LOUISIANA PAIN
LPQ-Summer-2016
LPQ-Summer-2016
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<strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong><br />
QUARTERLY Vol. 27<br />
FAMILY<br />
PRACTICE<br />
Dr. Neil Jolly Returns To<br />
His Native New Orleans<br />
SUMMER<br />
RECIPE<br />
Chilled Watermelon<br />
Cucumber Feta Salad<br />
THE TOOLBOX<br />
STRATEGY<br />
Top 10 Tools For<br />
Managing Chronic Pain<br />
WORKING<br />
FOR YOU<br />
Navigating<br />
Worker’s Comp
CONTENTS<br />
VOL. 27<br />
6<br />
2<br />
01<br />
02<br />
03<br />
05<br />
06<br />
12<br />
20<br />
WELCOME<br />
A note from our practitioners<br />
RECIPE<br />
Chilled Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad<br />
HAPPENINGS THIS QUARTER<br />
Events happening in the New Orleans area for July, August, & September<br />
WORKING FOR YOU<br />
Our efficient navigation of worker’s compensation<br />
FAMILY PRACTICE<br />
Dr. Neil Jolly joins his brother Dr. Tarun Jolly at Louisiana Pain Specialists<br />
THE TOOLBOX STRATEGY<br />
Top 10 tools for managing chronic pain<br />
PUZZLES AND GAMES<br />
Try our Sudoku puzzle and word search<br />
12<br />
Editors: Eirik Johnson, Deseri Ireland<br />
Design: Eirik Johnson<br />
Published by: Vektor Media<br />
If you are interested in a magazine for<br />
your practice contact Eirik Johnson at<br />
EJohnson@VekMedia.com<br />
4 5
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 1<br />
WELCOME<br />
Dr. Tarun Jolly<br />
e hope your summer has been filled with family and fun. We are very<br />
W<br />
excited to welcome a new Physician to Louisiana Pain Specialists, Dr.<br />
Neil Jolly. Dr. Jolly is a New Orleans native returning from completing<br />
his Anesthesia Training from Yale and Pain Management specialty certification<br />
from Wake Forest University. He brings a fresh perspective utilizing the latest pain<br />
management techniques and knowledge.<br />
New Orleans during this time of year is hot and muggy, so make sure you stay<br />
hydrated! In this issue, we offer you a healthy recipe to keep you nourished and<br />
balanced. Be sure to check out “Happenings This Quarter” for some citywide events.<br />
Despite the heat, there’s still a lot going on around town, whether you’re an art<br />
fanatic, a sports lover or an exercise enthusiast.<br />
Dr. Satvik Munshi<br />
In this issue, you can also find out how Louisiana Pain navigates our patients through<br />
worker’s compensation. Chronic pain can also affect you psychologically, so Dr. Mark<br />
Skellie, Psy.D., offers some insight on social behavior and support.<br />
Have a happy, healthy summer!<br />
From our families to yours<br />
Dr. Tarun Jolly<br />
Dr. Satvik Munshi<br />
Dr. Neil Jolly<br />
Louisiana Pain Specialists<br />
Dr. Neil Jolly<br />
KENNER<br />
231 West Esplanade Avenue, Suite B<br />
Kenner, LA 70065<br />
<strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> SPECIALISTS LOCATIONS:<br />
NEW ORLEANS EAST<br />
5621 Read Boulevard<br />
New Orleans, LA 70127<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
3439 Prytania Street, Suite 501<br />
New Orleans, LA 70115<br />
MARRERO<br />
4520 Wichers Drive, Suite 205<br />
Marrero, LA 70072<br />
METAIRIE<br />
3434 Houma Blvd, Suite 301<br />
Metairie, LA 70006<br />
CONTACT US: 504-434-7750 or LouisianaPain.com
2 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY Vol. 27<br />
CHILLED WATERMELON<br />
CUCUMBER FETA SALAD<br />
C<br />
hilled watermelon and chunks of cucumber<br />
are tossed with feta cheese, Kalamata olives,<br />
fresh mint and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.<br />
Fresh textures combine with a sweet and salty contrast<br />
that can be served for lunch, a side at dinner, or a<br />
perfect mid-afternoon snack. Beat the heat with this<br />
cool summer salad that’s as delicious as it is fun. You can<br />
double this to make a big bowl for a crowd, or cut it in<br />
half if you want to serve two.<br />
Directions<br />
1. Divide the watermelon and cucumbers equally<br />
between 4 plates or in one large serving bowl<br />
2. Top with olives, feta and mint<br />
3. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over everything when<br />
ready to serve<br />
Ingredients:<br />
• 4 cups chilled seedless<br />
watermelon, diced large<br />
• 1 medium chilled English<br />
cucumber, peeled and diced<br />
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives,<br />
pitted and sliced<br />
• 1/4 cup (1 oz) crumbled feta<br />
• 1 tablespoon fresh mint (or<br />
basil) leaves, thinly sliced<br />
• 3 tbsp balsamic glaze
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 3<br />
