Daily Archives: May 7, 2014

It was recently reported in a journal called Nature that scientists have made a tremendous discovery in a species of fruit flies.

While this might not seem a momentous piece of information, for the average person living with chronic pain it could be just that. It was found that a protein existing in both humans and flies can be produced is different variations by the flying species in order to serve different purposes.

For flies the protein, known as TRPA1, is used to sense heat in the first variation, and used to recognize toxic chemicals in the second. The same protein is produced in humans, but is used for a different purpose all together. In people, TRPA1 is a protein used by the body to control pain and inflammation.

While this discovery will first be used in the field of biology for creating methods of keep pesky, disease carrying insects away from their intended human targets and attracting them, instead, to traps, the more that is learned about the protein, the more hope there is for pain sufferers.

Scientists believe that the right use of the version one of the TRPA1 protein could make insects believe that humans are toxic, thereby keeping them at bay, while the second variation could be used to entice them into traps.

As for the pain sufferers, there are a lot of questions left to be answered, but the similarities between mankind and the tiny winged animal could mean quicker, cost-effective, and meaningful solutions to questions that millions seek answers to. At Interventional Pain Associates, we continue to stay “in the know” regarding the latest medical research and technological advancements so we can care for our patients with the best treatments available for their chronic pain conditions at our clinic.

Arthritis, when allowed to progress, can equate to many days and nights of nearly unbearable pain. It can also cost a person huge sums of money throughout their lifetime, as they combat its progressive and attempt to fight the discomfort. There are more than twenty-seven million people who know that sort of pain as the result of osteoarthritis.

Until recently, there was no reliable way for doctors to diagnose the arthritis before the symptoms started to show – including joint pain and stiffness. At that point, in many cases, it is too late to practice preventative medicine. Fortunately, for many who are likely to see a diagnosis of arthritis in the future, a research team from the University of Missouri’s Comparative Orthopaedic Lab has found a new method of detection. This new test relies on the use of specific biomarkers, which are able to accurately determine if the patient is going to develop the condition.

Not only is this test useful for patients and doctors who hope to stave off the symptoms of arthritis, it can also help to determine how severe the condition will be for those who receive a diagnosis and which pain management procedures would help best. Given all of this, one might think that a lot of fluid would be required, but the team discovered that it required only a drop of the fluid from a thin needle inserted into the patient’s joint. It also provides scientists and doctors the ability to study the condition in its earliest stages.

This test was developed with the help of aging dogs, as it is figured that twenty-percent of middle-aged dogs and ninety percent of older canines are directly impacted by osteoarthritis. Thus, it was easy to adapt the test for use on humans afterward.

If you suffer from any form of chronic pain, it’s important to understand all the treatment options available to you. Although not every procedure will be the right choice to help to alleviate your pain, it’s definitely worth discussing the alternatives with your health care provider and pain management specialist to determine which procedures might be effective in alleviating or managing your chronic pain.

One alternative treatment that is becoming increasing popular is the trigger point injection, or TPI. This procedure is commonly used to treat painful knots around muscles that develop whenever muscles fail to relax. These knots, or trigger points, can affect surrounding nerves which in turn can result in pain in other areas of the body or “referred pain.”

The process involves a pain management specialist injecting a tiny needle containing a local anesthetic into a patient’s trigger point. The procedure takes very little time – usually just a few minutes – and the results can be dramatic. Often, the pain is immediately relieved, and the results can be long-term with follow-up treatment. At Interventional Pain Associates, we treat many patients using this procedure which you can read more about on our website.

When TPI is Most Effective

Trigger point injections are most effective in alleviating the following:
• Chronic pain in the neck, arms, legs and lower back
• Chronic pain due to fibromyalgia
• Chronic pain due to tension headaches

TPI might also be effective in combating other chronic pain conditions. For more information, and to determine if trigger point injections may help to alleviate your pain, talk to your doctor or pain management specialist.

Resource: AAFP

Are you tired of being in pain? Perhaps an attitude adjustment would be enough to make those waves of pain to wane for an extended period. It’s true; it’s been proven time and time again that our moods directly affect our ability to cope with pain.

If, despite your efforts to be in a continually good mood, you find the pain will not subside, then you might consider these coping mechanisms:

‘It’s just one of those days’

You say the words with a frown on your face and you know that, no matter how hard you try, you are stuck; ‘down in the dumps’. Unfortunately, there are always going to be ‘those days’ whether you are perfectly healthy or are a chronic pain sufferer. Realizing this is important, but it is also essential to remember that the sadness will not last forever; there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The Chronic Pain Bucket List

So, chronic pain isn’t going to claim your life, but there is still good reason to consider the many fun, exciting, or unusual activities that you would like to do during your lifetime. These goals can serve as the perfect distraction when the blues begin to set in. Though it will not erase the pain, it can help to keep your mind off of it.

What makes me special?

It’s an excellent question for anyone to ponder from time to time. For a chronic pain sufferer, it is easy to fall into the trap of defining his- or herself as such. Statements such as ‘I have fibromyalgia’ or ‘my back bothers me sometimes’ are fine, but often they are replaced by a mentality of ‘I am fibromyalgia’ or ‘I am back pain’. There is much more to who you are and reminding yourself of those good things is an excellent way to stay in a good mood, thereby improving pain levels.

Our pain specialists at Interventional Pain Associates in Austin not only treat fibromyalgia patients, they provide guidance and support for day to day pain management. Visit our website or call to schedule an appointment with us to find out how we can help you get the treatment you need for a better quality of life.

If you suffer from back pain, you’re not alone. Back pain is such a common problem in the U.S. that some studies have estimated that we spend about the same amount each year for back surgeries as we do for cancer treatments!

While some back surgeries do resolve patients’ problems, that’s not always the case. In fact, continued pain after back surgery is so common that the medical professional has coined the phrase “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome,” or FBSS, and is a condition we see often at our pain clinic in Austin.

If you have undergone back surgery, but still suffer discomfort nonetheless, you could be experiencing FBSS. Here are a few symptoms to look for:

Significant, persistent pain in the back or leg(s) that cannot be completely relieved by medication or physiotherapy.
Tingling sensation and numbness in hands, legs, feet or arms.
Decreased mobility, including a limited range of motion in your back.
Weakness in legs and arms.
Depression and anxiety are often byproducts of the chronic pain brought about by FBSS. These conditions, in turn, can lead to abuse of alcohol or prescribed medications.
Although there is no absolute cure for FBSS – with the possible exception of additional surgery, which many patients are hesitant to do – there are ways to alleviate the pain associated with this condition. The first step is to obtain a diagnosis of the condition from your doctor. He or she will likely recommend x-rays, an MRI or a CT scan to assist in the diagnosis. Once you know you have FBSS, consider working with the trained professionals at a pain intervention center to discover how to alleviate the pain and other symptoms and return to a normal lifestyle.