A: Acute pain is defined as short-term pain with an easily identifiable cause, usually the result of an injury, surgery or illness. It is often fast and sharp followed by aching pain. Acute pain is centralized in one area before coming somewhat spread out. This type of pain responds well to medications
Chronic pain is generally different from acute pain. It is an ongoing condition, often in the back, neck, head, as wells as neuropathic pain (nerve injury pain), musculoskeletal pain, and pain related to illness. Chronic pain is usually defined as pain that lasts longer than three months. Chronic pain often develops after a major injury or illness. Chronic pain is common in older adults as they are more likely to suffer from long-term medical conditions linked to ongoing pain such as arthritis, or shingles. Sometimes, chronic pain is part of a widespread disease process, and the specific factor causing the pain such as cancer cannot be changed.*All of the causes of chronic pain are not yet known.
Q: What are the most common problems that result in chronic pain?
• Neck pain
• Muscle Pain (Myalgia)
• Nerve Pain
• Headaches
• Post Herpetic Neuralgia (Shingles)
• Fibromyalgia
• Osteoarthritis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Q: Who are pain specialists?
A: Pain is a complex medical problem that can have profound effects on your physical and mental well-being. The goal of the physicians of Tampa Bay Pain Specialists is to help you decrease your level of pain and suffering, to return you to your maximum level of functioning and independence, and to help you restore your quality of life.
A: Physical medicine and rehabilitation, also known as physiatry, is a medical specialty that involves the process of restoring lost abilities to a person who has been disabled because of disease, disorder or injury.
Q: What is a physiatrist?
A: Physiatrist is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Physiatrists focus on restoring function. Physiatrists treat acute and chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders
A physiatrist is a physician who has completed four years of graduate medical education followed by four additional years of postdoctoral residency training. Physiatrists receive specialized training in electrodiagnostic medicine, which includes electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, and somatosensory evoked. To become board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, physiatrists are required to take both a written and oral examination administered by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
A: Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems. They see patients in all age groups. They may see a person who was injured at work lifting a heavy object, a football player who sprains an ankle and needs rehabilitation to play again, or a knitter who has carpal tunnel syndrome. Physiatrists' patients include people with arthritis, tendonitis, any kind of back pain, and work- or sports-related injuries.
Q: What kinds of treatments do physiatrists offer?
Tampa Bay Pain Specialists:
• Disc pain of the lumbar, cervical and thoracic spine
• Arm and leg pain
• Sport injuries
• Fibromyalgia
• Whiplash injury
• Headaches from the neck (cervicogenic pain)
• Sacroiliac joint pain
• Post shingles pain
• Arthritic spinal pain
• Work-related injuries:
• Prompt diagnosis and treatment
• Close coordination with case managers
Types Of Procedures Performed Most procedures are performed under C-arm (x-ray guidance) for accuracy and safety.
Botox Injections: Provides targeted relief of symptoms for the treatment of neck pain and abnormal head position in Cervical Dystonia.
Patients with herniated discs. Epidurals: Cervical, thoracic and lumbar.
Facet Joint Injections: Cervical, thoracic and lumbar.
Radiofrequency Treatments: The nerves to painful structures, such as facet joints, discs and others, can be turned off by applying a special electrical current to the nerve.
Dorsal Column Stimulators: An electric system that inhibits perception of pain. This can give relief without narcotics.
Common Pain Treatments
• Epidurals : cervical, lumbar ,thoracic
• Medication Management for Pain
• Nerve Blocks
• Sympathetic Blocks : Stellate ganglion blocks
• Trigger Point Injections
• Physical Therapy
Epidurals
Epidural treatment usually involves a series of injections, repeated at regular intervals. Epidural steroid injection is a medical procedure that involves the administration of a dose of anti-inflammatory medication into a small space in your back or neck. This treatment has brought relief to many patients who suffer from pain caused by local inflammation, such as bulging discs, arthritis or ligament strain.
Medication Management for Pain
While drug therapies differ for each person, the most common are the following:
Pain medications, including antidepressants, anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants.
Anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate pain by reducing swelling and irritation.
There are alternative delivery methods for medications. Common methods used at the office are oral medications, topical creams and injections.
Nerve Blocks can produce pain relief by temporarily stopping the transmission of pain signals. Medicine is injected directly around a nerve or into the spine to block the pain.
Trigger Point Injections
Often when a muscle is knotted, blood cannot circulate through the tissue to nourish it. Some of the tissue will eventually degenerate and form small nodules called trigger points. Trigger points can occur anywhere in the body and cause serious pain. By injecting a trigger point with medicine, pain is reduced and movement is increased.
Physical Therapy
For the pain patient, physical therapy is a critical element in the quest to regain the function that has been lost. The physical therapist will work with the patient to gradually rebuild flexibility, strength, coordination and endurance. A certified physical therapist will educate the patient on their specific treatment and why certain treatments work best.
Glenn S. Fuoco, D.O.
Dr. Fuoco was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. A cum laude graduate of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA., he attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and a one year Interventional Spine/Pain Management Fellowship at Florida Spine Institute in Clearwater.
