Our doctors continued their 2015 lecture circuit, this time in Miami. Dr. Lee joined an expert council from around the country discussing RFA for joint pain and Dr. Hunter spoke about Testosterone deficiency in patients on chronic opioids, spinal cord stimulation for headaches and neck pain, and stem cells for degenerative disc disease.
Neuropathic pain affects roughly 2-3%[1] of the general population with an estimated cost of $40 billion per year in treatment related costs.[2] But what causes it? Since Neuropathy is an umbrella term used to describe any abnormalities of nerve function and structure, the potential causes of neuropathy are seemingly endless. Causes of Neuropathy: Genetics - Family history plays a big role. People who have family members with Neuropathy are more likely to experience it themselves. Toxins - Exposure to lead, glue, solvents, and heavy metals like mercury can cause nerve damage. This can happen through proximity to these agents in the workplace, or through willful abuse. Physical Injury - The most common cause of nerve injury. For example, spinal cord injury or disc herniation due to a fall or accident can lead to Neuropathic pain. Neuropathy can also be caused by holding…
The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians is a not-for-profit organization representing interventional pain physicians across the country. The organization has been growing rapidly since 1998 and has had a substantial impact on the practice of interventional pain medicine. Read More
Pain Physician is a peer-reviewed journal that addresses the science and practice of interventional pain management. As the official publication of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, Pain Physician outlines the latest studies, research and information vital to those in the growing specialty of interventional pain management – and critical to the people they serve. It is mailed quarterly to ASIPP members and other subscribers. Dr. Hunter has just joined the editorial staff where he will be responsible for reviewing manuscripts submitted for publication from around the world. Read More
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a particularly appealing option for those with chronic who are hoping to avoid surgery. The field of Neuromodulation (aka neuroaugmentation, aka neurostimulation) was born from the need to find an alternative to surgery. SCS adheres to the fundamental principles of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) by avoiding the excessive tissue injury and scarring inherent to open surgery. The important thing to remember is a SCS trial is not surgery, in fact there is no cutting of any kind. Patients get to test out the neurostimulation in a fully reversible fashion to see if it works and is effective in treating their specific pain complaints. Everyone’s pain is different and no two person’s complaints are the same. This may explain why spinal surgery is successful in some (61%)[1] yet in others their pain is made worse – the…
St. Jude Medical is a medical device company on the forefront of innovation in a number of specialties, particularly pain management. Dr. Hunter accepted a position an official consultant and speaker for the company. He has now joined the ranks of some of the most well-respected and world-renowned pain management specialists from around the world to be a part of their team.
Stretching before your workout is just as important as the workout itself. It can prevent injury, reduce post-workout discomfort and reduce the likelihood of muscle spasms. Stretching can also be dangerous if not performed correctly. Flexibility training should be approached by addressing the specific needs of the individual. There are four main categories for stretching techniques: ballistic static passive neuromuscular facilitation. BALLISTIC This type of stretching employs the repetitive rapid application of force one would experience in a bouncing or jerking maneuver. The momentum of the movement carries the body part through the range of motion until the muscles are stretched to their limits. This method is less effective than the other methods listed here because of the fact the muscle will contract under stresses to protect itself, which can prevent a full stretch, or overstretching. PASSIVE This technique employs…
Infusion therapy is becoming increasingly more popular for treating patients with neuropathy, chronic pain and depression. The reasons are simple…the ease with which it can be performed and the results are astonishing. Depending on the agent used, the infusion session can completed in as little time as 30 minutes. There are a variety of different medications your doctor can use to perform the infusion, including Lidocaine, Ketamine, IVIG, Magnesium and the list goes on. Once your doctor places the IV line in your arm or hand, the hard work is over. The only thing left to do is making yourself comfortable and let the medication work its magic. In many cases the effect is immediate. Infusion therapy is covered by most insurances and considered an appropriate treatment for a variety of types of pain. Certain types of infusion (IVIG for…
Did you know that the way you sit could make your low back pain worse? Disc herniations can occur due to any number of reasons – picking up something too heavy, car accidents, sports injuries, etc. The two most common intervertebral discs in your low back to become herniated are the L4/5 and L5/S1. The way we position ourselves can exert undue pressure on these discs making a herniation more likely or make existing low back pain even worse. Remember when your mother would tell you to sit up straight? Well she was right…when you slouch in your chair it can almost double the amount of stress and pressure on the discs in your low back. This means a herniated disc will have even more force exerted on it causing it to bulge even further. What other positions are bad?…
For the second time this year, Dr. Hunter was bestowed the privilege of giving grand rounds at the Pain Department at the Weill Cornell Medical Center. In attendance were doctors from New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Hunter's lecture was titled "Advances in Neuromodulation" where he discussed the current and future trends in the use of Spinal Cord Stimulation for the treatment of pain.