chronic pain patients. Our main clinic is located in Edina, but we treat patients throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. Contact us today to set up your appointment!

Why Do I Not Hurt Sometimes?

September 14, 2016/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Determining a diagnosis for what’s causing your pain is the first and most important step on the treatment ladder. But figuring out why you don’t hurt sometimes can also be instrumental in diagnosing and treating your pain. In this article, we are going to explain why chronic pain may go away for periods of time, only to come back.

Chronic Pain

As the name implies, chronic pain is pain that recurs over time, as opposed to acute pain that goes away after treatment. Think of it this way – when you sprain your ankle on a run, at first it’s quite painful. But after resting the ankle, icing it, and giving it enough time to heal, the pain dissipates and stays gone. Chronic pain does not act the same way. Rather than resolving permanently with treatment, chronic pain comes back time and time again.

However, many people who have never experienced chronic pain before assume that chronic pain sufferers are constantly in pain, 24/7, all day, every day. This is not always true. Many chronic pain patients have good days and bad days. Their pain may go away for days or weeks at a time before coming back. Examining these unpainful periods can help diagnose and treat chronic pain.

Examining Unpainful Time Periods

Bouts of chronic pain are often triggered or intensified by specific things. When your pain goes away, pay close attention and try to determine whether or not you have such a trigger. For example, your pain may be brought on by:

Food
Allergies (pets, seasonal, etc.)
Changes in the weather
Medications you’re taking
Physical activity (or lack thereof)
And more

Over time, try your best to track any of these potential triggers to see if they correlate to periods of pain. This information can be instrumental in figuring out the best treatment plan for your condition.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has been helping Minnesotans in the Twin Cities for the past two decades. Our Edina pain doctors work hand-in-hand with patients and other medical professionals to ensure that each patient gets the best possible care. If you are experiencing pain from an injury or condition and nothing has worked to reduce your pain, contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment. One of our pain management physicians will work with you to find out what’s causing your pain, and get you on a treatment plan that works.

What’s Weather Got to Do with Pain?

September 12, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Pain is a strange and subjective thing. Every person’s experience with pain is different – which means treating pain has to be specifically tailored to the patient in question. Some patients experience pain related to changes in the weather. Many people consider weather-related pain to be an old myth, but there is, in fact, some truth to it. In this article, we are going to discuss the ways in which weather can impact your pain.

Weather Changes & Pain

Most weather-related pain starts in the joints (though some patients also experience migraines based on weather changes). Changes in barometric pressure in the atmosphere – such as that which precedes a storm – can trigger joint pain. If you’ve ever had an older relative claim that they can feel a storm coming because their knee starts to hurt – they’re not necessarily crazy, this is what they’re talking about. Here are some of the conditions and injuries that can be triggered or made worse by changes in the weather:

Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Tennis & Golf Elbow

Managing Weather Related Pain

There are many pain management treatment options for arthritic conditions, including: pain drugs, injection therapy, physical therapy, and regenerative medicine. The best treatment plan for you depends on your specific pain and other factors. When you visit your doctor be sure to tell them if you experience pain changes that correspond to the weather.

The Twin Cities pain management specialists at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have been helping Minnesota patients keep their pain under control for over two decades. If you have a pain condition that fluctuates with the weather, there are ways to control your pain. The most important thing to do is find a pain doctor who can work with you to strategize a treatment plan that works. Contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment and get back to living a life free from pain.

Back Pain Management During Pregnancy

September 8, 2016/0 Comments/in Back Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Any woman who has gone through a pregnancy can tell you that back pain is a regular occurrence before, during, and sometimes after labor. Certain forms of back pain during pregnancy are completely normal, while others can be cause for concern. We’ll sort through those two categories and talk about the various treatment options available to pregnant women with back pain.

Back Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnant women can experience various types of pain throughout their term. Back pain is no exception. Pregnant mothers with pre-existing spinal conditions such as scoliosis, or herniated discs may find an increase in their back pain during pregnancy. Later in the pregnancy, women may experience low back issues as the direct result of the extra weight of the child. Most of the time, these back pain issues can be controlled with conservative methods like certain pain medications, exercises, and potentially injections. It’s important to communicate openly and often with your OB/GYN about how you are feeling throughout the pregnancy so you can both address any pain that crops up.

When Spine Surgery is Needed

In general, it’s a good idea for pregnant women to avoid spinal surgery if they can. There is an added level of risk that comes with operating on a pregnant patient, and you want to avoid that risk if possible. So if you have a spinal issue that is causing you pain, wait until after the birth if you can. There are rare cases in which a pregnant woman may need to have spine surgery – for example, if any spinal nerves are in danger of being permanently damaged. In these situations it’s best to have the most minimally invasive surgical procedure possible. That being said, these cases are exceedingly rare, and most pregnancy back pain can be treated via conservative methods.

The most important thing to do is have a skilled pain management doctor who can diagnose your pain and plot out a treatment course for you. Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN consists of some of the best pain doctors in Minnesota. Our physicians have been treating pain patients for over twenty years. Make an appointment with our pain management team at our Edina pain clinic today.

Skin Pain Causes & Treatment Options

September 6, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Skin pain can be very difficult to nail down because its potential causes are numerous. Your skin pain could be caused by a mild bruise, or a complex chronic condition like fibromyalgia, both of which have extremely different treatment approaches. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the various causes of skin pain, the available treatment options for each, and the role of a pain management doctor in treating skin pain.

Causes of Skin Pain

Skin pain is a generalized symptom that can be caused by a wide variety of injuries and underlying conditions. Here are some of the conditions that can cause skin pain:

Fibromyalgia
Peripheral Neuropathy or other nerve-related issues
Burns or sunburns
Bruises, cuts, scrapes, etc.

Some of these conditions are mild and don’t require immediate medical attention, such as light sunburns. However, you should always seek help if you have sustained a deep burn, cut, or if you are experiencing nerve-related symptoms like sudden numbness or loss of feeling.

Treating Skin Pain

Treating skin pain really depends on the underlying cause. Most cuts and scrapes can be treated easily at home with conservative means. Sunburns and mild heat burns can typically be resolved with time and various salves. More serious conditions like fibromyalgia and neuropathic conditions require a much more strategic approach, often utilizing multiple treatment methods tailored specifically to the patient. It’s in these more complex situations when a skilled pain management doctor can be instrumental in crafting an effective treatment plan.

Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists of MN is comprised of expert pain management physicians. Our team of Minnesota pain doctors has been treating patients for various pain conditions and injuries for the past two decades. We work hand-in-hand with our patients to understand their pain and develop a treatment plan that works. Our primary clinic is located in Edina, but we serve the entire Twin Cities metro area. Contact us today to set up your own appointment with one of our Twin Cities pain physicians and get on the road to a pain-free life.