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Comments Off on Top 4 Tips That Can Help Avoid Work Place Injuries!!

Top 4 Tips That Can Help Avoid Work Place Injuries!!

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When talking about workplace injuries, the areas that come to mind include manufacturing plants, construction sites, forestry, ice road trucking, at the office, while at a site executing a project, etc. In accordance with a latest report from the U.S. Department of Labor, it is recorded that about 3 million Americans were the victims of on the job injuries. Moreover, in regard to service providing industries, the cases that were observed were 75.5%.

Most Common Workplace Injuries Include:

Falling Object Injuries

These are the injuries that occur when something heavy, an object falls off.

Falling From Height Injuries

Sometimes the equipment is faulty or sometimes the floor is slippery due to which due to which when an employee he/she gets severely hurt.

On the Job Injuries

There can be many workplace injuries, like some are even caused by the disagreements that turn out to be very dangerous arising the fury and anger among the others.

Slipping/Trippling Injuries

As a result of slippery floors or something kept on the walking path, such as debris, cartons etc can cause the employees to stumble.

Overexertion Injuries

When you overly exert on something such as while lifting, pulling, carrying or throwing you pull your muscles and feel acute pain.

Repetitive Motion Injuries

Such type of injuries are most common at work, while typing or doing those works that become the reason of constant strain on certain body parts.

Vehicle Accidents

While performing job duties, when people get struck in an accident, they get severely injured.

Ways of preventing Workplace Injuries Include

Hiring & Training The Right People

While recruiting for your organization or your company, you must make sure that you recruit those employees that are responsible, respectful and take care of all the business processes such that no one gets injured in any unpredictable injury.

Maintain a clean work environment

When enough space for employees is reserved, then there are less chances of any walk away falls or hazardous accidents.

Create a culture of being safe

This is for the managers to take care of the fact that when the employees are sick, they should stay at home so to prevent them from any workplace mishaps that can cause severe injuries.

Clear & safety Procedures

Safety procedures should be implemented considering the employees’ health as the most important thing. Moreover, if possible and in case of any workplace injury, access should be given to the employees for appropriate safety tools and first aid.

Got stuck in a workplace accident? You are most welcome to book an appointment at  (815) 464-7212 and approach the finest treatment at Pain Management Institute.

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Comments Off on Restore Your Energy; Repair Your Joints with These 10 Remedies

Restore Your Energy; Repair Your Joints with These 10 Remedies

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They are the joints of your body that endure all kinds of stress as well as weight. From connecting your bones, providing a support to your weight and allowing you to move comfortably, these joints are fashioned in us just perfectly. Holding so much importance in our body, when these joints sometimes suffer from wear and tear, chronic pain is observed which is also known as Arthralgia.

Besides the significance in their body, there are a range of wounds such as trauma, disease, strains, sprains, bursitis, tendonitis, osteoporosis that often become the result of joint pain. Apart from these wounds, arthritis also causes severe joint pain demanding the treatment by a pain management specialist.

Normally, many cases of joint pain treatment can be sorted out at home. And in this regard, the blog highlights some remedies that if opted can prevent the pain from getting worse:

Remedies:

Ice Therapy

The time when you start experiencing joint pain, go for ice therapy. This is executed by the usage of an ice pack on the affected area for a duration of about 15 minutes. In the presence of a cold temperature the tissue swelling is reduced. While doing this you must also take care of ice burns that can occur if the ice is directly applied. Make sure it is wrapped in a towel.

Hydrotherapy

The best way to ease the pressure on the joints and muscles is to apply warm water on the affected part be it chronic pain in your knees, hips or some other body part. Massage with warm water will soothe the area and help in making the blood flow proper.

Massage Well

For proper joint pain treatment or to relieve any kind of pain, massage plays an excellent role. This can be done by a professional or you can let anyone do it at home on your affected body part. In case, yu are yourself doing it try rubbing the area with menthol. One main point to remember is that, while massaging the direction of your strokes should be towars your heart.

Medications

Most common off-the-shelf medicines that can be used in such a condition include ibuprofen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants etc.

