The Doctor’s Pain Points

  KNUCKLE POPPING Yes, I do it! The popping sound that knuckles make when you crack them is caused by the sudden release of gas bubbles in the synovial fluid that surrounds the joints. Synovial fluid is a thick, clear liquid that helps to lubricate joints and reduce friction. It also contains dissolved gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. When you crack your knuckles, you are stretching the joint capsule that surrounds the joint. This causes the pressure in the synovial fluid to decrease, which allows the dissolved gases to come out of solution. As the gases bubble out, they create a popping sound. The popping sound is harmless, but it is important to note that cracking your knuckles too often can weaken the ligaments that support the joints. This can lead to joint pain and instability. Here are some additional facts about knuckle cracking: * The sound of a knuckle crack can be as loud as 90 decibels, which is about as loud as a vacuum cleaner. * The average person ...

  If you're living with chronic pain, you know how difficult it can be to find relief. Medications can help but side effects can be problematic. And physical therapy can be helpful, but it's not always enough. But there's another way to manage pain that's often overlooked: reading. That's right, reading can actually help to reduce pain. How? * **It takes your mind off of your pain.** When you're reading, you're focused on the story, not on your pain. This can help to distract you from the discomfort and make it seem less intense. * **It releases endorphins.** Endorphins are natural pain relievers that are released when you're engaged in activities that you enjoy. Reading is one of those activities, so it can help to boost your endorphin levels and reduce your pain. * **It helps you relax.** Reading can help you to relax and de-stress. This can also help to reduce pain, as stress can make pain worse. If you're looking for a natural way to manage your ...

 JULY 9, 2022      Imagine if someone that you never met told you that you had to wait to move into your house that you bought through a licensed realtor. Or suppose you could not drive your beautiful new car that was sold to you until some random person looked things over but not until 3 to 4 weeks after the sale. It just seems crazy, right?! Well, that’s how many of the tests and procedures are handled within pain management. As a doctor, I perform a thorough history and examination and document my reasons for ordering a test or interventional injection procedure. However, the patient’s insurance company is often giving the yes-or-no response before anything is done. Worse than a delay is the often confusing and vague reasons for denial.      This is unfortunately all too common in medicine as a whole and pain management in particular. There is medical evidence that serves as guidelines for treatment but often the decision-making control is wrestled...

  JULY 2, 2022 I have to admit that I had no idea what a pain management physician was when I entered medical school. Truth be told, I did not even know that such a specialty existed. It all makes so much sense now but at the time I had not a clue. It was not until my later years of medical school that my career as I know it really started to take shape. At first, I wanted to be a heart or brain surgeon but then changed and set my sights on being an orthopedic surgeon. However, through fate, misfortune, or God’s calling, I did not match into orthopedics and instead trained in anesthesiology. It was during my anesthesiology training that I set my sights on being a “pain doctor.” As an anesthesiology-trained interventional pain specialist, I serve patients at the intersection of orthopedics, rehabilitation, counselor, diagnostician, and coach. I enjoy the work that I do and how I am able to help people. The interplay of pharmacological and biological knowledge and the technical sk...

How do you move your body? That is an important question to consider because being active is important for so many aspects of our lives. I firmly believe that “a body in motion stays in motion.” And that is a main reason why I treat pain patients; I want to keep them moving. Pain can often slow down movement to a point that daily activities becomes greatly constricted. A person who can only walk a   few yards before the pain is too severe has trouble grocery shopping, going out with friends or doing many of the “simple things” in life. It is important to move as much as safely possible. Routine exercise encourages the body to strengthen and is your best chance to fight off the shackles that pain can bring. Building a solid base when you’re young is best, but it is never too late to begin an exercise program. I personally enjoy strength-training but I am a proponent of essentially any physical activity that can be done consistently. Yoga, Pilates, dance, walking, swimming, hiking, c...

I t is important for doctors to remember the reason that we have customers… Patients are the customers that seek out our services because of an ailment or physiological need and our job is to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of their condition. It is truly an honor to serve in this role. However, it is quite challenging! From time constraints to cumbersome electronic systems to declining reimbursement and increased oversight and liability, it is easy for the doctor to lose track of the ultimate reason that he/she has a job.  I, too, have felt the burden of the bureaucracy and external pressures that are ever-present. When that happens, I try my best to tune in to the most pressing issue before me: serving my patient and understanding his/her needs. I am a pain management specialist and as such I deal with physical (and emotional) hurt all the time. The weight of my patient’s needs is heavy for sure. But I smile because I bring a little light into the sometimes dark world that my ...