KNEE / NEUROPATHY / NERVE PAIN

KNEE PROGRAM

Experiencing knee pain

Experiencing knee pain is incredibly common and frustrating. Sadly, when people suffer from knee pain, surgery is thought of as the go-to option. This is a costly option that involves a long recovery cycle and frustrating post-surgery downtime.

However, surgery isn’t the only option.

Access Pain Solutions is proud to offer a revolutionary and minimally invasive procedure that can eliminate knee pain without surgery. Instead of using scalpels and anesthesia, we use small injections to replenish the deteriorated lubrication in your knee. This FDA approved treatment creates a comfortable layer of padding around your joint, which allows for improved mobility and flexibility.

Considered to be one of the most remarkable breakthroughs in modern knee pain treatment, this procedure is covered by most medical insurance, including Medicare, and has little to know recovery time. To read more about this program go to acceskneesolutions.com

NEUROPATHY PROGRAM

Do you suffer from: Sharp pain, Burning, Tingling, Numbness, Restlessness, Balance Issues, or Foot Drop?

Revolutionary Treatment using the neoGen system of electric stimulation combined with local anesthetics, 87% of our patients experience significant or full relief from their neuropathy pain. We give you relief from pain without narcotics. Our solutions is not another drug, pill, or medication. Medications only block Neuropathy patients symptoms, not heal or treat the underlying problem. Unfortunately, most Neuropathy patients have been told there is no cure and pain must be managed with narcotics. Our therapy has been proven to significantly reduce or eliminate neuropathy pain and numbness, giving our patients better mobility and a better quality of life.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

To put it simply, peripheral neuropathy is damage to a nerve or group of nerves in the extremities (hands and feet) that can result from multiple causes. Onset is usually distal to proximal, meaning it starts in the fingers and toes, and can progress up the limbs causing painful burning, tingling, pins and needles, pressure, and accompanied numbness. It is a progressively debilitating disease that can lead to multiple health issues, including falls, muscle wasting, wounds or infections from stepping on sharp objects or touching hot surfaces, and loss of mobility to name a few. Typical disease management usually involves pharmacological therapy with medications such as Gabapentin, Lyrica, TCAs, or SSRIs, as well as eliminating or reducing the causative factors if possible. Unfortunately, when a certain amount of nerve damage has taken place it may leave an individual with permanent discomfort. Medication therapies may help reduce the pain, but they do very little to correct the problem or provide long-term relief.

What are symptoms of neuropathy?

Most likely if you are reading this information, you are very familiar with these symptoms! As stated above, typical neuropathy symptoms include intermittent or constant burning, tingling, electric shock-like sensations, often accompanied by partial or total numbness. Patients often report symptoms of vice-grip like pressure, the feeling of walking on pins and needles, or walking on uneven surfaces like pillows or blankets. Often light touch from sheets and socks, or stepping on things like cords can cause abnormally heightened pain and burning sensations. This is known as hyperesthesia.

What causes neuropathy?

The most prevalent cause of neuropathy is diabetes. Elevated blood sugars lead to microvascular damage and subsequent nerve damage over time. It is estimated that roughly 60% of individuals with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy. Another common cause is chemotherapy, which has neurotoxic effects. Pesticide and toxin exposure, excessive alcohol consumption, certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, and genetic disorders are some of the other common causes. It is estimated that nearly 30% of neuropathy is idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown.

How is our program different?

At Access Pain Solutions our treatment program takes an integrative approach to neuropathic pain. By combining current state of the art therapies, conducting a thorough history and exam, diagnostic blood work, and integrated nerve block treatment with electroanalgesia, we have created a treatment plan that is both safe and effective with minimal negative side effects. On average, our program has an 85% success rate with at least 50% improvement of neuropathy symptoms for patients that complete our treatment protocol.

How does the program work?

Nerve block treatment: A small injection is placed near a nerve bed in the lower extremity/foot. This contains a local anesthetic with a vitamin blend. The anesthetic helps to relax the nerve pathway and allow the electroanalgesia work more effectively. The blend has a mixture of essential vitamins and antioxidants to help with nerve repair. Your provider will use numbing block spray to help with any discomfort with the injection.

Electroanalgesia: The reduction of pain by electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve or the dorsal column of the spinal cord. Numerous controlled research investigations have directed the astute medical community toward more non-invasive medical interventions, such as clinical electoanalgesia to manage or mitigate patient pain.

