What could cause back pain- Low back pain may be the most common issue that we provide pain management for inside our clinics. Many simple things in life like excessive or heavy lifting, near falls like missteps, falls and many other trivial looking trauma or degeneration with life and, even cigarette smoking (especially in males) can contribute to lower back pain, because it can affect the spine including the small joints on the spine, lumbar disc health from excessive coughing. Severe lower back pain can also cause bladder issues. MIPM staff will identify these problems at the clinic. Anti-inflammatory medications used at home or prescribed are usually the first step for a patient at Minnesota Institute for Pain Management. Sitting, leaning forward in a sitting position, and lifting objects can cause a tenderness to the back discs as well. Weight gain may cause issues as well. Excessive pain can be moderated in multiple ways, some people wait too long and should have been examined by a professional earlier. At MIPM, disc pain can be targeted and various treatment options are available, and the patient is listened to and is in the driver's seat to choose their plan. Making every patient satisfied and their pain managed successfully is the goal at MIPM. Irritation of nerve roots will be assessed by the provider at MIPM. Recommendations for surgery and x-ray imaging may be an outcome, but at MIPM the herniated disc or chronic back pain can be treated in various non-surgical ways. Recommendations for surgery will be made as deemed necessary. Medications discussion includes various available classes of medications including nerve-based medications, local applications, and non-narcotic and narcotic medications. Injections discussed include office-based injections, and injections performed from x-ray guidelines like joint injections and epidural steroid injections. Pain lasting more than a few days may indicate disc trauma or other stress-realted injury. MIPM qualified staff are able to locate the herniation or other pain-causing sources in the lower back. For instance, there are typically only 5 vertebrae in the low back which is less than the neck and other parts of the back. Disc herniation will affect other nerves in the back. MIPM strives to provide the patient with therapeutic interventions, non-narcotic and narcotic drugs in order to treat the pain quickly. Treatments including pain management medication or injections at the site are specialties of the MIPM clinic. Comprehensive care will be provided during all visits and non-surgical options are a priority. Companies that claim a special shoe insole, bed brand, or back support cannot guarantee success in the treatment of back pain- trust the years of expertise at our multiple clinic locations. Providers at MIPM know that injuries do affect your daily life. The goal at MIPM is to manage pain and give the patient the dignity to live life as the patient used to before a motor vehicle accident or other pain-causing event. Patients are always welcome at MIPM whether it is for a simple assessment of pain management or a specific injury. Spreading of pain to other body areas means patients should schedule ASAP at MIPM. We look forward to treating your pain with the patient as the pilot. We listen to you!

Causes of Neck Pain- The most common causes of neck pain seen in our clinic include auto (car accident, or motor vehicle accident) accidents, work-related injuries, and exercise that cause limitation in movement. Other than that poor posture while at work or while driving, sleeping in a wrong position can also relate to the neck being painful. Muscle inflammation and whiplash affect the ability of the neck to rotate and can spread pain in other areas of the body like the arm and head and upper back. Dizziness, pain, loss of sleep, and movement impairments are common with these types of injuries as well. Muscle and tendon strains including more serious cases that could require surgery are looked at in this short article. In addition to accidents, neck pain may be caused by medical conditions such as cervical spine degeneration or aging, Fibromyalgia, which has a wide range of causes and symptoms. Muscle tightness and spasms can be ongoing in patients that need daily relief. Musculoskeletal pain is common with neck pain issues, headaches, and lasting sleep problems in patients. Ruptured and fractured discs in the neck, minor sprains, and even spinal stenosis may cause neck pain as well. The first step in addressing neck pain concerns is typically over the counter medication, but patient injuries vary and each individual injury can be addressed in depth at MIPM. Neck pain is common but the people that suffer from the pain from an injury, work-related, or overuse-related injury may have other issues like depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, or more that can prolong the healing process naturally and may require a different treatment method. What can patients expect at Minnesota Institute for Pain Management? A comprehensive look at pain and where it may be radiating is what our clinic can provide. We make sure that you feel comfortable with us as the provider in recommending and preparing your return to a more normal amount of movement and activity in the tissue and muscles in your neck. What we are able to provide the patient is a nerve block in some cases, physical therapy, and medications that will allow the body to cut down inflammation to begin healing properly. There is no guarantee that surgery options will always work for long-term pain management. Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking cigarettes may be easier than surgery options and are typically the first step for pain-suffering patients. Non-surgical procedures generally are preferred by patients but sometimes are unavoidable. Follow-up appointments are a good way to make sure that the neck pain has subsided and treatment plans are effective for your situation.

