Franklin Pain and Wellness Center

The newly released study in the Journal of Pain found that when asked to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10 - 0 being no pain, and 10 being the worst pain - women on average scored their pain 20% more intense than men.

The results held from back pain and neck pain, digestive disorders, sinus infections, and even ankle strains and sprains. In almost every category, women reported more pain than men.

The overall results tended to confirm the fact that women with fibromyalgia or migraines report more pain than men with those conditions. But the study also identified previously undocumented gender differences. For example, pain intensity among patients with acute sinusitis or neck pain is greater in women than in men.

According to the results of the study women experience more intense pain than men. The fact that women report more pain overall doesn't necessarily mean they have more or less tolerance to pain than men.

There are numerous studies showing that women report more pain than men for a number of diseases. The study doesn't explain the reason for the difference, and it could include social, psychological or biological factors. For example, men may be more reluctant to confess intense pain to a female nurse. Women are more likely than men to suffer from depression and anxiety, two psychological conditions that can increase susceptibility to pain.

For the study, the researchers analyzed electronic medical records to examine more than 160,000 pain scores reported for more than 72,000 adult patients. The results showed higher pain scores for women in virtually every disease category. The differences were both statistically and clinically significant.

There certainly are differences in pain among men and women. But this study focused on pain intensity, most previous studies looked at the prevalence: the percentage of men versus women with a particular clinical problem who are in pain.

Information from USA Today and SF Gate

Our comprehensive pain management approach offers procedures and treatments to help manage your patient's pain.

"I had been in pain for over seven years. I tried so many treatments and medications to help. Nothing worked. My last specialist was the staff at Warwick Pain Center. Dr. Shwartzman and his staff truly helped and I have recommended them to others. Although I can’t say I’m pain free, I can say that my quality of life is so much better."

- Therese S.
Radiofrequency Facet Neurotomy

Anything for beauty. High heel shoes may look good but for a long time they have had a reputation for causing suffering in those who wear them. However, Cambridge surgeons and scientists have discovered that those gorgeous shoes may not be the only reason middle-aged women develop painful, flat feet.

New research is better understanding the causes of adult-acquired flat feet - a painful condition particularly affecting middle-aged women and often goes undiagnosed however it can be very painful. Enzymes can weaken ankle tendons, causing adult-acquired flat foot and other common conditions such as Achilles tendonitis.

The condition results from the gradual ‘stretching out’ over time of a tendon near the ankle bone – the tibialis posterior tendon – which is the main stabilizer of the foot arch. The study has shown that similar changes also take place in other painful tendon conditions such as Achilles tendonitis. Some believe wearing high heels and standing or walking for long periods may play a role. Known risk factors for the condition include obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

Keeping on the alert for any pain or discomfort can nip more serious problems in the bud. When your feet are in pain, there is no way for your body to be comfortable. Favoring one foot or the other has far reaching effects that can cause issues with your knees, hips and back. For pain treatment for your feet and ankles without the use of narcotics, contact the Franklin Pain and Wellness Center.

The findings have been published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Overactive Bladder Syndrome (OBS) can seriously impact one's quality of life. People who suffer from OBS often times cannot participate in many activities. Their life can be very limiting. Outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, golfing and many others are not an option and sufferers of OBS end up missing out on quality time with their family and friends.

OBS can also affect one's physical well being too. Constant worrying, nervousness, embarrassment and planning every event around trips to the bathroom can have a negative impact on one's outlook on life. Additionally, those who suffer from OBS usually wake up several times per night, which can have a serious impact on a good night's rest. Lack of sleep can lead to lack of energy and lack of productivity at work or school. In addition, drowsiness can be dangerous, especially behind the wheel or in other situations which require concentration.

Fortunately, there is a solution to OBS. Interstim is a product of Medtronic, the inventor of the pacemaker. Interstim is a small stimulator that is implanted into the body which helps to control the urgency feeling of urination. The specialists at The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center perform interstim trial procedures which allow you to " test drive" the stimulator on a temporary basis for 5-7 days and help you determine if this is the best solution for you. Patients who have tried Interstim therapy claim that it has really improved their quality of life.

Contact The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center at 508-507-8818 or staff@franklinpaincenter.com for more information or to set up an evaluation.

Many Americans suffer from chronic pain, and many are taking prescription painkillers to manage that pain. Powerful prescription painkillers like OxyCotin are among the most abused drugs in the United States.
 
This class of drugs known as opioids, are developed for patients with temporary or chronic pain.

A California based pharmaceutical company is hoping to introduce a new drug called Zohydro next year. Zohydro is essentially pure hydrocodone, which is a highly addictive painkiller. If Zohydro comes to market, it would be more powerful than any opioid currently available.
 
Addiction experts are worried about plans for this very powerful drug. In 2008 approximately 15,000 Americans died as a result of Painkiller addiction.

Unfortunately, chronic pain suffers can easily become addicted to narcotic pain medication. Though they have legitimate prescriptions, in the presence of chronic pain, sufferers can become quickly addicted to painkillers. This is because consistent use, which is necessary when suffering from chronic pain, causes the body to stop making its own natural painkillers, endorphins.