Electroanalgesic treatments are different from the portable TENS device (1-250 pulses per second) primarily because it uses electrical frequencies that are much higher, above 8,000 pulses per second

(pps) to as high as 10,000 pps. This electrical energy is delivered deeper into the patients tissue due to a lowered skin resistance. The effect of higher frequencies is the ability not to stimulate or to facilitate the nerves, but to inhibit the pain signal.

A wide variety of medical conditions have been successfully treated with electrical stimulation for nearly 2,000 years. Electro medicine gained wider acceptance in our day when Canadian psychologist Ronald Melzack and British physiologist Patrick Wall published their influential findings on the Gate Control Theory of Pain (Science 150, 1965).

These scientists found that certain cells in the spinal cord act as gates through which pain signals travel to the brain. Overloading these neural transmitter cells will block the naturally occurring electrochemical pain impulses and thus relieve pain. The Gate Control Theory was accepted by the medical community and helped establish the use of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) in the United States.

Since that time, NeuroMed has refined and perfected electro medical processes to the point where comprehensive electroanalgesic medicine has emerged as an important adjunct discipline in the management and control of pain.

So is this like a TENS unit?

The short answer is no. A T.E.N.S. unit in many cases is an external device that reduces pain by applying low voltage electricity with electrodes placed over the skin.

T.E.N.S. effects in bioelectric procedures and treatments are biophysiological effects that are induced by repeated synchronous action potentials in excitable cells (1 to 250 pps — pulses per second). This involves membrane depolarization and repolarization activity.

(Gate control theory of Pain, Science 150., 1965; Melzack and Wall)

These effects in bioelectric procedures and treatment are biophysiological effects that are induced by repeated synchronous action potentials in excitable cells (1 to 250 pps — pulses per second). This involves membrane depolarization and repolarization activity.

These are signals that are so fast that they cannot be physiologically followed by the nervous system (multiple stimulations falling within the absolute refractory period of the cell membrane). These signals must be faster than 2,000 pps and are used for stopping or interrupting the axon transport of the action impulse. This is where our system comes into play. Again, with its ability to deliver more than 8,000 pps, the neuromed system can create successful transport interruption.

Adjunct Therapies:

The following adjunct therapies may be recommended by your provider if applicable:

▪ In depth lab work to look for inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, hormone imbalances, and metabolic dysfunction.

▪ Physical therapy to help with strengthening the core, lower extremities, and helping with balance.

▪ Topical pain cream to help alleviate the tingling, burning, and stinging sensations that neuropathy can cause, especially at night!

▪ Prescription vitamin supplementation that has been shown in clinical trials to aid in nerve regrowth over a 12 week period.

▪ Oral prescription nerve medications that may provide temporarily relief for severe nerve pain if appliacable.

Commonly asked questions:

How long is the treatment? The treatment program consists of an initial 16 treatments over 10 weeks. After the initial treatment phase, you and your provider will decide the frequency of your program. This will be unique to each patient based on your personal results and progress. Treatment is generally ongoing, meaning you my require continued treatments over time.

Is it covered by insurance? Treatment is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurances. Your insurance is screened for covered prior to treatment so that you are aware of any potential costs. Usually if treatment is covered, you may only be responsible for your usual deductible or copay.

How soon will I see results? This will vary for each patient. Results can depend on the length of time disease has been present, other comorbidities (see below), current health habits (alcohol, smoking, diet etc), blood sugar regulation, and program compliance. Results are NOT guaranteed for any individual. Some patients report seeing results as early as 3-4 treatments, but on average most patients see results at about 12 treatments.

Are there side effects? As with any procedure, there is potential for infection at the injection site, redness, or swelling. There is also potential for an allergic reaction to the medication. These complications are very rare, but will be discussed with your medical provider at your consult. Some patients also feel that their feet or lower legs may have increased numbness or feel heavy after treatment. This is completely normal as the anesthetic will relax the nerve pathway which can create a “heavy” sensation.

Rarely, after the initial electroanalgesia treatment, patients may feel a sensation in increased excitability in the lower extremity nerves. This usually dissipates after the initial treatment.

Will this cure the problem? No, this treatment is designed to help alleviate symptoms and may help with nerve stimulation but will not cure the disease or correct the underlying problem. Results will vary for each patient.