I was told September is “Pain Awareness Month.” Pain is strictly an individual concept. Medicine uses a blank line 10cm long, 0-10/10 scale, smiley faces to crying faces, and other methods. None are really appropriate for all patients, or have been shown to cross reference to another person’s pain. There is no consistent way to…
DetailsI am in Albuquerque for the next week. I came to see my son, and my father. My Uncle Leo passed on Friday. My daughter, wife, and I were present. My daughter was holding his hand. She cared enough to sit with him the last few days of his life believing someone should be present.…
DetailsDr. Castillo’s thoughts about intrathecal pain pump management for treating back pain after surgeries. Intrathecal pain pump management is a proven safe and effective therapy for managing chronic pain. I send a lot of patients for surgery (We are working to heal the spine with our regenerative medicine practice. That is a different topic for…
DetailsIt’s an age-old question in medicine, is this safe? Is it effective? With the rise of regenerative medicine or stem cell therapies, people wonder if therapies such as Platelet Rich Plasma and Stem Cells are safe and effective for conditions such as arthritis. Platelet Rich Plasma and Stem Cell therapies can be an effective treatment…
DetailsMay 5th thru the 12th is National Neuropathy Awareness Week. Neuropathy is a chronic condition that affects millions of people in America. While there is no cure for neuropathy, there are ways to manage the pain associated with it. Many groups including the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy and the American Health Council help patients dealing…
DetailsAcute and chronic pain have important differences that can give physicians important clues for diagnosing and treating pain. And the types of pain are different, in some cases acute pain can develop into chronic pain. Acute Pain By definition it is temporary, and it may occur suddenly usually associated with an injury or illness. Acute…
DetailsSome sports injuries heal fairly quickly on their own with rest and mild activity; while others are like a torn ACL, are unlikely to heal with traditional treatments. Now regenerative medicine such as Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, Stem Cell Therapy, and others may be able to help heal sports injuries and get players back…
DetailsReactions to new materials or objects is eliminated with stem cell therapies as the patient’s own cells. Joint pain has become a growing problem with the extended life expectancy in the US. There are about 1 million joint replacement surgeries performed in the US annually, with the number projecting to increase to nearly 4 million…
DetailsFrom diabetes to spinal cord injuries, stem cells have the potential to diseases and ailments of all types. Stem cells have become a beneficial option for patients with back problems. Advances have enabled spinal surgeons to use stem cells to treat patients helping in the regeneration of degenerated discs, healing spinal cord injuries, and helping…
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