When you suffer from chronic pain, it can be especially frustrating if your physician cannot determine why you’re feeling the pain. You may have had several doctor visits and multiple examinations, with no apparent reason for the source of your discomfort.

If you’ve never consulted with a pain management physician for relief from chronic pain, you may think all pain doctors are alike. But when it comes to effective treatment for your suffering, nothing could be farther from the truth.

There are thousands of pain specialists throughout the United States, many of whom are board-certified for one or more specialties related to pain conditions. So, when it’s time to seek help for your individual pain situation, how do you know what to look for?

As a primary care physician, you tirelessly dedicate your time and expertise in helping your patients enjoy a better daily life by addressing physical issues that may be diminishing their quality of living.

When your patients are in pain, you seek ways to accurately diagnose and relieve their pain so they can return to a more active, pleasurable lifestyle. But as all physicians understand, it’s not always easy to pinpoint the source of their pain conditions, much less determine what treatment protocol will serve to bring them the most relief.

Authored by Dr. Myrdalis Diaz-Ramirez

One of the most amazing advances in modern medicine comes from regenerative medicine. This idea that we have medicinal capabilities to help ourselves in our own healing is incredible.

Stem cells are cells that can procreate other cells or help with the inflammatory process depending on the specific cell type and stage of life of the person. It has been discovered that different products from our own bodies can help with inflammation or regeneration in different situations and could potentially help with pain and healing, thus opening this newer area of medicine called regenerative medicine.

On Thursday, September 26, 2019, Sarasota Pain Relief Centers will be presenting a FREE Community Lecture Series in honor and support of Pain Awareness Month. Sarasota PRC pain management physicians will be speaking LIVE at the event on topics related to the latest interventional treatment options available for patients suffering from chronic pain.

One of the featured presentations at the event will be a discussion on the topic of “Head to Toe: Non-Opioid Alternatives for Pain”, presented by Dr. Myrdalis Diaz-Ramirez of Sarasota Pain Relief Centers.

This subject is of great interest to many area patients who suffer from chronic pain conditions but are reluctant to risk the side effects and potential for addiction that may be associated with opioid medications.

Interventional Pain Management (aka Interventional Pain Medicine) is a medical sub-specialty which treats chronic or severe pain by disrupting the pain cycle using alternative interventions including, but not limited to:

• Facet Joint Injections
• Epidural Steroid Injections
• Nerve Blocks
• Radiofrequency Treatments
• Neuroaugmentation (such as spinal cord stimulation)
• Joint Fusion
• Lumbar Indirect Decompression
• Lumbar Sympathetic Block`
• Implantable drug delivery systems (such as intrathecal pumps)

By employing cutting-edge treatment options in conjunction with holistic therapies to relieve chronic pain, pain management physicians are able to effectively treat the whole patient, as opposed to addressing only their pain symptoms.

Many people are reluctant to take pain medications to relieve their suffering, and with good reason. The potential side effects alone may be cause for hesitation, and if that’s not enough, the risk of addiction is a very real concern for those who simply want to be free of their pain.

When pain cannot be controlled through methods other than over-the-counter or prescription drugs, it might be well worth any risks or side effects of taking pain medicine; but let’s consider some alternative treatment methods that may bring relief from pain without need for medications.

When it comes to pain relief medicine, it can be difficult to determine which will be the best option for your individual situation and specific type of pain. Many people are hesitant to take pain medications unless absolutely necessary because of potential side effects, particularly if they're unsure which medicine they should choose to begin with.

By understanding the risks associated with various pain medications, and what type of pain each medicine targets, those in pain may find it easier to choose an optimal pain relief solution for their situation.

When pain from a chronic condition, surgery or sudden injury cannot be relieved by way of over-the-counter medicines, a prescription strength pain medication may be necessary for relief.

While the benefits of such medication for comfort are obvious, patients should be advised of some less obvious drawbacks to be considered when taking these medicines.

The number of people becoming addicted to prescription opioids, such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone and hydrocodone, is increasing every year in the United States.

Opioid addiction affects individuals of all ages and from all walks of life, many of whom would never take illicit drugs but are willing to take pain relief medication when prescribed by a physician for a specific pain condition.