Tag Archives: Pain

Pain Management with Injections

December 27, 2014

Injections for Pain Management

Injections for Pain ManagementPain management is crucial especially in treatment of such diseases that are characterized by chronic pain such as cancer and arthritis. Pain management is also important part of treatment especially in situations where the patient is to go through intense like during chemotherapy for cancer patients or after going through surgery.  Nobody will like to have intense pain maim him for even the least amount of time. People like to be happy and avoid anything that may bring them pain. However in some instances there has to be pain for a much serious health problem to be solved. To manage pain certain drugs are used that helps you to endure the pain, unfortunately most of these are addictive and so as you are using them to manage pain you are at risk of addiction. Opiates are the mostly used drugs in pain management and they work well in ensuring that your pain is moderated if not done away with completely. The nature of these drugs however requires that they be administered by a professional since they are very rewarding and before long the patient may become addicted to them or even dependent on them. There is however one disadvantage of using opiates in pain management; Due to their rewarding nature they can be easily abused and a treatment that once began on the right foot may end up being another nightmare in a person’s life hence there is need for actions to be taken to help patients not to be addicted to this pain drugs.

The medical researchers however did not stop at opiates but went step further to come up with other treatment methods that can be employed to help in treating pain  patients and these involves the use of injections .  In most cases whenever a person has pain in any part of the body, he may be encouraged to try physical therapy or to go for a cortisone injection which normally helps but if all these failed then you need a different approach to tackling the pain. Proliferative therapies like the prolotherapy, Prolozone and the platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) are a good way to deal with pain but are little known.

Prolozone

Prolozone is a form of proliferative therapy. Proliferative therapy generally involves the injection of natural substances into the affected area. When done properly, these injections stimulate the release of growth factors and formation of new collagen in the affected area. The prefix “prolo” refers to this stage of new tissue growth or “proliferation.” As the body forms new collagen, the treated ligaments and tendons become thicker and stronger and more capable of doing their work. Proper alignment, stability, and function are restored, and typically the pain subsides.

Prolozone therapy uses ozone which is a form of oxygen but with three oxygen atoms. The ozone has a very powerful regenerative ability that helps in treating the damaged connective tissues. When the ozone is injected, it improves the oxygen circulation and delivery to the damaged cells. Prolozone therapy also helps not only by strengthening the tendons and the ligaments but also by rebuilding cartilage in the treated joints. Prolozone therapy was by pioneered Dr. Frank Shallenberger.

Patients enjoy Prolozone therapy as compared to other proliferative therapies like prolotherapy since with Prolozone the number of individual injections is less based on the area treated as compared to the number of injections in prolotherapy. The solution is dispersed over a larger area compared to prolotherapy, due to the injection of ozone gas. This has made Prolozone more preferred by people who do not want many injections

Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP)

This is a safe non-surgical procedure that helps those with injuries in the tendons or suffering from osteoporosis. This treatment utilizes platelets from the patient’s own blood to rebuild a damaged tendon or cartilage. It has been successful in not only relieving the pain, but also in jumpstarting the healing process.

Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP)

During this therapy the patients’ blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge for 15 minutes to separate out the platelets. The platelet-rich plasma is then injected into the damaged portion of the tendon or cartilage with the guidance of an ultrasound machine. This treatment is one of the best non-surgical procedures that can be used against pain plus it takes short time for the patient to heal completely. Averagely patients take three months to be able to return to the activities they were performing before the injury that resulted in the pain.

IV therapy for chronic pain

IV nutritional therapies might have been used in chronic pain management for quite a time and have showed impressive results.  Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) treats patients with chronic pain on a daily basis and has found that some people who suffer from extensive inflammation or degeneration from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia or other auto-immune problems may just be lacking some of the vital minerals and vitamins in the body and therefore an IV vitamin and mineral therapy might just work well for them.

IV therapy involves administering the minerals, vitamins that the body lacks through and IV drip. The same might be used to administer some medicine that may help to heal the injured tissues and facilitate formation of new tissues.

Finally

With the injections for pan management you will not only experience liberating relief for weeks with but also are helpful in finding the long-term pain solution. Injections are so simple and low risk they should be in the pain-management discussion for everyone. To discuss how therapeutic injections can free you of pain and improve your long-term outlook, please call (843) 213-1480 or contact Dr. Akoury Dalal

Injections for Pain Management

 

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Platelet Rich Plasma for Treating Back Pain

October 21, 2014

Platelet Rich Plasma for Back Pain

The uniqueness of back pain

Back pain is usually a unique condition in patients because of several reasons. To begin with, most diagnostic methods that are used usually fail to detect the extent of the damage that is causing the pain in the first place. In many cases, pain in the back may be a result of damages to the joints, tendons and other neighboring structures. However, when a patient is taken through the normal imaging procedures, the joints and neighboring structures may appear perfectly normal, thus making it difficult for the doctor to assess and determine the extent of the damage.

