Finding Compassion in Medicine

May 4, 2015May 4, 2015 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Medicine has become a tough endeavor recently, as the physician is routinely under many pressures. Institutions and employers want as many patients seen as possible in an effort to increase their bottom line, while staff to assist the physician are often kept at a minimum to keep costs low. Tests and procedures should not be ordered or they need to be ordered more frequently, depending on who is paying the bill, and of course the physician should know which is the pertinent case. The physician also is getting paid too much and does not work enough hours. The physician also should do administrative work, read more current journals, and be responsible for quality improvement projects for the practice. They also must attend continuing education courses and constantly recertify their qualifications. The demands are endless.

As for the patient, they only want a good physician that can solve their problems quickly. Now that medicine has become more of a business, finding a good and caring physician is even harder. Physicians often feel they need to be done seeing a patient as quickly as possible. This is just the opposite of the needs of the patient. Many physicians have just given up with the pressures of the business, and have become mediocre at all aspects of medicine.

Striking a Compassion Balance

Finding the physician who has found the balance in medicine and who has the desire to provide high quality care is difficult. There is no magical way to find those special physicians, and word of mouth is often still the best method. There are rating services, but unfortunately most physicians try to hide from them and may not be very well represented. Furthermore, many of the best physicians let their skill be their only voice, and the best physicians often feel no need to advertise, as their work should speak for themselves.

In any profession, 90% of the practitioners are good, and 10% are exceptional. In medicine, this also holds true. The best physicians find a way to balance all the needs of the changes in the business of providing care. The most telling sign is that the patient always comes first. The physician will know his patients and their history, and will be willing to develop a joint treatment plan. They are up-to-date on research, and can explain complex medical problems without being flustered. Often they are experienced and can figure out what is wrong and what needs to be done quickly.

Medicine has become increasingly complex for both the patient and physician. Finding good medical care is difficult. Word of mouth, and sometimes the Internet can help find the better caregivers. Even good physicians are hampered by their surroundings and the business aspects of their offices. Every visit may not run smoothly, but having a physician that really knows how to help you is worth some inconveniences. Look for a physician who is mature, board certified in his specialty, and is prepared whenever they see you.

Tiger Woods is Great, But…

April 13, 2015 / Thomas Cohn, MD

The Masters is over, and for first time in a long period Tiger made the cut and finished a tournament. To no one’s surprise, Tiger did not make a run for the leaderboard on Sunday, but he certainly opened some eyes by finishing tied for 17th. At 38 years of age, he is no longer in his prime and now appears fortunate when he makes the cut and finishes. In the future he may have a few more outstanding tournaments, but they will likely be few and far between, and it is likely he will only win a few more tournaments throughout the remainder of his career.

Tiger has now had lumbar back surgery, knee surgery, and may have hip problems besides the above, not to mention he injured his wrist in Sunday’s final round. He pulled out of a tournament earlier this year when he aggravated his back. Most likely, for him to play well, the conditions must be perfect, and he has to have a good day when his pain is controlled. To play at a high enough level routinely is unlikely since either his back or joints will cause just a slight issue such that he will not be good enough to play against the younger and healthier players.

Gold is a Young Man’s Game

To win at a professional level, one must be a top athlete in perfect physical and mental health. All sports at this level require one to be in the best physical shape to master the skill necessary to play a perfect game. After having the physical skill, one needs to have absolute mental concentration for the game. If one has physical pain, the concentration for the perfect game is not present. If one has had back and knee surgery, one also does not have the perfect physical balance to be at the top of one’s game.

As we age, there are many changes that occur in the body, and after age 25, for most sports, we are slightly past our prime for physical ability. By the late 30’s we are definitely past our prime for almost all intense sports, especially individual events. There are a few older athletes who are competitive later in life, but this is generally a rare event. The best athletes perform as well as they do because their bodies and minds are in perfect condition for their sport.

