Pain And Wellness Center

A Basic Guide to Understanding Spinal Cord Stimulation

If you are suffering from chronic back pain and have tried a myriad of pain relieving methods that haven’t worked, then consider undergoing a spinal cord stimulation procedure. This treatment method is ideal for people who are suffering from pain symptoms due to a failed back surgery, severe nerve pain or numbness, and other chronic back pain conditions such as regional pain syndrome.  

• What is Spinal Cord Stimulation? Spinal cord stimulation is a procedure that involves applying electrical current to the nerves along the spinal cord to treat chronic pain. This is a surgical procedure in which a pulse generator is inserted into the back and sends electrical pulses through the spinal canal. These electrical pulses interact with the nerves that make you feel pain and produce a tingling sensation so that you no longer experience symptoms.
• How is the Procedure Done? Spinal cord stimulation is an outpatient procedure that only takes a few hours to complete. After your doctor has applied the necessary amount of local anesthetic and sedative, he or she will insert a trial stimulator to test the potential effectiveness of the procedure. If the trial is successful, then the doctor will implant a permanent stimulator and small, coated wires under the skin of the belly and into the spinal canal.

• How do You Operate the Stimulator? Once the surgery is complete, your doctor will work with you to determine how much electrical pulse you need to feel relief from your chronic back pain. He or she will show you how to operate the stimulator at home. Often, patients need to use the stimulator between two and four hours a day to achieve pain relief.

If you’re looking to find relief from your back pain and are interested in learning more about the spinal cord stimulation procedure, then contact the Pain and Wellness Center of Massachusetts. We offer chiropractic care, physical therapy, and other chronic pain management solutions. Call us today at (978) 826-7230 to schedule your consultation appointment.

Encourage Sleep and Fight Fibromyalgia With These Tips!

Fibromyalgia can interfere with your sleep, which makes the days harder and less pleasant! View this great article by WebMD to get some tips to make sleeping easier!

View the article here!

Understanding Intravenous Laser Blood Irradiation

First established by Soviet scientists in 1981, intravenous laser blood irradiation was originally created for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, later studies found that the procedure helps to improve microcirculation and reduce areas of infarction.

Intravenous Laser Blood Irradiation: Intravenous laser blood irradiation refers to a biological, therapeutic method in which blood is exposed to light using a laser. This procedure helps regulate the functional connection between the terminal vessels, cells, and the extracellular matrix.

Procedural Method:Intravenous laser blood irradiation is completed using a low-power laser of 1-3 mW over 20-60 minutes, typically in a 10-part series completed over several weeks. The procedure requires the insertion of a laser-cannula, made from biologically compatible plastic, into a vein in the forearm.

Effects:Intravenous laser blood irradiation provides a number of benefits, including improving the immunological activity of the blood, diminishing the tendency of aggregation of thrombocytes, and forming erythrocytes, all of which help improve oxygen supply within the blood and promote the wound healing process. In addition, intravenous laser blood irradiation has also been shown to improve the hypoxy of tissues, helping to normalize tissue metabolism. Additional effects of intravenous laser blood irradiation include:

• Increasing immunoglobulines IgG and IG.
• Stimulation of interferons, interleukins, and TNF-alpha.
• Improvement of the anti-oxidant enzymatic system.
• Improvement of endothelial dysfunction and trophicity of body tissues.
• Normalization of cell membranes.

In other words, intravenous blood irradiation is used to help alleviate pain caused by a number of conditions and improve a patient’s overall health and wellness.

Here at the Pain and Wellness Center, our pain specialists and professional staff members are devoted to helping our patients find the perfect treatment option to help relieve pain and improve the body’s immune response. For more information on our pain clinic services or a listing of Peabody and North Shore locations, contact us at (978) 826-7230. 

What Is Manipulation Under Joint Anesthesia and How Can It Help?

First presented at the 1999 World Federation of Chiropractic Conference, manipulation under joint anesthesia, or MUJA, is a procedure used as an alternative to the traditional manipulation of inflamed joints. Studies show that the use of conscious sedation has made this outpatient procedure one of the easiest and most efficient treatments available for individuals suffering from both chronic and acute neuromuscular skeletal conditions.

Anesthesia: During the procedure, the patient is typically given an epidural, facet block, sacroiliac, or transforaminal injection under conscious sedation. The most commonly used medication for conscious sedation during MUJA procedures is propofol, which allows for immediate muscle contracture without forcing the patient to endure the body’s initial pain response.

Procedure: Once the anesthesia has sufficiently numbed the area in question, a number of tendon-stretching, facial-lengthening, and ligament mobilization techniques are performed to improve joint mobilization and reduce inflammation and chronic joint pain. MUJA may also be completed using myofascial release techniques, passive stretches, and adjustment procedures.

Benefits: When used for acute care conditions, MUJA has been shown to reduce muscular contracture and spinal disc compression and help prevent the build-up of excessive scar tissue. In addition, this procedure makes it easier for nutrients and necessary fluids to reach the target area and promote the healing process. MUJA has also been shown to reduce the duration and frequency of spinal manipulative therapy and the percentage of permanent musculoskeletal impairment.

Here at the Pain and Wellness Center, our physicians and specialists employ MUJA as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool.  It is performed in conjunction with an anesthetic injection to provide improved patient joint mobility, increase flexibility, and alleviate painful neuroskeletal conditions. Visit our website or call (978) 826-7230 for more information on our services or to locate a Boston pain center near you. 

Massage Therapy: What Is a Trigger Point Massage?

When you think about therapeutic massage, your first thought might be of a Swedish or deep tissue massage.  However, there are many other forms of massage designed to help alleviate pain.

This video provides an overview on trigger point massage, a specialized form of massage therapy aimed at your trigger points. Trigger points refer to a specific point in the body of a muscle, typically located along the axial skeleton. In most cases, these hyper-sensitive trigger points cause pain to seemingly-unrelated areas of the body.  For example, a major trigger point is the trapezius, the most superficial back and shoulder muscle. This trigger point could cause pain to travel from the shoulder to the back of the ear, then through the head, and finally to the corner of the eye.

If you’re looking for the best pain clinic in the Peabody or North Shore area, then look no further than the Pain and Wellness Center. Let our specialists help determine which therapeutic or pain management method is best suited to your needs. Get started today by contacting us at (978) 826-7230.