Make the Msot of Natura Mixtures

Herbal teas, a natural herbal mixture, is a great assistance joint pain treatment as it alleviates knee, hip and other pains.

Workout Enthusiastically

It would be awesome if you exercise, but while doing you must make sure that you choose such exercises that do not over stretch your muscles leading to increased pain.

Physical Therapy

If you feel no relief on your pain, then you can also avail the option of a physical therapist who will aid you in certain movements leading pain relief.

What is the Alternative?

In case of no relief, approach a proper pain management specialist, who will after diagnosing your area of pain and its duration, will suggest the appropriate medications. In this regard, Pain Management Institute is the finest place where your joint pain will be treated in the best possible manner.

Immobilize the Area

Immobilize the affected area with a splint or a brace, that will get you rid of the acute pain or at least help in relieving pain.

Relaxing

In any kind of pain, if you relax well you will be able to defeat the fatigued condition you are facing. Moreover, if you rest in between the exercise periods then you will be able to give your body the margin to cope well and thus lessen the joint pain. Following the aforementioned tips, if you do not find any relief then its about time that you visit a pain management specialist who will guide you in terms of other remedies and medications.

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Comments Off on Doing Away With Musculoskeletal Pain!!

Doing Away With Musculoskeletal Pain!!

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Are you feeling constant pain in your back, with stiffness that is damn hurting and makes you unable to perform your daily tasks or even bend your back to pick up something? This means that you are suffering from chronic musculoskeletal pain that is slowly and gradually emerging in different parts of your body.

This pain being absolutely severe, makes you feel uncomfortable all the time and becomes a hurdle in your healthy active lifestyle. The best chronic musculoskeletal pain treatment would be to visit a pain management specialist and follow his/her recommendations. But first you must educate yourself that what is the reason behind this muscle pain.

This blog sheds light upon some effective methods that can be a lot helpful in doing away with musculoskeletal pain.

Relieve Pain With RICE

RICE can serve as one of the best medication for chronic musculoskeletal pain treatment. It can be abbreviated as rest, ice, compression and elevation. Thus, for the very next time you feel pain, at that time what you have to do is to obey this acronym. Though a simple intervention, but it will definitely alleviate the pain to a greater extent.

How NSAIDs help in dealing with Musculoskeletal Pain

These are the pain relievers, that help in reducing inflammation. Some of the most popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that can assist in lowering the fever and prevent blood clotting are naproxen, aspirin, and ibuprofen. Since they help in reducing the inflammation to a greater extent, these treatments should therefore be opted for firstly.
Furthermore, you can also apply creams, ointments, gels, and lotions that will help in reducing pain.

Performing Physical therapy

In case the pain is very critical and it is totally unbearable, then it is recommended that you go for physical therapy. Physical therapy will not only help in experiencing pain relief, but it will also serve as a breakthrough in treating all your injuries that were limiting your movements. Thus, physical therapy all in all will not only strengthen your body, but will also restore the range of motion.

What Symptoms Will Confirm Musculoskeletal Pain?

  • Aching
  • Stiffness
  • Fatigue
  • Burning sensation in the muscles
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Muscle twitching

Treatment Options for Musculoskeletal Pain

  • Heat or Cold therapy
  • Injections
  • Physical or occupational therapy
  • Less workload and increased rest
  • Performing exercises and strengthening your body
  • Stretching
  • Performing Massage

Knowing that you are going through chronic musculoskeletal pain and still not doing anything is the biggest wrong that you are doing on your own self. You must approach a doctor and control the pain so that it doesn’t progress any further. At Pain Management Institute, there is a team of specialists who are expert in dealing such cases. To book an appointment you may call at (815) 464-7212

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Comments Off on What Causes Shoulder Pain? Some Conditions At A Glance!!

What Causes Shoulder Pain? Some Conditions At A Glance!!

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Shoulder; the part of the body, that brings robustness in a person and if the posture is maintained perfectly, then the appearance and personality of a person becomes highly appealing and confident. The shoulder joint is said to be as the largest and the most complex joint in the body. Just like a ball and a socket, it is formed where the upper arm bone fits into the shoulder blade.