For professional golf, a new leader is likely to emerge in the future, and that leader could easily be 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, who ran away from the competition at Augusta this weekend. Tiger was the first very young winner to take the stage. Now, it will likely be someone who is in the young twenties and has great mental strength to deal with the pressure of winning, which sounds a lot like Spieth or Rory McIlroy. I think they’ll be the face of professional golf for the next 5-10 years.

The Risks of Complications From Pain Injections

October 20, 2014 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Every action has risks and benefits. In the medical world, every medication has risks, and sometimes the risk of doing nothing is worse than treating the issue. This is especially true in many medical conditions such as hypertension or diabetes. The same goes for pain medicine. There are risks and benefits for everything that is done, but there are also many alternatives to treat any particular problem. Choosing the right treatment plan is an individualized decision between the patient and the physician.

Interventional pain treatment has risks and benefits, and there are well known complications from most procedures. The main risks are fairly clear, but there are four complications that arise more often than others. They are:

Infection. Whenever the skin is broken, this is a possibility, and is prevented usually by cleansing the skin with alcohol or special antibacterial soap.

Bleeding. Most procedures are done with a fairly small needle. If a patient is not on a blood thinner or does not have a bleeding disorder, this complication is uncommon.

Allergic reaction. This is rare, but if it does occur, it can be treated.

Damage to another critical structure with the interventional equipment. This can usually be avoided by taking routine precautions and by having a skilled physician preform the procedure.

Complication Likelihood

Recently, a study was done recording complications from many of the common injection type procedures preformed by pain physicians. Almost 20,000 procedures were done, and the rate of anything abnormal was found to be less than two percent. The most common minor problem was a vasovagal reaction (Feeling like one is going to faint). The next most common issue was an increase in pain, which resulted in the procedure being stopped prior to completion. Other notable problems included one serious allergic reaction (1 in 20,000), and 10 dural punctures (1 in 2000). There were no major complications resulting in any serious injury or permanent neurologic damage.

Treating pain is a complex problem. For every problem, there are often multiple options and pathways to improvement. Sometimes, the pain physician may suggest an interventional procedure to help one improve function and decrease pain. As noted above, the risks of most of these procedures are extremely small. The most common issues are feeling faint or light headed and having increased pain during the procedure and temporary increased symptoms. An experienced interventionalist will make the procedure beneficial and minimize risk to the patient.

Spinal Disc Imaging and Discograms for Back Pain Problems

September 15, 2014August 25, 2016 / Thomas Cohn, MD

The spine has discs between each vertebral body in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. These discs are dynamic spacers between the bones and facilitate the motion between segments. The structure of the disc varies between the cervical, thoracic and lumbar levels. The differences in structure lead to different stabilization patterns in each area of the spine. The strongest discs are in the lumbar region and the weakest are in the neck, with the thoracic discs being of moderate strength.

The discs have two components, the outer anulous fibrosus, and inner nucleous pulposus. The outer ring is made of interlaced collagen fibers. The nucleous is a loose fibrous network with a gelatinous acidic mucoprotein. The combination of the outer core and inner gel is to provide the ability to absorb forces between the bones as the body moves. Extreme forces and sudden movements as well as age can damage the disc integrity. The strength and weave of the fibers is the strongest in the lumbar region and the weakest in the cervical region. Lifting and twisting heavy objects is main primary reason a person suffers a low back injury, while whiplash injuries account for the majority of neck problems. Repetitive activities and age can also damage the discs throughout the spine. Damaged discs can bulge, crack and leak, and herniate. The discs injuries can be very painful, and treatment should not be ignored.

Diagnosing Disc Injuries

Studying the spine is done in multiple ways. The simplest is by an X-ray; They can give basic information on the integrity and alignment of the bones, the height of discs, and the presence of degenerative changes. In a young person, X-rays are usually normal, but in the older person they tend to show age related changes. The problem with an X-ray is that it often can identify the area of pain, but it gives very little information about a cause of pain. CT-scans are sophisticated computer enhanced X-rays that give significantly more information about the bony structure of the spine and some limited information about the discs and spinal nerves. An MRI scan can give significant information about the discs, spinal nerves and cord, joints and bones of the spine. Electromyography can map whether the nerves of the spine are functioning properly. Discograms pressurize the disc with contrast and then they are viewed under X-ray or CT scan to determine the integrity of the disc and whether they are painful. Your doctor will determine which method is best for identifying your issue.

