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All About Celiac Plexus Block for Abdominal Pain

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Call to Schedule: (310) 854-0283

The celiac plexus is a bundle of nerves positioned behind the stomach and in front of the diaphragm. The celiac plexus block involves injecting these nerves with an anesthetic agent to treat intractable pain from cancers and chronic abdominal problems.

This nerve block is used to relieve the pain associated with serious disorders of the abdominal region. The celiac plexus block is reserved for the treatment of severe, intractable pelvic or abdominal pain that does not respond to other treatments. This block is commonly used for pancreatic cancer and the management of chronic functional abdominal pain.

How do I prepare for the procedure?

  • Before the celiac plexus block, you should go over all your medications with the pain doctor in Beverly Hills. If you are taking a blood-thinning agent, the doctor will advise you on how many days you must hold it. When you arrive at the medical facility, a nurse will advise you of the procedure and have you sign an informed consent form. In addition, you need to bring someone to drive you home, in case sedation is used. The nurse will place an IV catheter in your arm and attach several monitoring devices to you to assess your vital signs.

How is the celiac plexus block performed?

  • The celiac plexus block is usually performed by the posterior approach. The Los Angeles pain management doctor will position you on your stomach, and cleanse your skin with an antiseptic solution. The skin and deeper tissues are injected with a local anesthetic before a needle is inserted to the side of the vertebrae (spine bones). Using x-ray guidance, the doctor injects a contrast solution to assure the needle is positioned near the celiac plexus nerves. The long-acting anesthetic is injected onto the nerves, or the doctor may use a neurolytic agent (phenol or alcohol) to destroy a portion of the nerve root. The procedure usually takes around 30 minutes.

What can I expect after the procedure?

  • After the celiac plexus block, you will be moved to a recovery area where a nurse will continue to monitor your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, oxygen level). Expect to notice immediate relief of pain after the block, but soreness at the injection site could last for up to 24 hours.

What benefits are associated with the celiac plexus block?

  • The celiac plexus block prevents the transmission of pain signals to the brain, which interprets them as discomforting sensations. The block reduces reliance on pain medication and allows the patient to resume regular activities. The pain relief duration associated with this block varies from patient to patient. Many people enjoy months of pain relief following the celiac plexus block, whereas others only have a few weeks of comfort.

How effective is the celiac plexus block?

  • In a recent randomized, controlled trial, researchers found that half of the patients who received the block experienced complete symptom relief. In another study, celiac plexus neurolysis resulted in equal reduction in visual analog pain scores and lowered opioid consumption. In a meta-analysis of 21 studies, the success rate of celiac plexus block was found to be 90%.

What are the risks and complications associated with the celiac plexus block?

  • The celiac plexus block is a safe, non-surgical procedure for the treatment of severe abdominal pain. The risks are few and rarely occur. However, complications include bleeding, collapsed lung, infection, blood vessel damage, nerve injury, and organ damage. Intelligent Pain Solutions offers compassionate, highly skilled care for all types of pain conditions. This includes abdominal and pelvic pain. Both medication and interventional pain management is offered with a Double Board Certified, highly respected pain doctor in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.

Amniotic Derived Stem Cell Procedures For Avoiding Joint Replacement

Amniotic Derived Stem Cell Procedures For Avoiding Joint Replacement

Request Appointment Today with the Top Beverly Hills & Los Angeles Pain Management Center! Call to Schedule: (310) 854-0283

For decades the solution to joint pain has been a two-pronged approach: first, mask the pain, and when that is no longer possible, joint replacement. Anti-inflammatory drugs, cortisone injections offer temporary relief until the condition exacerbates. Joint replacement, a temporary solution itself, is invasive and requires a long, uncertain recovery, including physical therapy.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, over 900,000 people in the United States underwent knee and hip replacement in 2011, and that number increased steadily over the following several years. Whether due to injury or arthritis, American joints are in sore need of a remedy more reliable and more sustainable.

