Will My Pain Go Away on its Own?

June 5, 2017/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

When experiencing pain, one of the first questions many patients have is: “will this go away on its own, or should I seek treatment for my pain?” The answer to this question can vary significantly from patient to patient, but there are some general benchmarks you can use to determine when to seek treatment vs. when to wait. In this patient education article, we’re going to talk about how to determine whether or not your pain is going to dissipate on its own, or whether you need to seek treatment.

When is it OK to Wait?

Not all pain needs to be treated immediately by a physician. Many people experience mild pain every day that goes away on its own. Take stubbing your toe on the couch as an example. In most cases, a stubbed toe will hurt for a little bit and heal on its own. Of course, some stubbed toes are more serious and require medical attention, but these are rare cases.

A good rule of thumb when determining whether or not to seek further treatment is to listen to your body’s pain signals over the course of a few days. If you stub your toe and it really hurts the day of the stubbing, but dissipates over the next day or two, you are likely OK. However, if the pain does not resolve (or gets worse) over the following couple days, then it’s time to consider seeing a doctor.

When to Seek Treatment

There are certain situations in which it’s obvious that you need immediate medical treatment. Severe car accidents, for example, often necessitate a trip to the Emergency Room. For other pain symptoms that require immediate medical care see our article on the topic.

Minneapolis Pain Clinic

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN treats patients for acute and chronic pain conditions throughout the Twin Cities. Our board certified pain management specialists have decades of experience treating everything from headaches to degenerative spine conditions. We are well versed in all the most innovative treatment options, including stem cell techniques like PRP injections and Prolotherapy. No matter what type of pain you are experiencing, you have treatment options. Contact our Minnesota pain doctors today to set up your appointment at our Edina or Minneapolis clinics.

Tips for Coping with & Treating Unrelenting Pain

Unrelenting pain is pain that just won’t let up. This type of pain can cause significant issues in a patient’s day to day life and severely impact quality of life. In this article, we are going to talk about unrelenting pain – and what to do when your pain won’t go away, even after it seems like you’ve tried everything.

The Nature of Pain Relief

Many chronic pain patients struggle to find pain relief that works and lasts. Pain is complex and difficult to treat because it affects each patient differently. The same can be said of pain treatment options. A patient suffering from tennis elbow may find pain relief from steroidal injections, while another may not get any relief at all from the same treatment method. So a successful pain management strategy has to be tailored specifically to each individual patient.

When It Seems Like You’ve Tried Everything

Finding the right pain relief strategy can take time. You may have to try several different treatment methods before you land on one that works for you. Here are some tips for finding pain relief that works when it seems like you’ve tried everything already:

Don’t Get Discouraged. The last thing you want to do is give up on your treatment path. Many patients will get discouraged and simply give in to the pain. But this only worsens the situation and the pain. Keep a positive attitude, and keep looking for treatment methods that may work for you.
Get Another Opinion. All patients are different when it comes to pain. The same applies to pain doctors. If you aren’t getting effective care with one pain management physician, it never hurts to get a second opinion from someone else.
Try New Treatments. Don’t be afraid to try new treatment methods (as long as they are approved treatments). There are a lot of new and exciting treatments being developed in the realm of regenerative medicine that can offer effective pain relief.

Minneapolis Pain Relief

At Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN, our Minneapolis pain relief doctors have been helping patients with acute and chronic pain conditions for over two decades. Our pain physicians are board-certified and trained in all the most innovative treatment methods – including PRP, prolotherapy, and other stem cell treatments. We work hand-in-hand with our patients to determine the best treatment strategy for each individual person. If you are experiencing unrelenting pain that just won’t go away, make an appointment with a pain doctor who can help. Contact us today at our Twin Cities pain management clinics (located in Minneapolis and Edina) to set up your appointment and start living your life pain free!

Can I Cure my Pain by Stopping a Certain Sport or Activity?

November 23, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Pain can be caused by a lot of different factors – from degenerative conditions, to acute injuries. Patients dealing with pain may find that their pain gets worse when the engage in certain activities, such as exercise, playing sports, or doing yard work. In these situations, patients will often just stop engaging in these activities in the hopes that it will reduce their pain. In this article, we are going to discuss whether stopping a specific activity (such as playing a sport) can reduce your pain.

Pain Caused by a Specific Activity

It is absolutely true that specific activities can cause a person’s pain. Your pain may be caused by an injury you sustained while playing basketball or lifting weights. Furthermore, certain activities can make pre-existing pain even worse. If you already have back pain, you may find that it becomes unbearable during exercise, or even during routine household tasks like doing the dishes or vacuuming.

