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/.

How Interventional Pain Management Can Help You Get Back to Doing What You Love Most

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While traditional pain management is effective in treating some patients’ pain, sometimes over-the-counter medication or prescription medication is not enough to adequately alleviate the pain. Interventional pain management is often an excellent alternative. Interventional pain management involves minimally invasive treatment options to relieve acute or chronic pain. These treatments work by interrupting pain signals between nerve endings and the brain.

What is Interventional Pain Management?

Jaffe Sports Medicine utilizes a myriad of interventional pain management techniques to treat the root cause of pain. Common treatments include epidural injections used to treat pain by reducing inflammation around nerve roots. These injections treat a variety of conditions affecting the spine, back, neck and upper and lower extremities. Another common treatment is radiofrequency ablation application (RFA) which uses heat to destroy a small volume of nerve tissue, eliminating pain signals to the brain. Additionally, joint injections which involve corticosteroid injections can be applied to damaged tissues which are designed to increase mobility while relieving joint pain.

“Whether a patient is struggling with chronic low back or a recent injury,” said Dr. Chaturani Ranasinghe of Jaffe Sports Medicine, “interventional pain management can reduce their pain quickly and often without the use of daily pain medication. It is our desire to improve a patient’s quality of life so they can get back to doing what they love most.”

What are the Benefits of Interventional Pain Management?

For patients who struggle with acute or chronic pain, interventional pain management is an ideal solution that often reduces a patient’s pain by as much as 70%. A common benefit of interventional pain management is immediate relief from pain that can last for an extended period of time. For example, an epidural injection can provide pain relief almost instantly and that relief can last for up to several months. Often these injections are given in a series over time, to provide long-lasting relief.

Targeted treatment is another benefit of interventional pain management. This approach targets the pain at its source, significantly relieving discomfort. Additionally, patients who receive interventional pain treatments are less likely to become addicted to or experience issues related to opioids. Finally, interventional pain management treatments are minimally or non-invasive, meaning they are not high-risk, and they relieve pain in little to no time. The comprehensive team of pain specialists at Jaffe Sports Medicine uses the latest techniques to give patients the best possible outcomes. We believe that when it comes to treating pain, surgery should be the last resort.

Who is Interventional Pain Management for?

Jaffe Sports Medicine believes interventional pain management is an ideal solution for those with acute or chronic pain seeking effective treatment for relief of pain or discomfort. It is also a great option for those who have tried traditional pain management methods with little to no success.

At Jaffe Sports Medicine, we care about treating the root cause of pain so that our patients can live, work and play pain-free. If you are interested in discussing interventional pain management as a treatment option, we would love to hear from you. Please visit https://jaffesportsmedicine.com/conditions/ to schedule an appointment.

 

The Power of Pain Management

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The International Association for the Study of Pain reports one in five adults experience chronic pain each day. Persistent chronic pain can interfere with daily life and may lead to depression, anxiety and difficulty sleeping. This cycle of pain is one that is difficult to break. Interventional Pain management specialists are trained to help patients deal with their chronic pain through the use of medications, procedures, exercises or therapies. While many individuals may live with chronic pain, Jaffe Sports Medicine believes in finding individualized long-term solutions that treat the underlying cause of pain so patients can live their best lives possible.

Jaffe Sports Medicine’s approach to treating pain takes the individual into account, assessing each patient’s medical history, diagnosis and symptoms. Pain manifests differently for every patient, therefore, no two solutions look the same. At Jaffe Sports Medicine, we address pain on a case-by-case basis. 

“Pain is not a one size fits all issue and neither is our approach to treating it,” said Dr. Chaturani Ranasinghe. “Our staff is educated on the latest modalities that can be applicable in the treatment of a patient’s pain regardless of the location. We offer a full complement of treatment options that are tailored to best fit the patient’s needs, limitations and lifestyle. Ultimately, we want each patient to live their best lives possible, free of pain and its issues.” 

Rather than covering up symptoms with medication or unnecessary surgery, Jaffe Sports Medicine’s interventional approach treats the root cause of pain. The all-inclusive approach to pain management Jaffe Sports Medicine takes ensures every person is taken care 

of and their needs are addressed. Our providers use a variety of strategies to treat pain including medication, injections, blocks, lifestyle changes and therapies. Each treatment 

plan assesses the individual’s type and cause of pain, while also factoring in the patient’s age and overall health, to determine the best plan of action for each patient.

The well-rounded team of physicians and compassionate staff at Jaffe Sports Medicine use the latest therapeutics and resources to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients. Incorporating healthy lifestyle habits into daily routines when combined with prescribed treatments or therapies such as physical therapy, prescription medication or injections can help reduce chronic pain. 

At Jaffe Sports Medicine finding the source of pain and treating its underlying cause is at the heart of what we do. While some patients may never be pain free, interventional pain management can drastically improve a patient’s quality of life by incorporating the latest treatments, medications and lifestyle changes, encouraging lasting healthy habits. Jaffe Sports Medicine believes patients do not have to experience a lifetime of pain. We deliver comprehensive care to help musculoskeletal and pain management patients live their best lives possible. To schedule an appointment at Jaffe Sports Medicine, visit www.jaffesportsmedicine.com/services/.

