Treat your pain and live a better life…

best-pain-doctor-nycWelcome to my blog about pain. Unfortunately, many people suffer from chronic pain. As a board certified physician in physical medicine and rehabilitation, my specialty is treating these people with both acute and chronic pain.

A majority of my practice is working with patients that are experiencing back and neck pain.

My goal with this blog is to help patients who are experiencing any type of back or neck pain to understand what is causing their pain and discuss options that are available to end their pain. I hope to be able to provide readers with a portal that they can can use to educate themselves and facilitate treatment.

My specialty is my Interventional Spine Skills including cervical and lumbar epidural steroid injections, facet injections, medial branch blocks, Radiofrequency ablation, sympathetic ganglion blocks, spinal cord stimulator trials, sacroiliac joint injection, piriformis muscle block and musculoskeletal joint injection. I also perform many other procedures to alleviate acute and chronic pain.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing it and observing people from all over the world reading it.

– Matthew Grimm, M.D.

Category Archives: Chronic Pain

Injection Alternatives for Chronic Pain Management

Chronic Pain Management Doctor NYC

What are options other than injections for chronic pain management? Pain indicates that something is not right with your body. While the pain can be acute or chronic, we will be focusing on the physical pain that can arise due to a number of reasons and disturb your life. There are various forms of pain, but there are two major types. Acute pain can last for as long as a few weeks (usually 2-3) and then often resolves on its own.

Chronic pain, on the other hand, can last up to 12 weeks or three months, and some people may experience chronic pain for up to 6 months as well. This implies how important it is to take note of the slightest symptoms that you may see.

Understanding Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is usually ongoing and can last more than six months in serious cases. Chronic pain can persist even after its main cause heals and goes away. This means that the nervous system struggles with active pain signals that can remain for weeks, months, or even years. It can also occur devoid of any past medical conditions or apparent body injuries and damage. Some of the causes of chronic pain include:

  • Back pain
  • Nerve pain
  • Arthritis
  • Headache
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Cancer

Some of these conditions can be devastating to your lifestyle and may result in lethargy, appetite loss, muscle aches, movement limitations, and more. Moreover, certain physiological and psychological effects may occur due to the persistence of chronic pain. You may experience anger, anxiety, depression, or fear of injuries.

About Injection Alternatives for Chronic Pain Management

Dr for Chronic Pain Management

In the case of chronic pain conditions, there is an extensive range of treatment options that you can explore with your pain physician to maximize your recovery and regain control over your nervous system. You can go for injections that deliver various antibodies and chemicals ranging from steroids to salt and sterile solutions and treat a variety of pain areas on the body.

Nevertheless, if you want to engage in non-invasive treatment options, you may go for a number of other methods. While some offer major pain relief, others work well with different treatment options in a pain management program. Here are some of the injection alternatives that we have compiled for you.

Different Forms of Supplements and Vitamins

Pain doctors have been prescribing dietary supplements for a long time. They believe that the natural healing properties of certain supplements and the effect of healthy synthetic supplements can help deliver pain relief. Some of the most popular dietary supplements include glucosamine, fish oil, topical capsaicin, and more. However, the use of supplements and vitamins will depend mainly on the cause of chronic pain.

You have to be extremely careful and rely on the intake of certain supplements to prevent the risk of contracting health conditions other than those that you already have.

Regular Exercise

Exercise is a natural remedy against multiple health problems. Exercise maintains cardiovascular healthy by improving blood circulation. When you perform different forms of physical exercise and activities, different parts of your body engage in motion and tension. Exercise naturally improves the mood since your body experiences a boost in energy. Your pain doctor may suggest regular or periodic exercises to maintain your health. Make sure that you consult your doctor to learn which exercises you can avoid or perform depending on your medical conditions and history.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a traditional treatment method that aims to heal blocked nerves and more. Although it is not as popular as before, some pain doctors recommend acupuncture as a component of a complete pain management program. The use of needles helps in releasing the accumulated chemicals in blocked nerves and other parts of the body.

Various Forms of Therapies

Opting for therapies doesn’t imply that your pain isn’t real. In fact, therapies often help you behave against your pain symptoms and conditions. You may feel anger, anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, and other negative psychological effects due to chronic pain. Therapies aim to evaluate your thought process, the response against pain, and ways that you seek to relieve the symptoms. Talk therapy, CBT, and other forms of therapies may be effective considering the severity and effect of chronic pain on your health.

Injection Alternatives for Chronic Pain Management: Conclusion

Matthew Grimm, MD, at Spine New York City, is one of the top board-certified pain physicians helping patients with all their pain conditions and problems. He has the experience of treating an extensive array of chronic pain conditions alongside acute pain symptoms. Using a multi-disciplinary approach and engaging with the patient in the most empathetic way, Dr. Grimm ensures effective treatment.

