Pain Management

Prevention Tips to Avoid Migraines

Migraine is an all-too-common source of misery among Americans: nearly 1 in 4 households in the United States include someone who has this debilitating neurological condition.

If you’re one of those people, you want to know what you can do to banish migraine for good. While there is currently no cure for migraine, the good news is that there are things you can do to stop it in its tracks. Below are a few tips to help you avoid migraine attacks.

Tip #1 Mind What You Eat and Drink

The following are some of the foods and drinks that are known to trigger migraines. It pays to steer clear of them:

  • Alcohol, specifically red wine
  • Chocolates
  • Coffee
  • Pickled and fermented foods
  • Processed foods, especially those that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG)
  • Soy and cultured dairy products

You can also take note of what time you ate the particular food and how much of that food you consumed.

In addition, don’t skip a meal, as fasting can also trigger migraine. It also helps to eat at about the same time every day.

Tip #2 Have a Good Night Sleep

Having too little or too much sleep can leave you susceptible to migraine attacks, according to the American Migraine Foundation. So, try to have just the right amount of sleep: seven to eight hours a day.

Here are some ways you can improve your sleep hygiene:

  • Being consistent – going to bed at the same time each night
  • Not sleeping for longer than 20 to 30 minutes during the daytime
  • Avoiding intense exercise, heavy meals, nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine at night
  • Shunning the blue light and noise
  • Not trying too hard to sleep – Instead, try to read or do a quiet activity until your feel drowsy.
  • Checking your medications and other stimulants that can interfere with your sleep

Tip #3 Know How to Tame Stress

Stress is a common migraine trigger, and migraine episodes can occur both during and after a stressful situation.

Avoiding stressful situations is almost impossible, but there are things you can do to keep stress under control. Below are some of them:

  • Practicing relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation
  • Trying not to squeeze activities into your day – Instead, leave something out and divide large tasks into small, manageable chunks.
  • Taking a break, if you feel overwhelmed
  • Keeping a positive outlook on life – helps you take everyday challenges in stride.

Tip #4 Incorporate Exercise into Your Daily Routine

Exercise helps migraine sufferers by:

  • Promoting better sleep
  • Reducing stress and anxiety as well as improving mood by releasing endorphins – Exercise triggers the release of feel-good hormones and natural painkillers, and lowers cortisol levels (stress hormones).

Migraine Treatment in Wellington, FL

At Advanced Medical Clinic, our team is led by a board-certified internal medicine provider and a board-certified family nurse practitioner who have made a name for themselves for the high-quality care they provide to people living with migraine and many other conditions, helping them conquer pain and quality-of-life issues.

To arrange a consultation with one of our providers, contact our office at (561) 434-1935. Alternatively, you may request an appointment right here on our website.

When to Visit a Family Medicine Provider for Hand and Wrist Pain

The hand is a complex part of the body, made up of many small bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and other structures to allow them to perform a number of intricate movements. The hand and wrist are therefore quite vulnerable to many injuries and conditions which can cause pain and reduced function.

If you have hand and wrist pain that doesn’t seem to be improving despite home remedies (such as taking over-the-counter pain-relief medicine), you should visit a family medicine provider for a medical evaluation – because delaying treatment may allow the problem to become worse. Let’s talk about when you will know that it is indeed necessary to see a family medicine provider for your aching hand and wrist.

When Should I See a Family Medicine Provider About Hand Pain?

Some hand and wrist conditions and injuries are short-term and may go away on their own or with resting the area. But other conditions warrant further investigation and treatment from a family medicine provider in order to have a successful outcome.

You should visit your family medicine provider if:

  • Symptoms don’t improve with rest and ice therapy
  • You experience pain or discomfort even when the hand is not moving
  • You have a reduced range of motion in the hand, wrist, and/or fingers
  • Pain, swelling, or hand/wrist function is getting worse rather than better
  • You have signs of infection (redness, heat, fever, or chills)
  • You experience tingling or numbness regularly in your hands
  • Normal, everyday activities are causing pain or are becoming increasingly difficult
  • Simple treatments and over-the-counter medication do not help

Some symptoms require urgent treatment by a family medicine provider, as they may indicate a fracture or dislocation. Signs may include severe pain, swelling, bruising, an obvious sudden deformity, or an inability to move your hand, wrist, or fingers normally.

Common Causes of Hand and Wrist Pain

There are many potential causes of hand and wrist pain, but some of the most common causes include the following:

Arthritis

The technical definition of arthritis is inflammation in one or more joints. Arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, and the hand is one of the most common parts of the body to be affected by arthritis.

