January 2017 - Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota

PRP Therapy for Contouring

January 30, 2017/0 Comments/in Regenerative Medicine /by Matthew Thorson

In previous articles, we have talked extensively about PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy and how it can be a beneficial treatment strategy for numerous injuries and degenerative conditions. But PRP can also be used for body contouring purposes. That’s what we’re going to dive into with this article – how PRP injections can be used for contouring.

How Does PRP Work?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine technique that uses the patient’s own blood plasma to encourage natural regrowth and regeneration. The treatment works by first drawing a small portion of the patient’s blood, then running it through a centrifuge to separate out the platelet-rich plasma. Then the PRP solution is injected back into the patient’s body. This plasma immediately goes to work repairing the body’s damaged tissues.

Contouring with PRP

First of all, what does contouring mean? Body contouring is the process of reshaping and regenerating certain areas of the body. Plastic surgery is perhaps the most famous example of body contouring. However, PRP injections offer a contouring method that is completely natural, pain-free, and much less invasive than plastic surgery procedures. Using the same tissue regenerating methods, PRP can be a fantastic method for contouring specific areas of the body, including:

The Face
Breasts
Hair
Genitalia

Regenerative procedures like the Vampire Facial, the PRP Breastlift, and the P-shot offer excellent alternatives to plastic surgery for patients looking for body contouring help.

Twin Cities PRP Contouring

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN provides PRP and regenerative medicine treatments to patients throughout the Twin Cities. Our pain management doctors are board-certified and trained in the most innovative regenerative medicine methods, including platelet-rich plasma injections. Whether you’ve sustained an injury or you’re interested in PRP injections for contouring, platelet-rich plasma is a pain-free and natural option. Contact our Edina PRP clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our physicians.

Pain Flare-ups – How Long They Last & How to Treat Them

January 25, 2017/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Pain flare ups (or breakthrough pain) are increases in already existing pain that impact a person’s daily life and activities. Pain flares can be absolutely debilitating, but there are methods for treatment. In this article, we are going to discuss pain flare ups – how long they last, and how to identify & treat them when they occur.

What is a Pain Flare-up?

A pain flare-up is a dramatic increase in a person’s level of pain that occurs suddenly. Pain flares (also known as breakthrough pain) aren’t new pain, but an increase of an already existing pain. Flare-ups are highly subjective – some patients experience flares that last for a few minute or hours, while others can have flares that last for days or weeks at a time.

Pain flares are common in patients who suffer from chronic pain conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and CRPS. These patients generally have bouts of time where their pain is diminished, only to have the pain flare up again out of nowhere.

So what causes a pain flare-up? Many flares are tied directly to certain chronic pain conditions. Sometimes these flares can be triggered by stress, or injury. Other times it can be set off by everyday activities like exercise, or work.

Treating Pain Flare-ups

Treating pain flare-ups requires, first and foremost, an accurate diagnosis of what’s causing the pain. Once you know what’s causing your pain, you can begin to strategize how to treat it using pain medications, injections, regenerative medicine, or other modalities. Ultimately, pain flare-ups are extremely patient-specific and should be treated as such.

Minneapolis Pain Management Clinic

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has been providing pain management care to the Twin Cities for the past two decades. Our board-certified pain doctors are equipped to treat all types of pain, and are trained in the most innovative treatment modalities – including PRP and other regenerative medicine strategies. Whether you’ve just started experiencing pain flare-ups, or you’re dealing with a chronic pain condition, our pain management doctors have the expertise needed to devise a treatment plan that works. Contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment and get started with one of our skilled Minnesota pain physicians.

4 Pain Relief Tips for People with Knee Pain

January 23, 2017/0 Comments/in Knee Injury /by Matthew Thorson

Knee pain can be a tricky symptom to treat because it can be caused by so many different factors. Understanding its causes and available treatment options is essential to successful treatment. To help patients suffering from knee pain better understand how to approach their pain, this article offers up four tips for effectively identifying and treating your knee pain.