It becomes very painful if your shoulder area or the joint itself is hit by something. This is because the shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in the body, allowing the shoulder to move forwards and backwards and the arm to move in circular motion. Hence, after any accident or a mishap, for a chronic shoulder pain, treatment is a must.

Contributing Factors of Shoulder Pain

There are a number of factors that become the reason of shoulder pain. Amongst many, one of the most common cause is rotator cuff tendinitis, which is described as the condition in which the tendons are inflamed. This specific condition pursues the effect on tendons and muscles that are responsible in bringing the shoulder in movement.

There are also cases when people who have met an accident, grab some painkillers on their way back home thinking that they would be fine in a day or two. But after some hours, they start feeling acute pain in their shoulder. This is known as referred pain, in which the pain is because of some other injury that occurred in a different part of the body.

Elaborating certain causes of Shoulder Pain

Some common causes that lead to chronic shoulder pain include:

  • Arthritis
  • Bursitis
  • Tendinitis
  • Torn rotator cuff
  • Pinched nerves
  • Broken shoulder bone
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Broken arm
  • Overuse of shoulder joint
  • Dislocated shoulder
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Slip and fall injury
  • Auto & work injury

Treatment Tips

If your shoulder pain is minor, felt after the hit of some heavy object or due to last night’s restless sleep when you slept in wrong posture, then you can opt some home remedies that will help in alleviating the chronic pain. These treatments include:

  • Using an ice bag or ice wrapped in a towel and applying it the area where the pain is felt.
  • Avoiding movements or lifting heavy objects, thereby giving the shoulder maximum rest
  • Using anti-inflammatory medications that will help in reducing pain and inflammation

Besides the aforementioned tips, if your shoulder is badly hurt, the bone is being exposed, it is bleeding or is swollen as a result of a severe accident, then it is about time then you pay a visit to a pain management specialist. For any queries regarding chronic shoulder pain treatment you may approach Dr. Zaki in Pain Management Institute by booking an appointment at +1-815-464-7212

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Comments Off on Do’s & Don’ts To Steer away from Accidents And Injuries

Do’s & Don’ts To Steer away from Accidents And Injuries

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Preventive Measures Are In Your Hand For Safe Driving

Car accidents are debilitating situation for every one of us, and preventing it has to be our first priority. In 2014, in Illinois fewer deaths from car accidents were reported and the number of 910 deaths from road accidents has been the lowest recorded number since 1921. The Illinois Department of Transportation has come up with a statement that fatality rate may increase in 2015. Adding to this, on 5th November, 2014, 791 deaths were reported by the department and on the same date in 2015 the department came up with reporting 835 traffic deaths. This shows that the number of traffic deaths can increase from the total number of deaths in 2014. Following are some do’s and don’ts for having a safe drive and also for avoiding any sort of slip or fall injury during winter.

·        Do Not Fully Relax At Intersection

The most important thing to avoid at the intersection is to be totally relaxed, because while entering and leaving intersection any car can be a reason of road accident. You have to drive defensively and before leaving the intersection, you have to make sure that drivers are obeying the traffic laws and you are safe.

·        Do Not Use Your Mobile Phones

Say a big “NO” to mobile phones when it comes to driving a car, as using the mobile phone may distract you from driving it safely. An Accident takes place within a second, so distraction from driving safely is not an option.

·        Do Not Get Distracted By Children In The Car

Children do not remain quiet anywhere, especially in the car as they feel very excited observing the outer environment, that is why you have to make sure that you get them engaged with anything that is able to stop them to distract you from driving safely. Giving them their favorite candies to eat while on a journey will assist you in driving attentively.

·        Keep Your Car’s Headlights On At Two-Line Roads And Highways

The reason for keeping your car’s headlights on is to remain visible when you come across dangerous driving situations. The need to keep the headlights on increases when in the foggy weather. Make sure that you hint to other drivers that you are coming through your car’s headlights on two-line roads.

