Precision Pain Solutions

Monday Morning Medical Minute With Precision Pain Solutions:

Chronic condition
The definition of chronicity is constant; continuing a long time or recurring frequently.

Chronic diseases are broadly defined conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living.

Chronic pain is ongoing pain and usually lasts longer than six months. This type of pain can continue even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or gone.

No one wants a chronic diagnosis or disease label! All human beings have common three experiences: life, death and grief. Grief can happen after many such reasons as loss of someone or something, trauma or getting a chronic disease.

Chronic pain patients feel considerable losses due to the impacts on their lives. They feel inability to engage in meaningful relationships, activities or with themselves. More specifically, they can feel employee-related losses, loss of roles and abilities, financial losses and a loss of identity and hope. Also, they may also feel misunderstood by those around them and significantly changed.

There are 7 stages of grieving processes for Chronic Pain:
•Denial. In this stage, one is in a state of shock and refusal.
•Pleading, Bargaining & Desperation: This is the stage where one wants more than anything for life to be what it once was.
•Anger.
•Anxiety and Depression.
•Loss of Self and Confusion.
•Re-evaluation of Life, Roles and Goals.
•Acceptance.

After acceptance, the most important thing is to follow through the treatments plans set out by the professionals and stay in the course. It will take some time and patience, but you will regain control of your life! It’s not surprising – dealing with a chronic disease day in, day out, can lead to feelings of desperation and futility.

But despair not! We now have many treatments that manage your chronic pain conditions with supplements, medications, specific injections, implantable devices, regenerative medicine and even newer techniques on the horizon.

We will explore certain chronic pain conditions and treatments in our future posts.
God Bless! Stay safe and hopeful.

Kamlesh Sisodiya, M.D.

Monday Morning Medical Minute With Precision Pain Solutions:

Nutrition Part 2 of 3:

Good morning, I am Dr. Torrence Stepteau, one of the partner physicians of Precision Oaun Solutions, a division of American Pain and Wellness. Two weeks ago my topic of discussion was on proper diet and nutrition, and I discussed 15 foods that help to strengthen your immune system. Today I will dig deeper into almost half of those foods. Let’s get started.

Citrus Fruits:
- Grapefruit, oranges, clementines, tangerines, lemons, and limes make up the foods in this category. Because your body doesn’t produce or store it, you need vitamin C for continued health. The recommended daily amount for most adults is 75mg for women and 99 mg for men. If you opt for supplements, avoid taking more than 200 mg per day.

Red Bell Peppers
- If you think citrus fruits have the most vitamin C of any fruit or vegetable, think again. Ounce for ounce, red bell peppers contain almost 3 times as much vitamin C (127mg) as a Florida orange (45mg). They are a rich source of beta carotene also. Besides boosting your immune system, vitamin C may help you maintain healthy skin.

Broccoli:
- Broccoli is supercharged with vitamins and minerals. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as fiber and many antioxidants, broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can put on your plate. The key to keeping it’s power intact is to cook it as little as possible, with steaming being the best option.

Garlic:
- Garlic is found in almost every cuisine in the world. It adds a little zing to food, and it’s a must have for your health. Early civilizations recognized it’s value in fighting infections. Garlic may also slow down hardening of the arteries, and there is weak evidence that it helps lower blood pressure. Garlic’s immune-boosting propertied seem to come from a heavy concentration of sulfur containing compounds such as allicin.

Ginger:
- Ginger is another ingredient many turn to after getting sick. Ginger may help decrease inflammation, which can help reduces sore throat and inflammatory illness. Ginger is also believed to help decrease symptoms of chronic pain, and it also possess cholesterol lowering properties.

Spinach:
- Spinach is listed because it is rich in vitamin C. It is also packed with numerous antioxidants and beta carotene, which may both increase the infection fighting ability of our immune systems. Similar to broccoli, spinach is healthiest when it is cooked as little as possible so that it retains it’s nutrients.

Yogurt:
- Look for yogurts that have the phrase “ live and active cultures “ printed on the label, like Greek yogurt. These cultures may stimulate your immune system to help fight diseases. Try to get plain yogurt rather than those flavored and loaded with sugar. Instead use healthy fruits or a drizzle of honey to flavor your yogurt. Yogurt can be a great source of vitamin D which helps regulate the immune system and is thought to boost our body’s natural defenses against disease.

