Do you live in constant chronic pain on any given day?

If so, it’s safe to say that you could benefit from pain management. However, knowing that you can benefit from it and knowing which techniques you should use to alleviate your pain are two different stories.

Pain management is defined as everything from physical therapy, exercise and mental-health counseling to surgery and medication. With so many different choices, it’s easy to get confused as to which one is your best option. While the purpose of this article isn’t to try and name the best option, it can inform you of the different types of Pain Management techniques available.

While there are no universally accepted classifications, pain management techniques generally fall into two different categories: invasive and non-invasive. Non-invasive pain management techniques are activities such as exercise and physical therapy.

Pain management techniques such as medications, fall into both invasive and non-invasive categories depending on how the medications are introduced into the body. Techniques such as injections and surgery are always considered invasive.

Listed below are the several different types of invasive and non-invasive techniques available.

Non-Invasive Techniques

• Exercise: Exercises may involve active, passive, and resistive exercises to provide proper cardiovascular health and muscle strengthening

• Manual techniques: Chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and osteopathy are some of the techniques used to manually manipulate affected areas

• Cutaneous stimulation: Usually used with exercise, involves superficial heating or cooling of the skin using hot or cold packs

• Behavioral modification: A cognitive therapy that teaches the patient to alleviate pain by means of relaxation, coping or other techniques

• Medications: Medications that are introduced into the body orally such as Analgesics, NSAID’s, Muscle relaxants, narcotic medications, and antidepressants

• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): TENS is a battery powered device that sends an electrical signals to underlying nerves to help relieve acute or chronic pain

Invasive Techniques

• Injections: Injecting steroids or anesthetics to nerves, joints or through epidural injections can provide temporary relief for severe pain.

• Proliferation therapy: Injection of a solution that stimulates blood circulation to aid in ligament repair at the affected site.

• Surgical Implants: Surgically implantable spinal cord stimulators and implantable peripheral nerve stimulators.

• Infusion pumps: Implantable pumps that deliver opioids directly to the affected nerve.

While this list isn’t comprehensive and doesn’t cover every possible pain management technique there is, it gives you an idea of what’s avaliable to help alleviate your chronic pain. Remember you should always consult a pain management professional and find out which one is best for you.

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When you’re injured at work, it not only affects you at work, but also at home as well. It’s extremely frustrating when you are limited from doing simple things such as holding a cell phone.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is tingling sensation in your hand caused by pressure on the median nerve in your wrist. The National Center for Biotechnology Information says the most common cause of CTS is typing. The most common symptoms of CTS are numbness and weakness in the fingers or hand, and mostly occur at night. Doctors hypothesize that the reasoning that most patients suffer from symptoms at night is that the wrists are held flexed during sleep.

Typing is the major cause of CTS because the same hand or wrist movements are being repeated over and over. These repetitive movements cause swelling, which causes the numbness and tingling. The toughest part about this work related injury is treatment. If you have back pain from playing sports, the most basic treatment is to take a couple days off and rest your back. This is extremely difficult with our hands and wrists because we use them for many different tasks throughout the day and we can’t just stop typing or doing our job.

CTS can be thought of as injury similar to a pulled hamstring, and the best way to prevent those type of injuries is to warm up before starting an activity. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercises can be performed 5 minutes before starting work, and done right at your desk. These exercises have been very successful for patients with mild symptoms, and have helped them avoid surgery.

If you start to have symptoms like those above, it is important that you see a Work Injury Expert immediately. If you or a loved one is experiencing CTS symptoms and would like a work injury expert to talk with about your situation, contact WOLMED to set up an appointment to discuss your injury. WOLMED is also CARF certified full service Pain Management Clinic with locations to better serve you in Dallas and Denton.

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It is estimated that more than 80 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. The pain does not go away, but there are Doctors that can provide treatment and things that can be done at home to manage the pain.

Valentine’s Day is just one day out of the year, but here are some tips that can make that day extra special for someone that suffers from chronic pain in your life.