Get an Accurate Diagnosis

The most important first step is to get an accurate diagnosis of what’s causing your knee pain. Treating a torn ACL is a lot different than treating Osteoarthritis of the knee. You need to have an accurate picture of what’s wrong before you start down a treatment path.

Second Opinions Are OK

If you are unsatisfied with your initial diagnosis or recommended treatment strategy, don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion. Medicine is not black and white, and different doctors have different approaches. Some work better than others.

Stick to Your Treatment Plan

Once you’ve visited a pain management doctor and you have a treatment plan in place, it’s essential that you stick to it, even if it doesn’t provide immediate pain relief. Many patients get frustrated when their treatment doesn’t work right away and stop their treatment plan. This is the worst thing you can do. Stick with your doctor-recommended strategy, and then revisit its success after you’ve completed the treatment course. At that point you can make changes to the treatment strategy if need be.

Consider a Regenerative Medicine Approach

A lot of patients are hesitant to even try regenerative medicine treatments like PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and prolotherapy injections. But these methods have been widely used for a long time now. Many professional athletes use PRP to recover from sports injuries. Best of all they are completely natural and provide a relatively painless alternative to surgery. So keep an open mind and ask your doctor if regenerative medicine is a good option for your situation.

Minneapolis Knee Pain Doctor

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN offers premier pain management care to patients throughout the Twin Cities. Our physicians are board-certified in pain management, and trained in the most up to date treatment methods – from nerve block injections to regenerative medicine. We treat each patient according to their unique, individual needs. Reach out to us today at our Twin Cities pain clinic to make your appointment with one of our board-certified pain doctors.

Chronic Pain’s Impact on Marriage

January 18, 2017/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Chronic pain can strongly impact an otherwise healthy long-term relationship. In this article, we are going to discuss the ways in which chronic pain can impact a marriage and offer a few tips for not letting pain get in the way of your relationship.

The Impact of Chronic Pain on a Long-Term Relationship

Anyone who has been married (or been in a long-term relationship of any kind) will tell you that it’s not always a walk in the park. There are good days and bad days, and you have to work together to get through them and make the relationship work. This can be difficult for any couple, but when one or both parties are also dealing with chronic pain, it can seem impossible.

Don’t Let Pain Control Your Relationship

Here are some tips for not letting chronic pain get in the way of your marriage or relationship:

Be Understanding. If your partner is experiencing chronic pain, try to understand how they’re feeling. Empathy can go a long way in a relationship and allow you to see eye to eye with your partner.
Be Patient. Patience is a virtue in any relationship, and that goes doubly when chronic pain is involved. If your partner is having a bad day and experiencing a lot of pain, try not to get frustrated. Be patient and caring.
Be Proactive. It’s foolish to sit around and wait for your chronic pain to just go away. That rarely happens. Be proactive in your treatment, and make an appointment with a pain doctor who can create a strategy to manage your pain.

Twin Cities Pain Management

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN is a premier pain clinic serving the Twin Cities metro area. Our pain physicians are board certified and trained in the most innovative pain treatments available, including regenerative medicine techniques like PRP and prolotherapy. If chronic pain is disrupting your marriage or relationship, take action to manage your pain. Our Twin Cities pain doctors have over two decades treating patients with chronic and acute pain. Contact us today at our Edina pain clinic and get back on the road to living a pain free life!

Minnesota Winter Sports Injuries & Pain Treatments

January 16, 2017/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

The winters are long in Minnesota, but we make the best of them by being outside as much as possible – in spite of the cold. Winter sports like skiing, hockey, and broomball are quite common in the state of Minnesota. But just like any other sport, there is the possibility of injury and pain. In this article, we are going to talk about a few of the more common injuries that a person can sustain while playing winter sports in Minnesota. We’ll also offer some pain management tips for these injuries.