Pain management and treatment is a growing field with major breakthroughs now and then. Dr. Grimm remains updated and continues to learn the advanced treatments and procedures. He uses spinal intervention techniques to deliver pain relief in cases of chronic pain in conjunction with other forms of treatment methods.

Call us at 646-862-5555 today to set an appointment or check our official website to learn more.

Matthew Grimm, M.D.
160 E 56th St
11th Floor
New York, NY 10022

646-862-5555

 

References:

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/chronic-pain-syndrome-overview
https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/injections-that-could-ease-your-joint-pain/
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.dcmsonline.org/resource/resmgr/files/e-news/2019/hb451-pamphlet-6-28-19.pdf

Understanding Chronic Pain

Different factors affect our understanding of chronic pain. Aches and pains are common causes of discomfort. But pain is also a form of alert that indicates something is wrong with our body through the nervous system. When the pain signals from the nerves in our body reach the brain, that’s when we experience discomfort. The main passage of pain is through your spinal cord. Therefore, with chronic pain, your spinal cord may be flushing with pain signals from any part of your body that may not necessarily show a noticeable underlying medical condition.

Understanding Chronic Pain
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Understanding Chronic Pain

Chronic pain usually lasts up to 12 weeks and may persist for six months or longer. Chronic pain can come in various forms, such as stabbing, shooting, throbbing, pulsating, and others. Chronic pain can occur without any apparent or noticeable cause. While chronic pain is persistent and lasts longer than other types of pain, it can be intermittent and irregular.

Sources of chronic pain can include:

  • Arthritis pain
  • Cancer pain
  • Headaches
  • Lower back pain
  • Post-surgical pain
  • Neurogenic pain (nerve damage)
  • Post-trauma pain
  • Psychogenic pain

When you hurt yourself during a heavy task, fall in an accident, or receive minor injuries, you experience “acute pain”. It generally lasts no more than a few weeks and recovers easily. Once the body heals from the injury, damage, or a certain condition, acute pain resolves. However, when it persists and keeps becomes severe, it is important to see your primary healthcare doctor or a pain physician.

Possible Causes of Chronic Pain in the Body

Sometimes chronic pain can occur in different parts of the body without an apparent cause. Other times, patients might have a long-lasting and ongoing medical condition such as osteoarthritis, other forms of arthritis, or cancer that produce constant pain. Any injuries can leave your body susceptible to pain due to high sensitivity. It is worth noting that you may not fully recover from pain trigger points that arise due to high sensitivity even after the injury recovers. Minute problems such as infections, sprains, and broken bones can also give you chronic pain.

On the other hand, you may not have any form of physical complication at all. Psychogenic or psychosomatic pain can result in chronic pain as well. For instance, anger, anxiety, depression, stress, and other types of negative psychological factors. Overall, scientists and doctors believe that the low presence of endorphin in the blood can lead to the development of negative feelings and cause psychogenic pain.

Other Causes

When someone suffers from a sprain or muscle injury, they may experience chronic pain. When nerves suffer irreparable damage, you can experience chronic pain at some point. This means that you should always stay in touch with your doctor to find treatment options in prompt care of any symptoms that you may notice. Chronic pain can occur due to severe underlying medication conditions, a serious injury, previous surgeries, or without any obvious cause.

Here’s a list of some more causes that relate to chronic pain:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Endometriosis
  • Vulvodynia
  • TMJ Disorder

Treatment Options for Chronic Pain

Today, there are pain management and rehab programs that incorporate different forms of treatment options. Firstly, your pain doctor will determine which treatment option is best for you, depending on the underlying cause of chronic pain. If it’s due to any disease or serious condition, you will have to consult and get advice on which treatments to undertake. Altogether, chronic pain treatments aim to improve your life’s quality- socially, physically, and emotionally.

Understanding Chronic Pain
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Medicinal Chronic Pain Management

Medicine management involves the use of over-the-counter medicines, which include NSAIDs, acetaminophen, or aspirin. These medicines may not be effective or offer short lived pain relief. Furthermore, your pain doctor may prescribe certain medications and drug courses that will offer relief. While they may offer greater relief from chronic pain, only a certified pain doctor can prescribe them under their discretion.

Moreover, when severe pain starts having psychosomatic and psychological effects, pain doctors prescribe antidepressants. It helps in controlling the production of certain brain chemicals that boost negative feelings and increase pain sensations.