For More Info Call (310) 854-0283 to schedule an appointment today

Stem Cell Procedures

Intelligent Pain Solutions treats all types of simple and complicated pain conditions. like back and neck pain.

  • Amniotic Derived Stem Cell Procedures For Avoiding Joint Replacement
    • The answer just might be found in an area referred to as regenerative medicine, procedures that repair tissue damage as opposed to ignoring or masking it. Stem cells are at the heart of regenerative medicine, for decades now being used in wound care. Research has proven that stem cells regenerate into skin, muscle, bone, and even cartilage. Now, using amniotic stem cells, their application is providing new life for suffers of joint pain, especially due to arthritis.

Amniotic stem cells

  • Amniotic stem cells have proven particularly effective as an alternative to surgical joint replacement for knees and hips, the most common areas affected by arthritis. Certain properties of the amniotic cells lend themselves perfectly to pain reduction without the need for joint replacement. By the very nature of the cells’ nurturing “home” environment, the amniotic sac, cells contains high concentrations of anti-inflammatory properties as well as growth factors, both of which, painlessly target and remedy joint pain. In addition, hyaluronic acid, naturally found in joint fluid, and also a property of amniotic stem cells, works to regenerate and repair naturally.

    Amniotic stem cell procedures are administered by Board Certified Los Angeles pain management physicians at Intelligent Pain Solutions, usually right in the office. Research indicates no recipient rejection of the amniotic stem cells, as the body naturally assimilates its presence in the regenerative process.

Amniotic stem cell

  • Ethical concerns are assuaged in knowing amniotic stem cells that are extracted from amniotic membrane from scheduled cesarean births with full consent of the donors. Rich in life-sustaining properties, the amniotic sac feeds and nurtures a baby from conception to birth, and is traditionally unceremoniously discarded after birth.

    With full consent of and disclosure to all parties, now the life giving properties of amniotic cells will be enriching lives in perpetuity. Eliminating the controversy raised in embryonic stem cell research, the restorative results realized in amniotic joint therapy makes it a viable alternative to joint replacement surgery.

    Amniotic stem cell procedures are not yet covered by health insurance providers. The cost of the procedure varies, depending on the provider, but one injection can run anywhere from $3000 to $5000.

Amniotic stem cell

  • Amniotic stem cells, limitless in supply, administered by injection, instantly assimilated with no rejection from the recipient, and self-regenerating, appear to be the ideal solution for thousands of joint pain sufferers who are waiting for their pain to push through the threshold of tolerance which then make them candidates for surgical joint replacement. Perhaps the very system forcing such suffering should rethink the mechanized joint screws and bolts and condone a more natural, effective, and human solution.

Dr. George Graf at Intelligent Pain Solutions is a Double Board Certified Beverly Hills and Los Angeles pain management doctor with over 20 years experience. He is compassionate, highly skilled and has exceptional experience with stem cell procedures for helping patients achieve pain relief and avoiding joint replacement or spine surgery.

Call today – 310-854-0283!

Abdominal Pain Treatment

Abdominal pain

or stomach pain is a major symptom that is associated with both temporary, non-serious disorders and more severe conditions. The abdomen is an anatomical area bound by the lower margin of the ribs and the pelvic bone.

Most of the causes of abdominal pain are not serious and can be diagnosed and treated. Therefore, it is important to be able to recognize severe symptoms and know when to call a Los Angeles pain clinic doctor.

Request Appointment Today with the Top Beverly Hills & Los Angeles Pain Management Center! Call to Schedule: (310) 854-0283

Intelligent Pain Solutions treats all types of simple and complicated pain conditions. like back and neck pain.

Causes of Abdominal Pain

Abdominal can occur in form of a mild stomach ache, sharp pain, or stomach cramps. Some of the more common causes include:

  • Constipation
  • Indigestion
  • Stomach virus
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Food allergies
  • Food poisoning
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Ulcers
  • Gas
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Gallstones
  • Kidney stones
  • Endometriosis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Appendicitis

What are the Symptoms of Abdominal Pain?