HAPPENINGS<br />
THIS QUARTER<br />
JULY<br />
1-3 ESSENCE Festival<br />
essence.com/festival<br />
AUGUST<br />
1-31 COOLinary New Orleans<br />
coolinaryneworleans.com<br />
4 Go 4th on the River<br />
Enjoy all-day family activities along<br />
the New Orleans Riverfront ending<br />
with the exciting Dueling Barges<br />
Fireworks Extravaganza!<br />
go4thontheriver.com<br />
8-10 San Fermin en Nueva<br />
Orleans<br />
Lace up your shoes and experience<br />
an iconic Spanish event with the<br />
annual Running of the Bulls! The<br />
Big Easy Rollergirls chase runners<br />
throughout the Central Business<br />
District in a fun, festive race.<br />
Viva España!<br />
nolabulls.com<br />
7-14 French Film Festival<br />
neworleansfilmsociety.org<br />
14-17 Bastille Day Fete<br />
bastilledaynola.com<br />
19-24 Tales of the Cocktail<br />
talesofthecocktail.com<br />
28-30 Festigals<br />
One of the newer festivals on the<br />
city’s cultural calendar, Festigals is<br />
a weekend organized by women,<br />
for women. Highlighting women’s<br />
accomplishments and offering<br />
inspiring events and speakers,<br />
Festigals is a celebration of all things<br />
feminine. Grab a girlfriend and come<br />
check it out!<br />
festigals.org<br />
6 Whitney White Linen Night<br />
cacno.org/wwln2016<br />
5-7 Satchmo SummerFest<br />
The annual Satchmo SummerFest<br />
fills the French Quarter with music,<br />
food, discussions, and exhibitions<br />
regarding jazz music and history.<br />
Best of all, it’s free!<br />
fqfi.org/satchmo<br />
11 Saints at Patriots<br />
The Saints season starts vs the<br />
Patriots Thursday night in the preseason<br />
opener at New England.<br />
6:30 PM FOX
4<br />
<strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY<br />
Vol. 27<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
1 Ravens at Saints<br />
7:00 PM FOX<br />
13 Red Dress Run<br />
This unique event is open to men<br />
and women alike, and it doubles as a<br />
fundraiser for local charities.<br />
nolareddress.com<br />
13 Dirty Linen Night<br />
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the<br />
Vieux Carré in Royal Street’s answer<br />
to White Linen Night on Julia Street,<br />
Dirty Linen Night is a showcase of<br />
some of the city’s finest art galleries.<br />
experienceneworleans.com/dirtylinen-<br />
night.html<br />
16 New Orleans Sushi Fest<br />
neworleanssushifest.com<br />
20 Saints at Texans<br />
7:00 PM FOX<br />
26 Steelers at Saints<br />
7:00 PM FOX<br />
Aug 31- Sep 5 Southern<br />
Decadence<br />
southerndecadence.net<br />
2-4 Louisiana Seafood Festival<br />
Louisianans know the real seasons<br />
of the year are crawfish,<br />
shrimp, crab, and oyster. Come<br />
celebrate our state’s rich seafood<br />
heritage over Labor Day<br />
Weekend—but come hungry!<br />
louisianaseafoodfestival.com<br />
11 Saints at Raiders<br />
The Saints visit Oakland to take on<br />
the Raiders in week 1 of the NFL<br />
regular season. Who Dat!<br />
12:00 PM FOX<br />
12-18 We Live to Eat<br />
Restaurant Week<br />
coolinaryneworleans.com/we-liveto-eat<br />
18 Saints at Giants<br />
12:00 PM FOX<br />
24 NOLA on Tap<br />
Now in its seventh year, NOLA on<br />
Tap celebrates the world of beer by<br />
taking over the Festival Grounds<br />
at City Park. With over 400 beers<br />
on tap, the festival features food,<br />
tastings, games, and family fun.<br />
nolaontap.org<br />
26 Saints at Falcons<br />
7:30 PM ESPN
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 5<br />
WORKING FOR YOU<br />
How Louisiana Pain Efficiently Navigates Worker’s Compensation<br />
orkers’ compensation is a form of insurance<br />
W<br />
that provides wage replacement and medical<br />
benefits to employees injured on the job, in<br />
exchange for the employee’s right to sue the employer.<br />
For someone suffering from a work injury, this can be<br />
confusing, frustrating and time-consuming, and when<br />
it comes to proper care and treatment, time is of the<br />
essence to prevent the injury from getting worse and<br />
getting the patient healed. Fortunately, Louisiana Pain<br />
has an efficient system that gets patients on track<br />
right away– often within just a day. Our medical billing<br />
and insurance specialist handles all referrals – from<br />
physicians, lawyers, and insurance adjusters– and makes<br />
the process as seamless as possible.<br />
From the time that paients are sent to us, our billing<br />
and insurance specialist is the patient’s one contact. This<br />
is crucial, as lines can become crossed when dealing<br />