Other Treatment Options

  • Massages
  • Occupational Therapies
  • Regular Exercise/Physical Therapy
  • Electrical Stimulation Treatments (TENS Therapy, Bioelectric Treatment, and more)
  • Biofeedback
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Surgery (Injections and Implants)
  • Acupuncture

Understanding Chronic Pain: Conclusion

Do you wish to receive maximum care to relieve chronic pain? Visit Spine New York City to get the best pain management and treatment services. Matthew Grimm M.D. is a top NYC pain physician with board certification in Interventional Pain Management and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Call us for a consultation today. Receiving early treatment for chronic pain symptoms can help you recovery more quickly.

Matthew Grimm, M.D.
160 E 56th St
11th Floor
New York, NY 10022
646-862-5555

Visit our official website for more info.

 

Reference Links:

https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/understanding-pain-management-chronic-pain
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/brain-nerves-and-spinal-cord/chronic-pain
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Chronic-Pain-Information-Page
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/chronic-pain/chronic-pain-a-disease-why-does-it-still-hurt

Best Treatments for Chronic Pain

What are the best treatments for chronic pain? In general, the sensation of physical pain is your body telling you that something bad is happening. This is incredibly good in terms of self-protection and awareness. The feeling of pain is indicative of the brain signaling that something is wrong and you must protect yourself or get away from it. The problem begins when the pain does not go away and starts occurring more frequently for months without any external stimuli.

Chronic Pain

The pain that lasts you at least three months or more is chronic. Suffering from chronic pain is the worst, as it can take a serious toll on your physical and mental health. More importantly, it can disrupt your quality of life by making you lose focus.

Chronic pain can be the brick wall that comes between your pursuits, happiness, and career. Fortunately, different kinds of chronic pain have different kinds of treatments. With adequate knowledge and insight, you can describe the specific type of chronic pain to a professional.

Your accurate description of the pain is a crucial step that can help them find the best treatment for your chronic pain. Sensations can either be throbbing or achy and also stabbing and tingling. Both indicate a different type of pain that comes with a specific type of treatment.

Best Treatments for Chronic Pain
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Chronic Pain Treatment

Initially, recognizing that you have chronic pain is your first step towards treatment. After that, you must identify the type of pain that you experience, its frequency, intensity, and sensation. The most common treatment of pain is over-the-counter medicines. However, the best ways to treat chronic pain involves a combination of many different methods, including medication.

Medication

There are two medications that you can take for chronic pain – non-prescription and prescription medication. Non-prescriptive medication is the milder one that may help with temporary pain relief of mild to low pain problems.

On the other hand, for a more severe pain problem, you have to resort to steroidal and heavier medications that require a doctor’s prescription. These are higher doses that mostly account for numbing the pain and have side effects.

Moreover, there are also topical options, which are external-use creams and balms. These relieve pain by providing temporary relaxation by either heating or cooling down the specific area. Some have anti-inflammatory ingredients that can help alleviate inflammatory pain.

Injections

A specialist may also use trigger point injections to treat pain in a specific region of the body. Usually, this method comes into play when muscle knots form in the specific trigger points of a muscle.

The procedure requires the practitioner to inject an anesthetic into the muscular region so that the trigger point becomes inactive and unable to cause a painful sensation. This may only result in a brief relief of the pain until the anesthetic wears off.

Trigger points and injections are an effective treatment for chronic pain in the arms, back, neck, and legs. Furthermore, injections for pain are instrumental solutions for temporary relief so that you can properly perform physiotherapy exercising or recovery movements.

Intrathecal Pump Implant

This is another interventional treatment of chronic pain like injections. The intrathecal pumps refer to small devices that doctors surgically insert inside the skin so that they can provide pain relief medication directly to the source of pain whenever you experience it.

Doctors will consider this method when other methods such as medication and injections fail to provide relief. Unlike injections, this method is more invasive since it requires the refill of the pump after a couple of months.

The best part about this method is that you do not have to worry about the medicine wearing off; the pump provides consistent medication to the pain-infused area. The pump may also provide you freedom from any oral medications that you might be taking.

Radiofrequency

This method involves the use of X-ray guidance and an electrode. Radiofrequency Rhizotomy helps diffuse the nerves’ capability to send pain signals to the brain.

Radiofrequency ablation is not the sole treatment for chronic pain; however, it can help you get pain relief for a good couple of months. Doctors recommend that patients should follow this interventional technique with physiotherapy to get a long-lasting benefit.

Best Treatments for Chronic Pain | Specialist NYC
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Exercise

Although most people resort to resting when they are suffering from pain, keep in mind that too much resting can worsen chronic pain. Regular exercise helps add more muscle mass to your bones, which ultimately strengthens the bone.

