Live Pain Free in 2023

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Chronic pain is associated with reduced quality of life, increased medical expenditures, and significant economic costs. It is among the most common chronic conditions in the United States. In fact, studies show 1 in 4 Americans live with some form of chronic pain. Fortunately, interventional pain management can help relieve chronic pain. Anyone can benefit from pain management whether they are recovering from surgery, an injury or managing long-term pain from a disease or chronic condition. Do you struggle with chronic pain? At Jaffe Sports Medicine, we want to help you say goodbye to pain and live pain free in 2023.

Pain affects thousands of individuals. It can derive from injuries and diseases to disorders and chronic conditions. Common pain conditions include arthritis and muscle or joint injuries, autoimmune disorders, back injuries, chronic pain disorders, headaches, nerve damage and more. Whether your pain is acute or chronic, a comprehensive pain management program will help you feel better mentally and physically.

Pain management provides individuals with chronic pain individualized treatment plans to relieve their pain and improve quality of life. Treatments can include one or a combination of medications, procedures, exercises and therapies. Depending on the type and cause of pain, the pain specialists at Jaffe Sports Medicine will create a personalized treatment plan designed to address your needs. 

“Pain management is a branch of medicine that applies science to the reduction of pain and takes a multi-disciplinary approach to treating all kinds of pain,” said Dr. Stephen Friedman. “We recognize the complex nature of pain and approach the problem from all directions. We evaluate, rehabilitate and treat people in pain.”

Jaffe Sports Medicine understands the mental and physical toll pain can take on your life. As a practice specializing in the management and treatment of pain, Jaffe Sports Medicine providers see a wide range of pain conditions and are prepared to take your pain head on. Our board-certified and pain specialists have the necessary qualifications to recognize your type of pain and determine the best action plan to get you back to doing what you love most. If you would like to live pain free in 2023, visit jaffesportsmedicine.com/locations/ schedule an appointment.

Now is the Time to Use Your Health Insurance Benefits Before the Year is Up

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As the end of the year is rapidly approaching, it is important to review your health insurance benefits to ensure you do not lose out on low-cost treatments. If you’ve already met your deductible, now is the perfect time to schedule an appointment for anything you have been putting off as medical costs are lower, and deductibles restart in January. At Jaffe Sports Medicine, we recommend reviewing the following items in your health insurance plan before the year is over. 

Deductibles 

Deductibles are the out-of-pocket costs determined by the insurance plan you chose. Once your deductible is met for the year, costs are either reduced or eliminated, making the cost of treatment much lower. If you’ve been thinking about an elective procedure or visiting Jaffe Sports Medicine an appointment, check to see if your deductible has been met and plan accordingly before the end of the year.

Out-of-pocket Maximums

If you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, all other costs will be met in full by your insurance. Assess your benefits to see what your out-of-pocket maximum amount is and if it has been met. It so, this is a great time to schedule any procedures or buy medications before the year is over. 

Government Savings Plans

Savings plans such as health savings accounts (HSAs) or flexible spending accounts (FSAs) help pay for medical expenses not normally covered by insurance. HSAs are tax-free savings plans that do not have to be met in a calendar year. It can help you pay for deductibles, co-insurances and co-pays as well as prescriptions. FSAs are tax-free accounts that must be used in the current year, or you will lose any remaining money. Be sure you have checked the amounts in these types of accounts so that you know what will roll over from your HSA for next year, or what you have left to spend in your FSA so that you do not lose it. 

Regardless of your plan, it is always good to be mindful of your benefits. December is a great month to “Use ‘em before you lose ‘em.” Call today to schedule doctor visits or procedures before the end of the year so they will be covered by insurance or at a lesser cost. To schedule an appointment with Jaffe Sports Medicine, visit jaffesportsmedicine.com/locations/ to make an appointment.

The Different Manifestations of Back Pain and How to Approach Them

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Back pain is one of the most prevalent medical problems in the United States and is something that most people will experience during some stage in their lives. In fact, eight in ten Americans will face some type of back pain in their lifetime. Not only is back pain one of the most common reasons for missing work, it also interferes with everyday living activities.

Ranging from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing pain, back pain can develop from an injury or may be due to advanced age. While back pain manifests in a variety of ways, the goal of Jaffe Sports Medicine is to diagnose and treat the root cause of your back pain with a variety of interventional modalities.

In order for Jaffe Sports Medicine to fully treat and understand your pain, it is important to first understand and identify where the pain is coming from. Most back pain falls under three categories: axial, referred or radicular pain.

Axial Pain

Axial pain is often confined to a single spot or region of the body. A muscle strain is a common example of axial pain and typically responds well to rest and medication.