with too many people. We’ve all had the experience of<br />
“too many cooks in the kitchen” and the concept is extra<br />
frazzling when dealing with health care or legal issues.<br />
But by serving as an efficient, well-organized middleman,<br />
we alleviate patients’ stress and ensures that those<br />
suffering from work-related injuries only need to focus<br />
on healing, instead of cutting through pesky, bureaucratic<br />
red tape.<br />
We contact the Workman’s Comp adjuster for that<br />
patient and get authorization for treatment within 24 to<br />
48 hours for a new patient appointment.<br />
Another reason workers’ comp cases work so well is<br />
because Louisiana Pain has a long-standing relationship<br />
with many insurance adjusters. Many of them give the<br />
clinic a quick response because they are familiar with the<br />
practice and how well we handle patients while under<br />
our care,. We take pride in our personalized care<br />
Suffering through a work injury can be confusing, frustrating<br />
and time-consuming. Louisiana Pain will help you through it.<br />
and relationships with patients, and it’s obvious that<br />
the bedside manner pays off. Patients are offered all<br />
the same courtesies as regular patients. We do our<br />
best to accommodate all that the insurance companies<br />
requests. We ensure that all paperwork is in place and<br />
well- documented.<br />
Many of our patients call during their treatment,<br />
expressing how grateful they are that their pain has been<br />
managed. Those phone calls are always so enjoyable.<br />
The patients become more comfortable when they see<br />
that someone genuinely cares and is working to make<br />
sure they are able to live a better healthy and happy life.
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<strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY Vol. 27
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 7<br />
Family<br />
PRACTICE<br />
Homecoming: Dr. Neil Jolly returns to New Orleans<br />
to join his brother at Louisiana Pain Specialists<br />
By Ben Morris<br />
hile ‘family practice’ is an established field in<br />
W<br />
its own right, in many respects medicine is<br />
always a family affair. No matter whether we’re<br />
young or old, the treatment of medical conditions can<br />
affect our whole families, frequently having implications<br />
beyond just the patient themselves. At Louisiana Pain<br />
Specialists, however, the term ‘family practice’ has<br />
another meaning. Originally founded by Dr. Tarun Jolly in<br />
order to serve Louisiana patients encountering issues in<br />
pain management, Louisiana Pain Specialists is proud<br />
to welcome a member of its own Jolly family as a new<br />
full-time physician on staff. This summer, Dr. Neil Jolly,<br />
brother to Tarun, will be joining the practice, and bringing<br />
his expertise to help treat those suffering from chronic<br />
and acute pain.<br />
Dr. Neil Jolly arrives at Louisiana Pain Specialists<br />
with a great deal of experience and cutting-edge training.<br />
Born and raised in the greater New Orleans area, he<br />
moved to Texas and graduated from the University<br />
of Texas at Austin with honors, remaining in Texas to<br />
complete his M.D. and internship at UT Medical Branch in<br />
Galveston and UT Southwestern-Austin. He then trained<br />
at the Yale School of Medicine to receive his residency<br />
degree in anesthesiology, moving finally to North Carolina<br />
where he completed his interventional pain fellowship at<br />
the well-respected Carolinas Pain Institute/Wake Forest<br />
Baptist Health system.<br />
Recently, Louisiana Pain Quarterly spoke to Dr.<br />
Jolly to get to know him better.<br />
LPQ: What got you interested in pain<br />
management?<br />
NJ: My desire to become a pain physician was simple.<br />
I asked myself this question: what medical specialty<br />
encounters a wide variety of medical problems, attempts<br />
to provide patients with a more active and enjoyable<br />
lifestyle, and can put a smile on both the patient and<br />
physician at the end of the day? What attracts many<br />
of us to become physicians in general is the aspiration<br />
to help others through a career that is both rewarding<br />
and challenging. Pain affects people of all backgrounds,<br />
all lifestyles, and all ages. I look around and see family<br />
members, friends, and peers that are all affected by pain,<br />
afflictions that at times limit their ability to enjoy life. After<br />
training in pain management, I can make a difference in<br />
my patients’ lives, and this is what is most fulfilling.