Moreover, exercise also helps make you healthy overall. Not to mention, your body tends to release endorphins after a vigorous round of exercise. This is a chemical that the body releases, which eludes good feeling and acts as a natural painkiller.

Best Treatments for Chronic Pain: Conclusion

Chronic pain is one of the worst things that you can experience. If you have had pain for a couple of months, record details about your pain and report to a good pain management specialist.

If you suffer from chronic pain and you live in New York, Visit Dr. Mathew Grimm for a customized, personalized, and innovative pain relief treatment just for you. Call now at 646-862-5555 or visit our website for more information.

Chronic Pain: Causes & Treatment Options

Chronic pain is when you experience severe pain for longer periods. This pain can affect any part of your body, such as the head, lower back, and legs. Sometimes, the pain persists, and sometimes, it comes and goes. The drawback of chronic pain is that it interferes with your day-to-day activities and personal life, making it difficult for you to function properly.

Within time, you might get used to the pain, or it could get worse. It is important to treat chronic pain, but for the proper treatment, you must learn of the cause behind your chronic pain. Mentioned below are some possible chronic pain causes and treatments.

Chronic Pain Causes & Treatment Options
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What Causes Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain can occur either knowingly or unknowingly. In some cases, the pain develops suddenly and persists for as long periods until you start getting it treated properly. The intensity of the pain can get worse, and it’s a must to receive medical help, especially when you’re not sure about the cause behind the pain. Mentioned below are some common causes behind chronic pain.

1.     Injuries

Chronic pain can derive from any injury, even if it has already healed. The pain from an injury can spark up anytime, causing severe discomfort. Chronic injury pain can also be the result of surgical incisions and different infections. Mentioned below are the types of injuries that most commonly cause chronic pain:

  • Back pain
  • Arthritis
  • Nerve Damage
  • Lyme Disease
  • Acid Reflux
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Broken Bones
  • Endometriosis
  • Migraines
  • Fibromyalgia

2.     Psychological Causes

Chronic pain has a lot to do with the way we think and act, as nerve impulses keep triggering the brain. In some cases, psychological and social factors play a major role in causing chronic pain. When you’re in a state of emotional sadness and feel anxious, these emotions signal chronic pain. Sometimes, they can even worsen it. Social factors, such as poor job satisfaction, financial issues at home, or family issues, can aggravate chronic pain as you’re in a constant state of stress. Stress doesn’t just worsen chronic pain, but it can also cause it. This is why it’s a must to treat it if it’s due to psychological factors.

How to Treat Chronic Pain

Mentioned below are different treatment options for chronic pain:

Physical Exercise

Before asking your doctor for medication, it’s good to make a few good lifestyle changes that might help relieve chronic pain. The best way to manage pain is through regular physical exercise. You need exercise to treat chronic pain as it helps relieve body pain, gets you better sleep at night, releases endorphins, and strengthens muscles.

Acupuncture

Chinese medicine, such and acupuncture, and acupressure are a few options to relieve pain as well. These methods prompt the body to release endorphins, which block pain signals going to the brain.

Over-The-Counter Medication

You can start off with some common OTC medications, such as Tylenol and NSAIDs. NSAIDs include medication such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. These can provide mild relief from chronic pain and help with swelling and inflammation. You can combine these medicines with other treatments, such as physical therapy and relaxation techniques.

Prescribed Medication

If the pain is unbearable, your doctor will prescribe stronger medication. According to The American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), different medication types specifically target chronic pain. These are Opioids such as morphine, adjuvant analgesics such as antidepressants, and non-opioid such as NSAIDs. Antidepressants are the best form of prescribed medication to treat chronic pain as they also help improve psychological symptoms such as depressive mood and anxiety.

Chronic Pain Treatment Options
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Surgical Procedure

You may have to get a surgical implant if medications don’t work. Different surgical implants are available to treat chronic pain. You can get one such implant in your spinal cord. The implant adjusts the pain signals that go to the brain.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a common pain management technique that uses relies on physical characteristics, such as brain activity, muscle tension, skin temperature, and heart rate. This technique keeps you aware of how you can keep both physical and emotional pain under control.

Other Treatment Options

  • Relaxation techniques such as yoga, massage, and meditation
  • Cannabis
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
  • Cognitive Therapy

Conclusion: Consult A Specialist to Help Manage Your Chronic Pain

It is important to seek medical help the moment you start experiencing chronic pain. Hopefully, these chronic pain causes and treatments will help you understand the pain better so you can treat it properly. For the best chronic pain treatment services in New York, get in touch with Mathew Grimm, M.D.

