Pain physician & PhD statistician
Small sensory nerves throughout the body gather information & interact with the body directly. This nerve-body interface underlies many diseases. In chronic pain, nerves cause “neurogenic inflammation” by activating blood vessels, skin, & immune cells. This is the site of action of many pain treatments. Key nerve-body interfaces Neural-vascular: Sensory nerves open blood vessels. This…
Pain signals converge in the core of the brainstem where they deeply influence behavior. For checks & balances, the brainstem uses “descending inhibition” as a volume control to reduce pain. Pain physicians leverage this for treatment, via antidepressants, acupuncture, & meditation. Descending inhibition systems To keep pain signals from running out of control, the brainstem…
Nerve ablation is key to the treatment of chronic pain. Ablation reduces nerve pain, as well as pain from spine & joint arthritis, giving patients the freedom to choose if & when surgeries are right for them.
In patients with central sensitization, pain signal is generated directly from within the spinal cord & brain. This means treatments targeting the tissue & peripheral nerves are less effective. To treat central sensitization directly, we use medications that work directly the cells involved in this pathologic process, the glial cells. Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a…
Spinal column stimulation (SCS) is an effective non-drug treatment for chronic pain. Risks A psychological evaluation is required and not every patient is a candidate for SCS therapy. The stage 2 SCS implantation procedure is a minor surgery that does not require hospitalization. Patients will need a responsible adult and dependable transport home. Potential complication…
Read more Spinal column stimulation (SCS) for the treatment of chronic pain
“Peripheral nerve stimulation” (PNS) is a novel, effective, convenient, & minimally invasive non-drug treatment for chronic neuropathic pain & post-surgical pain. Benefits For single-nerve neuropathic pain, PNS lets the patient perform nerve treatments at home, for hours at a time, several times a day, while going about their usual activities. Many patients find over time…
Read more Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) for chronic pain & post-surgical pain
Botox injections once every 3 months can help reduce migraine sufferers by reducing headache frequency & severity. The Protocol Botox is injected in small doses to at least 31 spots around the head & neck. Benefits Botox takes effect 1–2 weeks after injection, and lasts for 10–12 weeks. By profoundly reducing tone & tension in…
Many patients have chronic pain in their muscles, joints, or skin. For these patients, topical pain medication can be an effective alternative to oral medications. Oral Pain Medications Oral medications must first pass through all organs including the stomach, liver, brain, heart, & kidneys. In the end, only a small amount of the medication makes…