  • Abdominal pain may become severe but if you notice the following symptoms, contact pain management doctors in Los Angeles right away.
    Bloody stools
  • Nausea, or fever
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Pain during pregnancy
  • Vomiting blood
  • Tender abdomen

    The pain may result from an injury to the abdomen

    The symptoms above can be an indication of internal inflammation, infection or bleeding that needs treatment as soon as possible.

Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain

  • There are many several causes of abdominal pain, therefore, your health provider will need to perform a physical examination and ask several questions about the pain you are feeling. A physical examination will provide the doctor with some additional clues to the main cause of abdominal pain. The pain management doctors in Los Angeles will identify:
  • The presence of sounds originating from the intestines that occur when intestines are obstructed.
  • Presence of any inflammation during the examination
  • Location of the tenderness
  • The presence of blood in the stool that signifies intestinal problem such as colon cancer, ulcer, or ischemia.
  • The presence of mass around the abdomen that suggests a tumor, abscess (a collection of infected pus) or enlarged organ.

    Laboratory tests such as complete blood count (CBC), pancreatic enzymes, liver enzymes, urinalysis and pregnancy test are frequently performed in the evaluation of abdominal pain. From the tests:

 

  • A low red blood cell count indicates a bleeding in the intestines
  • Elevated white count indicates chances of inflammation or infection.
  • Blood in the urine suggests kidney stones
  • In incidences of diarrhea, white blood cells in the stool show inflammation or infection.

What are the Treatment Options for Abdominal Pain?

Treatment of abdominal pain depends on the main cause. Treatment can range from medication meant for inflammation, GERD, Ulcers, or antibiotics for infections. The medication used to treat the cause of abdominal pain are medications of choice. The example in medication may not be necessary to treat simple viral gastroenteritis while surgery or chemotherapy may be the best option to address certain cancers in the abdomen. In other conditions, the major treatment option may be antimicrobials, antispasmodics, H2 blockers, nitrates or morphine.

Abdominal pain can also be treated by avoiding various lifestyle choices. Such include: Eating a good diet, exercises, avoid smoking and consumption of excess alcohol to reduce the chances of experiencing abdominal pains.

Good hygiene such as hand washing and also avoid contaminated foods. This will help reduce the chances of developing illness pain from many infectious causes.

Well, after visiting the pain doctor Los Angeles, do not expect an instant cure or immediate diagnosis but schedule regular visits and take the tests quite often to establish the cause of abdominal pain and avoid serious illnesses.

Request Appointment Today with the Top Beverly Hills & Los Angeles Pain Management Center!

Call to Schedule: (310) 854-0283

Overview of Peripheral Neuropathy

Overview of Peripheral Neuropathy from a Los Angeles Pain Doctor

Request Appointment Today with the Top Beverly Hills & Los Angeles Pain Management Center! Call to Schedule: (310) 854-0283

Peripheral Neuropathy from a Beverly Hills Pain Doctor

neuropathy

As a well managed pain management clinic we help patients with peripheral neuropathy, commonly referred to as sensory neuropathy, can involve pain, tingling, numbness, or a combination of all, generally beginning in the feet. The nerves that run from the spinal cord to the feet are the longest in the body and must carry signals the farthest of all the nerves. There is more opportunity for damage to these nerves just because there are more of them. This is the most common type of neuropathic condition caused by diabetes.

This disease can be classified into three basic pathologies: mononeuropathy, a neuropathy that affects just one nerve in one part of the body; polyneuropathy, which affects multiple nerve cells in a variety of places within the body; and autonomic neuropathy, which affects the organs which function without conscious thought. All of these conditions are dangerous and, if left untreated, can be quite damaging.Mononeuropathy, sometimes called focal neuropathy, can occur suddenly and almost always affects nerves in the eyes and other parts of the head. It can present itself very suddenly and may cause shooting pains behind the eyeball and in other parts of the head. Sometimes mononeuropathy will affect other parts of the body and is often confused with motor neuropathy because the symptoms are similar: weakness and cramps. This type of neuropathy also imitates peripheral neuropathy and can cause tingling and sharp pains in the legs.