Referred Pain

A dull or achy pain, referred pain can move around or vary in intensity. A common example of referred pain is lower back pain which can unfortunately be trickier to treat than others. Referred pain often responds well to physical therapy, injections, strengthening muscles and decreasing inflammation.

Radicular Pain

Radicular pain feels like searing, radiating pain and is caused by compression or inflammation of the spine. The pain is typically localized to the lower back and may include pain that radiates down the legs. Physical therapy, injections and nerve-blocking techniques can help alleviate this type of pain.

The duration of the pain is also used in diagnosing and treating back pain. Pain is considered to be acute, subacute or chronic. Acute pain may last a few days to a week, while subacute lasts a little longer and chronic pain lasts longer than 12 weeks.

Jaffe Sports Medicine is here to diagnose your back pain and provide an individualized treatment plan. Treatments for back pain may include one or a combination of the following methods: physical therapy, medication, injections and radiofrequency ablation. Surgery is an option but is used as a last resort.

Physical therapy exercises increase flexibility, while also strengthening muscles and improving posture. By itself or combined with other treatments, physical therapy is a great solution to lessen back pain.

For immediate relief from back pain, cortisone injections are a great option. The injections go into the space around the spinal cord and nerve roots, helping to ease pain by decreasing inflammation. While relief only lasts for a month or two at a time, injections are successful in diminishing back pain.

Radiofrequency ablation is a technique where a needle is inserted into the area causing pain. Radio waves pass through the needle to the damaged nerves, interfering with the pain signals from the brain. The technique is often successful diminishing back pain. 

Learn more about Jaffe Sports Medicine’s approach to treating back pain by visiting jaffesportsmedicine.com/conditions/back-pain/ and schedule an appointment by visiting jaffesportsmedicine.com/locations/.

The Power of Partnership – Hurricane Ian… Coming Together in a Time of Crisis

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On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida. The Category 4 Hurricane slammed the Southwest Florida corridor with winds exceeding 150 mph and an unprecedented storm surge. PartnerCare’s Corporate office in Tampa and Jaffe Sports Medicine (JSM) clinics in Naples, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral, Florida, lay in its path of destruction.

With the storm initially expected to land near Tampa, PartnerCare’s CEO Eric Worthan and Senior Team jumped into action and decided to close the Corporate office. “Our staff and patients were the main priority. We wanted to ensure that everyone had ample time to evacuate their families and get to an area of safety,” said Eric. “Jaffe Sports Medicine became a massive concern for us as the storm path continued to shift south. We quickly realized that what we thought was coming to Tampa was going to our team in Naples, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral.

Chris Greengrass, the Practice Administrator with Jaffe Sports Medicine, sprung into action implementing a safety plan for the staff and patients. “The JSM leadership team quickly joined forces with PartnerCare to formulate a plan of action for our staff and patients. We utilized every PartnerCare resource available from HR to Communications to IT to allow us to communicate with our team and patients,” said Chris. “Eric Worthan called me every day to check on our team.”

The support from PartnerCare did not stop with Eric Worthan. “Amanda Nelson (HR) checked on every employee to ensure they were safe and accounted for. Jennifer Starling (Marketing) ensured that communication with our employees, patients, and the community was effective and transparent.

Last but not least, Rodney Bandy and his team in IT ensured that all of our technology was up and running quickly after Ian impacted our area,” noted Chris. “We could not have responded so quickly and effectively without the support of PartnerCare. Our entire system came together in a time of crisis to help one another. It is what makes our partnership with PartnerCare, so unique. We are more than a team; we are a family.”Thanks to those combined efforts, Jaffe Sports Medicine was back open and seeing patients Monday, October 3, less than one week after Hurricane Ian hit South Florida. “We know we got lucky. Our clinics weathered the storm well,” said Chris gratefully. “Only our Cape Coral office will be closed as we assess damages. However, our other three offices are open. Our main focus continues to be serving our patients and our community.”

In the upcoming weeks, the team at PartnerCare will continue to work hand in hand with JSM to assess the needs of both employees and the community. Amanda Nelson stated, “we want to ensure that our JSM employees have everything they need as they rebuild their lives in Southwest Florida. We are making every resource we have, from employee assistance resources to community resources, available to them at this time. Our main priority is always the safety and well-being of our team members.”

While Hurricane Ian took many things from the people of Southwest Florida, the one thing it did not impact was the power of community. “During Hurricane Ian, this team came together effortlessly,” said Eric Worthan. “Compassion was evident everywhere you looked. Every team member across the country asked, ‘What do you need?’ Every team member stepped in to help and serve. It was humbling to watch that in action. It reinforced what we are building here at PartnerCare, a community of people who genuinely care about each other, our patients, and the communities we serve.”