News on Pain Management in Orange Park, FL

Contact us with any questions you have about current or past blog posts from our pain management clinic in North Florida, Orange Park, and St. Augustine, FL. We want to keep our patients better informed about treatments available to them.

doctor speaking with patient

What to Expect When Your Doctor Prescribes Epidural Steroid Injections

The causes of differerent types of chronic, persistent pain can be an enigma for  physicians to pinpoint and severe back pain is no exception. When you’ve tried every possible avenue of treatment for chronic back pain and nothing works, your doctor might prescribe an alternative treatment for pain management in Jacksonville, FL, such as epidural steroid injections.

What is an Epidural Steroid Injections

It’s a shot of cortisone injected into the outermost section of the spinal column. Cortisone is a type of steroid that occurs naturally in the brain, and it suppresses the immune system, dims inflammation, and can reduce the perception of pain. Unfortunately, this natural cycle of pain management is short-lived; that’s why getting injected artificially will last much longer and is an option for those suffering from chronic back pain.

Prep & Recovery

If you’re planning on getting this procedure done, there are a few things you should take into account about the preparation, process, and recovery. First, your doctor will ask about your medical history, current medications, allergies, and potential risks associated with injections. During the actual procedure, you’ll be on an x-ray table, the injection site will be cleaned, but you will likely experience some discomfort. Lastly, for the recovery, you should start to feel relief in about two to five days after the procedure. If you feel no change after seven days, your physician will check for other sources of pain.

Contact the Florida Pain Physicians for the best pain management options.

man speaking to doctor

Signs You Should Get Neuropathy Treatment in Jacksonville, FL

Sometimes we feel pain in seemingly random bursts and different parts of our body; pain can cover a large or small area, but in no way is pain pleasant and even more confusing is that some people suffer from chronic pains that appear out of the blue. This could be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy or nerve pain. Consulting a professional at clinics like Florida Pain Physicians can help give you neuropathy treatment in Jacksonville, FL, and take steps to help give you relief.

12 Potential Neuropathy Symptoms

The first step to getting treatment is to recognize the symptoms that could be pointing to potential neuropathy. Here are 12 signs to watch for:

Sensory

 

  1. Extreme Sensitivity to Touch
  2. Numbness and Tingling (Typically in Hands and Feet)—It’s a Challenge to Pick Things Up or Walk
  3. Stabbing or Burning Pain

Motor

  1. Loss of Balance
  2. Muscle Weakness
  3. Muscle Cramps

Autonomic

  1. Excessive Sweating
  2. Shortness of Breath
  3. Dizziness
  4. Lack of Bladder Control
  5. Trouble Seeing
  6. Digestive Problems (Constipation, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Trouble Swallowing)

Looking into neuropathy treatment if you’re concerned about any of these potential signs. It’s always best to be safe than sorry, and some quick testing can give you the peace of mind you deserve. Check the various locations of Florida Pain Physicians to plan your trip.

doctor with syringe

How Facet Injection Can Alleviate Your Joint Pain

Joint pain can color every moment of your day with discomfort, anguish, and stress. Each movement can be a challenge that needs to be overcome just to perform even the simplest task. Your quality of life will suffer as you deal with the pain. There is relief available through facet injections. Our staff at Florida Pain Physicians will tell you what you need to know.

Facets are the joints that connect vertebrae in your spine. Pain management in Jacksonville, FL, focuses on these areas.

A facet joint injection for pain management is a relatively quick procedure that generally takes no more than 30 minutes, plus an additional 20 to 30 minutes of rest in the recovery area. The first step is to thoroughly clean the injection site, followed by the application of a topical numbing agent. The injection consists of an anesthetic for the pain and steroids to decrease inflammation.

This form of pain management helps determine if the pain is originating in the facet joint itself or the cause lies elsewhere. If the pain is located in the joint, immediate relief will flow from the local anesthetic. Long-lasting relief results from the steroids starting within a few days of the injection.

 

woman speaking with her doctor

Getting a Diagnosis is Your First Step in Migraine Treatment

You deserve to live your best life. So, if migraine-like symptoms are inhibiting your happiness, it’s time to find a solution. Take the first step toward your recovery by learning about migraine diagnoses and migraine treatment in Jacksonville, FL.