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<strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY<br />
Vol. 27<br />
“We have the ability to share our expertise together and design treatment plans that will benefit our patients the most.”<br />
I was exposed to the specialty of pain management<br />
at an early age through my brother Tarun Jolly, which<br />
provided me a head start in this field when compared<br />
to my colleagues. Now, the two of us have the ability<br />
to share our expertise together at Louisiana Pain<br />
Specialists and design treatment plans that will benefit<br />
our patients the most.<br />
You’ve just finished your residency and fellowship.<br />
How has the field changed since you completed<br />
your training?<br />
The field has changed dramatically, and for the<br />
better. A decade ago, patients and even physicians<br />
were unaware that ‘pain management’ existed,<br />
meaning that patients often dealt with suboptimal pain<br />
control. Now, however, we are increasingly aware of<br />
the severe consequences of untreated pain, resulting<br />
in a massive amount of published research paving the<br />
way for new therapies. A great example is spinal cord<br />
stimulation (also called neuromodulation), a minimally<br />
invasive therapy that provides excellent relief of various<br />
pain conditions affecting the spine and extremities. When<br />
it was first introduced, neuromodulation was used only<br />
as a treatment for leg pain. Today, however, we have<br />
discovered that it can be life-changing for patients that<br />
have chronic pain in their neck, back, arms, legs, and<br />
even various head pain syndromes! Other examples of<br />
advancements in pain management include the use<br />
of smaller needles, smaller incisions, and more precise<br />
imaging – ultimately meaning safer, quicker, and more<br />
effective procedures for our patients.<br />
Without a doubt, new technologies are a major<br />
part of the field. But are traditional approaches still<br />
valuable in pain management? For patients new<br />
to technology, how do older forms of diagnosis<br />
and treatment still enter in?<br />
Great question. As mentioned earlier, perhaps the<br />
most active research in pain management focuses on<br />
neuromodulation. In this procedure, we implant very
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 9<br />
small wires that stimulate a patient’s spine through tiny<br />
electrodes, which in turn prevents the perception of<br />
certain pain signals and can ultimately relieve or even<br />
eliminate chronic pain. These treatments by far have<br />
been the most impressive development in the<br />
field. Additionally, radiofrequency lesioning, an old<br />
technique that has become more advanced,<br />
can essentially dissect a painful nerve very quickly to<br />
provide relief in many areas including the back, neck,<br />
hip, knee, foot, and head. With new research identifying<br />
exactly which nerves cause certain types of pain, this<br />
lesioning has become far more effective, providing us the<br />
ability to identify appropriate targets and perform precise<br />
interventions.<br />
Traditionally, we consider the ‘old-fashioned’<br />
approaches to pain management to be medications,<br />
exercise, physical therapy, and dieting, which are all<br />
extremely important components in treating a patient’s<br />
pain. We call this a multi-modal approach, which simply<br />
means that we include interventions, as outlined above,<br />
alongside medications and conservative treatments<br />
such as physical therapy and dieting to treat our<br />
patients. Research has backed this idea for years, that<br />
patients get better using more than one treatment plan<br />
rather than just one alone. While there is concern about<br />
prescribing certain medications safely, my duty as an<br />
ACGME-trained pain management physician is to find the<br />
right medication(s) for my patients and prescribe them<br />
at the right dose, keeping patient safety in mind. Certain<br />
conditions – such as nerve-related pain or joint-related<br />
pain – will require supplemental medications to provide<br />
more complete relief. But we combine this technique with<br />
other approaches such as exercise and dieting to give<br />
our patients the widest path to pain relief.<br />
What types of procedures do you perform?<br />
I can perform safely and effectively everything from<br />
simple joint injections in the office, to highly specialized<br />
procedures including minimally invasive spinal cord<br />
neuromodulation. Pain management is not a field where<br />
one can provide expertise by implementing only one or<br />
two approaches. Instead, we as pain physicians must<br />
utilize every piece of technology and knowledge we have<br />
in order to provide our patients the best opportunity for<br />
success. This means that I apply ultrasound guided
10<br />
<strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY<br />
Vol. 27<br />
“I am committed to bettering the health and lives of my patients through compassion and diligence.”<br />
imaging as well as fluoroscopy to<br />