Don’t Sacrifice the Activities You Love

While it is possible that a specific sport, exercise, or activity may be causing or contributing to your pain, you shouldn’t have to stop doing the things you love because you are in pain. The best course of action is to first identify the root cause of your pain. Once you have a diagnosis, you can work with a qualified pain doctor to find a pain relief strategy that fits your needs. This will allow you to continue exercising, playing sports, and engaging in the activities you love while simultaneously decreasing your pain levels.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has over two decades of treating patients with chronic and acute pain. Pain management requires open communication and collaboration with an experienced team of pain management specialists. Our Edina pain doctors are experienced in many types of pain treatment options including prescription opioids, injection therapy, regenerative medicine techniques, and more. Contact us today to learn more about your pain relief options and see how our Minnesota pain specialists can help you live a pain free life.

Should I Avoid Pain at all Costs, or is a Little Pain OK?

November 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

We talk a lot about how to reduce and manage pain (both acute and chronic) stemming from a variety of injuries and conditions. But should your goal always be zero pain, or is a little bit of pain good? That’s our topic for today’s pain management article.

The Nature of Pain

Pain is the body’s way of telling us something is wrong. As such, our ability to feel pain is absolutely essential for survival. When you touch a hot pan on the stove with your fingers, pain signals are sent to and from your brain to your fingers. This is basically the body telling you “That’s too hot – don’t touch!”

Imagine what would happen if you weren’t able to feel this pain. Your body wouldn’t immediately alert you to the fact that the oven is too hot. As a result, you would likely burn yourself much worse than you would have if you’d felt the pain and removed your hand right away.

When to Take Action

So our ability to feel pain is an essential survival tool, and the goal should not be feeling no pain whatsoever. That being said, if you are suffering from pain as the result of an injury or chronic pain condition, you shouldn’t just accept that you can’t do anything about your pain. There are many options available to treat all types of pain! It’s also important to manage expectations when it comes to pain. Don’t expect to never feel any pain again after a treatment. Most times, it doesn’t work that way. It’s all about effectively managing the pain over time.

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN is one of the leading providers of pain management care in the state of Minnesota. Our pain specialists have over two decades of experience treating acute and chronic pain from a variety of conditions and injuries. If you or a loved one is suffering through pain, take action and get the treatment you need. Our pain care team will fully diagnose your pain, find out the cause, and develop a treatment strategy that fits your particular needs. Contact us at our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment.

Chronic Ankle Pain Conditions & Treatments

October 24, 2016/0 Comments/in Chronic Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Everyone has experienced ankle pain to a certain extent at some point in their lives. Ankle pain can be annoying in the mildest cases, and absolutely excruciating in the most extreme. In this article, we are going to talk about some of the conditions and injuries that commonly result in ankle pain – and how to best treat ankle pain when it arises.

Chronic Ankle Pain Conditions & Injuries

The ankle is a complex body part and requires a comprehensive understanding to successful diagnosis and treatment. Here are a few of the conditions and injuries that can lead to chronic pain in the ankle:

Ankle sprains and strains. These can happen during sports and exercise, or simply by stepping on something and rolling your ankle.
Ankle fracture. Broken ankles are typically caused by high impact activities. That could be a slip and fall accident, car crash, sports injury, etc.
Osteoarthritis of the ankle. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is simply the result of normal wear and tear on the body’s joints over time. This breakdown can cause swelling, inflammation, and pain.

These are just a few of the most common conditions and injuries that can cause chronic ankle pain. If you are experiencing constant or recurring pain in your ankle, it’s important to seek medical attention quickly to address the issue.

Ankle Pain Treatment Options

Just like any other type of pain, ankle pain requires a diagnosis before beginning any treatment. A physician can perform a physical exam, as well as other diagnostic tests (MRI, x-ray, CT scan) in order to get to the bottom of your ankle pain. With a diagnosis in hand, you can begin working towards an effective treatment plan. Based on your diagnosis, a treatment plan may include pain medications, injections, surgery, or regenerative medicine techniques.

The pain management physicians at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN are dedicated to treating patients suffering from chronic and acute pain – no matter what the cause. If you are dealing with ankle pain on a daily basis, work with a pain management doctor to get to the bottom of your pain and craft a strategic solution. We treat patients throughout the Twin Cities metro area, but our primary pain clinic is located in Edina near Southdale mall. Contact us today to set up your very own appointment with one of our skilled Minnesota pain doctors.

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!

3 Tips for Not Giving up after Years of Pain

August 24, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

When you’ve been living your life in pain for years it can be easy to fall into a depression and give up hope. But we’re here to tell you that there is always hope for effectively managing your pain. This article will offer some tips for patients who have been experiencing chronic pain for years or even decades.

Never Give Up Hope

We know how easy it can be to give up hope when you’ve been in pain for so long. But staying positive is absolutely essential if you want to successfully keep your pain under control. Try your best to maintain an optimistic attitude, spend time with friends, get out of the house. You may also benefit from some counselling and/or depression medication.

Find a Physician You Trust

It’s important to find a pain management physician you can put your trust in. Your physician should also have trust in you. It needs to go both ways for a successful long-term treatment relationship.