The second reason that makes back pain a unique condition is that in the majority of cases, the condition is usually accompanied by problems of the legs. When this happens, patients usually experience increased pain as a result of abnormal movements of the joints when walking or doing any other form of physical activity. This makes it necessary for them to get a form of treatment that handles both problems: damage to the joints in the back and pain arising from abnormal joint movements during walking.

Treatment for back pain

There are different forms of treatment that are used on patients complaining of back pain. The success rates of the treatments have been varied. For instance, steroid injections have been used extensively to treat back pain a wide range of patients. However, practice has indicated that the efficacy of this form of treatment cannot be counted upon to handle all the cases of back pain in patients. There are forms of pain back pain that steroid injections fail to handle.

Platelet Rich Plasma for back pain

Also, other forms of treatment have shown good results in treating back pain among patients. However, their use has been limited by a number of factors, key among them being the limited number of cases of back pain which they fully treat. 

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet rich plasma is a new form of treatment that has been successfully used to treat varied forms of medical conditions in patients. The beauty of this treatment is that it is completely natural and highly efficient. Platelets are derived from the blood of a patient. The platelets are then injected back onto the patient after being converted to a special form. It is the activity of the platelets that speeds up the healing process in a patient. This therefore makes the process a completely natural and effective form of treatment for various types of diseases and medical conditions.

Platelet Rich Plasma In Treatment Of Back Pain

When applied to treatment of back pain, Platelet Rich Plasma has proven to be an effective means of relieving patients of eth pain. This is what usually happens; the platelets that have been obtained from the blood sample of the patient are injected to the site of the pain in the back. This is usually done under the influence of a local anesthetic and is therefore free of pain.

When the platelets are introduced at the location of pain, the activated granules within the platelets begin to release growth factors. Growth factors are special proteins which initiate the process of development of new cells, thus leading to regeneration of tissues. When this process takes place at the site of the damage in the back, it leads to regeneration of new tissues around the joints in the back. This process forms the basis for quick healing that a patient experiences after this form of therapy is administered.

Benefits of using Platelet Rich Plasma for treating back pain

There are several benefits that one gets when this form of treatment is used to treat back pain. First of all, the fact that it is a fully natural process means that a patient is spared the pain of side effects that are associated with other non-natural forms of treatment. Using Platelet Rich Plasma to treat back pain is a process that does not have side effects. This makes it quite comfortable to the patient.

Platelet Rich Plasma for back pain

Second, Platelet Rich Plasma has been proven to be an effective way of treating back pain in patients. Compared to other forms of treatment, using Platelet Rich Plasma has been shown to be highly effective in a wide range of patients. Besides, the fact that the process is carried out within the shortest time possible makes it a favorite among many patients of lower back pain.

How to access Platelet Rich Plasma for treatment of back pain

There are several ways in which you can access this form of treatment. Basically, there are many practitioners of Platelet Rich Plasma therapy. This is because the therapy is used to treat different form of problems on the human body. However, when it comes to treating back pain, you can access these services at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. Dr, Dalal Akoury has been a leading figure in the use of Platelet Rich Plasma for treating different type of medical conditions in patients. She will take you through a highly personalized treatment process during which your needs and desires shall be catered for fully. Feel free to contact her or pay us a visit in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for treatment of back pain using Platelet Rich Plasma.

Platelet Rich Plasma for Back Pain

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Opioids and Cancer

September 27, 2014

How the use of opioids disturbs the cancer balance

OpioidsWhat are opiods?

There are several important things about opiods that you need to know at this stage. First, it is important to note that strictly speaking, the term ‘opioids’ is used to describe a group of chemical compounds that are defined by two important characteristics: having chemical action that is similar to that of morphine and being made of a distinct chemical structure. For many of the compounds that are categorized under this umbrella, their structures vary. Whereas some have distinct alkaloid structures, others occur in the form of peptides.

The second thing is about the occurrence of opioids. Naturally, opioids are found in two distinctive forms: occurring freely in the environment and within the body of human beings. Although initially the possibility of occurrence of opioids within the body of humans was strongly refuted, rigorous research has indicated that indeed the human brain contains specific endogenous opioids that play important role in different functions.