Dealing with Chronic Pain

Having chronic pain is not less than having severe disease. People with this pain face difficulty in completing daily tasks. They find it hard to do regular chores, concentrate on their office work, and manage little things. This gets worse if you don’t try to deal with it. This is why we have mentioned some useful techniques to deal with your pain in an effective way.

Dealing with Chronic Pain
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Dealing with Chronic Pain: Management

You may see your future living with pain and discomfort; keep in mind, it only happens in worst-case scenarios. In reality, most of the people live happy, healthy lives even with the pain.

This is because they find their own way to cope with chronic pain. People use different methods, such as medications, lifestyle changes, alternative treatments, and positive coping skills.

Take the Right Medication

Sometimes people need to try a couple of medications to find the best one for their pain. Yes, it is annoying to try several prescriptions, but sampling a variety of medications can help you control pain.

You may be concerned that you will need to take medication your entire life and live with its side effects. Some people will also feel worried about painkiller addiction. However, it is not the case with every medication. Most of the pain relievers are safe and effective. And in case you feel concerned, you can consult your doctor. They will help you determine the advantages and disadvantages of it so that you can make the right decision.

If you have any problems or side effects, ask your pain management doctor to change your medication. Avoiding these signs are not good, as it can worsen your pain and health.

Do Exercise

Not moving your body can lead to more problems. Ask your physical therapist or doctor for the best exercises considering your pain and health. They should take your current fitness level and diagnosis into account.

Don’t think about hitting the gym, either. You can exercise at home and can take help from DVDs or videos. You can also find a rehabilitation center near your home.

If you are facing intense pain, exercise aids you in maintaining your mobility. It boosts your muscle’s health and makes your joints flexible, which can help reduce the symptoms and impacts of pain. Moving your body regularly can also help prevent disuse syndrome, a health problem that weakens the muscles due to inactivity. Your weak muscles are more prone to pain and even lead to other injuries. However, make sure to consult your doctor before starting any exercises.

Learn To Relax

Stress can lead to muscle tension, which can raise the intensity of your pain. Allowing your muscles to relax will decrease pain sensations and strain. You need to relax your body to control your pain without the help of more medications.

Top NYC Doctor for Dealing with Chronic Pain
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Relaxation is a pain controlling method that you can apply on its own or in the combination of other treatments. You can do the following things to lower your stress level.

  • Tai chi
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Qigong
  • Guided imagery

Get Some Complementary and Alternative Treatment

This is one of the most common ways to control chronic pain. You can use complementary and alternative treatments alone or with any type of mediations. Both ways it can help you a lot.

Some examples of CAM for high-intensity pain include:

  • Magnetic therapy
  • Massage therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Cupping
  • Mindfulness
  • Energy medicines including Reiki
  • Herbal medicine

Look For Support

Chronic pain is a common problem in America. There are wide chances that someone close to you has suffered from the same condition. You both can share your pain problems and talk about your struggles to seek support.

You can join some support groups as well. You can get some advice and tips from other participants, but they can also become a sympathetic ear when you need to share your struggling story.

Do Some Research

It’s important to understand your pain, its reason, causes, and treatment. You can do this by searching for information about chronic pain. Many websites can help you with it. These sites are a great source to get credible information about medications and treatments. Some of them also offer book reviews.

Moreover, you can consult your pain management doctor to discuss your symptoms. Keeping yourself educated and informed about your condition can help you manage a quality life while living with your pain.

Dealing with Chronic Pain: Bottom Line

If you have chronic pain, the first thing you need to do is contact a specialist. In this case, Dr. Matthew Grimm, M.D., can help you. He has specialized in pain management and knows how to control and treat your pain.

For details, you can check our website or call us at 646-862-5555 to book an appointment with our pain management doctor.

CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

Pain is a natural phenomenon. You feel pain when you get a cut or if you crack your bone. Your nervous system tells you that something is wrong and after healing, you are pain-free. Pain signals travel through your spinal cord and reach your brain.

Chronic pain is different than the pain that we feel usually, which becomes less severe as the injury heals. Chronic pain keeps sending your brain signals after you have completely recovered from the wound. This can last up to weeks or years and can affect your strength, flexibility, and endurance, disturbing your daily tasks and activities. It also has an effect on your mental health.

chronic-pain-management-01

You may feel sharp or dull pain and it can cause an aching or burning sensation in the affected area. This pain may last for at least 12 weeks. It may come or go without any specific reason. This can affect any part of the body and you may feel pain differently in different areas.

Causes of Chronic Pain

Causes of chronic pain include pulled muscle or back sprain. It’s believed that chronic pain is due to nerve damage. The damage in the nerve makes it long-lasting and intense. Treating the injury doesn’t help in these cases.

