CBS News Features Dr. Ashraf Hanna From The Florida Spine Institute Discussing How to Manage Pain From Back Injuries and Car Accidents
CLEARWATER, Fla., June 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In the past, people that were experiencing pain would see many doctors before visiting a pain management specialist. So what do you do if the pain lingers for a long time and your quality of life is being affected? CBS News recently featured a news story about what you can do to help manage your pain.
Dr. Ashraf Hanna, a board certified physician and director of pain management at the Florida Spine Institute in Clearwater, Fl discussed what someone should do when they have neck or back pain: "Well, if someone wakes up in pain, if they have a back injury, have a slip and fall, lift something heavy, have a car accident, etc, and they begin to complain about severe pain, they should definitely see a pain management specialist after checking with their primary care physician. The pain management specialist should be board-certified and fellowship-trained in interventional pain management."
Dr. Hanna went on to talk about what sets the Florida Spine Institute apart from other pain clinics. "The Florida Spine Institute offers a comprehensive wellness program and multi-disciplinary treatment modalities ranging from physical therapy, epidural steroid injection, to procedures such as radiofrequency ablation and spinal cord stimulation implants."
When asked what patients can do if they had previously been told there is nothing more that can be done and that they will have to live with their pain, Dr. Hanna responded, "Chronic pain is a major source of suffering and disability, even suicide. For example, the pain associated with shingles is the leading cause of suicide in patients 70 years and older. But, with the options I just mentioned, patients do not have to live with the pain anymore."
Steve Gorey, a patient of Dr. Hanna, has been able to reduce or eliminate his need for medications. Steve said, "I had back surgery, but was still in a lot of pain, so I had various procedures including an intrathecal morphine pump. Dr Hanna then performed triggerpoint injections and radiofrequency ablation and my pain was significantly improved. After this, Dr. Hanna weaned me off the morphine pump and opioids. Now I am off medication, and feel much better and am very functional again."
James Doyle, another patient of Dr. Hanna, had tried many treatments before deciding to control his pain with medication. James stated, "My lower back pain began in 1984, while I was on active duty in the military. I had major spine surgery, which fused my spine from L2-L5 without relief. I began seeing Dr. Hanna and we tried spinal injections, which didn't help. I was in a lot of pain and not functional. I was started on an opioid and was monitored by Dr. Hanna and had significant relief of my back pain. I am now able to do more things with my family, am very functional and have a better quality of life."
Dr. Hanna concluded, "Our goal is having early aggressive intervention combined with various procedures to reduce or eliminate the need for pain medication. In some more complex cases, patients that have failed all interventions, including major surgery, need to be on opioid therapy that is carefully monitored to keep them comfortable and functional. Our mission is more function and less pain."
For more information regarding pain management, please visit http://www.nopainhanna.com or call 727-450-3123
Video - http://youtu.be/Xd3iBBOpnPs
SOURCE www.nopainhanna.com
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