The third thing regards the interaction of opioids with complementary chemical compounds. Further studies have indicated that there are compounds whose actions contradict that of opioids. Known as antagonists, such compounds play a highly important role in their interaction with opioids in relation to influencing particular processes in the body. We shall examine this subject later.

How are opioids used?

For years, opioids have been used for a range of functions. Basically, the use of opioids has been in the form of morphine, which is a commonly occurring plant. Morphine has been used for medicinal as well as recreational purposes for long. Since the use of the plant for medicinal purposes is what matters with regard to our discussion, we shall focus on it.

At the commercial level, morphine has actually been used to relieve pain in chronically ill patients. Take cancer for example, the disease has been known to produce intense pain in patients. To relieve patients of this, morphine-based painkillers are extensively used. This is one common and formal way in which morphine (a common source of opioids) is used for commercial purposes.

The ability of opioids in general and morphine in particular to act as a strong analgesic has been a subject of research for long. Studies have indicated that the compounds have specific effects on the nervous system which translates to drastic reduction in pain. This explains the popularity of morphine-based painkillers as the standard therapy for cancer patients who have undergone an operation as part of the therapy or simply those in advanced stages of cancer.

Therefore, whether for recreation or medicinal use, opioids, have been extensively used to relieve cancer patients of pain in the course of treatment.

How opioids act

Basically, the action of opioids on the body can best be understood when you understand what opioid receptors are. Your body is made of special compounds which act as receptors for opioids. The receptors are distributed in several parts of your body, with many of them being in the central nervous system. It is this phenomenon that explains why opioids have a very strong effect on the nervous system. Others are distributed in different parts of your body such as the lungs, liver and other internal organs.

There are several types of receptors. It is the interaction between specific opioids and receptors that causes particular feelings in the body. Whereas some receptors are meant to trigger feelings of relief when they come into contact with opioids, others are designed to trigger changes in other physiological processes when opioids are introduced. The interaction between opioids and receptors is an important process when it comes to how opioids may disturb the cancer balance in the body.

How do opioids disturb cancer balance?

Simply put, cancer balance is a situation in which the process of metastasis, angiogenesis and invasion of healthy body cells by cancerous ones is completely inhibited. Research has indicated that use of opioids as painkillers can disturb this balance, thus leading to development of cancer in the body. On the other hand, other studies have indicated that morphine, in particular, may have anti-cancer properties by inhibiting the cancer development process mentioned above.

One way in which opioids used as painkillers can disturb the cancer balance is by altering the normal functioning of the immune system. Since cancer development largely depends on the state of the immune system, any compound that alters the immune system can indirectly influence the possible occurrence, development and spread of cancer. From several studies conducted, it can be concluded that particular opioids are able to alter the normal functioning of the immune system, thus exposing a patient on whom they are used to cancer development.

On the other hand, some studies have indicated that morphine is able to induce natural cell death and, as a result, control the growth of cancer cells in the body. However, this property, which highly depends on a number of different factors such as the concentration of the morphine that is used and the state of the opioid receptors in the body, remains a subject of research. What you need to know is that there has been concrete evidence to the effect that the use of opioids for relief of pain in cancer patients may actually disturb the cancer balance and trigger fresh development of cancer. This happens because of the effect that opioids have on the immune system of the patient in the form of production and inhibition of production of important hormones.

OpioidsConcluding remarks

Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we use the best approaches to administer alternative and complementary treatment of cancer to patients. Dr. Dalal Akoury is a specialist in this field. One thing, though, that sets her apart is her devotion to helping cancer patients successfully fight the devastating effects of the disease. Feel free to visit us in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a completely personalized administration of alternative and complementary therapies for cancer.

How the use of opioids disturbs the cancer balance

 

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Female Sexual Dysfunction; Do you suffer from a sexual dysfunction?

September 12, 2014

Female Sexual Dysfunction – Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

Sexual dysfunction

Female Sexual Dysfunction can be an avenue of losing your self-esteem if not treated in good time. For better satisfaction seek for treatment today.

For a couple of weeks now I have been sharing about sexual dysfunctions for both sexes highlighting various insights an creating an opportunity to be very much interactive even as you get an opportunity to meet with the specialist and professionals to help you address your disturbing condition. I have from the several concerns raised by those I interact with realized that the problems of sexual dysfunctions are not small as we may think. The population suffering in silence is worrying and many people have lost their cherished relationships because of problems relating to sex inabilities. What does this communicate to you? A lot more needs to be done and so we are going to continue expounding on what we have been discussing and introduce much more fresh articles going forward so that our effort of containing the problem can be counted.