Chronic Pain may also begin without any reason. Some of the main causes of chronic pain are:

1.     Endometriosis

Endometriosis is different from usual menstrual pain. This is chronic pain. It happens during your menstrual period repeatedly. Pain is so severe that sometimes OTC pain relievers or aspirin doesn’t work. The pain does not occur only around your uterus but spreads to your legs and back.

2.     Injuries or Surgeries

nyc-doctor-chronic-pain-management-02These injuries are the result of repetitive or prolonged motion like in sports, such as swimming, cycling, and running. When you overuse one body organ too much while playing a sport or working for a long time, you could end up with this type of pain. An injury while playing may cause you tennis elbow, runner’s knee, heel inflammation, stress fractures or shin splint. The most frequent cause of chronic pain is surgery. It significantly affects the quality of life and daily activities of sufferers.

3.     Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Chronic inflammation of your digestive tract is also called inflammatory bowel disease. There are two types of IBD: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

4.     Neuropathic Pain

Shooting or burning pain is sometimes called neuropathic pain or nerve damage. It can go easily but sometimes it is chronic. Nervous system malfunctioning and nerve damage may result in neuropathic pain. The main causes of this pain are chemotherapy, HIV AIDS, diabetes, alcoholism, etc. Symptoms of this condition are burning and shooting pain, and tingling and numbness.

5.     Interstitial cystitis

This condition is a chronic bladder health issue. The bladder area feels pain and pressure. Pain may also occur in other areas like lower abdomen, urethra, lower back, and pelvic perineal area. Women may feel pain in the vulva or the vagina and men may feel it in scrotum, penis or testicles. Pain may come and go or stay constant.

6.     Back Problems

Most people in their lives experience back pain. Chronic back pain is the pain that occurs after injury or surgery and can stay for weeks and months. Prolonged poor posture is the main and usual cause of this pain.

7.     Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disease and is medically unexplained. Other than chronic pain, symptoms of this condition are sleep disturbance, joint stiffness, and fatigue. Life is tough for chronic fibromyalgia patients.

8.     Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Characterized by fatigue or tiredness, chronic fatigue syndrome doesn’t go away with rest and is hard to explain medically. You and your docto, have to treat causes for your fatigue because many other conditions also show similar symptoms.

9.     Infections

There are many types of chronic infections. These infections are slow to resolve. Some bacteria can create life-long infections in the host body. The different types of chronic infections are; fungi chronic infection, prion chronic infection, bacteria chronic infection, and viruses’ chronic infection depending on an antigen that is responsible for the infection.

Conclusion

Chronic pain may stay for a long time. If not taken seriously, it can last for years. For chronic pain management and consultation regarding conditions and symptoms, you can contact us. Give a call at (646) 862-5555 or book an appointment with our pain management doctor to get help with your condition.

When to Seek a Specialist to Manage Your Chronic Pain

What is Chronic Pain?

There is a difference between acute (minor) pain and chronic pain. Acute pain tends to go away in a few weeks whereas chronic pain is intensely severe and may last for 6 to 12 months or more. Chronic pain is typically due to an injury, nerve damage or muscle spraining.

The science behind this shooting pain is that when you sense it, the nerves in your brain detect that there is a problem. Once detected, the brain then sends signals back to your body to heal the pain and solve the ‘problem’. If you are suffering from chronic pain, this movement of signals coming back and forth confuses your body. Your body does not respond to the signals and becomes even more sensitive to pain, hence the severity of chronic pain.

Signs & Symptoms

If you feel shooting pain in a specific area of your body and you can simply not bear it, you are suffering from chronic pain. That area will sting, burn, swell up and there will be soreness as well. This will result in sudden mood changes and lack of hunger and sleep. You may also feel drained and tired all the time.

Types of Specialists you can Consult for Therapy

Chiropractors are specialists that treat all kinds of chronic pains, especially back pain. They detect spinal manipulation and try to properly align the patient’s body. Chiropractic care certainly does help heal chronic pains.

Physical Rehabilitations specialists ensure better quality of life to patients and deal with injuries related to spinal cord, nerves, muscles or tendons.

Physical Therapists are specialists who guide you and give an exercise plan for pain relief. They will help you exercise to increase your mobility. They also do hot oil massages and place ice packs on the affected areas in order to ease your pain

Seeking a Specialist

Some of the most common types of chronic pains are; arthritis pain, back pain, post trauma pain or cancer pain. Whatever the reason of your pain, seek medical help if things go out of hand and the pain becomes uncontrollable.

Chronic pain tends to interfere with your mental state as well. It stays with you for long so causes you to be low and lose hope. Depression and chronic pain are inter related that’s why most doctors prescribe anti-depressant pills to help you get rid of your pain and depression. This is important because the combination of excessive stress and lack of sleep enhances your pain even more.

