Novocur Blog

Count on Novocur for Lower Back Pain Treatment

Lower back pain is a very common ailment. In fact, about eighty percent of people in America experience back pain at some point in their lives. There are countless causes of pain in the lower portion of the back, which makes it a complicated problem to cure. Some cases of lower back pain are the result of an accident or injury, some a side effect of weight, and some for other reasons.

When lower back pain becomes debilitating, it becomes necessary to find treatment. From chiropractic and physical therapist visits to pain relievers and strong medications, people who suffer from back pain have a lot of options. It is absolutely important to find a cure for back pain of every kind because having incessant pain in the back can cause problems with stability, the hips and legs, and the entire core of the body.

Novocur offers pain solutions that change lives. From steroid injections to trigger point injections, joint therapy, and medications, Novocur has the solution for lower back pan and other ailments. Lower back pain affects the entire body, and not just the specific area. When the pain becomes too much to handle and it begins to impact work and daily activities, contact Novocur. They will work with you to find the solution that works for your body, and you can remember what it is like to live without constant pain. Contact Novocur at http://www.Novocur.com or call 480.855.NOVO(6686) to learn more!

Finding Relief from Fibromyalgia with Novocur

A common and painful condition that affects thousands of Americans is fibromyalgia. There is not one known cause of fibromyalgia, but it is prevalent and becoming more so. Some symptoms of fibromyalgia are widespread pain all over the body, pain upon pressure, and extreme fatigue. In some cases, these symptoms can be debilitating.

Like most painful conditions, fibromyalgia is most often treated with pain killers or other drugs, depending on the severity. The main sign of fibromyalgia is pain all over the body, but it is often accompanied by other symptoms including depression, sleeping problems, irritable bowel syndrome, and headaches. For most patients, fibromyalgia treatment consists of much more than just medications.

The first aspect of treating fibromyalgia effectively is to tone down the pain enough to make everyday living possible. Some individuals who deal with this condition have chronic fatigue and are unable to participate in physical activity because the pain is too great. This is where it becomes debilitating. People who suffer with fibromyalgia may never be cured, but they can find relief to make everyday life easier.

Novocur is dedicated to finding relief for their fibromyalgia patients. They understand that individuals suffering with this condition need adequate sleep and mild physical activity to lead normal lives. Some may also need psychological consultation or counseling, depending on the severity and longevity of the case and what impacts it has had on patients’ lives. For more information, visit http://www.Novocur.com or call 480.855.NOVO(6686) or visit us on Facebook.

Peripheral Neuropathy – Stanford Medical Research Helps Phoenix Pain Sufferers!

Neuropathy is a term used in the medical community to describe nerve damage that intercepts the body’s communication signals from one part of the body to another. Peripheral Neuropathy is the term used to describe damage to the nerves outside of the spinal cord or brain. Most of the time, the nerves that are damaged resulting in Peripheral Neuropathy are those that communicate sensory information from the hands or lower legs to the spinal cord and then to the brain. Some of the symptoms of Neuropathy are numbness, burning, sensitivity, and sharp pain of the extremities.

There are a number of factors that may contribute to the cause of neuropathy, including: trauma or pressure on a nerve, vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, diabetes, infections, kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, tumors or exposure to poisons. Diabetes is one of the most common causes. In Arizona, 1 in every 9 people have diabetes, and it is estimated that 1 in every 3 kids born in America after the year 2000 will be affected by diabetes. Approximately 60-70% of people with diabetes will experience mild to severe symptoms of neuropathy.

When a person discovers that he or she has neuropathy, the first step is to work with his or her physician and determine the cause of the neuropathy. When traditional methods do not cure the neuropathy, there are new cutting edge treatments available. Historically, medications created to control seizures have shown some benefits in treating pain from neuropathy, such as gabapentin (Neurontin). Medications traditionally used to treat depression (like nortriptyline and Cymbalta) have also shown promise in relieving neuropathy. Depression medications help interfere with the reception of pain signals to the brain, so they have helped with the pain of neuropathy.