Epidural Steroid- What is it? An Epidural steroid injection is a minimally invasive treatment as part of your pain management plan. These injections are based on the individuals needs and patient history. Steroid injections are a common treatment that give pain relief often within hours. These drugs mimic the effects of hormones cortisone and hydrocortisone. This treatment is administered in multiple areas. Where the medication is injected gives the treatment its’ specific name. We provide the epidural shots when it is necessary is the neck, spine, different joins in the body, and any part of the back. MIPM staff inject a numbing medication and the steroid itself into the lumbar spine or cervical spine areas. The inflammation and pain that is present in the body has a much higher chance of being relieved when the shot is administered. The injections are known to help with main pain sources, including disc injury, disc degeneration, or nerve impingement. The procedure is administered by our professionals in order to calm inflation and swelling of the nerves and will not pinch the surrounding nerves. Preparing for the procedure includes informing your physician about any changes in medications, especially blood thinners. Allergies to any medications must be conveyed to the medical staff. You may be asked to change your medication dosage or stop a medication for precautions if it decreases the potential negative effects of the epidural steroid injection. Overall, the benefits of the epidural injections outweigh the minimal risks associated with any injection. Daily relief can be felt by the patient for approximately 3 months. Immediately following the injection, a patient may not notice significant changes in pain amount. With rest and giving the body time to adjust to the new medication in the body, a patient is much more likely to experience significant results. The purpose is to get the patient back into their normal daily routines before pain and to live life with less daily pain. The injection is not as painful as patients expect- and only lasts a few seconds, if any is experienced at all. Numbness is another short-term side effect. The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Radio Frequency Neurotomy/Ablation Radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) is a procedure where radio waves are used to generate heat to get rid of certain small nerves that connect the facet joints to the spinal nerves and hence to the brain. The purpose of the procedure is to interrupt the nerves from transferring the pain signal and it can highly reduce or eliminate the pain. Facet joints are the connectors of vertebrae both in the neck and low back, and are surrounded by medial branch nerves. As said above, these nerves are the pain signal carriers to the spinal area and eventually the brain. The nerves usually will grow back in approximately 9-12 months. While relief may take a couple of weeks to reach the full effect, it can last up to 16 months. The procedure can be repeated as needed, per patient needs. Physical therapy in addition to the RFN to gain better strength for the area affected will greatly increase the chances of the pain not returning. When the procedure is taking place, expect to be lying down and given proper anesthetic. The doctor inserts a needle near the facet joint that is causing pain. With x-ray technology, the needle is placed in the correct position to assure accuracy on contact. Disabling the medial branch nerve in multiple places is common. After the procedure, you are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle, so please plan in advance. Not consuming food or beverage for 6-8 hours before the procedure is highly recommended, as to not affect sedation efforts, in case sedation is provided. Please make sure to inform the doctor if you are taking blood thinners or have any allergies to medications. Destroying the ability to cause pain is crucial in pain management treatment both chronic and acute. Slight soreness, weakness, and numbness are common for a couple of days after the RFN is completed. If the pain increases or fever develops after approximately 10 days, make sure to contact your provider immediately.