Hockey Injuries

Hockey is one of the more physically intense sports ever invented. As a result, there are a lot of injuries associated with the sport including, shoulder dislocations, ligament tears in the knee, herniated spinal discs, and more. Hockey also involves a lot of elbow and shoulder movements (checking, passing the puck, etc.). Over time these small actions can add up to overuse conditions like tennis elbow.

Broomball Injuries

Broomball is a popular amateur sport in Minnesota that’s very similar to hockey but without skates and with a ball rather than a puck. As a result many of the injuries associated with hockey also apply to broomball. Additionally, leg and ankle injuries are more common with broomball as falls are much more common than in hockey.

Skiing Injuries

Skiing can lead to a variety of severe injuries caused by falls on the slopes. Broken bones, fractures, dislocations, and sprains are all common among avid skiers. In addition to potential severe injuries related to falls, skiing is also very hard on the knees. Over years of skiing, this can add up to degenerative arthritis and related knee pain.

Twin Cities Pain Doctors

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN provides acute and chronic pain care to patients throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding metro area. Our pain care providers have over twenty years of experience treating patients for all types of winter sports injuries – from back injuries to whiplash. We are also trained in the most innovative procedures, including regenerative medicine injections (PRP and prolotherapy). Contact our Edina pain management clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our board certified pain physicians.

3 Pain Relief Tips for Patients with CRPS

January 11, 2017/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a painful and difficult to treat condition. Many CRPS patients experience debilitating pain throughout the body on a daily basis. This pain interferes with daily life and can make it impossible to complete even the simplest of tasks. Thankfully, there are effective treatment options for CRPS. In this article, we are going to offer up a few pain relief tips for patients who suffer from CRPS.

Find a Pain Doctor

First and most importantly, find a skilled pain doctor if you haven’t already. A lot of patients try to treat their CRPS pain by themselves to disastrous results. CRPS is one of the most complicated pain conditions, and requires an intricate strategy from a pain expert in order to properly treat.

Never Give Up

Dealing with CRPS and chronic pain on a daily basis can lead patients down a path of despair, especially if treatments don’t provide any lasting pain relief. But the worst thing you can do is give in to that despair. Do your best to remain optimistic and keep trying different treatment strategies.

Be Open to New Treatments

Many CRPS patients have tried countless treatment methods already with little to no success. To these patients, it may seem like there’s nothing left to try. However, new treatments and drugs are being developed every day. Regenerative medicine treatments like Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is one such innovative treatment that is currently available to patients – Ketamine Therapy is another. It’s important to be open to trying new treatments. Every patient is different, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Twin Cities CRPS Doctors

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN is a premier Twin Cities pain clinic providing care to patients with both acute and chronic pain. Our pain management doctors have been treating patients with CRPS for over twenty years. We are trained and experienced in all the latest pain treatment methods including steroidal injections and regenerative medicine therapies. Contact us today at our Edina pain clinic to set up your appointment with one of our physicians and get the help you need managing your CRPS pain.

Deadlifting Injuries & Related Pain

January 9, 2017/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Deadlifting is a popular weightlifting technique used by body builders, athletes, and others. But many lifters do not use the proper technique, and as a result, end up injuring themselves. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the more common injuries that weightlifters can sustain while deadlifting. We will also talk about some prevention and treatment tips.

Spine Injuries

Herniated spinal discs and pinched nerves can result from deadlifting – either as the direct result of an injury, or because of a buildup of stress over time. These types of spinal injuries need to be examined and treated as soon as possible. The spinal nerves are responsible for our ability to feel and move all of our body parts. If you have an injury involving the nerves in the spine, it’s important to get the treatment you need before any permanent nerve damage is done.

Back Muscle Strains

Deadlifting without using proper form (and sometimes even with the proper form) can result in painful strains, sprains, and tears of the back muscles. Most of these injuries will heal on their own given enough time, but they can be quite painful. Prescription medications, physical therapy, and injections can help manage this type of pain while your body recovers.