For pain management without the use of addictive and life inhibiting narcotic painkillers, contact Franklin Pain and Wellness Center.

Chronic pain specialists are doctors who are specially trained to manage chronic pain.  Usually, anesthesiologists are ideal doctors to manage pain since anesthesiology is a field that works to manage pain during otherwise painful procedures.  Surgery, labor and other painful procedures require temporary pain management, while other conditions require longer term or chronic pain management.  

Conditions like arthritis, back pain, muscle pain, nerve pain or even cancer pain require special pain management.  A pain specialist is able to assess the patient’s medical history, review symptoms and create a specific treatment plan to manage each individual’s pain.  

The pain specialist works in collaboration with other physicians in order to fully help the patient attain the most comfortable condition possible.  The goal of the pain specialist is to minimize medication dependency while increasing the patient’s comfort and quality of life.  Depending on the type and origin of pain, the pain specialist will perform minimally invasive procedures in order to minimize pain and increase the patient’s mobility and activity level.  

If you experience chronic pain, call The Franklin Pain Center at or e-mail us at staff@franklinpaincenter.com to schedule an evaluation.

Back pain is a familiar malady these days, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point in their lifetime. Its prevalence is linked to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Less than 20% of private-industry jobs require moderate physical activity and experts agree that our bodies aren't designed for optimum desk job performance.

The body loves movement," explains Dr. Mary Ann Wilmarth, chief of physical therapy at Harvard University. "When you're in one position for a long time, your back doesn't get the full range of motion."

Sitting also puts more stress on your back than standing. When you're seated, your spinal column has to hold 140% of your body weight. When you're standing, this decreases to 100%. The extra stress when sitting can strain muscles and cause disc problems. Combined with prolonged poor posture of hunching over your computer, you're bound to feel some aches eventually.

Feeling the pain? It is treatable.  If your pain is caused by a specific condition like stenosis or a herniated disc, or,  if your pain radiates to other body parts, you can consult with your physician or call The Franklin Pain Center.

For nonspecific pain, the key is to get moving. Try standing every 30 minutes and stretching, extending arms upward while gently arching your back. You don't have to stretch for long periods to feel relief. Just standing up for a minute or two puts the muscles in a different position, increases blood flow and relieves some of the stress on your body.

Increasing your range of motion is key. If you sit at a desk, you need to perform standing activities. If you walk often already, consider an exercise with a different motion, such as bicycling.  If your pain makes it too difficult to do these activities, The Franklin Pain Center will provide treatment to get you in a condition where you can do more physical activity than before and build up muscle to mitigate future painful conditions.
 
Excerpts from Kansas City Star

You were an active adult and an active senior up until recently. Arthritis aches and pains have been slowly getting worse and now you are at the point of being uncomfortable for most if not all of your day. But the worse part of your arthritis pain is that now, as a result of the pain, you can no longer work out, go for walks, or maintain that active lifestyle that you are used to.

With later stage, or more developed arthritis, often cortisone shots no longer work, and that was how you used to get temporary relief. Arthritis should not be allowed to take away your freedom and your health. Debilitating chronic arthritis pain allows age to creep up on you where you used to be able to hold it off through your activities and your active lifestyle.

The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center may be the solution to your arthritis pain. Our pain specialists have determined methods and treatments to minimize chronic arthritis pain. Contact us and get your life and your lifestyle back.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a type of nerve pain that affects the skin of the face.  A common symptom of trigeminal neuralgia is sharp electric-like spasms that last a few seconds, minutes or may even become constant.  Pain is generally felt on one side of the face.  Usually the spasms occur around the eye, cheek and lower part of the face. 

The pain stems from the trigeminal nerve and sends pain signals via it’s extended branches to the face.  Generally, when the root of the trigeminal nerve is compressed, it misfires, resulting in these painful attacks.  

Trigeminal nerve blocks are one of the treatments offered at The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center to control the pain caused by Trigeminal Neuralgia.  Nerve blocks are most effective when repeated several times over weeks or months.  This way, the pain can be controlled for much longer. 

To find out if Trigeminal Nerve Blocks are a good treatment option for you, or to discuss your pain solution, call The Franklin Pain and Wellness at (508) 507-8818 or e-mail at staff@franklinpaincenter.com.

No one should live with pain. This holiday season give a gift to yourself, learn how to relieve your pain without narcotics.

Whether you suffer from back pain, cancer pain, or neck pain, a pain specialist can help. Chronic pain is pain that has been going on for 3 to 6 months since it began.

Cancer patients or patients recovering from surgery are often prone to chronic pain. Many feel they need to live with the pain as an alternative to taking narcotic pain medication. This is not the case. The pain specialists at Franklin Pain and Wellness have determined methods and treatments to minimize chronic pain such as lower back; neck; headaches; post herpetic neuralgia (shingles); reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD); maxillofacial pain and other chronic ailments.

Our team of nurses and anesthesiologists are specifically trained in pain management. Working with your physician, we will determine the best course of treatment for you; contact us.