December 2016 - Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota

Spinal Cord Stimulator vs. Morphine Pump

Morphine Pump vs. Spinal Cord Stimulator for Back Pain

December 28, 2016/0 Comments/in Back Pain /by Matthew Thorson

As we have discussed many times on this blog, there are a wide variety of treatment options for patients who suffer from chronic pain. In this article, we are going to compare and contrast morphine pumps and spinal cord stimulators in terms of the pain management options they provide.

Spinal Cord Stimulator

A spinal cord stimulator is a small device that is surgically implanted into a patient’s body. This device sends electrical signals to the spine at regulated intervals to disrupt the pain signals sent from the spinal nerves to the brain. The idea behind spinal cord stimulation is to interrupt these pain signals in the spinal nerves before they are able to reach the brain. As a result, the patient does not feel the nerve-related pain because their brain has not received the signal to feel pain.

Spinal cord stimulators can be effective pain management solutions for patients with spinal nerve issues (bulging discs, pinched nerves, etc.).

Morphine Pump

A morphine pump is somewhat similar to a spinal cord stimulator in that it is a device that is surgically implanted into a person’s body. This device sends morphine into the spine in order to reduce back pain. The biggest difference between a stimulator and a morphine pain pump is the method of pain relief. A stimulator sends electrical signals to disrupt the transmission of pain signals to the brain, while a pain pump is delivering actual medication to the painful area. Both systems of pain relief can be effective for different conditions and injuries. One concern with the morphine pain pump is that you want to regulate the morphine in such a way so the patient doesn’t form an addiction. Spinal cord stimulators don’t have that concern.

Minneapolis Pain Management

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has been offering pain management solutions to Minnesota patients for the past two decades. Our board-certified pain doctors have experience treating acute and chronic pain condition, and are trained in the most innovative treatments and procedures, including regenerative medicine techniques (PRP therapy and Prolotherapy injections). If you are suffering from chronic pain and want to get back to living your life without the constant interference of pain, contact our Edina pain doctors today to set up your appointment.

3 Pain Relief Tips for Patients with Sciatica Pain

December 26, 2016/0 Comments/in Back Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Sciatica is a painful condition in which the sciatic nerve at the base of the spine gets pinched. The result is pain and sometimes loss of functionality in the back and legs. In this article, we are going to offer three pain relief tips for patients who are suffering from sciatica-related back and leg pain.

Be Proactive About Your Care

Many patients who suffer from sciatica pain try to treat the condition on their own. DIY home care can only get you so far. You may find some relief treating the condition on your own, but more likely you’ll waste a lot of time and suffer through a lot of pain that could be avoided by consulting with a doctor. The most important piece of advice we can give you is to be proactive about your pain care. Make an appointment with a pain doctor who specializes in treating sciatica, discuss your symptoms, and form a treatment strategy together.

Don’t Avoid Exercise

When you’re suffering from chronic sciatica pain, your first instinct is likely to rest. But sitting and lying down day in and day out typically makes spinal and nerve conditions worse. Don’t go run a marathon if you’re in pain, but get off the couch and do some mild exercise every day.

Consider Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative treatments like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy offer a great surgery alternative to patients with sciatica pain. A lot of patients are hesitant about regenerative PRP injections because they are a relatively new treatment, but PRP can be a very successful treatment strategy for sciatica patients.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN specializes in the treatment of acute and chronic pain conditions, including sciatica. Our team of board-certified pain doctors and nursing staff are well-versed in the most innovative treatment procedures, including regenerative medicine options such as PRP therapy. With over twenty years of experience, our Edina pain management physicians are fully equipped to help you diagnose and treat your pain. Contact our Twin Cities pain clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our physicians, and get back on the road to living a pain-free life!

Can I do Crossfit if I have Back Pain?

December 21, 2016/0 Comments/in Back Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Many people who suffer from chronic back pain want to know whether they should engage in certain physical activities. We’re going to talk about one such activity in this article – Crossfit. Is it a good idea to do Crossfit or some other intensive exercise program if you have back pain? That’s our topic for this article.

Crossfit, Exercise & Back Pain

Whether or not you can do Crossfit or the extent to which you can exercise depends heavily on the root cause of your back pain. Sometimes engaging in physical activity can decrease back pain. But other spinal conditions and injuries may be exacerbated by intense exercise.