Arthritis can get worse over time if left untreated. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, as it results from wear-and-tear of the protective cartilage covering the ends of the bones in a joint. If the cartilage has worn down or worn away, it causes painful bone-on-bone rubbing. This can happen to young athletes and active older adults alike.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that affects the hand and wrist. It occurs when the median nerve in the wrist becomes compressed or entrapped, preventing it from functioning properly. The median nerve carries messages between the brain, spinal cord, and hand, and signals for sensation and muscle movement. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain and numbness in the hand and fingers – potentially all fingers except the pinkie.

Tendonitis

Tendons are the strong fibers that connect muscles to bones. When a tendon is inflamed, this is tendonitis – which can result when the tendons are irritated in some way.

Tendonitis most frequently develops in the wrist and hand because of overuse, injury, structural abnormalities, or disease, such as arthritis or diabetes. It affects the normal smooth movement of the fingers or wrist, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, tenderness, and reduced function in the affected tendon.

Primary Care Provider in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach

If you have hand or wrist pain, the compassionate and skilled medical team at Advanced Medical Clinic is here to provide the proper and necessary treatment to alleviate your pain. We offer comprehensive treatment options and a high standard of patient-centered primary and urgent care services for all of your family’s medical needs.

If you would like to make an appointment with one of our experienced healthcare providers, or to learn more about the services we offer, call us today at (561) 434-1935 or you can request an appointment via our online form now. We look forward to serving you!

Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain

Pain is a universally understood symptom of a health problem. Whether it’s due to an injury, a disease, or something else, pain is a way of alerting you that something is amiss in your body.

Determining when to see a family medicine provider for pain symptoms can be a little confusing. For instance, a minor ankle sprain, a bruise, and a migraine all cause temporary pain. So, do they garner a family medicine provider visit? Not necessarily. The trick to knowing when to see a family medicine provider is understanding if your pain is acute or chronic.

In many cases, acute pain can be treated at home. However, chronic pain is a clear sign that your body has an underlying issue that is going unaddressed.

Let’s take a closer look at what it means for pain to be acute or chronic.

Acute Pain

More common that chronic pain, acute pain is usually preceded by an incident. Practically every person on the planet has experienced acute pain at some point or another. Acute pain can come after stubbing your toe, an exercise injury, wearing ill-fitting shoes all evening, a stress-induced headache, or throwing out your back when picking up a heavy object. Acute pain refers to pain that is temporary. This means, the underlying cause of the pain can be addressed quickly, at which time the associated pain symptoms dissipate. Most of the time, acute pain can be treated at home or through a quick visit to a primary care provider.

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain refers to pain symptoms that are felt for longer than a few weeks. If you throw out your back while picking up a heavy object, your pain symptoms should go away within a few days. If this isn’t the case, your pain could be chronic. Another sign of chronic pain is if your pain symptoms return intermittently for more than a few weeks. An example of this is migraine headaches. A migraine headache once in a while is considered acute pain. However, if you experience migraines on a regular basis, such as several times a month, it is considered chronic pain. Another example is foot pain that develops whenever you stand or walk for long periods of time.

Chronic pain is a definite sign that you need treatment. An underlying injury or condition is causing the pain symptoms, and because the cause is going unaddressed, the pain symptoms are returning repeatedly. Monitor how you feel, and seek medical attention if you are feeling unwell for quite some time. In many cases, chronic pain tends to get worse if left untreated. As such, your pain symptoms could increase in severity and frequency if you don’t seek medical care.

Chronic Pain Treatment in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida

Whether you have acute or chronic pain, seeking the advice of a medical family medicine provider is always beneficial in reducing your symptoms. At Advanced Medical, we can help you manage your pain symptoms and treat the underlying cause.

To schedule an appointment, call (561) 434-1935 or submit an appointment request.

How to Know If It’s a Migraine

There are headaches and then there are migraines. Determining which one of the two you have might be difficult, but there’s a clear difference between the two.

A migraine is more than a just a headache. According to the American Migraine Foundation (AMF), a migraine is a neurological disease that causes severe and painful headaches on a recurring basis.

Let’s look at what makes migraines different from other headaches and how it is best treated.

What Does a Migraine Feel Like?

There are clear signs that can distinguish whether you have a headache or migraine at any given time.