·        Make Sure You Use Turn Signals

Not using turn signals is what which drivers sometimes deliberately do, as they consider it unimportant. Many accidents take place just because drivers do not use both sides’ indicators of the car during the time of turning on either side of the road and other driver behind it, is not able to react much faster to avoid collision.

Keeping in consideration the casualties that can be expected in case of an accident, such as headache, spinal injury, arm pain or fracture etc, these aforementioned tips will be a lot helpful in the long run.

Conclusion

Road accidents and slip or fall injury requires to be treated by an experienced doctor and through the treatment option that is noninvasive. For that, Pain Management Institute has its name and it is the most famous institute who caters to the victims of both car accidents and fall injuries. For booking an appointment, you can call at (815) 464-7212.

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Comments Off on Three Reasons You Should See A Pain Management Specialist

Three Reasons You Should See A Pain Management Specialist

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Who To Contact In Pain?

While suffering from pain, it is much harder to decide who to contact to seek help. You may have difficulties in finding the person who has expertise and accurate knowledge to make you get rid of the pain. The biggest mistake people do is to linger to pay a visit to a clinic, and that let many other health issues occur. You must know that what sort of doctor or pain management specialist is the right one for your bone or joint pain. In current times the most pain cases such as knee pain, back pain and shoulder pain are treated by an experienced pain management doctor. According to the famous pain management specialist, Dr. Zaki Anwar, this is the non-invasive treatment option, which is not there 20 years ago and rapidly succeeding in becoming the most acquired treatment to treat any sort of pain. Here’s why:

1.     Pain Management Specialist Knows Your Joint And Bone Pain Well

pain is a very tricky thing to tackle by general physicians, when it comes to treat it successfully. That is why pain management specialists are trained in a way that helps them to treat the pain effectively. The quality which makes pain management specialists stand out from other doctors is their special training to recognize and treat the pain well. For example, Dr. Zaki Anwar who is board certified in interventional pain management and anesthesiology. Dr. Anwar and his staff at PMI are knowledgable about the cutting edge and most recent procedures and therapies to address your pain.

2.     Pain Management Specialists Have Multidisciplinary Approach To Treat Pain

The basic goal in pain management is to treat patient’s overall health. This is what is taken care of at Pain Management Institute, as experts from different medical fields sit together and come up with the best care for bone and joint pain sufferers. It consists of Interventional procedures, psychological therapies, medication management, physical therapy and guidance to have a healthy lifestyle. This can also include alternative medicine such as acupuncture and massage therapy.

3.     They Work Together With You To Find The Best Solution For Your Bone And Joint Pain

When it comes to pain, it is not necessary that a single solution will treat each sort of pain equally. Everyone has pain from many different reasons and it is not necessary that another pain sufferer will also have the same symptoms. It means that each patient must have a customized treatment plan that is able to fully get him/her rid of pain.

Conclusion

To get your pain treated by experienced pain management specialists, go to pain management institute as it has been treating patients of all sorts of pain for years with this non-invasive treatment option. To get an appointment, call on this number (815) 464-7212 and let the right treatment option treat your pain. PMI serves patients coming from Frankfort, New Lenox, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Chicago Heights, Olympia Field, Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Monee, Manhattan, Joliet, Flossmoor, Homewood, Oak Lawn, Calumet City, Burr Ridge and Hinsdale.

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Treating Work Injury

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The common mistake most people make is to overlook injuries and do not get the treatment as soon after getting injured. This sort of behavior, increase your chances to get many other health issues that disturbs your both professional and personal lives. In our society, there are two basic reasons behind the increased number of injuries, one is injuries inthe workplace. The most common injuries associated with these two reasons are shoulder injury, knee injury and back injury, and the most vulnerable part of your body to injury is your back. Whether you are driving or working at the workplace the most sensitive part of your body is your back and if it gets injured that take off your ability of walking, standing and sitting.

Causes of Work Injury

Some common causes for work injury are:

  • Lifting
  • Falling
  • Cutting
  • Repetitive motion

Which Workers Are More Vulnerable To Injury?

If you see overall, so everyone is vulnerable to physical injury, but workers working at the workplace are more vulnerable to injuries than others as they come across sometimes various sorts of hazardous situations while performing their duties. Following are the names of workers who have high chances of being injured at the workplace.

