Back pain can be more than a simple nuisance; it can be downright debilitating. While there are a number of treatments for back pain – from anti-inflammatory medications to in-office treatments to massage therapy – one nonsurgical option to deal with the discomfort is a spinal injection. Sounding far more sinister than it is, a spinal injection can not only help to relieve pain, but in some instances – depending on the type of injection – can help to diagnose the cause of the pain. This can then help your physician to determine a course of treatment for the pain.

In most instances, when dealing with Florida back pain, spinal injections are used in conjunction with other therapies and after more traditional options have been utilized. It is the option that stands between physical therapy for back pain and surgical solutions, for those that are trying to avoid going under the knife to address the source of the pain.

For Florida back pain, in particular, injectable pain relief can work wonders because the fact that the medication is injected into the very area originating the source of the back pain brings relief almost instantly. By comparison, when taking oral medications, it can take up to an hour before any relief is felt, particularly if the medication is time-released. In these instances, a steroid medication is delivered at the site of the injection to reduce inflammation and thereby pain in the area. This is generally a fairly temporary type of relief, though it is generally longer lasting than an over-the-counter medication.

It should be noted that to treat Florida back pain with an injectable medication, you should work with a trained physician. Injecting anything into your back can be dangerous when administered improperly, so anyone not trained to give such injections can cause more harm than good.

It also helps to know the types of back injections available for those experiencing back pain, which include an epidural (often given during surgical procedures and for pregnant women in labor and in need of pain relief); selective nerve root block; sacroiliac joint block; facet joint block and facet rhizotomy, to name a few of the most commonly used injections. Talk with your doctor about the side effects of any injections used to stave off Florida back pain, so that you are clear about what to expect.
However, when back injections are used to diagnose an issue, the process is a bit different. The idea behind these injections is to determine which area of the back is causing the pain. If the patient feels relief of any kind after the injection, then the treating physician can infer that the immediate area in which the injection was given was the source of the Florida back pain. This can be helpful in determining a future course of treatment that might include other types of treatments.

To know whether back injections are the best option for treatment, it always a good idea to discuss the pros and cons with a medical professional, so that all information available in this course of treatment can be considered in the decision.

 

Let’s face it: there’s nothing fun about being in pain. In fact, chronic pain can be downright debilitating, halting many of the day-to-day activities that you may undertake with regularity. Consider a few not-so-fun facts about pain that can help you to better manage pain-related health issues.

• It can be a stressor on your emotions as well as your physical person: That’s right, it can make you feel as crummy on the inside as it does on the out. The circle is a viscous one, as the resulting negative emotions can then contribute to your ability to deal with the physical manifestation of pain. In fact, roughly 77 percent of people with chronic discomfort report feeling depressed.
• Women experience pain more often in the course of a lifetime than men do: This could be due to issues with menstruation and childbirth, but whatever the reason, women certainly experience more than men. In fact, in animal studies, it has been shown that females require more pain medication than men – at twice the rate, actually, to get the same level of relief as men do from the medication. The jury is still out, however, on who has the higher tolerance.
• No brain pain: The brain might send the signal for pain to the rest of the body; however, the brain itself doesn’t feel any. In fact, once a surgeon has gotten to this all-too important organ, he can operate without any anesthetic whatsoever.
• Back pain is the most common: More often than not, when you ask people where they are experiencing chronic pain, the back is going to be the most commonly given answer. This could be because people don’t stretch enough; it could also be due to consistent reaching, bending and other body motions people do every day that put a strain on the back.

The good news is that chronic pain doesn’t have to remain unmanageable. There are a number of things you can do to ease chronic pain, including exercise, stretching, medication and more. Getting in to see a pain professional is the first step, so you can determine the cause of the pain and a treatment plan to address the root of the problem. Once this happens, then you can address the pain management aspect of the ailment and begin to feel whole again.

Back pain is becoming more and more common and is the leading occupational hazard people worry about. Back pain has been known to be directly related to nerve damage. When the large nerve roots in the back are irritated they send signals to the brain which enable the back to feel the pain.

Nerve damage in the back can be treated be applying cold pack to the back as well as applying heat heal muscle tissues. Anti-inflammatory drugs can also help reduce inflammation to the back and damaged nerves. Controlled exercises and physical therapy are also beneficial forms of treatment to address back pain. Depending on the severity of the pain, resting can be a key to rebuilding damages nerves.

Read this great study about back pain “Cost-effectiveness analysis of spinal cord stimulation in treatment of failed back surgery syndrome”

 It states: On average, given current screening and efficacy rates, SCS therapy pays for itself within 5.5 years. For those patients for whom SCS therapy is clinically efficacious, the therapy pays for itself within 2.1 years.

