Living with fibromyalgia can be very stressful, painful, and cumbersome. This condition affects the musculoskeletal system and can create tenderness, fatigue, and physical discomfort. Scientists are still researching what causes this condition, but we know that physical illness, trauma, psychological stress, or an injury can be contributing factors. At Central Valley Pain Management, our goal

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a form of regenerative medicine administered by injection that involves using a patient’s own blood cells to accelerate healing in a specific area. In order to understand PRP therapy as a treatment, we must first identify what PRP is. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) consists of two elements: platelets and plasma. Platelets

When it comes to the management of pain, including chronic or recurring pain, the medical community is creating and implementing new processes to treat and aid in this at increasingly rapid rates. Many of the emerging modalities are centered around holistic and very personalized forms of care. That is, more providers are moving away from

The connection between physical and emotional pain, or distress, can occur in either direction. If someone is experiencing intense physical pain, emotional distress may follow. Similarly, if a person is experiencing intense emotional distress (worry, fear) they may exhibit physical symptoms. Some refer to this as psychogenic pain, or when physical pain is linked to

It is becoming increasingly more common for patients to seek alternative methods for managing their chronic or recurring pain symptoms, than it has been traditionally. Alleviating long-term pain is often tied to the use of prescription narcotics, which can be addictive and have adverse effects on one’s health. In instances where alternative forms of pain

Testosterone replacement therapy is an essential part of many patient’s pain management plans. Many individuals who suffer from chronic pain have lowered levels of testosterone serum in their bodies, stemming from their chronic issue itself or the treatments they undergo to deal with their chronic pain symptoms. While testosterone levels are commonly related to only

Living with chronic pain can change a person’s entire lifestyle. Discomfort can be caused from leisurely walks, bike rides, playing with children or grandchildren, and sometimes when a person is doing nothing at all. Chronic pain can also lead to overnight discomfort, causing sleepless nights and daunting days. If you’re currently experiencing chronic or persistent

Facet injections are a great option for patients seeking treatment for, or relief from, chronic pain – without the use of opioids. A facet injection procedure involves an injection, by needle, of an anti-inflammatory (steroid or cortisone) and a mild anesthetic (lidocaine), into an affected or nearby facet joint (located in the spinal column, where

Understanding Opioid Dependence The Opioid Epidemic is a term that many people are familiar with. For the use of this article, we will refer to the Opioid Epidemic when defining the growing number of deaths and hositaliations from Opioids, including both prescription and illicit drugs. To reduce these issues, and other issues related to Opioid

Pain and mental health are two very individual events that human beings experience. For example, two people with the exact same medical diagnosis and identical x-rays, may experience two very different levels of pain. Along the same lines, the mental health of two people who experience the same levels of pain, may have very different