  • Nursing Assistants
  • Laborers
  • Heavy machinery Operators
  • Truck Drivers
  • Heavy object lifters
  • Workers working in a warehouse
  • Workers aged between 45 and 54

Many doctors say that in most workplace injury cases the culprit is overexertion and muscular, skeletal disorders account for approximately 33 percent of the cases. If you work in a physically demanding industry, then it means that you have a greater risk of getting a work related injury.

The Treatment Options For Work Injury

There are many non-invasive and nonsurgical treatment options for both sorts of injuries, and following are the most common ones.

  • Overall Medical Exam
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Functional Capacity Evaluation
  • Diagnostic Injections
  • Electromyogram (EMG)and/or Electromylogram
  • Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Medication Management
  • Neurostimulation Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Therapeutic Injections

 

Conclusion

After getting an injury, the first concern for, you will be to find the right place to get your injury treated well and in this regard “Pain Management Institute” is the right place to visit. It offers you all the treatment facilities under one roof and has doctors whose experiences are unbeatable, when it comes to treat patients of both sorts of injuries. So do not waste time and get the right treatment by calling on (815) 464-7212for an appointment. We have been helping work injury patients from Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox , Orland park, Tinley park, Chicago heights, Olympia field , Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Monee, Manhattan , Joliet, Flossmoor, Homewood , Oak lawn, Calumet city, Burr Ridge and Hinsdale.

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Comments Off on 5 Most Common Injuries in Men’s Soccer

5 Most Common Injuries in Men’s Soccer

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Soccer is a great sport. It keeps you active and promotes your endurance and coordination skills. As with any other physical sports, soccer also has some risks of potential injuries that you need to look out for. Here are some common injuries observed specifically in males during soccer games and practices.

A research was carried out to examine the injury surveillance data for the last 15 years from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). There were 22,000 games that had 6,693 injuries and 62,000 practices resulting in 6,281 injuries.

Some interesting facts determine the risk of injuries during practice and games:

  • During games players are 4 times more likely to get injured as compared to practice matches.
  • During games, players endure more contact injuries among themselves as compared to almost zero contact injuries during practice.
  • Regardless of game or practice, there is a 60% likelihood of injuries affecting the lower body parts.

Five Common Injuries in Men’s Soccer

Sprained Ankle

Around 17% of soccer injuries from both practice and game are sprain and strains of the ankle. It happens when a player stops suddenly or changes his direction abruptly. The ankle twists in an unnatural way and you get a sprained ankle. The RICE protocol (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) usually makes it go away in a few days. However if you not let it fully recover, there is a high probability of re-sprains. As a matter of fact, out of the total sprain injuries in this study 24% were recurrent ankle sprains.

Upper Leg Muscle-Tendon Injuries

Hamstring and quadriceps injuries are number two on the common soccer injury list. It can occur due to collision among players or an abrupt fall. Usually it recovers within a few days of rest and medicine. But severe hamstring tears must be treated properly and can keep a player out of field for several weeks or months.

Pelvis or Hip Muscle-Tendon Injuries

Usually a hard fall can result in a soft tissue injury of this complex body region. Usually such injuries are labeled as sports hernia. The recovery period can be prolonged depending on the severity of the injury and the kind of hip pain treatment you are receiving.

Knee Injuries

Hard Collision, abrupt twist or turn, or a fall can result in ligament tear in the knee or knee dislocation. You would have heard of ACL injuries and meniscus tears, both these are severe knee conditions calling for immediate medical attention and effective knee pain treatment for full recovery.

Concussion

Since soccer games have more player contact and collision occurrences than soccer practice, there is a 14 times higher chance of a concussion injury for a soccer player in the actual game.

One best way to prevent collision injuries is to strictly adhere to the game rules especially in aggressive instances such as tackling or charging. Pain Management Institute provides utmost medical care for injured athletes and has experts specializing in sports injury treatment.   PMI has been helping sports persons from Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox , Orland park, Tinley park, Chicago heights, Olympia field , Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Monee, Manhattan , Joliet, Flossmoor, Homewood , Oak lawn, Calumet city, Burr Ridge and Hinsdale. Dial (815)464-7212 to book an appointment.