Migraines tend to give warning signs prior to coming on. A lot of people who get migraines report that they see auras or sensory disturbances on one side of the head before a migraine headache sets in. An example of this is seeing a blurry light in one eye that prevents you from seeing clearly. A lot of people report that when they act on the warning sign quickly, it helps prevent full-on migraines.

Unlike a regular headache, which can happen for a variety of reasons, migraines can be traced back to a set of triggers. Triggers are specific things that can cause the body to react a certain way. Migraine triggers are similar to allergic reactions in the sense that when a person with a peanut allergy is exposed to a peanut, it will trigger an allergic reaction. A trigger has a similar affect and can lead to a migraine. This may be difficult to pinpoint until you have had at least a few migraines to assess if there is a correlation between what you were doing or feeling prior to the migraine setting in.

Triggers

Not everyone has the same triggers when it comes to migraines. However, like allergic reactions, there are groups of triggers that tend to affect people who suffer from migraines. Here are some examples of common migraine triggers. 

  • Hormonal Changes – Some women experience migraines during menstruation due to changes in hormone levels.
  • Dietary Triggers – Some people experience migraines after consuming certain foods or drinks. Examples include caffeine, chocolate, citrus foods, or foods with additives.
  • Environmental Triggers – There are some environmental triggers, such as strong smells, second-hand smoke, and loud noises, that can cause migraines.
  • Physical Triggers – Migraines can be triggered if you are jet-lagged, have low blood sugar, or suffering from neck tension.

Treatment

Most migraines can be control by actively avoiding triggers. Other things you can do to prevent migraines is getting enough sleep, reducing your stress, drinking enough water, and exercising regularly.

If you have chronic migraines (migraines that happen more than 15 days a month), you may need to get prescription medication to treat your migraines. In some cases, injections may be able to help control chronic migraines. This treatment involves injecting Botox into the spinal nerves responsible for triggering migraines.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms that come with migraines or if you’re having trouble differentiating between a bad headache and a migraine, we can help. Call (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment with one of the Advanced Medical Clinic providers. You can also request an appointment online. We will diagnose you and recommend effective treatments to help you find relief.

How to Manage Your Migraines

There are headaches. And then there are migraines. Migraines can cause moderate to severe pain that can be affected by your diet, stress, medications, sleep patterns or environmental factors like certain odors, altitude changes and weather. Because there is no cure for migraines, the best way to manage them is by familiarizing yourself with your unique set of triggers. This way you may be able to not only manage your migraines, but also reduce or even pre-empt them from occurring. Here are some ways how.

Eat well and don’t skip meals

Eating sporadically, skipping meals, or eating foods that are loaded with MSG, fats and sodium, can trigger migraines. Your best bet is to stick to whole and natural foods that are unprocessed, lower your sodium intake, stay hydrated and don’t skip meals. Avoid pickled or marinated foods, as they are loaded with salt and additives; likewise, avoid alcohol.

Try Coffee

Many people report that a cup of coffee can offset migraine symptoms. If a cup of coffee helps, drink it early in the day so you don’t lose sleep at night.

Scent-free Zones

While it’s hard to avoid every triggering scent – especially if you work in an open office or ride public transportation – there are ways to reduce their triggers, especially in your home. Opting for scent-free cleaning supplies and detergents, bath and beauty products, and candles is a good start. Ask friends and guests to respect your scent-free home by not wearing perfume on visits; also speak to your human resource office at work to see if they have a scent-free office policy.

Medications

Certain medications you may be prescribed can trigger migraines. If you feel this is the case, be sure to speak with your family medicine provider to see if there are other medications or strategies you can use to reduce or eliminate this trigger.

Hormone Changes and Medication

The hormonal changes associated with menstruation and menopause and the medications used to treat them may trigger migraines. The same goes with the hormonal changes that come with pregnancy. Again, speak to your family medicine provider for alternate medications or strategies to minizine the frequency of migraines.

Stress

Stress is a huge trigger; that said it’s not always easy to eliminate all stressors in your life. However, you may consider increasing your exercise levels and focus on wellness to reduce stress levels.

Maintain Adequate Sleep Levels

Not getting enough sleep or constantly changing your sleep schedule can result in migraines. Try to find enough time to get restful sleep at regular hours to reduce your risk of getting migraines.

Sensitivity to Light

Bright lights, glares and fluorescent lighting all can have their effects. That’s why light sensitivity is one of the many reasons those with migraines develop “auras” – seeing flashes or flickering light in the form of stars, spots or halos. If possible, opt for natural lighting. Use computer screen filters to reduce glare. And consider getting an eye check-up, as your migraines may be the result of an eye issue or need of a new glasses or contact prescription.