1. The healing power of touch is well documented. Offer your spouse or significant other a nice back and shoulder massage, and if you are lucky enough, they will offer a massage back.

2. Everyone goes out to eat on Valentine’s Day, and one of the top complaints about restaurants is that they are very uncomfortable. That uncomfortable feeling can be much worse for someone that suffers from chronic pain. Instead of going out, stay in and make a balanced meal and you won’t have to sit in those painful restaurant booths.

3. People that suffer from chronic pain, whether it be from a car accident or work related injury, deal with it every day and sometimes they just need a break from the pain. So after dinner, shut off the TV and the cell phones and sit down and just talk with them. Truly listen and engage them in a conversation about their day and about their pain, and just ask them how you can make their life easier. This sends a clear message: I care about you and I want to ease your suffering.

4. Lavender is an herb that is said to assist in pain relief. So during your talk, make sure to include a nice glass of lavender tea, and this will assist in relieving pain and stress.

5. Because it is Valentine’s Day, chocolate has to be involved somehow. Offer your valentine some good chocolates, or the both of you can share a decadent dessert.

If you or a loved one is experiencing chronic pain in the DFW area and would like to schedule treatment, visit www.wolmed.com to make an appointment. WOLMED is a CARF certified full serviced Pain Management Clinic with locations to better serve you in Dallas and Denton.

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BLOOD SAVES LIVES

WOL+MED recently hosted a blood drive this month that benefits the American Red Cross.  Because the blood supply after the holidays is always low, the donations that were received were greatly appreciated.  13 people ended up donating a total of 13 pints of blood, which could potentially save 39 lives!  To show our thanks to those who gave blood, WOL+MED donated 4 $25 gift cards.  The winners of the gift cards are:

1. Regina Golden – $25 gift card for Macy’s
2. Enriqueta Spencer – $25 gift card for Starbucks
3. Veronica Flores – $25 gift card for Barnes & Noble
4. Brandon Johnson – $25 gift card for Chili’s

WOL+MED would like to personally thank every donor who gave blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive.  You helped make this blood drive a success, your donations save lives!

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Mistake #1. Never use prescription drugs that aren’t yours:

• While friends and family often have leftover pain medications stored away you should never share medication.  Medication may affect each person different depending on the person’s physiology and could do just as much harm as good.

Mistake #2. Never mix different drugs:

• Mixing two or more kinds of drugs can have a synergistic effect intensifying the effects of both drugs which can lead to an overdose.
• Mixing drugs can also have the opposite effect, causing each drug to interfere with the other, affecting each drugs usefulness.

Mistake #3. Never take more than is prescribed:

• Many people think that because one pill helps, two must be even better.  Pills are given by doctors in doses that will both relieve pain and be safe for that specific person.  Taking more than prescribed can be dangerous to one’s health.

Mistake #4. Never drink alcohol when taking pain medication:

• Drinking alcohol of any kind not just hard liquor will quickly intensify the effects of pain medications making it harder to drive or do many other mundane tasks.

Mistake #5. Never save pain medications:

• Because pain medications quickly deteriorate once they pass their expiration dates nullifying their effects, leftover medications should be properly disposed of once there is no more need for them.

If you have any further questions about pain management or you or a loved one has a need for a pain management doctor don’t hesitate to call WOLMED to set up an appointment or visit us online at www.wolmed.com.

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Something incredible happened on July 13^th in Carrollton, TX.  A 19 year old construction worker fell down a 55 foot hole at Good Elementary School and lived to tell the tail.  The hole was just over 30 inches across, barely wide enough for the man’s shoulders to fit in.  Firefighters from both Coppell and Carrollton rushed to the scene and quickly devised a strategy to bring the man back up the hole.