To help us kick start the discussion, we are going to be looking in four parts the female sex and how law libido in women is decreasing their sex drive, sexual dissatisfaction in women and lack of sexual desire in women in the following context.

  • The Facts on Female Sexual Dysfunction
  • Causes of Female Sexual Dysfunction
  • Symptoms and Complications of Female Sexual Dysfunction
  • Diagnosing Female Sexual Dysfunction
  • Treating and Preventing Female Sexual Dysfunction

The Facts on Female Sexual Dysfunction

Female sexual dysfunction arises when a woman is not able to fully, healthily, and pleasurably experience some or all of the various physical stages the body normally experiences during sexual activity. These stages can be broadly thought of as:

It is important to know that in women, sexual dysfunctions may take many different forms and causes. Addressing them is therefore an aspect of priority and dealing with each case by case be it physical, psychological, physiological (mechanical), or interpersonal – in order to resolve the problems. This condition is very common in women and the experts are estimating that nearly 40% of women population is actually affected by sexual dysfunction with estimation that in every four women, one will be unable to achieve orgasm. These are not very good statistics and so it is important that when you notice sign, then you will need to talk to doctor Akoury who is very experience in this line of medication to help you contain the situation before it escalate. Now what are the causes of sexual dysfunctions?

Causes of Female Sexual Dysfunction

Female sexual dysfunction may be related to physical factors, psychological factors, or a mixture of both – It can also be a matter of problems with technique: nonetheless some women may not fully experience sexual arousal and orgasm because they or their partners lack sexual knowledge. They may not understand how female sex organs respond or are stimulated, or don’t use appropriate arousal techniques.

At the same time, sexual dysfunction has a strong interpersonal component – A person’s view of their own sexuality is largely influenced by among other factor like:

  • Culture
  • Society
  • Personal experience

This may be intimately connected to their own or society’s ideas about the appropriate or inappropriate expression of sexual behavior. These feelings are likely to cause anxiety because of a personal or cultural association of sexual experience and pleasure with immorality and bad behavior. Anxiety is then expressed physically by the body in a way that prevents normal sexual function. Anxiety can do this, for example, by stopping or slowing the state of sexual excitement that allows for the lubrication or moistening of the female genitalia – an important step towards fulfilling forms of sexual activity.

Personal character, disposition, and life experience play a role in sexual dysfunction – Fear of intimacy can be a factor in arousal problems. For instance the experiences of abuse, either in childhood or in past or current relationships, can establish a cycle of associating sex with psychological or physical pain. Practicing sexual activity under these circumstances causes more psychological or physical pain like in the case where anxiety prevents lubrication then it is obvious that sexual intercourse will be painful and particularly during penetration.

Conflict, tension, and incompatibility with a sexual partner can cause sexual dysfunction – Depression may be a cause, and stress a contributing factor. Medications, including oral contraceptives, antihypertensive, antidepressants, and tranquilizers are very common causes of sexual dysfunction. Also, the use of oral contraceptives can decrease a woman’s interest in sex. If you’re taking any of these medications, talk to your doctor about its possible contribution to sexual problems.

Physical causes include disorders of the genitalia and the urinary system, such as endometriosis, cystitis, vaginal dryness, or vaginitis – Other conditions such as:

  • Hypothyroidism
  • Diabetes
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Muscular dystrophy

These can have an impact on sexual desire and ability. Surgical removal of the uterus or of a breast may contribute psychologically to sexual dysfunction if a woman feels her self-image has been damaged.

Besides all there certain prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as the use of illegal drugs or abuse of alcohol may contribute to sexual dysfunction. Cigarette smoking for example will have serious and negative effect on sexual arousal in women and although women can remain sexually active and experience orgasms throughout their lives, as they (women) approaches their sunset days i.e. tentatively the age of 60 their sexual activeness will begin to deteriorate. While appreciating that this may be attributed in many cases to be due to a lack of partners, changes such as dryness of the vagina caused by lack of estrogen after menopause may make intercourse at this stage painful and reduced sexual desire. After menopause, about 15% of women feel a strong decrease in sexual desire.

Finally have been enlighten of the possible causes of female sexual dysfunctions, you can do a self-evaluation and if you notice any of the discussed points the it will be very important that you get in touch with Dr. Akoury who is an expert in correcting all kinds of sexual dysfunctions professionally and naturally. In her passion of helping people doctor Akoury made a decision to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Calling her to book an appointment will work well for you in many ways because it is in Dr. Akoury’s practice to focus on a personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. I believe that this is what you need, total restoration and not patching up symptoms, are we together? Call now.