guide my treatments for precision<br />
and safety, and I always stay current<br />
through a variety of courses offered<br />
nationally and internationally when<br />
new devices or FDA treatments are<br />
approved.<br />
Fluoroscopy is a core part of<br />
treatment options nowadays. For<br />
those who aren’t familiar with it,<br />
can you describe how it works?<br />
Fluoroscopy is essentially an<br />
x-ray that is conducted in realtime.<br />
For instance, as I prepare an<br />
injection for a patient, we have them<br />
lie down on a flat table. Then we use<br />
a machine called a ‘C-arm’ (called<br />
that because of its shape) to show<br />
live X-ray images of the patient’s<br />
targeted area as I insert the<br />
medication through a tiny needle<br />
to the area causing pain. Using<br />
fluoroscopy, we can even show<br />
patients pictures immediately after<br />
the procedure to confirm that we<br />
achieved the desired<br />
result. Finally, by targeting the<br />
precise area of pain, we need only<br />
use a small amount of medication as<br />
we deliver it directly to the correct<br />
location, as opposed to taking<br />
medications orally or through an<br />
IV. Not only is fluoroscopy one of<br />
the fundamentals of performing<br />
pain procedures, but it also provides<br />
patients the satisfaction that their<br />
physician can deliver medication<br />
with minimal side effects. Technology<br />
has brought us a long way!<br />
How do you, as a practicing<br />
physician, regard the evolving<br />
state and federal regulations<br />
regarding pain management?<br />
With the recent media attention<br />
on the potentially dangerous side<br />
effects of certain pain medications,<br />
regulations have arisen that limit<br />
physicians on what they can<br />
and cannot prescribe for their<br />
patients. What this means is that<br />
pain physicians – in particular those<br />
that have completed an accredited<br />
pain fellowship with the ability to<br />
attain board certification – should<br />
now be the primary consultants<br />
when it comes to treating pain. I am<br />
confident in utilizing all the methods<br />
currently available to provide the<br />
best treatment plan. By monitoring<br />
the use of certain medications and<br />
tailoring treatments to each patient’s<br />
needs, our patients are satisfied<br />
knowing that we keep their safety<br />
as our top priority. I know that all of<br />
us will remain at the forefront of this<br />
field by offering new and advanced<br />
treatment options to our patients as<br />
soon as they are approved and safe<br />
to use.<br />
You emphasize physical<br />
exercise as a key part of<br />
preventive pain management.<br />
Are you active yourself?<br />
I played basketball in high school,<br />
and in my earlier years I played just<br />
about every sport you can imagine.<br />
I still stay active with friends on the<br />
weekends – if there’s a gym with a<br />
court nearby, chances are you’ll find<br />
me there. I also enjoy skiing when<br />
and where possible. I take pride<br />
that I never took formal lessons and<br />
instead just learned to ski through<br />
simple observation. It’s still one of my<br />
more enjoyable pastimes.
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 11<br />
Let’s get to know you a little<br />
better. First, why practice in New<br />
Orleans?<br />
This one is easy. I was born and<br />
raised here through high school.<br />
Once I left for college in Texas, I never<br />
left sight of New Orleans. My goal<br />
has always been to return home and<br />
be around the food, the sites, and<br />
most importantly the people I love. I<br />
do have an extensive “Jolly” family in<br />
the greater New Orleans area, but I<br />
also have friends with whom I have<br />
stayed in touch and a community<br />
that I would like to serve positively.<br />
Much of who I am today comes not<br />
from my training across the nation,<br />
but rather how I was raised right<br />
here in New Orleans. Plus, who<br />
would ever want to live in a city<br />
without Mardi Gras or the Saints?<br />
Can you tell us about yourself?<br />
Of course! I’m recently married to my<br />
wonderful wife, Rena. She’s a nurse<br />
from New York, so even as attractive<br />
as New Orleans is, I’ve had to do my<br />
fair share of convincing to help her<br />
understand that the Deep South has<br />
as much charm as does New York. I<br />
think so far she loves it.<br />
Growing up, math was my<br />
favorite subject. Numbers always<br />
came naturally to me, perhaps<br />
from my father who is a lifelong<br />
accountant. Professionally and<br />
personally, I live with a philosophy<br />
in mind that comes from the great<br />
Dalai Lama: “Our prime purpose in<br />
this life is to help others. And if you<br />
can’t help them, at least don’t hurt<br />
them.” Finally, after thirteen years<br />
of training outside of New Orleans, I<br />
take pride in returning back to serve<br />
a community in a city that I call<br />
home. I am committed to bettering<br />
the health – and ultimately the lives<br />
– of my patients through compassion<br />
and diligence.