Firefighters first dropped down tubing to pump fresh oxygen to the fallen worker because they felt he wasn’t getting enough air.  Next, a team of paramedics and an ambulance and were on standby to wait for the wounded worker.  Firefighters then set up a tripod and pulley over the hole to lower a rescue captain to the trapped worker.  Once at the bottom, the captain took over 30 minutes to hook up the construction worker due to the restricted space in the hole.  Both were then pulled slowly back up the hole. Once on the surface, paramedics rushed the injured man to a waiting ambulance to assess how severely he was injured.  The whole ordeal took about 90 minutes.  The man was then rushed off to Parkland Hospital in Dallas by Careflight, where he was said to be stable and recovering.

Not all people are as lucky as this construction worker. Although most personal injuries are not as dramatic, to the people they happen to are just as real.  If you or anyone you know have had a work related injury, contact a workers comp lawyer to help you figure out what your next step is.  Next, find a qualified workers comp doctor who can properly take care of your needs.  For online chat support visit www.wolmed.com to help you figure out what your next step is.

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I like to report on this information each year because the statistics are very interesting.  US Postal Employees have very physically demanding jobs.  In 2010, nearly 7% of the 593,850 USPS employees reported cases of work injury or illness.  That’s about 1 in 14.  With that in mind, take a look at the following data.

The Census Bureau reported 18% of its employees as having work related injury and illness.

Customs and Border Protection had nearly 10%

The Forest Service had just over 7%.

The Bureau of Prisons had almost 7%.

Those 4 agencies are the only federal agencies with a higher incidence of work-related injury and illness than the United States Postal Service. 

The Department of Defense had 2.58%

The FBI had 3.36%

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had 5.32%

The Social Security Administration had 1.25%.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs had 3.74%.

If you are a USPS employee, your chances of sustaining a work injury are very high.  Call WOLMED if you are hurt on the job.  We can help you today.

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Written below is a simple list of questions you can ask yourself to see if you qualify.

• Does your employer have workers’ compensation insurance?
  • If yes, then you qualify
• Did you have a work-related injury while on the job?
  • If yes, then you qualify
• Did you get a work-related illness while on the job?
  • If yes, then you qualify
• Did you notify your employer of your injury or illness within 30 days?
  • If yes, then you qualify
• Were you intoxicated when the accident happened while on the job?
  • If yes, then you don’t qualify
• Did your injury occur during horseplay?
  • If yes, then you don’t qualify
• Was your injury or illness a pre-existing condition that didn’t happen at work?
  • If yes, than you don’t qualify
• Did you injure yourself on purpose?
  • If yes, then you don’t qualify
• Were you injured by an act of God?
  • If yes, then you don’t qualify
• Were you injured by another person for personal reasons?
  • If yes, then you don’t qualify

The answers you give to the questions above determine your eligibility for workers compensation.  Once you’ve determined that you are eligible for workers compensation, find out if you are in a Workers’ Compensation Health Care Network because you must choose your doctor from the network’s treating doctor list.  This step should not be overlooked because if you don’t follow these rules, you may be held responsible for payment of medical bills. If you are not in a Workers’ Compensation Health Care Network then you may choose the doctor of your choice. Always remember that choosing the right Workers Comp Doctor will help you when completing your paperwork because they are experts who know all the procedures to follow when filing for Texas workers compensation.

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 1.     Best people I’ve ever encountered and the doctor is great!

2.     They were great!

3.     Everyone is always very nice.

4.     I like you guys.

5.     Above and beyond.  Thank you.

6.     I work hard and so do your people.

7.     The staff here and care I received at WOLMED has been first rate.  I recommend you to all my colleagues.  Thank you.

8.     Love WOLMED!!

9.     Awesome!!

10.   Staff very friendly.

11.     Everyone is friendly.

12.    EXCELLENT!

13.    Great job!

14.     They are wonderful!

15.    Very nice and helpful.  Dr. Helsten always treats me with dignity.

16.    Love coming here!

17.     Very welcoming staff.

18.      Staff very concerned with health and improvement.

19.      Dr. Wolski is my favorite doctor.

20.     Lovely staff and doctor.

21.      WOLMED is the best clinic ever.  Dr. Helsten, Janet, and all staff are superior.

22.      You guys are awesome!

23.      Dr. Wolski and staff rock!

24.      You all are always professional and sweet.  Your availability is beyond amazing.  My husband and I are lucky to have ya’ll around. 