Understanding Your Diagnosis

Because the symptoms of a migraine are shared by many illnesses, much of the diagnostic work involves ruling out other potential sources of your discomfort.

Physical Examinations – These exams ensure that a neurological defect isn’t responsible for your migraine-like symptoms, such as reflex changes, weakness, or sensory loss. Additionally, completing an eye exam using an ophthalmoscope helps to rule out the possibility of a swollen optic nerve that may indicate a more serious concern, such as an aneurysm or tumor.

Blood Tests – Sampling and testing your blood is an efficient strategy for ruling out any conditions (besides migraines) that may be responsible for your symptoms. This includes many conditions that may not be visible to the naked eye, including underperforming thyroids, malnutrition, anemia, and many more.

Imaging Tests – Diagnostic imaging is another tool for ruling out potential causes of pain and discomfort. CT scans, MRIs, and angiograms are all excellent methods for detecting serious issues, such as infection, spinal cord compression, and more.

Why It’s Important

The symptoms and experiences of migraines can often be very similar to other neurological illnesses. For this reason, it’s crucial to receive the correct diagnosis so that you can be treated for the correct condition. For some patients, these symptoms and experiences can be related to something completely different, from low red blood cell counts to brain tumors. The proper diagnosis is critical to keeping you as healthy and happy as possible.

Contact Florida Pain Physicians today for more information about migraine treatment in Jacksonville, FL.

smiling woman

Tips for Proactive Migraine Management

People that have never had a migraine cannot understand how this type of headache can incapacitate you. The pain can keep you locked in your bedroom with the shades drawn for hours or days. Yet, there are ways you can take back your life with healthy habits and migraine treatment in Jacksonville, FL, from a qualified pain physician.

Here’s what you can do to improve your health and decrease suffering:

Put Healthy Habits into Practice
Choose food such as lean protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Eat your meals on a regular schedule, so you aren’t starved one day and stuffed the next.

Drink lots of water.

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, including on the weekend.
Exercise. Experts recommend doing 150 minutes per week.

Take time to relax every day.

Work with Your Doctor

Pay attention to what’s happening in your life. Are you sleeping? Feeling depressed? Experiencing other pain? Make a note of problems in a journal and talk to your physician about these. They may offer insight into your migraines or another health concern.

Know When to Take Your Medication

There is such a thing as a headache from medication overuse. Ask your doctor to help you distinguish when to take and delay that pill for effective migraine treatment in Jacksonville, FL.

friends celebrating New Year’s

Finding Relief from Chronic Pain — Your New Year’s Resolution

Make it your New Year’s resolution to seek help for the chronic pain you’re experiencing. It’s challenging to live your best life when pain is persistent, ever-present, or overwhelming.

Maybe, you worry that no one can help you or believe you when you tell them about your pain. Perhaps, people have scoffed at you and dismissed your experience. Or, you may worry that surgery is your only option for pain management in Orange Park, FL.

The good news is help is available with a multitude of options. And there are physicians with the knowledge and skill to work with you to relieve your suffering.

Exploring Treatment Options

Seek out a pain physician to work with you. Pain management in Orange Park, FL, is their medical specialty. The first task is to determine the origin of your pain. Once doctors have established the cause, they can look at treatment options.

These can vary significantly from treatments that include steroid injections to stem cell regeneration to planting devices in your body to interfere with pain signals or to administer medicine. Surgery may be an option, but first, doctors consider other treatments. The goal is to reduce the pain that impacts your quality of life.

woman with migraine

Avoiding Common Migraine Triggers

Migraines are never fun and sometimes feel like they sneak up on you at the worst possible moment. But over time, we gain a little clarity about what triggers the episodes of brain pain, allowing us to mediate it. Florida Pain Physicians has the knowledge and staff to provide you with the best migraine treatment in Jacksonville, FL. We’ll work closely with you and dedicate our time to learning about what may be causing your personal migraine triggers.