Moreover, you don’t know what your symptoms are leading towards. We can guide you better. Chronic pain can even mean cancer, so don’t take prolonged pain lightly. Your condition will be carefully checked, tests and scans will be conducted so that proper diagnosis can be done. Tailor made plans will be designed for your recovery.

It is very important for you to understand your problem so you don’t repeat the same mistakes. For example, if you are overweight and obesity is the main cause of your chronic knee pain, you should address this problem. Make yourself healthier so you can easily do physical activities to keep your body in shape and your weight in check.

Bottom-Line

Nerve block, acupuncture and electrical stimulation are just some examples of the medical procedures that exist to tackle this health problem. You can only find out about them if you visit a specialist and discuss the matter in detail.  Electrical stimulation procedure aims to reduce pain by sending mild electric shocks into your muscles, which is quite fascinating don’t you think? Thanks to research in medical sciences.

To conclude, it is vital to connect with a specialist for a better understanding of your problem and to look for suitable solutions as well. So, do not wait for your condition to worsen! Schedule your appointment with the best pain specialist in Manhattan.

Methods to Manage Chronic Pain

If you are living with a physical discomfort arising from your back or spine for longer than three months, you have developed chronic back pain. While many people neglect the pain, it can lead to severe ailments. Therefore, it is necessary to visit a pain doctor to prevent severity. Discuss the symptoms with your doctor to identify the source of the condition. This way, your doctor will give you a comprehensive treatment plan. While over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help manage the pain, you may also need to undergo multiple treatments, which include:

  • Psychological counseling
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Exercise
  • Acupuncture
  • Physical therapy

No doubt, managing chronic pain is complex because what can work best for one patient may not be effective for another. However, besides these medical treatment options, your doctor may recommend you to practice at-home caring methods to manage the chronic pain.

Mediation and Deep Breathing

Meditation and deep breathing are one of the effective techniques that help your body relax, which further alleviates your chronic pain. While doing meditation, ensure to choose the techniques that are specifically useful for helping with aches.  Other than this, ignoring thoughts while focusing on breath will relax your body.

Reduce Stress

While having chronic back pain, you are like to be vulnerable to complexities. At this point, it is imperative for you to manage stress, anxiety, and depression with certain techniques. Not to mention, these negative feelings can make your body more susceptible and sensitive to pain, intensifying the ache. The techniques that help reduce anxiety and depression include listening to calming and soothing music. It will help improve your mood, making a living with chronic pain tolerable.

Exercise

You can boost the endorphins with exercising, a chemical in your body that may help reduce the pain. It is important to mention here that endorphins improve your mood while disrupting the pain signals. Therefore, performing physical exercise can have a positive effect; it will strengthen your muscles and prevent further severity.

Besides other exercises, you may practice yoga poses; it may help reduce the pain. Some medical professionals believe that doing yoga can provide patients with long-lasting benefits.

Stop Smoking and Drinking Alcohol

While pain already interferes with your sleep, drinking alcohol will make the problem worse. So, if you have been experiencing chronic pain, make sure to cut down alcohol from your life to prevent the pain creating more discomfort to you. Other than this, keep in mind that smoking can increase the risks associated with the condition; it will worsen your back pain and may result in severe illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease.

In Conclusion

If you have been experiencing chronic back pain that doesn’t get better in several days with home care, then you must seek out an experienced doctor immediately to help with your condition. In other words, if your pain does not go away in 3-months, it could indicate a sign that your condition has become complex. As a result, you need a professional’s consultation.

If you leave the chronic pain without treating it, you can develop serious medical conditions, including permanent physical disability. If you are having chronic back pain, schedule an appointment with Dr. Grimm. He will help diagnose and treat your chronic pain.

Call today: 646-862-5555

How can a Doctor Help me Deal with Chronic Pain?

how-doctor-can-help-chronic-pain-01Pain seems to be an unavoidable factor in many of our lives. When we get up in the morning, getting out of bed may feel like an insurmountable obstacle. Going about our daily life can become a hassle, as just about every movement causes pain. Many people have given up things that they once loved to do because it causes them too much pain now. There is hope! Chronic pain can be dealt with. But what is chronic pain? How can we deal with chronic pain? And how will a doctor specifically help me?

What is Chronic Pain?

The simple definition of chronic pain is any pain that lasts more than about three months. That’s an awfully long time to be dealing with pain! Many people have been dealing with pain for much longer than that, and it seems that there is no end in sight. Chronic pain can vary greatly from one person to another.