25.      Great medical care with a very friendly staff.

26.       The doctor was wonderful.  He was not only knowledgeable but compassionate and empathetic.

27.      Ya’ll are always great.

28.      The staff is wonderful and courteous.

29.      Everyone is so nice and generally cares.

30.       Awesome doctor!  Girls up front are awesome!

31.        Love you guys!  You’ve taken care of me for 10 years.

32.       Dr. Helsten is always kind and compassionate.  5 years and still satisfied patient.

33.        The doctor goes above and beyond.

34.       Wonderful operation.  No other clinic like yours.

35.       Simply the best!!!

36.       Love this place and the people.

37.       I wish all doctors were just as caring as Dr. Helsten.

38.       I love WOLMED.  They have been great to me and helpful with getting me better from my injuries.

39.        Always great service and nice people.

40.        No other clinic like Wolski Medical.  Dr. Helsten is one of a kind. Please stay forever.

41.         Janet, you always cheer me up.  Thank you.

42.        Outstanding staff and service!  Have and will continue to recommend to others.

43.        All of your staff is very excellent.  Thank you all.

44.        I like Dr. Helsten.  He is a nice man.

45.        I have been really impressed through this ordeal.  The people here have always been more interested in my health and welfare over money.  Thank you.

 46.       Great attention to detail, especially with dealing with OWCP.

 47.       Helsten is the best!

 48.       I couldn’t begin to say enough about WOLMED.  They really care about you here.

 49.       Great experience!  Thanks.

 50.      The doctors and staff here have been a great help to me.  Thanks.

 51.       You guys are the best!

 52.      Very professional.  They take the time to answer all questions and I never feel rushed.

 53.      Dr. Helsten is the best!!!

 54.      Excellent!  Love Dr. Helsten.

 55.      Excellent!  I’m happy with the care the staff and Dr. Helsten give me.

 56.      The doctor’s staff is wonderful.

 57.      Janet made today so amazing.  Every time I come in here I’m nervous, but she is so nice and I’m very thankful for her.

 58.      Very pleased with entire environment, including the rehab staff.

 59.      Best place anywhere!  I come from Dallas just to be treated here.

 60.     Staff was very friendly and professional.  I really appreciate the service I received.  Thank you.

 61.      Dr. Helsten is the best doctor I have every used.  I drive all the way from Plano to see him.

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Like a lot of other business however, 80% of the WOLMED staff in Denton stayed home and 100% of the Dallas staff stayed home.  The roads were just too bad for everyone to make it to work.  I was watching the news and I’m always surprised at the number of cars on the road driving to work.  So many people commute from outside of Dallas and Ft. Worth to get to work.  It’s just so dangerous though, and for that reason, WOLMED’s policy is that during bad weather, we’re probably going to be open, but nobody should drive to work if they can’t do so safely.

Wednesday morning, the traffic report on the news showed car wrecks on every major highway.  Today, the news showed fewer car wrecks due to people finally realizing they should just stay home, but one of the wrecks had an ambulance on the scene.  Today, the Spur 408 and I-20 intersection was closed down to a single lane due to horrible road conditions.  The DFW metroplex has been littered with auto accidents and auto injuries are most certainly inevitable.

Yesterday, Dr. Wolski and Dr. Helsten were in the office, like I said earlier, and we had several patients.  People are still sick when the roads are bad.  They’re still in pain when the roads are bad.  They still need their doctor when the roads are bad.  The WOLMED doctors are committed to helping their patients regardless of the weather conditions.  Last year, I wrote a blog about the United States Postal Service because during bad road conditions, my mail was delivered. 

Rain, sleet, snow – the mail man delivers.  The same is true for Dr. Wolski and Dr. Helsten.

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