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Comments Off on Having a Bone or Joint Pain? Visit A Pain Management Clinic

Having a Bone or Joint Pain? Visit A Pain Management Clinic

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What To Do For A Pain?

While suffering from the pain, it is a difficult choice where to go for help. You need to visit a place, that has expertise, advanced medical equipment and have experienced doctors, a pain clinic is your answer. The doctors must have a deep insight of all sorts of pain and know how to get you relief from the severe pain. For your acute joint or bone pain,the right person to consult with is “pain management doctor”. With the medical advancement, pain management has become the best solution for different sorts of pain. The trend of undergoing a painful surgery has reduced since the arrival of innovative field of pain management. Following are three reasons you have to visit a pain management clinic so get to know about them in order to have a pain free-life.

·        Pain Management Clinic Knows Your Pain Issue Well

Pain is critical to manage, and that is why it has to be treated from the one who has expertise and has a proper qualification in order to treat any patient. The best pain clinic has all the latest facilities and trained staff and doctors, who are able to diagnose the pain and kick off treating the pain with right treatment option. They also have a deep insight of cutting-edge therapies and procedures in order to treat your pain.

·        The Multidisciplinary Approach Of Treating Pain

The main purpose of pain management is to treat the whole person. That is why at any best clinic doctors from various medical fields work together to provide the effective care to the patients of joint or bone pain. It can comprise of Interventional procedures and psychological therapies, physical therapy, medication management and guided exercise or diet plan. It can also consist of acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic therapy and occupational therapy.

·        It Involves You To Find The Best Solution Together For Your Pain

If you talk about pain so it is not necessary that every simple solution will work well for everyone. Your pain will not necessarily be similar to others’ pain and that is why you need a personalized treatment plan that should be made according to your health’s need. Doctors of the best pain management clinic involve the patients of bone or joint pain to find better treatments respectively for all of them.

Conclusion

Now opting for traditional surgery option is not common since the field of pain management inspired the patients once suffered from acute pain. In this regard, “Pain Management Institute” is the right option for you if you are suffering from severe pain. It considers all three above mentioned considerations to treat the pain sufferers well. Call on (815)464-7212 for an appointment.

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Comments Off on Using Medical Marijuana Effectively in Clinical Practice

Using Medical Marijuana Effectively in Clinical Practice

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As regulatory approval of medical marijuana spreads in the US, practicing clinicians need to be apprised of cannabis-related indications, efficacy, and adverse effects.

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In an effort to develop viable standards for patient counseling and education, Jayesh Parmar, PhD, and colleagues from the school of pharmacy and health professions at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland, and colleagues reviewed 68 abstracts, summarizing common medical uses of cannabis-based medications and their safety in various disease states and populations. The study was published online September 16 in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.

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“The overall purpose of this article was to provide clinicians with evidence-based counseling guidelines that can be strengthened as new clinical information becomes available,” lead author Dr. Parmar told Clinical Pain Advisor. “This is a starting point on developing counseling guidelines for the clinicians, subject to their review and modification.”

The study found that all 3 FDA-approved products (dronabinol, nabilone, and nabiximols), as well as inhaled and ingested marijuana products, are often used to treat neuropathic pain.

Other common uses for dronabinol included weight gain and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV); nabilone is also used for CINV, while nabiximols is favored for spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS). Smoked marijuana is also commonly used to treat glaucoma, and orally ingested marijuana is often used to improve sleep and seizure control in MS.

According to Barth Wilsey, MD, from the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California, the key findings mirror those of a recent rigorous review involving 79 randomized trials with almost 6,500 participants.2 

“There was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity. There was low-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, weight gain in HIV infection, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome,” Dr. Wilsey told Clinical Pain Advisor.

Moreover, cannabinoids were linked to an increased risk of short-term adverse events,” Dr. Wilsey pointed out. These were most commonly related to CNS, cardiovascular, and respiratory effects.

