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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on January 20, 2014

You have probably been told time and time again that exercise and stretching can help reduce your pain. In most cases this is true, and for breast cancer survivors physical therapy could relieve joint pain caused by their medications. A study published by HealthDay reviewed the effects of medications taken by people once affected by breast cancer. They found that most of these people experienced joint pain.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we like to encourage our patients to take charge of not only their pain, but their treatment, too. Taking a break from your normal day-to-day responsibilities sounds nice, but research...

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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on January 15, 2014

Reuters, one of the nation’s best sources for the latest news from around the world, uncovers the truth behind the “pandemic of over-regulation” of painkillers. The guidelines for these opioid-based drugs are so strict that many cancer patients are suffering from unbearable pain.

The United States isn’t the only nation with stringent rules for obtaining these pain medications. A research team from the Global Opioid Policy Initiative (GOPI) assessed this issue and says, “Governments that over-regulate should consider the unintended consequences of restricting access to medicines and change their approach.”

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our main focus is you. Our approach to treatment is based around which ones...

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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on January 13, 2014

Pain associated with cancer usually results from two circumstances: (1) the pressure of the tumor on bones and/or nerves or (2) the effects of cancer treatment such as chemotherapy. Being diagnosed with cancer is understandably a very scary event and the professionals at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to eliminating pain to make the process an easier one.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we tackle pain conditions everyday. Our physicians are dedicated to healing patients by any means possible. Each patient is treated individually with their medical history, pain condition, and goals considered at every level of treatment. Southwest Spine and Pain Center recently expanded and now has four locations across Utah. Trust the premier Utah pain clinic and your friends...

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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on January 8, 2014

What is bone cancer?

Bone cancer can form as a malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous) tumor that destroys surrounding bone tissue. Benign tumors are actually more common than malignant tumors, but both compress healthy bone tissue. The only difference is that benign tumors do not destroy bone tissue, do not metastasize (spread), and do not pose any real life threat.

In some cases of bone cancer, it develops from a cancer that has metastasized from another part of the body such as the breast, lung, or prostate. This kind of cancer is called metastatic cancer. Bone cancer that does not spread is less common than cancer that does.

What kinds of bone cancer are there?

The most common types of bone cancer are:

    ...
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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on January 3, 2014

A spinal is a malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous) mass of tissue that grows within or around the spinal cord. When a tumor originates in the spinal cord, it usually spreads resulting in a secondary tumor that can spread cancer to a different part of the spine. Typically, people who have a spinal tumor will feel intense back pain and some neurologic problems. Because the tumor manipulates the regular function of the spine, the nerves in the area become manipulated leading to pain and sometimes paralysis.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we treat a number of pain conditions from common back pain to fibromyalgia, and everything in between. Sometimes, cancer pain is a product of the cancer itself but can also be from surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Southwest Spine...

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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on January 2, 2014

As we bring in the New Year we want to also bring awareness to cervical cancer. January, the month where Americans begin their yearlong journey to their resolution, is also Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we often treat patients who suffer from chronic cancer pain. As an effort to raise awareness and give support to cancer research, we want to provide essential information that someone may need to help a friend in need or for their own knowledge.

Cervical cancer occurs when a virus called the human papillomavirus, HPV, affects the cervix. The cervix is a female reproductive organ and when abnormal cells grow out of control can cause cancer. HPV is contracted by having sexual contact with an individual already affected by the virus. It can...

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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on December 27, 2013

As chronic pain care becomes more widely accessible and understood, many physicians and researchers alike believe that chronic pain patients should be evaluated for anxiety disorders. Health care providers are becoming more aware of this common occurrence and taking action quickly.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we believe in offering care to our patients on all levels. Having a close relationship with each patient is one of our main concerns. We are attuned with reactions to treatments and the mood levels throughout the care plan.

A study conducted at a Veterans Medical Center in the Midwest evaluated 250 primary care patients who had moderate to severe chronic joint or back pain for over three months.

During the study, the participants were screened assessed...

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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on December 25, 2013

It begins in October: an overabundance of candies found sporadically around the house. It continues until the end of the year: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas provide plentiful meals with leftovers for weeks! During these three months, most of us are consuming more sugar than usual. Aside from the obvious weight gain, our bodies may undergo negative sugar effects such as fatigue, stress, irritability, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, and joint pain. Even under a watchful eye of pie, soda, and candy, sugar hides in many foods and drinks that we consume daily.

Americans consume between 100 and 180 pounds of sugar annually, according the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Southwest Spine and Pain physicians believe that pain management comes in many forms. Patients who...

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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on December 20, 2013

Don’t let one safety measure of one accident slip by and spoil your winter fun this season. Snowfall and cooler temperatures make for a wonderful stock of winter activities. Ice-skating, skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowball fights; all these activities are tons of fun, but can be extremely dangerous if not approached cautiously.

Southwest Spine and Pain Center wants all of our patients to have fun this winter season. With four locations across Utah, our medical staff is better able to provide winter safety tips to patients all over the state. These three winter sports deserve extra caution this winter season!

  1. Skiing/snowboarding- Use your head. Skiers and snowboarders should always wear a helmet when enjoying a mountain ride. The Canadian Ski Patrol says that...
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Submitted by Kaitlyn Wekerle on December 18, 2013

The National Program Director for Pain Management for the Veterans Health Administration, Dr. Robert Kerns, says that 50 percent of chronic pain sufferers are depressed. These individuals may experience a sense of loss and a decline in their mood. Normally fun activities will seem uninteresting and not entertaining. Others will have an increased sense of irritability or impatience.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our focus is managing pain while also healing other factors of your health. Because depression is so very prevalent in many chronic pain cases, our physicians work with other specialists to ensure you get all the help and care you need.

Many people believe that depression is treated once pain symptoms are reduced. This is false. Depression and chronic pain...

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