Kaitlyn Wekerle's blog

We know Valentine’s Day is either loved or hated, but either way it exists. So what happens when your pain interferes with your romance or Valentine’s Day plans? Hopefully, you’re already seeing a doctor for your pain condition, and if not, we recommend you come and see one of our friendly and compassionate physicians at any of our Southwest Spine and Pain locations.

With four centers across the state of Utah, Southwest Spine and Pain Center is the leading pain specialist in the southwest. We provide world-class pain care to chronic pain sufferers in Utah and the southwest region of the United States. What sets us apart from other pain specialists is our patient centered principles. Your treatment plan is designed for you, and is unique to every patient.

Manual therapy, often called manipulative therapy, is a form of physical therapy that is used to treat musculoskeletal conditions and associated pain. This practice, usually done by a physiotherapist or chiropractor, involves kneading, muscle manipulation, and joint mobilization.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we are committed to precisely determining a diagnosis to begin treatment right away. Often times, our treatment design will involve a multidisciplinary approach, in which we will work with other specialists to better treat the condition.

Though one does not necessarily lead to the other, chronic low back pain may be the result of obesity. One study, broadcasted on Reuters online publication in January, 2014, announced that “changes in the brain’s reward systems could be one reason why” obesity leads to chronic low back pain. Based on the study, researchers say consuming high-fatty foods does not satisfy people with this chronic condition.

Before jumping to conclusions, that is opting for surgery, chronic pain patients should sit back and review all their options for treatment. Too often we see individuals receive aggressive, invasive treatment when their condition could have been treated under conservative methods. We often treat patients who need additional surgery because their first round didn’t provide relief or any improvements.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we believe in using conservative treatments before considering surgical intervention. Physical therapy, medications, and even some Western therapies work effectively and efficiently for people suffering from chronic pain or other pain conditions over the body,

Planning a comprehensive and multidisciplinary pain management program for a cancer patient is vital for effective results. Patients responses to treatment have greatly improved over the last decade, and patients are now are expected to live longer and have longer remission rates. However, residual pain is often supplemented with these successes. At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we emphasize the importance of treatment to minimize cancer activity and pain, while at the same time avoiding the shift from acute to chronic.

The goals of a cancer pain treatment program are:

People usually assume that cancer treatment mirrors what you see in the movies or hear from other people: chemotherapy. While chemotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for cancer, it is not the only one. People’s bodies react differently to treatments and what works wonderfully on someone, may not relieve any symptoms for another person.

Whether you have cancer or know someone with cancer, it is a good idea to continuously have the most current information in every part of treatment. You may be in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices, and the information you receive can get mixed up with everything else you’re trying to understand.

At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, we want to communicate the best information in the easiest way possible. Medical terms may not transmit well with every patient, so we take the time do get to know each and every single person that walks into our office. One way to learn about your cancer, is to know the types of pain cancer can create, what medicines are available to manage pain, and ways to best control your pain.

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.

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.”

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.