BOG-Official-2023
BOG-Official-2023

pain management

What to Know for Pain Awareness Month

What to Know for Pain Awareness MonthSeptember is Pain Awareness Month in the US. Established in 2001 by the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA), Pain Awareness Month is intended to help bring attention to the chronic pain that many Americans live with every day and provide guidance for how this pain can be minimized and treated. So, to help join in on the cause, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine wanted to provide some helpful information on chronic pain.

We wanted to begin by providing some statistics about chronic pain. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, daily pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined, making it a leading cause of disability and a major factor in health care costs. In fact, chronic pain is the most common cause of long-term disability for adults in the US. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that over 20% of American adults suffer from chronic pain and 8% experience high-impact chronic pain.

There are many potential causes of chronic pain, or for some people, multiple causes combining to create this discomfort. Being overweight can lead to increased pressure on the back and knees that can lead to chronic pain. Poor posture can also contribute to this. Certain diseases like arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia can also be to blame. In some cases, chronic pain can be a lingering side effect of a specific physical trauma or injury. Unfortunately, determining the precise source of chronic pain can be a very complex and even mysterious in some cases.

Depending on the nature, severity, and specifics of a person’s condition, chronic pain can be treated in several different ways. Certain medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, can help some people. However, some healthcare providers may be wary of prescribing opioid-based pain-killing medications due to their addictive nature. For other patients, physical therapy, stretching, and exercise regimens may be able to provide relief as well. Eating a healthy diet that is low in fat and includes anti-inflammatory agents may be able to help ease pain in some cases.

Living with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging. The first step toward relieving your pain and managing your symptoms is to schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss your condition. For more information on chronic pain or to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, and Lilburn.

Study Reveals Increased Importance of Drug Interaction Analysis in Senior Care

Growing older is never a simple journey. While retirement offers many opportunities for excitement and relaxation, some aspects of aging can be unfamiliar and a little intimidating. Senior medical care can be one of those daunting elements. With new drugs on the market every day, it can be difficult to know the effects that each new medicine has on your body and whether those drugs interact negatively with each other.

For instance, a recent study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society concluded that a certain class of drugs that encourage anticholinergic activity, or restriction of smooth muscle movement, can have negative effects on individuals age 65 or older. Anticholinergic medications include both prescription and over-the-counter medications used for everything from Parkinson’s disease to asthma and COPD.

Patient reactions can include the normal side effects like dry mouth and lethargy. However, the new study indicates that this class of medications can also lead to cognitive decline in older adults. While these findings aren’t currently linked to the onset of dementia, the results of the study suggest clinicians should be careful in prescribing multiple medications with anticholinergic effects to elderly patients.

Fortunately, one of the many services offered by the Abraham Medical team for geriatric patients includes potential drugs’ adverse effects. The analysis includes examination of your senior care plan including the current medications and treatments you are receiving and how to manage your healthcare needs. Dr. Ben Abraham and his staff of caring providers ensure the combination of drugs you may be taking do not interfere with each other or with your overall wellbeing. By viewing your medical history, the doctors at Abraham Medical can identify gaps in your current care plan and make certain they are remedied.

Dr. Ben Abraham’s background in osteopathic medicine allows him to provide premier patient care by fusing the best of both medical and alternative therapies to maximize your results. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the mind-body connection and recognizes the body’s ability to heal itself. Paired with the best advances in modern medicine, Dr. Abraham’s approach covers all the bases in your healthcare plan.

Other geriatric services offered include arthritis and osteoarthritis treatments and pain management analysis. Dr. Abraham and his staff of providers work though all aspects of your life (i.e. diet, exercise, mental healthcare, and medical therapies) to improve your overall wellbeing.

Contact us for more information about our geriatric or other family medicine services.

Menu