If participating in Crossfit or some other physical activity makes your back pain even worse, you should stop. But that doesn’t mean you should hole up and avoid all physical activity! Some pain goes away on its own given time, while other types of chronic pain are long-lasting and require a proactive treatment approach.

Don’t Let Your Pain Stop You

Your pain shouldn’t stop you from doing the things you love to do. If your pain is preventing you from engaging in physical activities like Crossfit, it’s time to take steps to manage your pain. A skilled pain management physician can work with you to get to the bottom of what’s causing your pain, and develop a treatment plan that works with your particular needs.

Minneapolis Back Pain Relief

The board-certified pain management specialists at Advanced Spin & Pain Clinics of MN are experienced at treating all types of acute and chronic pain – whether from an injury or a pre-existing condition. Our Minnesota pain doctors have been providing pain management care for over two decades in the Twin Cities. We provide a wide variety of treatments to relieve pain – from prescription pain medication to regenerative medicine injections. Contact us today at our Edina pain clinic to set up your appointment with one of our doctors and get back on the road to a pain free life!

Managing & Treating Shingles Pain

December 19, 2016/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Shingles is a viral skin rash that can affect any person who has had the chickenpox in the past. The condition can be extremely painful, but there are good options for pain management. This article is all about shingles. We will dive into the causes and symptoms of the condition, as well as the various options for treatment and pain management.

Shingles – Causes & Symptoms

Shingles (also referred to as herpes zoster) is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox in children. Shingles symptoms start appearing when this virus flares up again in the body. Patients who have had the chickenpox in the past still have the virus in their body. The symptoms of chickenpox go away, but the virus simply goes dormant inside your body. As a result, anyone who has had chickenpox in the past has the potential of developing shingles later on in life.

The virus that causes shingles typically flares up due to weak immune systems, aging, disease, or stress. Here are some of the common symptoms of shingles:

A painful skin rash that appears in a strip on one side of the body.
Itching or tingling in the area of the rash
Headaches
Sensitivity to Light
Dizziness and Weakness

Treatment Options for Shingles

Shingles is caused by a viral infection, so antibiotics won’t help. As a result, treatment is focused on mitigating the symptoms of the condition while it runs its course. There are numerous over-the-counter and prescription pain medications that can help manage shingles-related pain. Various creams and salves can also help relieve pain.

Twin Cities Pain Management

The Twin Cities pain management doctors at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have over two decades of experience treating patients for chronic and acute pain conditions. If you are suffering from shingles-related pain, contact us today to discuss your options for pain relief. We will fully examine and diagnose your condition before putting together a treatment strategy that fits your unique needs. Contact our Edina pain management clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our Minnesota pain doctors.

Regenerative Medicine for Finger Pain

December 14, 2016/0 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

Finger pain disrupts even the most mundane everyday activities. Typing at your computer becomes an excruciating task when you suffer from pain. Driving, eating, and using your phone can seem like near impossible tasks. In this article, we are going to talk about some finger injuries and conditions that can be treated with regenerative medicine therapies.

Finger Injuries & Conditions

Finger pain can stem from acute injuries like a car accident, or other degenerative conditions like arthritis. Here are a few of the more common injuries and conditions that result in finger pain among patients:

Finger Sprains, Dislocations, & Fractures
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Trigger Finger
Autoimmune Disorders

No matter what caused your finger pain, it’s important to see a pain specialist for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible after you notice a problem.

Regenerative Medicine for Finger Pain

Treating pain in the fingers is highly dependent on the cause of the pain and the patient’s unique circumstances. Pain from a sprain will likely resolve on its own given enough rest and time. Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis will likely only get worse without treatment. Regenerative techniques like PRP and prolotherapy injections offer patients a natural, surgery-free method for controlling finger pain. These injections promote natural healing and tissue regrowth over time to reduce pain and boost functionality. Contact your doctor to see if you are a good candidate for regenerative medicine therapies.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has over twenty years of experience providing treatment to patients across the state of Minnesota. Our board certified pain management doctors are trained in the most innovative, cutting-edge treatment techniques – including regenerative therapies like PRP and prolotherapy. If you are experiencing pain of any sort in your fingers, regenerative treatment options may help you reduce your pain while avoiding surgery. Contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your consultation and learn how we can help.