Discograms & MRI Scans

Discograms can tell valuable information in the lumbar region, however, in the thoracic and cervical region the data is of questionable value. In the lumbar region, a discogram can help identify whether a disc has internal disruption and if it is painful. If only one disc is painful, a doctor may be able to preform routine surgery to address the problemed disc. That said, multiple painful lumbar discs do poorly with surgical management. Often, MRI scans can give sufficient information such that a discogram is not necessary. In the thoracic region, a discogram would not clarify surgical options since the MRI can provide sufficient information along with physical exam. The nature of the discs in the cervical region makes discograms vary unreliable for useful information.

I typically suggest that a patient undergoes an MRI if they are experiencing back pain, as it provides a comprehensive look into the inner workings of the back. If you are plagued by constant low back, spine or neck pain, stop in for an assessment. We’ll work with you to find a solution to your pain.

Causes and Symptoms of Pelvic Pain

September 8, 2014August 25, 2016 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Both men and women can be plagued pelvic pain, but it is more common in women. Common causes include bladder infections, stones, and bowel issues. In women it can include endometrial issues and ovarian cysts. Treatment is based on the cause, and these pains usually end once the acute condition resolves. Pelvic pain is usually caused by issues like:

Hormonal changes

Tissue scarring

Bladder issues

Hernias

Sensory nerve degeneration, entrapment, etc.

Below, we examine these causes.

Hormones, Bladder and Hernia Issues Causing Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain in women is often related to several problems related to the unique pelvic anatomy. Endometriosis and fibroids are uterine tissues that form outside the normal uterine location. Their growth is stimulated by the normal hormonal cycles. The tissue eventually causes scar tissue in the pelvic region and the scarring can cause sporadic pelvic pain. Surgery is often used to help resolve some of the problems. Physical therapy and neuropathic medications can be helpful for long-term management.

Chronic interstitial cystitis is an issue in mainly women, and is often referred to as irritability of the bladder. The lining in the bladder becomes scarred, has pinpoint bleeding, and then the bladder becomes shrunken and stiff. Frequency of urination (up to 60 or more times a day) and constant pelvic pain occur. Bladder distention can be helpful and sometimes medication is instilled into the bladder. Bladder stimulators are sometimes implanted to help control symptoms.

Hernias more commonly appear in men than in women in the pelvic region. The muscle wall in the groin region weakens and abdominal contents push out of the injured area. The patient and doctor can decide if surgery is the best option, but if left to heal on its own, nerves can get entrapped in the resulting scar tissue. Physical therapy to release scarring, medications, and sometimes steroid injections are used to relieve symptoms.

Nerve Problems

There are multiple small sensory nerves in the pelvic region and they can become entrapped, irritated, or damaged by trauma in the area. Feedback from these sensory nerves can cause ongoing pain. Evaluation by a pain specialist or neurologist often clarifies the specific nerves involved. Sometimes physical therapy or manipulation of pelvic tissue can release these nerves or relieve the pain. Medications including anti-inflammatories and neuropathics (seizure or antidepressant drugs). At times, local steroid injections help or more regional sympathetic nerve blocks are useful.

Pelvic pain can be extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. Virtually any of the structures in the pelvis can be the eventual source of pain. Often it is a combination of structures causing pain. When the initial treatment is not working, the problem may be more complex, and a pain specialist may be helpful at finding the sources and recommending a combination of interventions that manage the symptoms. Sometimes there are permanent changes in the body and damage that is not reversible, and the goal needs to be managing the symptoms. A pain specialist can be especially helpful in designing a program that meets the needs of any particular individual.