For some people, their chronic pain is caused by arthritis. This condition causes inflammation of the joints and makes any movement feel incredibly painful. Other people deal with fibromyalgia or other pain syndromes. In these cases, it seems like there’s no reason for the pain to last as long as it has. Other people have dealt with a traumatic incident, like a car accident, and have never fully recovered. No matter what the cause of your chronic pain is, there are some distinct similarities in the treatments provided.

How Chronic Pain can be Dealt With

chronic-pain-treatment-shots-pharma-options-nyc-02Of course, the exact treatment to deal with your chronic pain will depend on the cause of your pain. Regardless of the actual underlying cause, there are some things that can help with pain management for everyone. Some of these things are very simple, like meditation or mindfulness. The simple act of thinking and focusing on something other than your pain can actually reduce the pain felt. Other things, like lifestyle modification and joint protection techniques, will help you to do your regular, daily routine with less pain. Using adapted tools, like a comfort grip jar opener or adaptive silverware, can I help you to do the things that you need to do with less pain. Ice packs, hot packs, and massage can help temporarily to deal with specific pain. But none of these solutions offer long-term help.

Dr. Grimm is able to provide more lasting help through the use of prescription medications that will help you, recommending specific procedures and treatments, and pointing you in the right direction to find resources that will help. We are also the experts in finding what works for you. For some people, one medication may help eradicate pain greatly, while for someone else that same medication does nothing. Open communication with your doctor is essential so that we can find you a solution that works.

How a Doctor Can Help With Chronic Pain

top-pain-doctor-nyc-dr-matthew-grimmWhen we have pain, we may tend to isolate ourselves, focusing on finding a solution that helps. Having a doctor to discuss your problems with will not only help you to find a more beneficial treatment but can help you emotionally as well.

A pain management clinic will be able to help. Dr. Grimm will be able to point you in the right direction and get you started with a treatment that will help you recover. But at the same time, having a listening ear and someone that genuinely cares about your case can be irreplaceable.

Are you ready to say goodbye to your chronic pain? Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Matthew Grimm so that we can discuss treatment solutions for you.

Chronic Pain & Treatment Solutions

chronic-pain-treatment-solutions-01For millions of people across the globe, chronic pain is simply a fact of life. For one reason or another, they wake up every morning to discomfort, aches, and pains. However, many forms of chronic pain are treatable. Below are listed a few examples of chronic pain that many people deal with and some treatment solutions that will help bring relief.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a chronic condition that causes pain, inflammation, and swelling of the joints. The severity of arthritis can vary greatly, with some people only lightly feeling the effects and other people feeling completely debilitated. Due to the location of the pain, people with arthritis typically find it easiest to just not move. arthritis tends to affect smaller joints more intensely, so the hands and fingers times to be painful and swollen. This can prevent people from doing even the simplest of tasks without pain.

Back Pain

Although we have all suffered from back pain at one point or another most likely, those who suffer from chronic back pain have dealt with this specific pain for a period of at least three months. Back pain can be caused by any number of triggers. Repetitive movements, poor body mechanics, or sudden trauma such as a car accident can cause pain that lingers for months. Because of the design of our body, just about every action requires back movement of some sort. People dealing with chronic back pain may find that they are frequently returning to bed, the only place they feel comfortable.

Pain Disorders

treatments-for-chronic-types-of-pain-doctor-nyc-02There are many disorders, such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or chronic pain syndrome that cause pain to the body. Although the exact mechanisms may differ from diagnosis to diagnosis, much of the pain feels the same. People with one of the above-mentioned conditions may experience “flare-ups” in which certain areas of the body become swollen, inflamed, or especially painful. During these times, just engaging in a real regular daily routine can be limited.

Treatment Solutions

top-nyc-doctor-for-chronic-pain-relief-03Thankfully, having chronic pain does not have to be a permanent thing. Many people who have suffered from chronic pain have recovered and lead full lives. There are many treatment options available. some treatments are very conservative and do not require much to begin. For example, some people have found benefit through the use of mindfulness or meditation. This can be an effective way to take your mind off of the pain. Focusing on something else, such as the rising and falling of your chest as you breathe, can help you to take your focus off of the pain.

Other treatments include therapy, stretching, and exercise to help support the areas that are painful. For example, people with back pain can strengthen the muscles around the areas that are painful and potentially help to support the body in a more ergonomic way. medications are available that can help relieve pain, reduce swelling, or promote healing of chronic conditions.

Clearly, there are plenty of possible treatment solutions. The problem we face is that we don’t know what would be best for our condition. Dr. Grimm is an expert in pain management and will be able to help guide you in your process to find relief.

Are you dealing with regular, chronic pain? Call us today at 646-862-5555 to make an appointment with Dr. Grimm to start your path to recovery and feeling good again!