Changes in Weather, Seasons or Pressure

Many people experience migraines as the barometric pressure drops, or during change of seasons. Understanding how your body adjusts to these changes – and when they occur in your area – can help you prepare for the possibility of migraines.

Know Your Triggers

Before your migraines take full hold, look for any signs such as mood changes, frequent bathroom breaks, random food cravings, and increased sleepiness. If you notice any of these symptoms, find a comfortable space that works for you – it should have dim natural lighting, is quiet and is comforting.

Primary Care in Wellington & Royal Palm Beach

No one should have to deal with migraines. If you are looking for expert medical care that can help you manage your symptoms, then it’s time to reach out to Advance Medical Clinic. With expertise in primary family and internal medicine, our expert providers are caring and compassionate, offering personalized care to you and your loved ones.  If you are experiencing a migraine or its symptoms, or are looking to work with a primary care provider for any reason, seek out an expert. If you live in or around Wellington or Royal Palm Beach, call Advanced Medical Clinic today at (561) 434-1935 or request an appointment. We look forward to meeting you!

How to Manage Your Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can affect your quality of life and impact your ability to enjoy everyday activities. It can even damage your self-esteem because you never feel like your best self anymore.

With chronic pain, it can have an isolating effect because the symptoms are not seen by others. However, pain sufferers want a solution – and the good news is that there are ways to effectively manage your chronic pain.

Let’s talk about some of the ways in which chronic pain can be stifled:

Medication

Pain medication includes those you can purchase over the counter (off the shelf) and those prescribed by family medicine providers. Examples of over-the-counter pain relievers are acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medications are effective at relieving mild to moderate pain on a short-term basis.

For severe chronic pain, family medicine providers may prescribe pain medication that can only be obtained with a prescription. However, long-term use of these medicines can lead to unwanted side effects, and there is a potential of becoming addicted to prescription pain medications.

Implanted Pain Pumps

Chronic pain that does not respond well to conservative medication may respond to surgical implantation of a pain-relief pump. A pain pump is implanted underneath the skin, where it delivers a controlled dose of pain medication.

With this method, the pain medication is slowly released into the body on a continuous basis. This has been reported to provide immense relief in many chronic pain sufferers.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

A spinal cord stimulator is a device that is implanted underneath your skin in the middle of your back. It alters and interrupts pain signals before they have a chance to reach your brain. The device is the size of a pacemaker, and it delivers electrical pulses to the spinal cord.

Trigger-Point Injections

A local anesthetic is injected into pain trigger points, which are usually within a muscle. Depending on what the family medicine provider decides, the anesthetic may be combined with a steroid.

Not all chronic pain sufferers have trigger points. However, those with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome, for example, usually do have trigger points – so this treatment can be very effective for those whose chronic pain is caused by those conditions.

Acupuncture

Taken from traditional Chinese methods of medical treatment, acupuncture involves the manipulation of different points of the body. Thin needles are used to prompt the body to release endorphins, which can block the pain signals traveling to the brain.

Alternative Therapies

There are also other therapies that can help to reduce your dependence on pain medicine, such as yoga, meditation, and physical therapy.

Pain Treatment in Palm Beach County

While there are many methods for managing your chronic pain, a trusted family family medicine provider or nurse practitioner can provide you with the quality care that you need. Our health professionals can administer a combination of treatment methods if necessary to effectively relieve your pain symptoms.

Dr. Ishan Gunawardene of the Advanced Medical Clinic is a board-certified internist offering advanced and highly individualized treatment methods for chronic pain. His offices are conveniently located in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach.

If you have any questions about Dr. Gunawardene’s internal medicine services, please call our friendly team at (561) 434-1935, fill out our easy-to-use appointment request form online, or simply walk into our clinic to receive immediate medical attention. We look forward to seeing you here.

How Your Family Medicine Provider Can Help You Manage Your Pain

Chronic pain can wear you down and further degrade your physical and mental health. Your family medicine provider can work with you to reduce your pain and improve your ability to carry on with your everyday activities.

Approaches to pain management have evolved over the last decade. Medical professionals increasingly put you at the center of all aspects of pain management, and that is a good thing. A common misconception is that pain medications such as opioids are the go to for pain management, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many ways your provider can help you manage your pain.