Nerve damage is an interruption to the nervous system that blocks the communication signals your brain sends your body. The average human body has nearly 10 trillion nerve cells that are all controlled by the brain and passed through the spinal cord. These signals send messages to your muscles telling your body what to do. Nerve damage occurs in the brain, spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves located in the rest of the body. There are over 100 different types of nerve damage and they all have different symptoms and require different treatments. Since nerve damage can seriously slow down or affect the body and one’s life style is important to be proactive and recognize the symptoms of nerve damage.

Nerves are extremely important to the human body because they control our temperature feeling, heart rate, bladder control, digestive system, as well as sexual function and pain. Blood vessels feed the nerves with oxygen and nutrients needed to survive so the body is able to function properly. When blood vessels are contaminated with high levels of glucose; the blood vessel becomes damaged. When these blood vessels are damaged, they can no longer provide the nerves with nutrients which caused the nerve to become battered and possibly perish

There are two main categories the nerve damage. The first category is sensory nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy). This type of nerve damage is usually caused by trauma to the nerve or some type of sickness or disease. Some of the symptoms of sensory nerve damage are numbness, sensitivity, and burning, tingling pain in the body. Sensory nerve damage also causes problems with positional awareness within the body.

The second type of nerve damage is damage to the motor nerves. This type of nerve damage will be the most noticeable. The human brain has upper and lower motor neurons which is where damage occurs. Muscles become atrophied and flaccid when flaccid paralysis happens in the lower motor neuron. Loss of movement, tone and reflex activity’s are few symptoms of flaccid paralysis.

Other signs are muscles twitching, muscle atrophy, and muscle weakness. Autonomic nerve damage may cause an inability to sense chest pains or heart attacks. Other indicators of Autonomic nerve damage are dry eyes, dry mouth; sexual dysfunction, and constipation, dizziness, sweating too much or not sweating at all.

Chronic pain is basically aches and pains that are continuous for a period of at least six months and more. Continuing pain can be a result of past injury or trauma, and even infection; however, this pain can also stem from emotional pain such as stress, anxiety, depression, and even anger. The results from emotional pain can be much worse than pain from injuries, as it can lead to more agenizing pain.

Continuous pain is a never ending cycle, as long-lasting pain can understandably lead to stress, while high levels of stress can contribute to added pain symptoms. Additionally, prolonged stress will cause the brain to be imbalanced and ultimately cause anxiety attacks and added stress. Extra stress will intensify the pain since it decreases the body’s natural defense against pain. Furthermore, any type of emotional pain such as stress, depression, anger, fatigue, and anxiety intensifies the pain. Since this type of pain is deeply felt, it puts patients on that dreadful cycle of stress and discomfort.

Previous studies show that lingering pain can affect the immune system. Therefore, it is very important to see a physician when experiencing enduring pain or having symptoms of chronic pain. The physician will work with patients to help get the pain under control along with helping manage stress and pain syndrome in an effective and healthy way.

Symptoms of chronic pain and problems that are linked to pain consist of ongoing anguish that can range from minimal to severe, sensations of pain often described as shooting, burning, aching and electrifying pain. Less severe symptoms include sore throbbing pain, uncomfortable feeling, straining from tightness, and feeling of constraint. In addition, tiredness, insomnia, feeling of withdrawal from activities, a weak immune system, and mood swings are many of the symptoms of this prolonged pain.

A few ways minimize and avoid additional chronic pain, you may want to stop or cut down on smoking and caffeine. The nicotine in cigarettes increases the speed of how fast the intervertebral discs degrade. Increase in caffeine intake also prevents patients from getting the rest needed to reduce pain and inflammation. Another thing you can do is to continue to stay active.

Keeping active and exercises will release endorphins which are protein molecules that work with sedative receptors in our brain, which is known for relieving pain. It is important to never over work yourself. Take frequent breaks at work to prevent stress from building up. Deep breathing will help oxygenate your brain and help relax the mind and body.

It is extremely beneficial to work with physicians to manage continuing pain. Therapists may also be a good source of assistance in helping treat long-lasting pain which starts by reducing stress.

When it comes to chronic pain, one of the hardest things to do is control the negative emotions surrounding it. After all, many people fail to realize the emotional turmoil can worsen chronic pain, since mental anguish can actually often manifest into physical pain. The two go hand in hand, because all too often when you are feeling bad physically, you feel just as bad mentally and vice versa.