This is a lot to digest(no pun intended), thus I have chosen to break the information up. This information all comes from excerpts i found when researching this topic because it is currently relevant to our needs to do what we can to be healthier as we attempt to fight off the Covid-19 pandemic. Please check in with us next week, when my partner, Dr. Kamlesh Sisodiya will discuss another topic relevant to Pain Management. In two weeks, I will conclude my nutrition segment on foods which strengthen your immune system. Remember to be safe, and continue to practice physical distancing while remaining socially supportive.

Torrence Stepteau, M.D.

Monday Morning Medical Minute With Precision Pain Solutions:

Good Morning. I am Kamlesh Sisodiya, MD. with Precision Pain Solutions. This Monday Morning Medical Minute, I bring you the benefits of exercising for people with chronic pain.

As we all are practicing social distancing and staying put at home, we are restricted from going to gyms, community recreational centers, and many other places where we can walk, swim and exercise. However, this is a good time to get back on track with home exercise programs.

If there was one prescription that I had to write for chronic patients, It would be:

EXERCISE-walking, biking, swimming, yoga, stretching or resistance training (as tolerated )

DIRECTIONS: 3 to 4 times a week 20-30 minutes.

REFILL: forever

Resting for short periods can help with pain. However, too much rest may actually make it worse and put you at greater risk of injury, decreased flexibility, decreased strength, increased weight, and even more pain. Research has shown that regular exercise eases pain in the long run by improving muscle tone, strength, and flexibility. Exercise may also cause a release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Some exercises are easier for certain chronic pain sufferers to do than others.

There are many online websites, channels and books where you can learn how to stretch, do yoga and do body weight exercises. Do what you can do without over extending yourself.

When you first start your exercising you may find that you get muscle pain and soreness for a couple of days to a couple of weeks. That is your body’s reaction and good inflammation that aids in increasing strength, flexibility and conditioning of muscles. Start slow , may be 10-15 mins of exercise and then increase everyday with a minute or two. In 2-3 weeks , you will build enough strength and endurance to carry out 20-30 minutes of exercise with ease. Keep your body moving! Nutritious sensible eating paired with an exercise program, will help keep your weight at bay and increase your energy. It can also result in more flexibility, strength, and less pain. And an overall more positive approach to your daily life.

So go get your exercise prescription filled now ! Stay healthy and safe. God bless!

Monday Morning Medical Minute with Precision Pain Solutions:

As many of us continue to abide by the stay and shelter ordinances in our respective cities and states, we are dealing with the stress and anxiety associated with loss of jobs and income, or changes in how we execute our responsibilities of our jobs and or companies. For this reason, this week’s topic is focused on how stress and anxiety can negatively impact or exacerbate both acute and chronic pain symptoms.

Pain is often defined as an emotional or physical response to an uncomfortable physical or perceived stimulus. Many of my patients can attest to the fact that we at some time have discussed how chronic pain is perceived as being worse when someone hates their job, hates their financial situation, is unhappy with their spouse or their children. In those instances, rarely will a change in medication regimen, or an interventional pain management injection or procedure completely alleviate their acute flare up in pain. The root cause of what is driving the increased pain must be addressed before the other therapies can be most effective.

As we deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, managing our stress and anxiety is paramount to our overall health and well being. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to devote time several times per week to regular aerobic exercise, stretching, prayer,and meditation. In this instance, I am recommending that you do as I do, and not just do as I say. Regular exercise specifically can help to boost your immune system, and help you fight against experiencing severe symptoms should you contract the virus. Notice, I did not say it will prevent you from contracting the virus. Stretching helps your muscles recover after your exercise insult. Meditation helps bring you back to your emotional center. Prayer allows you time, no matter what religion you practice, to communicate with the higher being you believe in, which in turn keeps you centered spiritually. Physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well being is the key to getting through the crises we all are dealing with! In closing, please remember to practice social distancing, wash your hands, and continue to follow the CDC guidelines; Also, when it comes to your medical health, listen to your doctor and the medical and science experts!

Thank you for your time,

Torrence Stepteau, M.D.