Encourage Communication

Your family medicine provider can help you best by getting you actively involved in your treatment. By communicating openly with you, your provider will involve you with decision-making and problem solving. Living better with chronic pain is the goal (after all attempts to correct the painful condition, of course), and this requires excellent communication between you and your family medicine provider, and your medical team. Communicative and caring family medicine providers can empower you as a person, not just as a patient.

Listen and explain

Your provider will ask you about how you experience your pain, and specifically, to describe your pain in everyday language. Because there are no specialized tests to assess where and how you feel pain, you are the primary source of information. Don’t hold back. You are your best advocate. Everybody has a different pain threshold, so it’s important to get a unique understanding of each patient.

In turn, your family medicine provider can help you understand that even if your chronic pain has no specific cure, there are ways to manage it. Your family medicine provider can provide you with resources such as easy to read information, referrals for physical therapists, and other therapeutic experts.

Provide options

You family medicine provider will talk with you about these and other options for your pain management plan:

  • Medications including analgesics such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can be of help with mild to moderate pain.
  • Stronger pain medications, including opioids, provide important relief for patients who have strong or severe pain. You family medicine provider will work with you to ensure that you receive the appropriate and safe type of medication.
  • Pain management procedures such as electrical stimulation, acupuncture, nerve blocks, or surgery may be appropriate if pain is not controlled by medications.
  • Non-invasive treatments such as biofeedback, behavior modification, and psychotherapy are all important tools.
  • Alternative or complementary medicine (CAM) include treatments such as acupuncture, massage, Tai Chi, mindful meditation, and relaxation techniques, all of which have been shown to be helpful.

Advise and support

Your family medicine provider can suggest healthy lifestyle changes that will help you better manage your pain and improve your quality of life. Some suggestions your provider may make include:

Exercise: Chronic pain caused by certain conditions such as arthritis shouldn’t stop you from engaging in physical activity. Natural painkillers or endorphins released by your body after exercise help reduce perception of pain, and exercise has been shown to boost mood. Of course, first discuss any exercise plans with your provider to make sure they are safe and appropriate for you.

Diet: Eating regular meals rich in antioxidants and nutrients will help your body best deal with pain and stress. Eating fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean protein ensures you have the best fuel to repair and restore your health.

Reach out to us with any questions you have about how to manage your pain. call Advanced Medical in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 434-1935 to request an appointment, or you can request an appointment online.

Is Your Chronic Pain a Sign of something Bigger?

Your body does not own a computer. It can’t send you a text message about your foot or tell you in an email that your appendix is in trouble. Your body has only a few ways of signaling that there is a problem; so it relies on symptoms to show distress. One of the biggest signaling symptoms is pain. Chronic pain (pain that lasts for at least 12 weeks or more) is often a symptom of a disease process or injury.

Feeling fatigued, losing or gaining weight, sleeplessness, anxiety, irritability, changes in appetite, and fevers are all signs that your body is experiencing some kind of stress. Sometimes the reasons behind chronic pain are known; and sometimes they are not.

Chronic Pain May be a Symptom of Something Bigger

Pain may be dull or sharp, it may be constant, or it can come and go at different times. The type of pain, its location and severity, along with other symptoms can be clues as to the underlying cause. Your chronic pain may be related to a known injury, for example, or it could be a symptom of something bigger. Either way, it is your body trying to tell you something important and you should most certainly listen.

Many injuries and disorders can cause chronic pain. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, are known for being painful, even debilitating conditions. The causes of pain can range from minor to severe and include everything from fibromyalgia to ulcers, appendicitis, or even cancer.

Pain can be difficult to describe or even evaluate, because no one else can feel what you are feeling in exactly the same way as you experience it. It is all very subjective and quite personal. There is no single test that can measure and pinpoint pain in every situation. There are, however several different kinds of tests that can aid your family medicine provider in correctly diagnosing the underlying causes of your pain.

Once diagnosed, your family medicine provider can help find the most suitable treatment options for your particular problem. When faced with chronic pain, the goal is to understand the cause, implement treatment that helps to alleviate or reduce it and to restore function in order to provide a better quality of life for you, the patient.

Some people are uneasy about tests, or they are used to the pain and try to push through it and ignore it. This is never a good idea. Chronic pain should be checked out, even if only to set your mind at ease. Chronic pain is not likely to go away on its own, and it could be a symptom of something much more serious. If you are concerned about how chronic pain is affecting your quality of life, Dr. Ishan Gunawardene of Advanced Medical Clinic can answer all of your questions. To make an appointment with us in Wellington or Royal Palm Beach, request an appointment online or call (561) 434-1935 today.