But, as expected, the side effects that go along with seizure and/or depression medications are endless. Patients suffer from an array of side effects including nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation and decreased appetite. Most people who take depression and/or seizure medications opt out of it because the side effects are so unpleasant. Because of this, many people with neuropathy turn to more natural treatments, such as smoking or drinking cessation, regular exercise, a low fat diet, and increase in vitamin dosages. When all natural remedies fail, many people seek the care of Pain Management Specialists, such as those at the Novocur Pain Management Clinics.

Novocur offers cutting edge treatments such as capsaicin treatments and spinal cord stimulation. Capsaicin, studied at Stanford Medical Center, is a naturally occuring substance found in hot peppers. It can cause modest improvements in neuropathic pain for several months after a therapeutic concentration of it is applied. People who suffer from chronic peripheral neuropathy pain are tested at the Novocur Clinics for treatment with a spinal cord stimulator, which can block the reception of pain from neuropathy to the brain and spinal cord. The Spinal Cord Stimulator replaces the feeling of pain with a more soothing vibration of massage. Results from the Spinal Cord Stimulator can be effective for several years in patients who are proper candidates for this cutting edge treatment.

What Type of Headache is Bothering You?

We’ve all had headaches…whether during finals week in college, at the rock concert that was a bit too loud, or while watching the neighbors 2 year old. But what type of headache have you been getting lately? The one that keeps you up at night or causes you to pull over on your drive home from work.  In reality, there are different types of headaches…and different treatments for each. Let’s take a look at three different types of headaches, and then discuss what you can do to remedy the symptoms.

Migraines

Migraines are serious headaches that carry a whole slew of possible symptoms. You have to look at the big picture to see if you are experiencing migraines, including the time before the actual headaches start. This is called the Prodrome phase.

During Prodrome (1-2 days before the headaches start), you may experience symptoms such as constipation (or diarrhea), food cravings, depression, irritability, or neck stiffness.
Some severe migraines also include what is called an Aura – a sensory, motor, or visual disturbance. Auras can include seeing strange shapes and light patterns, vision loss, feeling of pins and needles on limbs, or speech problems.

Once the headaches begin, it is called the Attack phase.  The attack phase can last for up to 3 days, but the frequency of headaches varies from person to person. Most attacks include one or more of the following symptoms: pain on one side of the head, throbbing pain, nausea, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and diarrhea.

Postdrome (the time after the attacks), leaves the person feeling drained and exhausted—for good reason! Treatment can help mitigate the debilitating effects of migraines, so stay tuned.

Cluster Headaches

Many of us have heard of migraines, but rarely do we hear about Cluster headaches. They are given their name because they occur in cyclical patterns, or clusters. These headaches can be so severe that they awaken a person from sleep because of the extreme pain. Hence their nickname, “alarm clock headaches.”

Symptoms of cluster headaches include frequent attacks, usually involving pain around one eye or on one side of the head (around the temple). The pain usually comes unexpectedly and quickly, reaching full potency in around 2-15 minutes. Subsequent attacks usually come in the same areas. The attacks periods can last for weeks or months, followed by a remission period.

These things are definitely no fun, but thankfully, cluster attacks are treatable.

Tension Headaches

Tension headaches may not be as strong as the other two we mentioned, but they can be…well…pretty tense. These types of headaches typically include a feeling like something is wrapped around your head too tightly. They are also the most common of all the headache types.

You may be experiencing a tension headache if you have a constant throbbing on the front, top, and sides, of the head. They can last for as little as 30 minutes or for as long as several days. Recurring tension headaches may indicate a chronic problem.

Tension headaches occur in up to 80% of the adult population, so you’re not alone if your head hurts! 

Treatment

The bad news is that headaches are a real…headache. But, with proper treatment, things can go much more smoothly. For instance, a non-steroidal facet injection can help to reduce inflammation in the spine that may lead to various types of headaches. Occipital nerve blocking is another treatment that is effective in relieving the symptoms of headaches (especially migraines and tension headaches). This injection relieves the inflammation in the tissue surrounding the occipital nerve.

At Novocur, we focus on finding solutions to your pain so that you can go on and enjoy your life.  Our solutions often work where steroid injections, epidurals, or even surgery have failed. To find out more about our treatment for all types of headaches, visit http://www.novocur.com.

It’s time you moved on with your life, and leave the headaches for the kids during finals week.