Sometimes, this is for a practical reason: when you are physically in pain, and you get upset emotionally, you tend to tense up your body more, thus making the physical pain worse. Moreover, depression and having the blues can make you feel a host of physical ailments, from nausea and stomachache to headache and aches and pains all over your body. When this happens, it makes whatever chronic pain you are having seem even worse.

One of the best things you can do when you have chronic pain is be positive and find ways to relax. For instance, if you can calm your mind through meditation, then you may be able to get some control over your emotions as they relate to the chronic pain you are experiencing on a daily basis. Yoga and other soothing exercises can help with this as well; even getting out and taking a simple walk around the neighborhood gives you just enough fresh air and movement that your body and mind start to feel better.

Moreover, if you engage in talk therapy about your chronic pain and let out those negative emotions of anguish and frustration, you may find that you feel better physically as well. The more you do to relax your mind, the better control you can exert over your chronic pain and the better, overall, you may find that you feel.

 

When it comes to chronic pain conditions, diabetic peripheral neuropathy is at the top of the list. It is characterized by nerve damage caused to the legs, feet, hands and arms because of this insidious disease. It is different from the similar in nature arterial form of this disease, which is poor circulation of the blood because of the presence of diabetes.

There are three nerve groups that can and often are affected by this form of neuropathy, including the sensory nerves, which ensure people can feel pain and other heightened sensation; motor nerves, which allow people to control their muscles; and autonomic nerves, which help the body to perform certain automatic functions, such as sweating.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a condition that develops slowly and gets worse as the years go by; in fact, a number of people suffer from this infliction well before they are actually diagnosed with diabetes. As time goes by and the diabetes settles in, however, those suffering from it become at greater risk for developing diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The chronic pain part of the disease comes into play in a number of ways. First, the skin is more susceptible to developing sores that don’t heal properly over time. In fact, much of the time, these sores can become infected, leading to the loss of a limb or even part of a limb. Symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy might include numbness or tingling in the extremities as well as weakened muscles or loss of clear coordination.

The first step in dealing with the problem, including the chronic pain that can come along with it, is to get the diabetes under control. This means getting blood sugar levels in a normal range before beginning to tackle the issues associated with the diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Physical therapy plays a big role in learning to cope with both the pain and the core issue itself. Medications may also be suggested to address the pain and help to manage the diabetes.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is mainly controlled through prevention, however, which in turn comes down to understanding the disease mainly associated with the condition – diabetes – and finding ways to control it as effectively as possible. This ensures these kinds of adverse health effects won’t pop up down the line as the disease starts to take a toll on the body.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy is nerve damage to the arms, hands, legs or feet as a result of diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy directly affects the sensory nerves, motor nerves, and autonomic nerves.  This form of diabetes basically damages nerves that allow us to feel sensations, such as temperature and chronic pain. It attacks a person’s motor nerves, which regulates the muscles and strength. This type of diabetes can also damage the autonomic nerves or involuntary body functions, such as the heart, sweat glands, and blood vessels.

The cause of nerve damage or likelihood of having diabetic neuropathy may be due to poorly managed diabetes for a long period. The most common is not keeping the blood glucose level under strict control.  Although even the most responsible patients who consistently maintain healthy blood glucose level can develop neuropathy, it is always in the patient’s best interest to keep it under control. However, rather than running the risk of having diabetes with nerve damage, it is best to try and prevent it by maintaining a healthy blood glucose level.

Once diabetic peripheral neuropathy advances and gets worse, multiple nerves are at risk of being damaged. This can lead to additional problems and complications such as ulcers and deformities. Since patients are unaware of cuts and sores due to numbness or lack of feeling, open sores usually go undetected.  Depending on the type of nerve affected, patients may also experience chronic pain, sharp pains or burning, loss of balance due to muscle weakness, dry cracked feet, and loss of balance.

Controlling the blood glucose level is not only a strategy for minimizing the risk of developing neuropathy; it is vital to the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. There are also various forms of treatment of neuropathy symptoms, such as medications to help relieve tingling or burning feeling and physical therapy to help with the balance symptoms.

Since neuropathy does not happen overnight, minimizing the risk of having diabetic neuropathy peripheral can be successful by consistently managing the diabetes and maintaining a good blood glucose level. Preventive measures include keeping the blood sugar levels at a good healthy level, avoid cuts and sores on the feet with well-fitted shoes, take care to inspect the feet daily and get sores and blisters checked by physicians. It is also important to have periodic check ups with primary care physician and endocrinologist.

Medications can be prescribed to assist in keeping the blood glucose levels under control as well as to help alleviate pain and discomfort. Light therapy to help increase blood circulation and self care practices are also good preventive practices.