Arthritis Awareness Month | Pain Management | Tyler TX

The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, is typically caused by aging joints, a joint injury or obesity. While the natural aging process or a joint injury may be unpreventable, an individual can help avoid the development of osteoarthritis by remaining active and staying at a healthy weight. There is no cure for this common joint condition, so prevention and proper treatment are very important. Pain Recovery Center of Tyler, a pain management clinic in Tyler, Texas, would like to share valuable information on osteoarthritis during National Arthritis Awareness Month.

Osteoarthritis is caused by the degeneration of cartilage due to an injury, normal wear and tear of the joint or being overweight. As cartilage breaks down, bones begin to rub against each other, leading to joint pain, swelling and decreased range of motion. In severe cases, bone spurs may even develop and lead to severe and debilitating symptoms.

There is currently no cure for osteoarthritis so getting the proper treatment is critical. The joint condition is usually treated with a combination of exercise, weight loss, heat and cold therapy, physical therapy exercises and pain management injections and medications. If osteoarthritis is too severe, or if conservative treatment does not alleviate symptoms, a surgical procedure may be the next step of treatment.

For additional resources on osteoarthritis during National Arthritis Awareness Month, please contact the Tyler, Texas pain management clinic of Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our full blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Fibromyalgia | Chronic Pain | Tyler Texas

Fibromyalgia, otherwise known as fibromyalgia syndrome, is a chronic disorder that causes a patient to experience general fatigue, areas of tenderness and widespread chronic pain. Because the condition’s symptoms are so subjective and there is not a true cause of the condition, fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed in the medical field. The pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler can help patients living in the greater Tyler, Texas area who are suffering from the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia by prescribing a detailed pain management program.

Fibromyalgia is a long-term disorder that causes chronic pain throughout the body, areas of tenderness and general fatigue. This health condition is often associated with arthritis or other degenerative joint condition, but it is not this form of disorder since it does not cause inflammation to the joints or damage to articular cartilage.

Fibromyalgia is commonly associated with trigger points, or areas of tenderness, throughout the body. The pain within these tender areas is often described as a dull, chronic pain. Other common fibromyalgia symptoms include general fatigue, headaches, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and depression. A pain physician’s overall goal of fibromyalgia treatment is to manage the patient’s pain level and improve quality of life.

For additional resources on chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia, please contact the Tyler, Texas pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our full blog articled dedicated to this topic here.

Chronic Knee Pain | Genicular Nerve Block | Tyler Texas

The knee joint is placed under extreme stress day after day. Because of the stress load placed on the knee during everyday activities and sports, knee injuries and degenerative conditions, such as knee osteoarthritis, are extremely common. When chronic knee pain can no longer be treated with traditional pain management treatments, a genicular nerve block may be prescribed by a pain physician. Pain Recovery Center of Tyler is extremely proud to offer Tyler, Texas and East Texas patients this cutting-edge, non-surgical treatment option.

Chronic knee pain is classified as long-term pain, swelling and general discomfort in one or both knees. The exact cause of ongoing pain determines the location of pain, severity of pain, etc. Chronic knee pain, unlike acute pain associated with an injury, is not always linked to one traumatic event. It is often caused by a condition or disease.

A genicular nerve block is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure designed to alleviate chronic knee pain when traditional pain management treatments fail. This particular treatment option utilizes radiofrequency (RF) energy to genicular nerves, the nerves responsible for carrying a pain signal from the knee joint to the brain and central nervous system.

For more resources on chronic knee pain or knee osteoarthritis, or to determine if you are an ideal candidate for a genicular nerve block, please contact the Tyler, Texas pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our entire blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Chronic Pain Syndrome | Pain Management | Tyler Texas

Biochemical changes occur in the body associated with long-lasting pain in certain patients. Chronic pain syndrome is a difficult condition for pain physicians to both diagnose and treat since pain signals continue to fire for months, or even years, after the initial injury or health condition is treated and healed. When this occurs, it is critical patients contact a pain management specialist in order to alleviate the unwanted effects of chronic pain. As a multidisciplinary pain management practice located in Tyler, Texas, Pain Recovery Center of Tyler is here to treat patients suffering from chronic pain.

 

Chronic Pain Syndrome Overview

 

Chronic pain syndrome is responsible for causing neuropathic pain (pain triggered by the nervous system) for months or years after the injury or health condition is healed. The condition makes many aspects of life quite difficult for sufferers. Patients suffering from the condition often experience depression, frustration, anger and anxiety. The combination of these emotions may cause patients to no longer maintain a healthy home life or perform everyday work requirements.

Chronic pain syndrome is believed by many health professionals to be associated with certain health conditions and/or injuries. Pain management specialists often link osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar or cervical fractures, mechanical lower back pain, disc herniation and poor posture with long-term pain. 

