Pain

Chronic Pain IS a Disease

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/10/2013 - 3:48pm

There seems to be a certain stigma associated with chronic pain. People who don’t suffer from chronic pain consistently judge, especially with how people cope with it. Those who do suffer from chronic pain often feel that their condition is stigmatized or mistreated. The Institute of Medicine recently voiced the need for a “transformation in how pain is perceived and judged.” Out society is seeing more and more patients of chronic pain, and thankfully physicians are beginning to see and understand the severity of these symptoms. At Southwest Spine and Pain Center patients can guarantee the physicians and medical staff to fully and appropriately diagnose and treat their symptoms of pain.

Targeting Chronic Headache Pain

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/08/2013 - 4:59pm

Following low back pain, chronic headaches and migraines are one of the leading causes of chronic pain. According the American Academy of Pain Medicine, a 2009 survey reported that 20% of adults ages 18-44 had experienced at least one headache within the three months prior to the survey. At its minimum, a headache seems like a minor complaint. We see them daily in our busy lives it seems: overwhelming workloads, lack of sleep, time constraints, change in diet, children, and school. It seems that our lives are filled with so much chaos that the occasional headache is inevitable. When headaches become more regular is when it becomes a problem.

Chronic Pain from The Shingles Virus

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/03/2013 - 9:37am

The chicken pox seems to be more of a household name over shingles. Scientists and doctors around the world have formulated vaccines to better treat and eliminate the chicken pox virus in the early 1990s when around 100-150 people were dying each year in the United States. It seems mothers and doctors nationwide were on the watch for this virus as early as newborn babies. Within this same virus, varicella-zoster, comes a viral infection called shingles. Like chicken pox, the shingles virus is accompanied with a rash on the skin. Since shingles is not as present in young children, doctors’ concern is focused on men and women 65 years and older.

Treating Neck Injuries

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/02/2013 - 9:53am

Action packed not only describes the movies these days. With sports becoming more aggressive, and accidents at an all time high, neck injuries are treated more frequently. A restless night’s sleep will leave the occasional “crick” in the neck and working out may cause strained muscles. However, certain neck injuries don’t just go away after simple stretches but will actually cause damage to the nerves and spinal cord. These injuries become more difficult to diagnose and treat the more they affect the nervous system. At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, the physicians and medical staff know the complications with neck injuries and holistically diagnose and treat patients for a full recovery and a better quality of life.

Acute versus Chronic Pain

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/17/2013 - 6:23am

Southwest Spine and Pain Center features specialized pain doctors who provide dedicated care through pain treatments and spine surgery. The practice is comprised of Dr. Derek Frieden, Dr. Jon Obray, Dr. Rick Obray, and Dr. Brian Richardson, whose specialties include: