Charlotte Pain Management Center

🦶 Common Ankle and Foot Pain Issues: What You Need to Know 🦶

The ankle is one of the most mobile joints in the body, while our feet are highly complex. Unfortunately, these attributes also make them vulnerable. Here are some of the most common issues that can cause ankle and foot pain issues.

🔷 Achilles Tendinitis: This painful condition arises when patients overuse their Achilles tendon, which connects calf muscles to the heel bone. It is common in runners and older athletes.
🔷 Ankle Bursitis: The bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions bones as they move. Bursae become inflamed when injured or overused, causing pain whenever the joint is flexed.
🔷 Ankle Instability: If you constantly feel as if your ankle "gives out" when holding weight, you may be struggling with ankle instability resulting from an unhealed ligament injury.
🔷 Ligament Damage: This painful condition results when ligaments stretch beyond their limits. They tear and may even completely sever, losing their ability to support the ankle.
🔷 Tendinitis: Tendons connect muscle to bone and allow joints to move smoothly. Overuse or injury may cause tendons to swell and enlarge, losing their flexibility.
🔷 Arthritis: Arthritis describes pain and stiffness resulting from inflamed joints. It can affect the ankle, foot, and other areas of the body, and is most common in older patients.

Effective treatments for ankle and foot pain 🦶✨

🔶 Spinal Cord Stimulators: If other treatments have failed or surgery isn't an option, a stimulator is an excellent alternative. It eliminates discomfort by blocking pain signals within the nervous system.
🔶 Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Therapy: The DRG is a biological switchboard that regulates sensory signals. It can be stimulated to intercept any pain signals arriving from the ankle or foot.
🔶 Injections: Glucocorticoid and steroid injections can relieve pain and improve your mobility while you wait for an injury to heal. They offer an excellent option when other treatments have failed.
🔶 Sympathetic Blocks: This treatment involves injecting a numbing agent around nerves in the lower back, turning off and resetting the sympathetic nervous system in that area.
🔶Trigger Point Injections: Many forms of chronic pain have trigger points, where sudden blows cause a pain episode. Doctors can inject anesthetics into trigger points to render them inactive.

📞 Call us today at 941-629-3000 to become a new patient. Or visit painpc.com to submit your new patient packet.

We are delighted to welcome George J Arcos, D.O., as our new medical director!

CPMC is thrilled to introduce Dr. Arcos, a highly esteemed Interventional Pain Management Specialist who has officially joined our practice as of July 1st, 2024, in the crucial role of our new medical director.

With over 30 years of experience in anesthesiology and pain medicine, Dr. Arcos is one of the area's most experienced and influential pain physicians. Holistic in his approach, Dr. Arcos will create a customized and effective treatment plan for patients that may include therapy, medication management, and or invasive procedures to restore individuals, health and quality of life.

Charlotte Pain Management Center Call us for all your pain management needs.

Sadly, after a long battle with Pancreatic Cancer we have lost our well loved and very much missed Dr. James Bentley.

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served! 🇺🇸

Happy halloween!! 🎃🕷
Be safe tonight

Call (941)629-3000 📞 to learn more about our pain management services or visit painpc.com for our new patient packet 🏥🩺

Comment 💗 in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!!

Charlotte Pain Management Center updated their business hours.

Share these facts about COVID-19

No, You Don't Need To Disinfect Your Groceries. But Here's How To Shop Safely Coronavirus got you nervous about grocery shopping? We talked to scientists for their advice about how to stay safe at the store — and when handling food back home.

Around the world, public officials are asking all people to practice social distancing, quarantine or isolation measures to slow disease’s spread.

SOCIAL DISTANCING means keeping a safe distance (approximately 6 feet) from others and avoiding gathering spaces such as schools, churches, concert halls and public transportation.

QUARANTINE involves avoiding contact with others if a person has been exposed to coronavirus to see if they become ill.

ISOLATION involves separating an individual who has contracted COVID-19 to prevent them from spreading it to others.

Spending days or weeks at home with limited resources, stimulation and social contact can take a toll on mental health.

With the number of COVID-19 cases increasing every day, psychologists offer insights on how to separate yourself from others, while still getting the social support you need.

WHAT TO EXPECT
People asked to stay home due to illness, exposure or active community spread of COVID-19 will likely be cut off from their regular routines for at least two weeks, the estimated incubation period for the virus.
Common sources of stress during this period include a drop in meaningful activities, sensory stimuli and social engagement; financial strain from being unable to work; and a lack of access to typical coping strategies such as going to the gym or attending religious services.

Psychologists’ research has found that during a period of social distancing, quarantine or isolation, you may experience:
FEAR and ANXIETY
You may feel anxious or worried about yourself or your family members contracting COVID-19 or spreading it to others. It’s also normal to have concerns about obtaining food and personal supplies, taking time off work or fulfilling family care obligations. Some people may have trouble sleeping or focusing on daily tasks.

DEPRESSION and BOREDOM
A hiatus from work and other meaningful activities interrupts your daily routine and may result in feelings of sadness or low mood. Extended periods of time spent at home can also cause feelings of boredom and loneliness.

ANGER, FRUSTRATION, IRRITABILITY
The loss of agency and personal freedom associated with isolation and quarantine can often feel frustrating. You may also experience anger or resentment toward those who have issued quarantine or isolation orders or if you feel you were exposed to the virus because of another person’s negligence.

STIGMATIZATION
If you are sick or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, you may feel stigmatized by others who fear they will contract the illness if they interact with you.
Vulnerable Populations
Older adults, people with pre-existing mental health conditions and health-care workers helping with the response to the coronavirus may have an increased risk of experiencing psychological distress when they engage in social distancing, quarantine or isolation.
People with disabilities who require specialized diets, medical supplies, assistance from caregivers and other accommodations are also at risk for psychological challenges during a pandemic because of the increased difficulties in receiving the care they require.