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Although medical marijuana may be beneficial for selected medical conditions, further research is warranted, Dr. Parmar said, noting that he and his team are currently reviewing data and developing guidelines for marijuana use in CINV and pain relief.

A number of legal and regulatory issues also need to be addressed before marijuana use can be established in clinical practice. Federal laws still view marijuana as an illegal substance, although enforcement is low in states that have approved access to cannabis-ingested products, Dr. Parmar noted.

Benefits of Marijuana Treatment Agreement

It is important that clinical practitioners communicate with patients regarding the goals of marijuana therapy and associated potential risks and benefits. Patients should be made aware that in contrast with recreational use, medical marijuana is intended for delivery in low, cumulative, therapeutic doses.

According to Dr. Wilsey, a treatment agreement might be the best way to convey treatment goals and improve patient understanding and compliance.3,4 As with prescribed opioids, written agreements between prescriber and patient can help deter misuse and abuse by delineating patient responsibilities with respect to dosing, random drug screens, and appointments.

Dosing Strategies Remain Unclear

Optimal dosing strategies for cannabis-based medications and ingested marijuana remain unclear, highlighting the importance of clinical counseling guidelines.

Wide variation exists in the reported dose of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ 9-THC) needed to produce CNS effects, Dr. Wilsey said. Two recent studies suggest that lower doses of THC provide pain relief similar to that of higher doses, yet decrease the risk for adverse events.5,6

A patient-specific, self-titrating model has therefore been suggested as a useful dosing paradigm for medicinal cannabis, allowing patients to take the lowest effective dose of THC.

“The use of flexible dosing has been previously performed for the treatment of neuropathic pain with nabiximols where patients self-titrated their overall dose and pattern of dosing, according to their response to and tolerance of the medicine,” Dr. Wilsey pointed out, noting that the delayed-onset associated with dronabinol and nabilone may make titration difficult.

Efficacy may vary with formulation

According to Dr. Wilsey, some experts have suggested that whole plant cannabis or ingested marijuana is superior to the FDA-approved cannabis-based medications. The concept may explain why long-marketed oral cannabinoids are not widely used in the US.

“Peak plasma concentrations occur 1 to six hours after ingestion, with a magnitude approximately 10% of that achieved with smoking. It has been postulated that the preference expressed by patients for herbal cannabis is a result of the faster onset and shorter duration of action, allowing titration of dose to the desired effect,” Dr. Wilsey said.

Dr. Wilsey and colleagues plan to compare the efficacy and safety of herbal cannabis and oral Δ 9-THC (dronabinol) directly in a clinical population.

“We plan on performing a randomized, controlled 8-week trial comparing the effectiveness of these two cannabinoid preparations in patients with neuropathic low back pain. In addition to studying efficacy and side effect profiles, we will also perform a driving simulation study to determine the real-world impact of these two cannabinoid treatments,” Dr. Wilsey concluded.

References

1. Parmar JR, Forrest, Benjamin D, Freeman, Robert A. Medical marijuana patient counseling points for health care professionals based on trends in the medical uses, efficacy, and adverse effects of cannabis-based pharmaceutical drugs.Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy. 2015. Published online September 16, 2015. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.09.002

2. Whiting PF, et al. Cannabinoids for medical use: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2015; 313 (24).

3. Ware MA, Ziemianski D. Medical education on cannabis and cannabinoids: Perspectives, challenges, and opportunities. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2015; 97(6): 548-550.

4. Wilsey B, et al. The medicinal cannabis treatment agreement: Providing information to chronic pain patients via a written document. Clin J Pain. 2014.

5. Wilsey, B, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of cannabis cigarettes in neuropathic pain.The Journal of Pain. 2008; 9(6): 506-521.

6. Wilsey, B, et al. Low dose vaporized cannabis significantly improves neuropathic pain. The Journal of Pain. 2013; 14(2): 136-148

Article written by Beth Gilbert. She has an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Lehigh University and a Master’s in biomedical engineering from Columbia University.

Article Source:

http://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/treatments/using-medical-marijuana-effectively-in-clinical-practice/article/450820/

 

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