These are the top 10 most common triggers for oncoming migraines:

  1. Stress
  2. Changes In or Irregular Sleep Schedule
  3. Hormones
  4. Caffeine and Alcohol
  5. Changes in the Weather
  6. Diet
  7. Dehydration
  8. Light
  9. Smell
  10. Medication Overuse

By targeting these triggers, it will be easier to manage your migraines and gain a little more control over your lifestyle. This isn’t to say avoiding these things is a guaranteed cure-all for migraines, but being mindful of a healthy life such as staying hydrated and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine could be ways to deter them. However, our team of specialists can give you the professional help you need to make a plan for effective migraine treatment. We are here to help, so please contact us today to get started.

doctor speaking with a patient

The Types of Chronic Pain

Every year brings further insight and knowledge surrounding the causes of chronic pain. Each case brings with it new steps and processes that we can implement at our pain management clinic in Orange Park, FL. Here at Florida Pain Physicians, we value giving our patients the treatment they deserve. Chronic pain affects daily activities and can make life challenging at every front. Our treatments, staff, and resources are dedicated to alleviating your worst pain.

There are six types of chronic pain that most patients experience:

Nociceptive Pain: This category is for chronic pain found in soft tissues such as the skin, muscles, or organs.

Somatic Nociceptive Pain: This type of chronic pain refers to pain detected in sensory nerves of the muscles, skin, and other soft tissues deeper in the body.

Visceral Nociceptive Pain: This type of nociceptive pain is triggered by internal organs.

Neuropathic Pain: This type of pain is different as it is caused by nerve disturbances and spontaneous transmissions of pain described as sharp, shooting, burning, or electrical.

Psychogenic Pain: This term refers to pain caused by a psychological disorder, such as depression or anxiety.

Idiopathic Pain: This type of pain is untraceable and has no physical or psychological cause, making it the most difficult to treat.

Contact us today to learn more about the type of chronic pain you may be experiencing and how we can help you at our pain management clinic. We want you to feel healthy again as soon as possible.

man with neck pain

When Should You Seek Pain Management in Orange Park, FL?

It can be tricky to know when your pain is reaching levels that are becoming unbearable. It’s difficult to describe your level of pain to a physician, and unless it’s disabling, we worry that maybe we can tough it out. The best way to know if you’re experiencing chronic pain is when it is persistent and worsening, which are signs of potential tissue damage.

Florida Pain Physicians are experts with many years of experience to help you understand different options for pain management in Orange Park, FL. On that note, if you find that the pain is really uncomfortable, don’t overthink it and get checked by your physician; it’s better to be safe than sorry.

What exactly causes chronic pain? It usually stems from injured or diseased tissue, the pain level going hand-in-hand with the damage. Even minor pain that won’t go away could evolve into severe pain, and later into chronic pain. As pain moves from the acute phase to the chronic stage, physicians will investigate causes other than tissue damage. The complexity of ongoing pain signals despite lack of tissue damage becomes part of the equation. Relying on experts to go through your symptoms and guide you along the best course for pain management will allow you to regain control of your life and begin to heal.

Contact us to learn more about our clinic’s top pain management services and start your healing journey today.

Pain Management

FAQs About Kyphoplasty in Jacksonville, FL

Spinal conditions can have major impacts on your health and lifestyle. Since it’s the central hub for your nerves, even the smallest misalignment or injury can have a rippling effect on your body. If it’s not treated properly, you can see some very detrimental effects in the long run. That’s why getting a procedure like Kyphoplasty in Jacksonville, FL, is a great way to deal with the pain and discomfort. But what exactly is Kyphoplasty? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the procedure:

  1. What is Kyphoplasty?

This is a minimally invasive procedure for the spine in which a surgeon will place a balloon device into the compact vertebrae. After restoring the vertebrae to its original height, the second phase involves taking the balloon device out and replacing it with a material that resembles cement, stabilizing the spine.

  1. What Spinal Condition Does Kyphoplasty Treat?

Kyphoplasty treats fractures of the spine, otherwise known as vertebral compression fractures. This type of fracture can cause a humped back due to a disorder called kyphosis. It usually stems from osteoporosis.

  1. What is Recovery Like Following Kyphoplasty?

Usually, there is soreness in the back after a Kyphoplasty procedure, typically at the site where the needle was inserted. Placing an ice pack over the spot should help the soreness subside after a few days.

  1. Who Can I Contact for More Information About Kyphoplasty?

If you’ve suffered a vertebral compression fracture, or have osteoporosis, contact Florida Pain Physicians. They’ll be glad to offer you the pain relief you deserve.