Franklin Pain and Wellness Center

One of the complaints of pain patients is that they are misunderstood. They feel like a burden to their friends and family, or that people don’t believe the pain they are experiencing is real. At the Franklin Pain Center the entire staff is trained and dedicated to pain patients.

Often, pain is hard to describe and can be frustrating. At the Franklin Pain and Wellness Center, the doctors take the time to listen to the patients’ concerns. We also understand how important it is to communicate with other specialists the patient has been seen by, in order to collect a full medical history. This helps with pain diagnosis and treatment planning.

If you feel frustrated about your pain situation, call the specialists at The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center to schedule an evaluation. Call 508-507-8818 or e-mail staff@franklinpaincenter.com.

Nearly two decades after federal guidelines called for more aggressive treatment of pain associated with cancer, millions of Americans with the disease still suffer unnecessarily because their pain is not being managed adequately, according to a new study.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, found that a third of cancer patients and survivors have untreated or undertreated pain, an improvement from 18 years ago but still far short.

The study, which was published this week, is the largest-ever evaluation of the treatment of pain in cancer patients and survivors in an outpatient setting.

The new study did not investigate why cancer patients' pain is still not adequately treated. Common reasons include patients' fear of narcotics and their lack of understanding of non-narcotic pain treatment. Some doctors don't understand the extent of some patients' pain.

The study enrolled more than 3,000 people with invasive breast, prostate, colon and lung cancer and at risk for pain at 38 institutions across the country. They included patients in active treatment and survivors seeing doctors for follow-up appointments. Most were being treated by oncologists, not pain specialists.

The researchers found that significant pain was an issue in two-thirds of patients and that 67% of them were receiving adequate treatment. Twenty percent of those reporting severe pain were not receiving any pain treatment, and 13% were receiving ineffective pain treatment.

The study included patients whose pain was caused by their cancer, by the treatment for their cancer or by illnesses they brought to their cancer care.

The study shows how complicated pain management and pain management education can be in cancer patients. For an evaluation and a customized, non narcotic pain treatment plan, contact Franklin Pain Wellness Center.

Vertebral Compression Fracture Causes

Compression fractures of the back are broken vertebrae, which are the bones of the spine. Compression fractures of the vertebra may be caused by:

Osteoporosis, which is the most common cause. These types of fractures can lead to chronic pain and disability.

Trauma to the back – Injury severe enough to cause a vertebra to break can occur from a fall where you land on your back, feet, or buttocks. It can also be caused by a car accident.

Pathologic fracture this is a fracture caused by a preexisting disease like cancer in the bone. Cancer tumors in the bone can either start in the bone or spine, like multiple myeloma, which start in the spine, or they can travel to the bone from other tumors in the body.

The vertebral fracture may also occur because of a localized infection of the bone. This often occurs in people with diabetes or in those who abuse IV drugs.

Multiple fractures may lead to a hump-like curvature of the spine which is also called kyphosis.

Vertebral Compression Fracture Symptoms

The pain from Vertebral Compression Fracture tends to be in the lower back but may occur in the upper back or neck. Some people may also have hip, abdominal, or thigh pain.

You may experience numbness, tingling, and weakness: Such symptoms could mean compression of the nerves at the point of the fracture.

Most compression fractures occur in older people with osteoporosis. These fractures generally do not cause injury to the spinal cord, but they can cause pain. The condition is usually treated with medicines and calcium supplements to prevent further fractures.

Other than narcotic pain treatment, Vertebral Compression Fractures may be treated with a back braces, but these may further weaken the bones and increase your risk of more fractures. Physical therapy is also used as pain treatment in order to improve your movement and strength around the spine.

The latest advancement in spinal fracture treatment is called Kyphoplasty. This minimally invasive procedure is offered by the specialists at The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center.

A comprehensive examination will be done and some additional lab tests may be performed. This is done in order to establish the most thorough and accurate diagnosis so that a customized program that will target your specific pain can be created.

If you suffer from Vertebral Compression Fractures, contact Franklin Pain and Wellness Center.

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

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.

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.

CASE OF THE MONTH

Minimizing Medication Dependency of Difficult Chronic Pain Patients

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

Radiofrequency Ablation eliminates need for Canadian Crutches

Pain patient, Carlo, tells Franklin Pain Center...

"I have been in pain in my back, neck and legs since 1999. I had to use a cane and then had to use Canadian crutches to help me walk. I was always in pain and my activities were always shortened, not to mention the pain medication I was taking, which was not helping. Before going to Dr. Boris I was worried that I would get worse, but I had too much pain and my quality of life was limited. I couldn’t walk nor stand [for too long] before I had to sit. Even sitting for a long period of time was painful. Today I feel much better. I still have pain but nothing like before. I don’t use the cane nor do I use my Canadian crutches. After the nerve blocks my life is better, I’m more active and more mobile. I am so thankful to Dr. Boris and recommend the pain treatment to everyone. My life is so much better I am happier and now can enjoy myself with my family. My wife is happier also."

For a referral packet or to refer a patient using our referral form on our website go to franklinpaincenter.com/doctors

All Chronic pain treatments offered at The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center are minimally invasive and are usually a good alternative to surgery. Chronic Pain Treatments can range from injections to stimulators, depending on the type of chronic pain the patient is suffering from.

For example, low back and radiating leg pain can be treated with Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injections. Spine fractures caused by osteoporosis can be treated by a minimally invasive procedure called Kyphoplasty. Kyphoplasty provides fast back pain relief by using a thin hollow tube to insert a cast into a collapsed vertebrae and help straighten the spine. A procedure that can be very effective in relieving certain types of pain in the back, legs and arms is Spinal Cord Stimulation. This is also a minimally invasive procedure that uses electrical stimulation to mitigate pain sensations.

Our pain specialists will work with your doctors as a medical team to offer the best type of pain solution for your chronic pain. To schedule an evaluation and talk about the chronic pain treatments that are available at The Franklin Pain and Wellness Center, please call (508) 507-8818 or e-mail us at staff@franklinpaincenter.com.