Polyneuropathy is a condition that is generally the most common result of diabetes. There can be several other causes, such as Lyme disease, and even alcoholism, but the most common is indeed diabetes and glucose intolerance. This occurs in multiple parts of the body, most commonly the feet, at least at first, and the hands. These limbs are the furthest from the spinal cord and brain and the nerves are therefore the longest, so the signals between the limbs and brain tend to be impaired earliest. When blood sugar rises too high levels after a meal because of a diabetic or pre-diabetic glucose intolerance, the nerves can become damaged and the damage will continue even after the high levels of blood sugar have returned to normal.

Autonomic neuropathy tends to take the body out of balance, or homeostasis and gives the person a feeling of uneasiness because the functions that are usually automatically handled without conscious thought are interrupted. This type of neuropathy will affect many of the systems which keep the body functioning but the most heavily affected will be the systems served by the most damaged nerves. This type of neuropathy doesn’t involve pain, but weakness, generally in the arms, can be diagnosed with tests and is often confused with other nerve diseases such as ALS. Autonomic neuropathy can involve symptoms such as weakness, loss of control of certain muscles, cramps, and even paralysis.

When it comes to polyneuropathy, there are various nonoperative treatment options with a Los Angeles pain management clinic. Medications may consist of opiates, neurogenic medications (e.g. Lyrica), prescription pain creams and more. For chronic pain, a spinal cord stimulator may allow for significant relief along with the ability to restore significant sensation that has been lost. It’s been a revolutionary treatment option for neuropathy!

Drug Rehab Therapy

Substance abuse rehab and drug rehab is considered one of the most important facets of the society’s wellbeing. Many people, who suffer from the addiction of illicit substances, in the city of Los Angeles, check into numerous types of rehab centers and clinics in order to treat, repair and detox their body.

A drug abuser can either select outpatient treatment or inpatient treatment if they want to get admitted to the drug rehab programs. The indoor treatment means they have to get institutionalized to the rehab centre; while outdoor treatment means they can continue their recovery whilst being at home. Since many in LA prefer the outdoor treatment facility, let us check out the whole process of it. So, first, let us take a look at the program’s basic concepts.

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Amniotic Stem Cell Therapy for Golfer’s and Tennis Elbow

The use of amniotic stem cell therapy for golfer’s or tennis elbow has been proven to be effective. Stem cells derived from amniotic fluid are known to be especially versatile and adaptable, as they are able to differentiate into a wide range of cells and have been proven to promote healing.

Because of golfer’s and tennis elbow, in essence, affect the same area of the arm, in the same manner, the process involved in using this type of injection therapy for either is basically the same.

All these epidural injections have shown excellent results in the treatment of nerve root compression with sciatica pain. The top pain management doctors in Los Angeles such as Dr. George Graf at Intelligent Pain Solutions offer all types of epidural injections, along with over twenty-five additional procedures.

Most insurance is accepted, simply call 310-854-0283 today!

Botox Injections for Migraines

Injections of botulinum toxin type A, popularly known as or Botox, is a safe and well-tolerated, option to treat a migraine, a recurring severe vascular headache affecting affect about 10% US adults. Approved by the FDA in 2010, Botox injections decrease frequency, inhibit severity and prevent symptoms of a migraine in patients reducing their acute dependence on medication.

Botox injections contain neurotoxic protein produced by Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium responsible for causing food poisoning. Used in limited quantity, the product has immense medical and cosmetic value. In 2002, the FDA consented use of Botox injections as a cosmetic treatment to rejuvenate the face. In 2010, the regulator approved Botox injections for migraine treatment.