Chronic pain syndrome requires a tailored pain management treatment plan of both counseling and medical treatment. At a pain management clinic, patients can receive both forms of treatment with a multidisciplinary approach. 

For additional resources on chronic pain syndrome, or to determine the correct pain management approach for your chronic pain, please contact the Tyler, Texas office of Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our entire blog article dedicated to this topic here.  

Acute Injury | Chronic Injury | Tyler Texas

While exercising and engaging in athletic activities is beneficial to patients, certain patients may experience a sports injury from acute trauma or chronic overuse. Sports injuries are often caused by overuse, poor training practices, not enough training and not warming up and/or stretching before and after sports activities. Although many patients in the Tyler, Texas area experience sports injuries, some of these patients do not understand the difference of an acute injury vs. a chronic injury. The pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler are available to diagnose and treat a variety of sports injuries so patients can return to the game. 

Acute Injury

An acute injury is classified as a sudden injury caused during a traumatic event, such as a fall while jogging or colliding with another player during football. Some of the most common acute injuries include a strained back, sprained ankle, swollen muscles, fractures and dislocations. 

Chronic Injury

A chronic injury, also known as an overuse injury, is caused by overuse and repetitive stress to the body during athletic activities. Chronic injuries occur gradually and often cause milder symptoms compared to acute injuries. Because of the mild symptoms, many patients ignore the signs of injury and continue exercising or competing. Common chronic injuries include stress fractures, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff impingement and shin splints. 

For additional resources on an acute injury vs. a chronic injury, please contact the Tyler, Texas pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler. You can also view our entire blog article dedicated to this topic here.

Exercise and Chronic Pain | Pain Physicians | Tyler Texas

It may seem surprising but exercise and physical activity may be beneficial at alleviating chronic pain. When the body does not receive adequate amounts of exercise, it becomes out of shape, leading to muscles losing strength and joints becoming stiff. Chronic pain can then become worse since the body is not functioning as intended. Dr. Kenneth Fults and Dr. Janine Islam, pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler located in Tyler, Texas, commonly prescribe exercise and increased physical activity for patients suffering from chronic pain.

Pain medications and physical therapy are well-known chronic pain treatments, but exercise may be beneficial to certain patients. Our pain physicians commonly prescribe additional physical activity as part of a chronic pain treatment plan. Our physicians will help each patient select the proper form of exercise based on chronic pain level, location of pain and overall health. Walking, swimming, strength training, yoga and stretching can be effective forms, as well as everyday activities such as gardening, cleaning the house and playing with kids and/or pets.

For additional resources on how exercise can help alleviate chronic pain, please contact the pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler located in Tyler, Texas. You can also view our entire blog article on this topic here.

Osteoarthritis | Pain Physicians | Tyler Texas

Osteoarthritis, commonly known as “wear and tear” arthritis, is the most common joint condition. Typically found in the joints of the hands, knees, hips and spine, osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of the bones diminishes over time, leading to joint pain and other troublesome symptoms. The pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler, located in Tyler, Texas, can help alleviate joint pain caused by osteoarthritis with a number of pain management treatment options.

Normal, healthy joints are covered with a rubbery material at the end of each bone called cartilage. Cartilage is responsible for providing a smooth, pain-free gliding surface between the bones while the joint is in motion. When cartilage begins to break down from normal wear and tear, an injury or a genetic condition, patients commonly experience joint pain, joint tenderness and swelling, loss of range of motion and a grating sensation when the joint is in motion. In order to manage osteoarthritis symptoms, a pain physician must conduct a physical examination to diagnose the condition. A pain management treatment plan will then be developed to manage the symptoms. A treatment plan commonly includes weight management, increased physical activity, stretching exercises and the use of pain and anti-inflammatory medications.

For more resources on osteoarthritis and joint pain, please contact the pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler, or visit our blog. Our Tyler, Texas team specializes in a number of pain management treatments designed to treat a variety of health conditions.

Chronic Knee Pain | Genicular Nerve Block | Pain Physicians | Tyler Texas

Knee pain can be caused by a number of conditions, including muscle strains, tendonitis, ligament injuries, cartilage injuries and knee arthritis. When a patient sustains an injury to the knee, the pain can become so severe that it limits daily activities and a healthy, active lifestyle. Pain Recovery Center of Tyler, located in Tyler, Texas, specializes in pain management treatments, including treatments for chronic knee pain. Our pain physicians can help return patients to an active lifestyle with the help of a genicular nerve block.

Knee pain typically becomes worse as knee arthritis progresses. Many pain physicians will begin a pain management treatment plan with weight loss, pain relievers and strengthening exercises. When the chronic knee pain cannot be alleviated with these conventional measures, a pain physician may recommend a genicular nerve block.

If you would like to learn more about a genicular nerve block for chronic knee pain, please contact the pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler, or visit our blog here. Our Tyler, Texas practice specializes in the latest treatment options in pain management.