12<br />
<strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY<br />
Vol. 27<br />
chronic pain<br />
anxiety<br />
emotional distress<br />
stress<br />
Depression<br />
pain management<br />
hopelessness<br />
THE TOOLBOX STRATEGY<br />
Top 10 Tools for<br />
Managing Chronic Pain<br />
By Dr. Mark Skellie, Psy. D.<br />
f you’ve seen my previous articles, I’m<br />
I<br />
committed to people living with chronic pain<br />
to develop a toolbox strategy for coping. The<br />
toolbox strategy is really simple: If you have a range of<br />
different ways to cope with pain, stress, or other types of<br />
emotional distress when one tool does not work, you can<br />
go back to the toolbox and find another. Individuals who<br />
develop a variety of intentional coping strategies, have a<br />
way to face any problem through trial and error. Like they<br />
say, if you only have a hammer you tend to see every<br />
problem as a nail…
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 13<br />
For this article, I’ve developed a Top 10<br />
List of great psychological strategies that<br />
work to improve the quality of life for those<br />
individuals living with chronic pain. Obviously,<br />
this list is not meant to be a summary of all of<br />
the possible strategies for managing chronic<br />
pain and I would love to hear from you about<br />
things that I have not included but are part of<br />
your toolbox. The list is also not in any specific<br />
order, but as a psychologist I’m obviously<br />
biased towards number 10.<br />
1LEAN ON YOUR DOC. Your relationship<br />
with your physician and the rest of your pain<br />
management team can make a dramatic<br />
difference in living well with chronic pain. If you<br />
are unsure about something, ask for more information<br />
or where to find good information online. Your pain<br />
management team is your ally in living well, so make sure<br />
to tell them about major changes in your life that affect<br />
your pain management or your current treatments.<br />
It is important for you to understand the medicines<br />
you’re taking, what they can do for you, and their<br />
potential side effects. Then educate yourself about<br />
additive or alternative treatment options. Your goal<br />
should be to have a normal mood and activity level - if<br />
you don’t, then a different medicine might be better for<br />
you. Be proactive, to ask questions, and look for answers.<br />
A great strategy is to write down questions you want to<br />
research and discuss with your pain management team.<br />
Keeping a pain journal can be a great way to<br />
help your pain management team understand and more<br />
effectively treat your chronic pain. At the end of each day,<br />
record an average daily pain rating between 1 and 10,<br />
where 10 indicates the worst pain possible. Then note<br />
what you did that day, and how these activities made you<br />
feel. The next time you see the doctor, bring the journal<br />
and discuss your findings.<br />
Lean on your doc. Ask questions and look for answers.<br />
2<br />
HYDRATE. According to the Mayo<br />
Clinic, dehydration may aggravate the<br />
symptoms of some chronic conditions, like<br />
headaches and back pain. Although it may be<br />
tempting to load up on coffee, soda, or juice, their diuretic<br />
effect makes them poor sources for hydration. Water<br />
keeps you hydrated without the extra calories, sodium, or<br />
caffeine. The recommendation that adults need to drink<br />
an 8-ounce glass of water 8 times per day may not be<br />
accurate for all people and simply drinking when thirsty<br />
may be a better goal. It should be noted that summer<br />
increases our need for water due to the extreme heat, so<br />
8 glasses a day is still a smart goal when it is hot. Also,<br />
you should try to maintain the 8 glass habit when you<br />
are having increased perspiration, high body temperature<br />
(or fever), nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea, which magnify<br />
your fluid needs.<br />
3EAT CLEAN. If you’re living with chronic<br />
pain, you want to do everything you can to help<br />
your body, not hinder it. One way to keep your<br />
body strong is to eat a well-balanced diet and<br />
reduce your consumption of highly processed food (e.g.<br />
fast food, frozen dinners, hot dogs, snack foods, etc).<br />
Eating right improves blood sugar, helps maintain weight,<br />
reduces heart disease risk, and aids digestion. Aim for
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Vol. 27<br />
a diet rich in whole grains, fresh produce, and low-fat<br />
proteins. A diet free from processed foods can alleviate<br />
inflammation. Foods that may alleviate inflammation that<br />
leads to pain include<br />
, foods high in<br />
, , and .<br />
Get Spicy. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory<br />
properties. This spice is a beneficial treatment for<br />
chronic pain. It contains curcumin, which provides a<br />
natural way to reduce inflammation in the body, without<br />
harming the liver or kidneys. The National Center for<br />
Complementary and Alternative Medicine explains that<br />
turmeric increases ligament flexibility and boosts the<br />
immune system. Add it to meals, or sprinkle it in your tea.<br />
Another spice, Paprika, has capsaicin, a natural pain and<br />
inflammation fighter. You can also get capsaicin from chili<br />
peppers, red peppers, and cayenne pepper. Ginger and<br />
garlic may also lower inflammation.<br />
4<br />
PUT OUT THE FIRE. Inflammation is a<br />
process by which the body’s white blood<br />
cells and substances they produce protect us<br />
from infection with foreign organisms, such<br />
as bacteria and viruses. However, in some diseases,<br />
like arthritis, the body’s defense system -- the immune<br />
system -- triggers an inflammatory response when there<br />
are no foreign invaders to fight off. In these diseases,<br />
called autoimmune diseases, the body’s normally<br />
protective immune system causes damage to its own<br />
tissues. The body responds as if normal tissues are<br />
infected or somehow abnormal. Inflammation is a<br />
common cause of pain, and certain chemicals in foods<br />
may exacerbate it.<br />
A smart goal is to keep food , that is close to<br />
a natural state with little modern processing. It is a good<br />
idea to generally reduce these possible inflammation<br />
instigators:<br />
• Refined Sugar<br />
• Nightshade Vegetables<br />
• Dairy<br />
• Eggs<br />
• Citrus Fruits<br />
• High-Fat Red Meat<br />
• Refined starches<br />
• Processed Foods<br />
• Red Wine, Coffee, Tea, and Soda<br />
Low-sugar fruits such as pineapple are great<br />
anti-inflammatory foods that may alleviate pain.