Back Pain and Migraines

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Chronic headaches are defined as occurring more than 15 days a month. Up to 4% of adults worldwide have this many headaches a month. Studies show no correlation between low back pain and a specific type of headache. Both primary and secondary headaches plague the adult population ranging from tension-type headaches (TTH) to migraines. Primary headaches are independent of health conditions or sickness, while secondary headaches are caused by various conditions such as stress, sleep deprivation, alcohol, fatigue, injury or infection. Below are several common types of headaches:

Tension-type headache
A tension-type headache (TTH) is typically a dull pain or continuous pressure occurring bilaterally or across the forehead. These headaches are often associated with a tightness of the scalp or neck in response to stress or depression. The best method of treatment for a TTH is rest and relaxation. Mild, over-the-counter painkillers may also be used in moderation.

Post-traumatic headache
A post-traumatic headache is often localized to an area inflicted with injury. It can feel like a TTH or a migraine, depending on the severity of the trauma. They may occur daily following an injury and are not quickly treatable. However, rest and anti-inflammatory drugs may be used.

Sinus headache
Sinus headaches are typically caused by viral infections producing pain in the face, sinuses, eyes, ears or forehead. Symptoms can include congestion, itchy, runny nose, fever or facial swelling.

Migraine
A migraine is a throbbing pain in the face or neck, concentrated in one area. Other symptoms may include sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting and distorted vision. Pain may last anywhere from several hours to several days.

Studies have shown that individuals with headaches are significantly more likely to suffer from low back pain than those without headaches. Individuals are twice as likely to have both headaches and back pain simultaneously. Doctors and researchers speculate a potential biological underpinning between the two. While there is no specific correlation to the type of headache associated with chronic back pain, chronic headaches, whether primary or secondary, are associated with low back pain.

Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Low back pain affects 80% of adults at least once in their lifetime, while 20% of these individuals develop chronic low back pain.

Several factors put a person at higher risk for low back and headache pain. Females are more susceptible to chronic headaches and therefore are at a higher risk of experiencing the two pains side by side. Additional factors include smoking, obesity and low level of education. While these factors are not necessary for chronic headache and low back pain, they are strongly associated with the two.

While experts are unsure why the two co-occur, they know that a strong correlation exists. Preventative measures and treatments may help to alleviate some of the pain. Recommended treatment for headaches and back pain include:

  • Rest
  • A hot or cold compress on the head, neck, or back
  • Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs
  • Maintain good posture
  • Avoid lifting heavy objects
  • Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
  • Avoid smoking
  • Manage high blood pressure
  • Avoid infections and wash your hands

To learn more about back pain and the resources available to you, visit https://jaffesportsmedicine.com/.

Back Pain with Radiating Pain

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Back pain can manifest itself in many different ways. As the leading cause of disability worldwide, back pain ranges from a mild muscle ache to shooting, burning or stabbing pain. Most back pain can be treated without surgery, but in severe cases surgery may be required.

The expression of back pain determines the method of treatment. A common cause of back pain is muscle or ligament strain induced by a sudden movement or repeated heavy lifting. In most cases, pain is resolved with rest and mild pain medication. Arthritis is another common cause of back pain that can present itself with the wear and tear of aging. If pain persists over a period of several weeks and does not get better with rest, it may be time to see a doctor.

When back pain worsens to the point that pain radiates down your legs, this may be a sign of a spine condition. Sciatica is a common spine condition that sends pain or numbness down the side of the leg, typically concentrated to one side of the body. The pain is most often caused by a herniated disc in the spine that compresses a nerve. Mild cases of sciatica typically go away with time and rest, but more serious cases with pain lasting longer than a week may require more aggressive forms of treatment.

Disc herniations and radiculopathy (pinched nerve) are additional causes of back pain with radiating pain. Herniated discs are discs in the spine that “spill out” of their lining causing pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerves. The compressed nerves cause numbness, tingling, or even sharp pain to shoot down the lower back and legs. Radiculopathy is caused by irritation to a nerve root exiting the spine. Nerves are responsible for pain and sensation and when they are damaged or compressed, pain or numbness occurs.

The lower back is a common spot for pain due to the stress and impact it takes from everyday movements. The lower back is where the spine and pelvis connect, bearing the majority of weight from the upper body. This area also contains fewer vertebrae than the neck and mid-back, making it a more susceptible to pain. To prevent back pain, here are some practical steps to take:

  1. Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise.
  2. Strengthen the muscles in the lower back.
  3. Maintain a healthy weight.
  4. Quit smoking.
  5. Rest from strenuous activities if they cause discomfort or pain.

Avoid motions that are painful or cause stress to the lower back. This coupled with a healthy diet and exercise will help to prevent back. If you have questions about your back pain, visit https://jaffesportsmedicine.com/.