Tel: 646.521.0404
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Tel: 646.521.0404 |
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Common Pain Conditions
Back pain When back pain does not subside, and the injury or illness that caused it has had sufficient time to heal, it is termed chronic back pain. This condition is not arising from damage or injury to the back, but from the pain message center in the brain. Chronic back pain usually lasts more than three months and may be mild or severe. We offer a variety of treatments and medications to treat chronic back pain depending on the circumstances of the case. Neck pain Neck pain is described as an aching, burning, stabbing, shooting, or cramping pain and frequently spreads into the upper back, the arm or the hand. It is frequently made worse by activities that require one to be static or perform repetitive tasks like typing and answering the phone. Like back pain, we use a variety of treatments and medications to treat neck pain depending on the circumstances of the case. Muscle Pain (Myalgia) Muscles protect and conform to the body. With chronic misuse of muscles, they may conform and protect the wrong way, causing chronic patterns of tension. Common treatments at the Center for Myalgia include Trigger Point Injections, Botox® Injections and Physical Therapy. Nerve Pain Most of the nerves that pick up information about pain from the skin go into the spinal cord through spaces between the disks. If the nerve is stimulated anywhere along its path (such as being pinched or damaged), the pain feels as if it is coming from the skin from which the particular nerve collects information. This type of pain is called neurogenic pain, because it is caused by stimulation of a nerve track somewhere other than at its normal starting point. Common treatments at the Center include Nerve Blocks, TENS and Epidurals. Headaches Headaches are one of the most common physical problem people experience. When headaches are severe, they often control the life of their victim by disrupting job performance, daily activities and sleep. Common types of headaches are: tension, migraine, cluster and sinus. Common treatments used at the Center include Botox® Injections, Medications and Physical Therapy. Post Herpetic Neuralgia (Shingles) One of the most common complications of shingles is persistence of pain in the affected area of the body after the rash has healed. This is often called post-herpetic neuralgia. It may be very severe and prolonged, particularly in older patients. Post-herpetic neuralgia is most likely to occur when the patient with shingles is older (more than 50 years old), there is severe or moderately severe pain when the rash appears and/or there is pain before the rash appears. Through years of experience, Dr. Leff has developed a treatment that has proved successful and effective. Please call our office to find out more. Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia syndrome is characterized by generalized pain and musculoskeletal tenderness, fatigue, non-restorative sleep and morning stiffness. The syndrome has been called an invisible illness, and is often denied or misunderstood. Often, because patients with the syndrome don't "look sick," family, friends and clinicians may treat them unsympathetically. Our pain specialists will work with the patient to determine the best course of treatment. In most cases, Fibromyalgia is treated with some combination of: pain medications, anti-depressants, gentle stretching and exercise, and psychosocial counseling. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the primary example of degenerative arthritis. It affects approximately 20 million people in the United States. The condition affects both men and women and occurs primarily in individuals over 40 years of age. Osteoarthritis most frequently occurs in the knees, hips, ankles, hands and other weight-bearing joints. We employ a variety of effective management including: range of motion exercises, Physical Therapy, anti-inflammatory medicines and topical creams and ointments. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve, in the palm of the hand, is irritated or trapped by inflamed tissues at the base of the wrist. Normally, there is a tunnel at the base of the wrist formed by the carpal bones. A tunnel of bones and ligaments in the wrists narrows, pinching nerves that reach the fingers and the muscle at the base of the thumb. Symptoms range from a burning tingling numbness in the fingers, to difficulty gripping or making a fist. Common treatments used at the Center include topical ointments, anti-inflammatory medications and Physical Therapy. |