4 Tips for Dealing with Pain During the Holidays

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

The holidays can be a stressful time for many people with travel and family drama. Add chronic pain on top of all that and the holidays become no fun at all. But you can’t just skip your family Christmas or Hanukkah celebration. For most people, that’s just not an option. Thankfully, there are ways to manage your pain during holiday gatherings. In this article, we are going to offer a few tips for dealing with chronic pain during the holiday season.

Pain Management Strategy

First thing’s first – if you haven’t already, make an appointment with a pain management doctor who can diagnose the source of your pain and craft a treatment strategy that fits your needs. Having a pain management plan in place before the holiday season will make things much more enjoyable.

Manage Pain While Travelling

Whether you’re flying or taking a road trip, traveling long distances with a chronic pain condition is never any fun. If you’re taking medications for your pain, make sure you have enough for your travels and make sure you take your meds as directed during your trip.

Watch What You Eat & Drink

Holiday stress drives a lot of people to eat and drink to excess. While these activities may make you feel better in the short term, they will likely only delay and exacerbate the problem. So keep an eye on what you’re eating and drinking, and don’t overdo anything.

Exercise

Regular exercise is a great way to naturally fight stress and pain, but many people put their exercise routine on the back-burner during the holiday season. Keep working out when you can.

The pain management physicians at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have over two decades of experience treating patients with chronic pain conditions. Our board-certified pain doctors have the knowledge and expertise to fully diagnose and treat the underlying condition that’s causing your pain. Don’t suffer through the holiday season in pain. Be proactive and get effective treatment for your pain. Contact us at our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment and find a pain relief strategy that works for you.

Pain Conditions that Primarily Impact Females

December 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

We’ve previously discussed how pain can impact people in differing ways. Taking that a step further, there are some types of pain that are more common in females than males. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the painful conditions that are more likely to impact women.

Migraine Headaches

If you’ve had a migraine headache before, you’ll never forget it. Migraines are recurring headaches that cause throbbing in the head, accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Women are roughly three times as likely to suffer from migraine headaches as men. Effective treatment of migraine headaches involves a prevention strategy coupled with a pain management plan when the headaches strike. We also provide IV infusion therapy for migraine relief.

Gallstones

Gallstones are deposits of digestive fluid that have hardened within the gallbladder. Some gallstones present with no symptoms at all, while others can be extremely painful. Gallstones are three to four times more prevalent in women compared to men. If you are experiencing pain from gallstones, surgical removal is typically necessary.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects the joints in the body. Two thirds of patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis are female. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but symptoms can be effectively managed with pain medication, injection therapy, and regenerative medicine techniques.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has over two decades of experience treating women and men for various pain conditions. Our board certified pain management doctors have the knowledge and expertise needed to treat your pain quickly and effectively. We are trained in the most innovative treatments including regenerative therapies like PRP and prolotherapy. If you are living through life in constant pain, don’t just accept your fate – get the pain care you deserve and find your way back to a pain-free life! Contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our Twin Cities pain relief doctors.

What to Do When You’re Feeling at a Loss with your Pain Care

December 5, 2016/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain, Pain /by Matthew Thorson

It’s easy to feel discouraged when you’re in pain. If you’re on a pain management plan and it doesn’t seem to be working, it can be downright depressing. In this article, we will offer a few tips and suggestions for action when you’re feeling at a loss with your pain care.

Talk to You’re Pain Management Doctor

If you’re at a loss with the pain care you are receiving, your first step should be to speak with your current pain management doctor. Communication between doctor and patient is essential. If you don’t communicate your frustrations with your physician, nothing is going to change. Make an appointment, explain your situation, and see if there’s another treatment approach that might work better for your situation.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get a Second (or Third) Opinion

If you take the above step and your doctor doesn’t make any changes to your pain treatment strategy, it’s time to get another opinion.

In medicine, it never hurts to get a second opinion. Doctors are not all-knowing – we’re human just like you. One physician may have a completely different approach to treating your pain than another physician. So even if you’re discouraged, don’t give up hope! Instead, take action and get another opinion about your pain management strategy.

Twin Cities Pain Management

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has over two decades of experience helping patients throughout Minnesota manage and control their pain. Whether you’re suffering from acute or chronic pain from an injury or a pre-existing condition, our pain management doctors have the skills and expertise to get you back on the road to recovery. If you’re unsatisfied with your current pain care, contact us today at our Edina pain management clinic to set up your appointment with one of our Twin Cities pain specialists.