Female Sexual Dysfunction – Causes, Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment

 

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Sedatives and Chronic Pain Treatment

July 28, 2014

Sedatives and Chronic Pain Treatment

What are sedatives?

SedativesSedatives refers to the drugs which when administered to a patient, they reduce tension and anxiety and cause sedation. They are drugs which cause calmness when taken by the patient. In chronic pain treatment, these drugs are administered with a purpose to kill the pain that the patient is experiencing. This is not a common medication though and it will only be made available to the public if the clinical trials have shown that the benefits of using the drug seemingly outweigh its adverse risks.

How are sedatives administered?

Sedatives are administered to patients in many ways. The mode in which the sedation is given will though be determined by the area on which the pain is being experienced. The modes through which sedation can be administered include:-

ü  Through inhalation- through nose

ü  Through mouth (oral)

ü  Under the tongue

ü  Or sometimes administered intravenously i.e. through the veins.

Is sedation helpful in pain relief?

Yes. Sedation is a medication that has been specifically developed to help people who are experiencing pain. This medication works by calming the nervous system and hence making the patient not to feel any pain. Sometime when you are experiencing chronic pain, it may be difficult for you to concentrate on anything or even have sleep. Sedation in this case can prove helpful to you.

Does sedation cure chronic pain?

There has been confusion in many people who use sedation and think they are treating pain. Sedation is not a curative medication for pain, but it is only meant to help the patient by providing temporary relief from pain.

Under what circumstances will sedation be important?

As earlier mentioned, these medicines should only be used when prescribed by a doctor, because they are known to be habit forming. This will make them less effective the next time you will need to use them.

This medication is normally in most cases prescribed to the patients who are experiencing difficulties in sleep. This is because it is very difficult for a person experiencing severe pain to get any sleep. In this case, the doctor will prescribe sedative medication which will help the patient in killing the pain and consequently the patient gets sleep.

Are there thing I should avoid when under sedation treatment?

Yes. Sedation if not well taken care of can be hazardous. Depending with the level of sedation, (e.g. Deep sedation) taking of other drugs like alcohol as this may cause extreme drowsiness and this can reduce breathing and if intense, death may occur.

When you will also want to stop taking sedation medication E.g. for sleep aid, do not stop abruptly. Instead discuss it with your doctor to be advised on how to gradually withdraw. The abrupt stoppage may subject you to withdrawal symptoms.

Which are the types of sedation?

The type of sedation medication to be administered to the patient will be determined by the doctor when the patient visits the doctor. This choice will though be based of the intended effect of the sedative in terms of intensity. The following are the common types of sedative medication:-

  • Minimal sedation – when this sedation is administered, the patients respond normally to verbal communications since this is a light sedative medication. Sometimes this method may though impair cognitive function and coordination, breathing in unaffected.
  • Moderate sedation – this is also referred to as cognitive sedation and the patient remains conscious and an respond purposefully to verbal commands either alone or by light simulation.
  • Deep sedation – if this type of sedation is administered to a patient, the patient cannot be easily aroused but responds to painful simulation. The patient may require assistance to breath.
  • General Anesthesia – this is normally a very serious sedation treatment and its intensity is high. The patient cannot be aroused even by inducing pain on him/her. Breathing ability may completely be impaired.

Does sedation have any side effects?

SedativesAlmost all drugs, prescribed or over the counter will have some side effects. In this case, sedation is no exception. Some of the powerful sedation medicines have very high chances of causing addiction to the patient, especially if they are abused. Apart from the risk of addition, these drugs may also sometimes produce unpleasant reaction to the patient. It is important to note that the reaction that results from different patients when they take a given drug is quite different and hence it is vital after you see a negative reaction to the drug you see your doctor as soon as possible.

Is sedation same as opioids treatment?

Not really. As mentioned earlier, sedation refers to the medication which is normally given to the pain experiencing patient in order to bring about calmness. On the other hand, opioids are curative mediations which are given to pain experiencing patient with aim of not just giving them a temporal relief from the pain but to get them a permanent solution to the pain. Therefore, in simple terms the difference between the two is that opioids are medications that cure pain while sedatives are medications meant to calm or cool down the pain. Both medications should be administered by a qualified physician though, to avoid risks of addiction.

Sedatives and Chronic Pain Treatment

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