Sciatica and Chronic Pain Patients

The sciatic nerve is the largest and the thickest nerve in our body that starts in our low back as multiple nerve roots coming off the spinal cord (like ramps) but then becomes a highway that takes the nerve impulses to and from the leg. Discomfort can quickly turn into a daily pain that may evolve into a chronic issue. Anytime there is pain going down the leg it is called Sciatica. It is assumed that the Sciatic nerve is the cause of pain. In most cases this is true but pain could be caused by so many other issues as well, so it is important to see a specialist at the Minnesota Institute for Pain Management. It is important to understand that sciatic nerve or its ramps/roots can get irritated or pinched by a myriad of actions. Our clinic feels it is important to seek help when you have Sciatica, especially if it does not get better within a few days. Sciatica most commonly affects patients aged 30-55 years old and typically is caused by a herniated disk in the spine which presses down on the sciatic nerve. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body. A shooting pain or burning pain is associated with sciatica. If a patient has any of the following side effects they should consider calling their primary doctor pain management provider immediately: A severe pain in the low back that is sudden, a numbness or muscle weakness in one or both legs, pain after a violent injury such as a car accident, or trouble controlling bowels. It is pain that starts along your sciatic nerve and spreads down your buttock and the back of 1 thigh. Certain risk factors play a role in sciatic nerve injury including age. Age can change the makeup of the spine, such as creating herniated disks and bone spurs, which are the most common causes of sciatica. Having a high BMI (obesity) increases stress on the spine as well as occupational hazards that require heavy lifting or driving for hours on end. As our Physical Therapist likes to say, “a body in motion stays in motion!” So avoiding prolonged sitting and staying active definitely play a role in the healing of sciatica as well. Medical conditions like diabetes increase the risk of nerve damage too. Surgery is one of the treatment options for sciatica to be considered last. We want to treat the underlying issues non-surgically at our clinics in Roseville and Burnsville, Minnesota. Knowing the cause of your sciatica and the disadvantages caused is crucial in determining which route is best for the patient- with medications, injections, physical therapy, and health changes made by the individual as another key part. What our provider’s consider is how sciatica is affecting the daily lives of our patients, and how we can safely and non-surgically intervene and create a healing environment for the patient. Keeping the patient's goals in mind- whether it be to have extended pain relief for daily work/tasks, being able to do tasks that now seem unbearable to you, or just to have educated and caring providers in your corner are all things that our pain management plan addresses. Before considering surgery we want to educate the patient as to what the risks may be, and how to avoid a potential costly procedure. When a patient chooses to come to MIPM, we recognize that there are plenty of options but we don’t rush patients and want to hear them out and create relationships with our patients that relies on person-centered care that is built on trust.

Can headaches come from neck pain?- The short answer is yes, but we will dive into it a bit. Headaches are common in patients having neck pain. The issue however is that complications that can cause neck pain, are at times solely responsible for headaches alone. At times people have headaches that are like migraines but then some part of the neck makes them more pronounced or painful. Neck pain can be associated with several different types of headaches. One type of headache associated with neck pain is a cervicogenic headache. We see these headaches in patients who have been in motor vehicle accidents and suffer an injury that causes whiplash. Arthritis, neck sprains, a pinched nerve, or a neck fracture can also lead to cervicogenic headaches. While less common, your sleep position and your posture at work might also trigger this type of headache. According to the American Migraine Association, a specific source of pain in the head or neck causes a cervicogenic headache. It leads to a dull, aching pain on one side of the head. Some symptoms that you may be experiencing include: ·Limited range of motion of the patient's neck ·A headache that worsens as a result of specific movements ·Increased headache pain due to pressure on the neck ·Pain that typically occurs on one side of the head ·Pain that starts in the back of the head or neck and travels behind the eyes Cervicogenic headaches are typically the result of an underlying condition in the neck, so treatments focus on the neck. This may include physical therapy, medications, and even an injection in the neck or back to improve muscle functions. Nerve blocks are another common treatment for this type of headache and accompanying neck pain. People experiencing these headaches should contact MIPM today for a comprehensive consultation. Muscles located at the base of the skull and the top of the neck can contribute to headache pain. Another type of headache is a tension headache which gradually gets worse with time with neck pain accompanying it. Fatigue, stress, and muscle strain are often underlying causes of these headaches. The suboccipital muscles found in the neck may become inflamed and tender when someone has a tension headache. These tension headaches often lead to throbbing pain on both sides of the head. The pain might come and go.