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Stress management techniques<br />
such as deep breathing calms<br />
our minds, relaxes our bodies,<br />
and helps ease pain.<br />
5<br />
BREATHE. It sounds so obvious, but few of<br />
us actually take the time to stop what we’re<br />
doing and calm our minds. Deep breathing,<br />
biofeedback, and meditation are all stress<br />
management techniques that relax our bodies, which<br />
helps ease pain. Slow down, close your eyes…breathe in…<br />
breathe out. It’s important to have patience. Adding new<br />
tools to your pain management toolbox can take some<br />
time before you can really make them work for you.<br />
Yoga promotes both strength and<br />
flexibility while calming the mind and decreasing stress.<br />
This centuries-old practice offers a method of stress<br />
reduction that can help those suffering from chronic pain,<br />
reports the Mayo Clinic. The physical postures of yoga,<br />
breathwork, and meditation are all tools in the painreduction<br />
kit. Stress makes muscles spasm, according to<br />
the National Institutes of Health. Because muscle spasms<br />
are a part of acute and chronic pain, practicing Yoga and<br />
other relaxation techniques helps train your body to relax.<br />
By taking care of your emotional and physical health,<br />
you can better manage your pain. That may mean saying<br />
no to events or parties if you need the rest. Schedule<br />
regular massages or set an unbreakable dinner date with<br />
good friends to boost your spirits. How you care for you<br />
is unique to you -- and it’s also up to you.<br />
6<br />
DISTRACT YOURSELF. You already know<br />
that focusing on pain can just make it worse.<br />
That’s why one potent prescription for relief is<br />
to keep busy with activities that take your mind<br />
off the pain. Take that cooking class you’ve had your eye<br />
on, join a garden club, go on morning walks with a friend,<br />
try a Yoga class. Even if you can’t control the pain, you<br />
can control the rest of your life. Get started!
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7<br />
PERFECT YOUR<br />
POSTURE. Never found<br />
the time to make it to a<br />
Yoga class or just don’t<br />
find the motivation to get on the<br />
mat? There are simple ways to<br />
bring the posture of yoga into your<br />
life. Whether in front of the TV or<br />
using your computer at home or at<br />
work, maintaining correct posture is<br />
essential in fighting pain.<br />
Keep your head directly above a<br />
tall, straight spine to prevent strain<br />
on your back and neck muscles.<br />
Remember, however, that longstanding<br />
postural problems will<br />
typically take longer to address than<br />
short-lived ones, as often the joints<br />
have adapted to your long-standing<br />
poor posture. Those living with<br />
chronic pain can adopt bad posture<br />
as a way to try to avoid aches and<br />
pains. Awareness of your posture<br />
and knowing what is correct will help<br />
you correct yourself. With practice,<br />
the correct posture for standing,<br />
sitting, and lying down will gradually<br />
replace your old posture. This, in turn,<br />
will help you move toward a better<br />
and healthier body position.<br />
• Be more conscious and<br />
aware of your posture<br />
• Shoulders back and your<br />
stomach pulled in<br />
• Earlobes should be in line<br />
with your shoulders<br />
• Try not to sit in the same<br />
position for too long.<br />
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8<br />
EXERCISE? It’s a<br />
Catch-22: You’re hurting,<br />
so you don’t exercise; but<br />
without exercise, you may<br />
lose muscle tone and strength, which<br />
can make pain worse. Fortunately,<br />
even mild exercises such as walking<br />
and yoga release endorphins, the<br />
feel-good brain chemicals that lift<br />
mood and block pain. Light housecleaning<br />
and playing with your<br />
kids are every day activities that<br />
can reduce symptoms. Ask your<br />
doctor if you are healthy enough for<br />
aerobic, strengthening, or stretching<br />
exercises. They can give your body<br />
the boost -- and relief -- it needs.<br />
9<br />
QUIT. Some people find<br />
temporary relief from<br />
stress and pain with a<br />
quick smoke or drinking<br />
alcohol. The irony is that smoking<br />
may actually contribute to pain in the<br />
long run. It slows healing, worsens<br />
circulation, and increases the risk<br />
of degenerative disc problems, a<br />
