A migraine is an inherited neurological disorder that is described as the over excitability of specific areas of the brain. Untreated migraine attacks can last several hours, or a few days. Although, medically speaking, we do not understand how a brain with migraine is dissimilar to a normal brain, we do know that people who suffer with migraines are more likely to hold the transient factors that may raise the chances of having a migraine attack. These triggers may include environmental stimuli … [Read more...] about Treating Migraines with Botox
Northern Arizona Pain Institutes
Treating Pain with an Epidural Steroid Injection
The epidural steroid injection allows anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid) to be injected into the epidural space to treat pain caused by irritation of the spinal nerves. A protective covering called the dural sac surrounds the spinal cord. This sac contains spinal fluid that bathes and nourishes the spinal cord. The space between the outer surface of the dural sac and the bones of the spinal column is the epidural space. Nerves that go from the spinal cord through the spinal column and to … [Read more...] about Treating Pain with an Epidural Steroid Injection
Northern Arizona Pain Institutes Introducing New Nurse Practitioner
Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner Helen Paslay has worked in health care for more than 12 years. She has cared for her patients in primary care, emergency medicine, outpatient surgery, solid organ transplantation and pain management settings, with eight years of her experience acquired at one of the best medical facilities in the world, the Mayo Clinic Hospital (Phoenix Campus). Family Nurse Practitioners have six years of additional medical education, beyond the two years required for … [Read more...] about Northern Arizona Pain Institutes Introducing New Nurse Practitioner
More than Thirty-Five Percent of Americans Suffer from Chronic Pain Syndrome
Pain has two general categories: acute and chronic. Acute pain signals injury and generally resolves itself in less than 30 days as a person heals. Chronic pain refers to pain persisting longer than three months. It can last months to years. Chronic pain can be mild to severe, annoying to debilitating, and continuous to intermittent. Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS) is a common problem that presents a major challenge to patients and health care providers because of its complex nature. Approximately … [Read more...] about More than Thirty-Five Percent of Americans Suffer from Chronic Pain Syndrome