Shoulder Injuries & Rotator Cuff Tears

Deadlifting also requires a lot of work from your shoulder muscles. A mistake can easily lead to a rotator cuff injury. Regenerative medicine treatments like Platelet Rich Plasma injections can be a great help in treating these types of injuries.

Twin Cities Pain Management

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN consists of board-certified pain management physicians with over two decades of experience. We specialize in treating patients with back pain, knee pain, and all other types of pain – both acute and chronic. Our pain doctors are trained in the latest treatments, including regenerative medicine injections like PRP and prolotherapy. Contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment and get started with one of our physicians. No matter what type of pain you are experiencing, we’ve got the knowledge and expertise to get you back on the road to a pain free life.

Hip Bursitis Pain Management Options

January 4, 2017/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

In a previous article, we talked about some of the injuries and conditions that can cause hip pain – both chronic and acute. Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into one particular condition that can cause hip pain – bursitis. This article is all about hip bursitis – its causes, symptoms, and pain management options.

What is Hip Bursitis?

Hip bursitis is caused by an inflammation of the bursa (small sacs filled with fluid that help cushion the joints in the body). The condition is most common in older patients, and can be caused by repetitive stress injuries, acute injuries to the hip (e.g. a car accident or sports injury), or previous hip surgery. Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms that may indicate a diagnosis of hip bursitis:

Pain, typically located at the point of the hip that initially presents as sharp, and latter turns to a dull, achy type of pain.
The pain usually worsens at night or when getting up from a seated position.

To diagnose hip bursitis, your physician will perform a physical exam. Other imaging tests like x-rays, MRIs, and bone scans may be ordered as well to rule out other conditions.

Treating Hip Bursitis Pain

Alright, now we know a little bit about the causes and symptoms of hip bursitis. But diagnosis is only half the battle. How can hip bursitis be treated? Most hip bursitis cases are treated conservatively, without surgery. Typical treatment options include physical therapy, pain medications, injection therapy, and regenerative medicine injections like PRP and prolotherapy.

Minneapolis Hip Pain Management

The board-certified pain management doctors at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have over twenty years of experience treating patients with hip bursitis. If you are experiencing symptoms of hip bursitis, contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our pain specialists. We can work with you to find a treatment strategy that fits your unique needs. Our primary clinic is located in Edina, but we treat patients throughout the Twin Cities Metro area.

3 Tips for Reducing Inflammation in the Body

January 2, 2017/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Inflammation often goes hand-in-hand with pain. The two can feed off each other and create a vicious cycle of recurring pain. Whether you have recurring inflammation in your back, legs, foot, or elsewhere in the body, there are easy methods to cut down on the inflammation. The goal of this article is to offer up some tips for reducing inflammation in the body and help manage your pain in the process.

Eat Certain Foods, Avoid Others

Your diet has a huge impact on levels of inflammation in your body. Some foods can make inflammation worse, while others can help to reduce it. Do your best to avoid processed foot, refined sugar and flower. Instead, focus on plant-based foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals. In other words, avoid eating fast food every day, and opt for a much healthier home-made meal with lots of vegetables.

Rest to Reduce Stress

Stress is one another huge factor that causes inflammation. If your body is stressed, the chances of inflammation are much higher. Make sure you are getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. In addition, engage in activities that reduce your stress levels like yoga, meditation, exercise, etc.

Know Your Allergies

It’s also important to know and avoid the things that you’re allergic to. This includes foods, animals, and seasonal allergies. Allergic reactions often involve inflammation. Avoiding these triggers, or getting proper medical treatment for them is key to avoiding inflammation.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has been treating Minnesota patients suffering from inflammation and pain for the past twenty years. Our team of board-certified pain management doctors is well-versed in the most innovative treatments, from nerve blocks to IV infusion therapy and regenerative medicine procedures like PRP therapy and prolotherapy. If you are dealing with chronic or recurring inflammation and pain, contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our pain relief physicians.