New Hope For Pain Sufferers
Pain Center at Blue Ridge HealthCare Helps Lessen the Impact of Pain

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BY CHRIS ALLISON

FOR THE NEWS HERALD

It hits you. Back pain so severe that every step is an ordeal. Blinding headaches that leave you unable to think of anything but the pain. Arm, leg or shoulder pain without a specific cause. Fibromyalgia that saps your energy and leaves you aching all over.

These are just some of the chronically painful conditions that nearly 50 million Americans live with every day. The results can be a greatly diminished quality of life, job loss, financial ruin, isolation from family and friends and even thoughts of suicide.

“Pain that just won’t go away can be the most miserable of human conditions,” said Josh Miller, MD, Medical Director for Southeast Pain Care at Blue Ridge HealthCare. “Until you experience this sort of pain yourself, or you work with chronic pain patients, you cannot fully appreciate the impact of pain that doesn’t respond to more typical treatments.”

While pain can be a normal nervous system response to alert you to potential harm, chronic pain can last for weeks, months or years. Chronic pain may begin with or without illness or injury. In America alone, it is estimated that the annual cost of chronic back pain is more than $100 billion in medical care and lost time from work. Although nearly 9 in 10 Americans suffer from regular pain, a large majority of the suffering is treated inadequately, if at all.

To combat this explosive need, pain management medicine has emerged as a vital medical sub-specialty dedicated to treating a broad array of conditions, including back pain, arthritis pain headaches, fibromyalgia and pain caused by injuries or diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Pain management offers a disciplined approach, with treatment plans that help patients return to more active and productive lives.

“We can never guarantee a patient that they will be pain free, but for the majority of them we can reduce their pain levels substantially and increase their levels of activity,” Dr. Miller said. “The key is doing the proper diagnostic work up front to understand the source of the pain and then implement a treatment plan best suited to the patient’s needs.”

“This is an important step forward in meeting the needs of local residents suffering from chronic pain and its dramatic impact on their lives,” said Steve Hitt, Vice President of Administration and Senior Services at Blue Ridge HealthCare. “We are very excited to help bring this expanded service to the local community.”

The arsenal of available pain management techniques is growing nearly every day. They include:

Medications - Pain relieving medications are just one of many treatment methods for patients. Drugs can help provide relief, particularly when used in combination with other treatment approaches. Recent reports of harmful side effects from certain pain medicines have increased the importance of finding alternative treatment approaches.

Epidural steroid injections - The injection of pain relieving drugs and steroids into the epidural space along the spinal column is a highly effective treatment for many patients with chronic back pain. Treatments can be repeated periodically to provide long-term relief.

Nerve blocks - Pain management physicians can use injections to pinpoint specific groups of nerves and block pain signals going to the brain. High frequency radio waves can be used in a similar fashion to stop the transition of pain signals in specific areas.

Spinal cord stimulation - This technique can be highly effective for patients with chronic back or leg pain. An implanted battery and electrode delivers a slight tingling sensation to the spine that masks the pain.

Implantable pumps - For patients requiring high does of narcotics to control their pain, an implanted infusion pump can be a better option. The use of a pump reduces the amount of narcotics needed and also eliminates side effects common with oral medications.

Counseling - Patients with chronic pain often become depressed, which further complicates their painful conditions. Psychological counseling can provide patients with new coping mechanisms.

Additional methods - Other pain management approaches that can be used alone or in combination with any of the above include massage therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care.

“Every patient’s situation is different, which means that a tailored approach is going to be the most effective,” Dr. Miller said. “The secret to success is to do the necessary diagnostics, explore all the options and begin a treatment plan that addresses the cause of the pain and all of its effects on a patient’s life.”

If you (or a family member) are suffering from chronic pain, you should not give up hope. If you have tried pain medications or other approaches and are not getting any relief, call about a referral to a board certified pain management specialist.

For more information about Southeast Pain Care at Blue Ridge HealthCare, call 879-7620.

Southeast Pain Care offers innovative approaches to pain management, including treatment of pain associated with:

  • Arthritis
  • Back and neck injuries
  • Severe headaches and migraines
  • Recovery from surgery
  • Failed back surgery
  • Poor circulation
  • Post-trauma or accidents
  • Diabetes
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Work related injuries
  • Shingles
  • Cancer
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Myofascial syndromes
  • Extremity pain
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy

The second largest employer in Burke County, Blue Ridge HealthCare serves a four-county area and includes Grace and Valdese hospitals, Blue Ridge Home HealthCare, Grace Heights and College Pines Health & Rehabilitation Centers, Grace Ridge Retirement Community, Phifer Wellness Center and a number of physician practices.