HOW TO COPE
Fortunately, psychological research also points to ways to manage these difficult conditions. Before social distancing, quarantine or isolation orders are enacted, experts recommend planning ahead by considering how you might spend your time, who you can contact for psychosocial support and how you can address any physical or mental health needs you or your family may have.

LIMIT NEWS CONSUMPTION to reliable sources
It’s important to obtain accurate and timely public health information regarding COVID-19, but too much exposure to media coverage of the virus can lead to increased feelings of fear and anxiety. Psychologists recommend balancing time spent on news and social media with other activities unrelated to quarantine or isolation, such as reading, listening to music or learning a new language.

CREATE AND FOLLOW A DAILY ROUTINE
Maintaining a daily routine can help both adults and children preserve a sense of order and purpose in their lives despite the unfamiliarity of isolation and quarantine. Try to include regular daily activities, such as work, exercise or learning, even if they must be executed remotely. Integrate other healthy pastimes as needed.

STAY VIRTUALLY CONNECTED TO OTHERS
Your face-to-face interactions may be limited, but psychologists suggest using phone calls, text messages, video chat and social media to access social support networks. If you’re feeling sad or anxious, use these conversations as an opportunity to discuss your experience and associated emotions. Reach out to those you know who are in a similar situation. Facebook groups have already formed to facilitate communication and support among individuals asked to quarantine.

RELYING ON PETS for emotional support is another way to stay connected. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend restricting contact with pets if you contract COVID-19 until the risks of transmission between humans and animals are better understood.

MAINTAIN HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Get enough sleep, eat well and exercise in your home when you are physically capable of doing so. Try to avoid using alcohol or drugs to cope with the stresses of isolation and quarantine. If needed, consider telehealth options for psychotherapy. If you already have a psychologist, contact them ahead of a potential quarantine to see if they can continue your sessions using phone-based or online delivery.

USE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGIES to manage stress and stay positive
Examine your worries and aim to be realistic in your assessment of the actual concern as well as your ability to cope. Try not to catastrophize; instead focus on what you can do and accept the things you can't change. One way to do this is to keep a daily gratitude journal. You may also choose to download smartphone applications that deliver mindfulness and relaxation exercises. For example, PTSD Coach is a free application developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD and the Department of Defense’s National Center for Telehealth and Technology. It contains coping and resilience resources such as exercises for deep breathing, positive imagery, muscle relaxation and more.

Focusing on the altruistic reasons for social distancing, quarantine or isolation can also help mitigate psychological distress. Remember that by taking such measures, you are reducing the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 and protecting those who are most vulnerable.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Following a period of quarantine or isolation, you may feel mixed emotions, including relief and gratitude, frustration or anger towards people who worry you may infect them with the virus, or even feelings of personal growth and increased spirituality. It’s also normal to feel anxious, but if you experience symptoms of extreme stress, such as ongoing trouble sleeping, inability to carry out daily routines, or an increase in alcohol or drug use, seek help from a health-care provider.
1-800-985-5990National Su***de Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Do not touch ANY public surface, for example:
• Gas Pumps (Not only the handle but the buttons you push to select the type of gas)
• ATM machine
• All door handles
• Any Push buttons

Basically - Anything the public touches! Always use a physical barrier between your bare skin and any surface you are about to touch.

10% bleach with 90% water will kill the virus!
For example: 1/2 cup of bleach to 4 1/2 cups of water.
Put this in a spray bottle and if possible, spray every public surface you are about to touch.

We cannot afford to wait. Right now, our country's healthcare resources are depleting rapidly. We are unable to fulfill the needs we currently have. Our country is in a financial crisis, etc.. The longer this virus can spread, the longer it will take for us to begin recovering from this
pandemic.

The virus has been found to live on the surfaces of a cruise ship 21 days after it was vacated.

Wear a mask or something to cover your nose and mouth whenever you enter a closed space such as a store (checkout lines), elevator, etc. The virus can remain airborne for up to 3 hours.

Please share this information with everyone.

General Cleaning Recommendations for US Households

There is much to learn about the novel coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Based on what is currently known about the virus: it is spread from person-to-person among close contacts (within about 6 feet). This type of transmission occurs via respiratory droplets. Transmission of coronavirus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets.

Current evidence suggests that COVID-19 may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in your home.

***You should wear gloves and make sure you have good ventilation during the time you are cleaning***

Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces (for example: tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks, toilets, faucets, sinks. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

We're limiting entry into the practice. You must contact the office before you arrive. Anyone who enters the practice for any reason will be carefully screened. If necessary, masks and gloves can be provided to those who need them.

Every employee, caregiver, and physician has been asked to follow a self-screening procedure, because protecting our patients starts with protecting our staff.

Continuous cleaning to prevent the spread of infection is occurring throughout the day. This is a commonplace procedure for us during any flu season.

Thank You and stay safe!

KEEPING CLEAN IS KEY

Health authorities have been giving us two messages: once you have the virus there are no drugs that can kill it or help you get rid of it. But also, wash your hands to stop the virus spreading. This seems odd. You can’t, even for a million dollars, get a drug for the coronavirus – but your grandmother’s bar of soap kills the virus.

So why does soap work so well on the Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus and indeed most viruses? The short story: because the virus is a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bi-layer. Soap dissolves the fat membrane and the virus falls apart like a house of cards and dies – or rather, we should say it becomes inactive as viruses aren’t really alive.