Investigate New Treatment Methods

Pain medicine is a constantly evolving landscape. Scientists, doctors, and researchers are constantly looking for and finding innovative new methods for treating chronic pain patients. If you have been in pain for years and it seems like you’ve tried everything under the sun to relieve your pain, consider some of the newer treatment methods that are becoming available. Regenerative medicine techniques like PRP therapy and prolotherapy are gaining popularity for their ability to reduce pain with natural regeneration.

Advanced Spine & Pain Specialists of MN’s pain management physicians have twenty years of experience treating Minnesota patients for all kinds of pain conditions. If you have been struggling through life in chronic pain, talk to a physical medicine doctor about your options. Even if it seems like you have tried everything, there are treatment methods available – you just need a skilled pain management physician to guide you. Contact our Edina pain clinic today to set up your appointment.

3 Tips for Making the Right Decision About your Pain Care

February 15, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Every patient wants to make the right decision about what treatment approach to try. But with so many factors at play it can be tough to figure out how to proceed with your pain care. In this article, we will offer some tips for making the right decision about your pain management care.

Do Your Research

The first, and perhaps most important, step you can take is to educate yourself. Learn everything you can about your pain and its possible causes. In addition, do some research on pain doctors in your area. See if they have a website or social media presence, and check out their reviews from previous patients.

Consider Your Options

As we’ve discussed before, there are many ways to treat pain conditions. From pain medication, to injections, to surgery – it can be difficult to decide what’s right for your situation. For that reason it’s essential that you carefully consider your options before making a decision. Weigh the pros and cons of each treatment method, talk with your physician, and find other patients who have had similar experiences to see what worked for them.

Don’t be Afraid to Move On

If you already have a pain management doctor and for whatever reason you just are not getting along, don’t be afraid to move on. A successful doctor/patient relationship has to be built on trust to be successful. If you don’t trust your doctor, find someone you can place your trust in fully. It may be frustrating, but you will be better for it in the long run.

Making an informed decision about your pain management is as essential as the treatment itself. You want to make sure that you have a physician on your side that understands your condition. The pain management doctors at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN have twenty years of experience treating Minnesotans with acute and chronic pain conditions. They have the experience and compassion to provide you with the care you need.

What to Do if Your Family Doesn’t Understand Your Pain

January 20, 2016/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

It’s tough to deal with chronic pain on your own. Having a strong base of supportive family members and friends can make dealing with the pain more bearable. But if your loved ones fail to understand what you’re going through, it can be difficult to get the support you need. Here, we are going to offer some tips if your family and friends do not seem to understand or sympathize with your pain.

Educate

Especially if you suffer from a rare chronic pain condition, your family and friends might not “get” what you’re going through. Do your best to educate them about your condition, its symptoms, and treatments. If you can’t easily explain it in your own words, find some medically sound information on the internet and send them a link. Be sure to use reputable health websites like webmd, mayoclinic, and (of course) this site.

Communicate Your Gratitude

If one of your loved ones is going out of their way to help you through your pain – let them know. Whether they’re picking you up from the hospital, driving you to get a prescription filled, or just keeping your company as you recover, explain to your family members and friends that their support means a lot to you. You may think it goes without saying, but it never hurts to say it out loud.

Ask Your Physician for Advice

You can also ask your pain management physician for advice on how to explain your condition or symptoms to your family. They may have a way of breaking down the condition in a way that’s easy to understand.

As always, feel free to contact our clinic to discuss your options for pain relief. Our Minnesota pain physicians have been guiding patients to less painful lives for the past 20 years. Contact Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN to set up your appointment today.

Chronic Pain Causes and Treatments

October 5, 2015/0 Comments/in Pain /by Matthew Thorson

Pain comes in many forms and affects everyone at some point in their lives. Many people who experience pain get treatment and the pain goes away in a matter of hours, days, weeks, or months. People who experience chronic pain, on the other hand, are afflicted with recurring pain for an extended period of time. Here, we are going to examine chronic pain, its associated conditions, and some treatment options.

Categorizing Pain: Acute vs. Chronic

Because it is so subjective, pain is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. That being said, there are a few methods that physicians use to categorize pain. The most basic classification of pain is acute pain vs. chronic pain.

Acute pain is defined as pain that can be tied to a specific injury or condition and that lasts for a short period of time (3 to 6 months). By contrast, chronic pain is recurring (hence the name chronic). It may or may not be the result of a specific injury. Often times, chronic pain is very difficult to treat because its root cause can be hard to identify.

Here are some common conditions related to chronic pain:

Fibromyalgia
CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)
Sciatica
Nerve Damage
Multiple Sclerosis
Arthritis
Shingles

These conditions can cause recurring pain in a single area, or throughout the body.

Treating Chronic Pain

While most acute pain can be treated quickly and effectively, chronic pain is a different beast. Treating it often requires a multi-faceted approach involving various methods such as pain medication, injections, physical therapy, and possibly surgery. If you are experiencing chronic pain, contact a pain management specialist at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota to diagnose your condition and strategize options for treatment. No matter what your situation, there are methods for treating your pain. You don’t have to go through life in constant pain. Get the help you need today by making an appointment.

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