cause of low back pain. The same is<br />
true when we rely on alcohol to help<br />
manage our pain, because increased<br />
alcohol use impacts good sleep<br />
and increases inflammation, not<br />
to mention can be very dangerous<br />
when combined with common pain<br />
medications.<br />
If you need an incentive to<br />
quit, pain relief just may be it. Ask<br />
your doctor about programs and<br />
medicines to kick the habit.<br />
10 important habit you<br />
DONT GO IT<br />
ALONE. Reaching<br />
out is the most<br />
can develop to help you deal with<br />
chronic pain. Tell friends and family<br />
what you’re feeling, because they<br />
won’t know otherwise. Ask for help.<br />
Learn more about your condition.<br />
Then share what you know with<br />
others.<br />
Talking about<br />
your pain with a behavioral health<br />
professional who understands<br />
chronic pain may help reduce its<br />
effects. Commonly utilized methods<br />
include cognitive behavioral<br />
therapy, biofeedback, and guided<br />
imagery. These techniques<br />
teach stress management and reallife<br />
coping skills. The goal for patients<br />
is to improve their quality of life by<br />
getting better sleep, and reducing<br />
stress. Psychotherapy alone may not<br />
eliminate your chronic pain, but it can<br />
be effective in managing it.<br />
Most of us listen<br />
to the advice or recommendations<br />
of someone who has lived the<br />
experience. Participating in a<br />
support group for other individuals<br />
living with chronic pain can open<br />
unexpected doors in your progress<br />
towards control.<br />
A new FREE chronic pain<br />
support group is forming. Please<br />
contact Jim Walsch at (504) 858-<br />
7933 or painnola.gmail.com for<br />
more information.
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 17<br />
Got Pain?<br />
If living with pain day after day is negatively<br />
affecting your life.....YOU’RE NOT ALONE<br />
Come Join our FREE chronic pain support group!<br />
Jim Walsh, a 30-year chronic pain patient, is the group<br />
facilitator. Our support group is open to anyone facing<br />
chronic pain in their daily lives. Group members share their<br />
stories, listen to speakers, receive supports in an<br />
environment of hope and encouragement. You will also<br />
learn new ways to cope with the chronic pain in your life.<br />
New Orleans Healing Center<br />
Room 252<br />
2372 St. Claude Ave<br />
New Olreans, LA 70117<br />
American Chronic<br />
Pain Association<br />
New Orleans Chapter<br />
Contact Jim Walsh for more info<br />
504-858-7933<br />
piratesalleyjim@gmail.com
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Vol. 27<br />
PUZZLES<br />
AND GAMES<br />
How to play Sudoku<br />
To solve a Sudoku puzzle you have to use the numbers 1-9 to fill in the blank spaces so that each row, each<br />
column and each 3 x 3 square has all the numbers 1-9 appearing once. The only thing you need to solve a Sudoku<br />
number place puzzle is logic. You don’t need any mathematical knowledge. In the easier puzzles you may be able to<br />
see straight away where a particular number goes. Focusing on one particular blank square at a time, scan its row,<br />
column & block.<br />
Easy<br />
Medium
Vol. 27 <strong>LOUISIANA</strong> <strong>PAIN</strong> QUARTERLY 19<br />
Louisiana Pain Quarterly Word Search Puzzle<br />
Find and circle all the words that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters<br />
spell an additional summer item.<br />
J U N E S T S S S S Y K S E U L B M<br />
U S M E A U Y E O U H I K I N G S A<br />
S M W E E A N L U B N W A S E T R E<br />
U T W I R R S G I C A B L N A R E R<br />
N S H V M T C C L T E A U D T V L C<br />
T Y U G I M Y S E A D B I R S S K E<br />
A G L C I C I R N N S L R R N D N C<br />
N R E U L F M N A U O S E A R G I I<br />
O E A E J E R S G H S W E A B N R C<br />
S E D A K B R E L L O R O S R I P R<br />
C N A O F L O G T L T B T E E T S E<br />
H G N I H S I F F A E O A E E A H C<br />
O R C A M P I N G T W T H B Z O C C<br />
O A C I N C I P A W A S P S E B A O<br />
L S F L I E S K M O S Q U I T O E S<br />
T S U G U A S I L L A B E S A B B O<br />
G N I N E D R A G S U N S H I N E N<br />
Ants<br />
August<br />
Barbeque<br />
Baseball<br />
Beach<br />
Bees<br />
Bicycle<br />
Blue Sky<br />
Boating<br />
Breeze<br />
Camping<br />
Fishing<br />
Flies<br />
Flowers<br />
Gardening<br />
Golf<br />
Green Grass<br />
Hat<br />
Hiking<br />
Holidays<br />
Hot<br />
Ice Cream<br />
July<br />
June<br />
Mosquitos<br />
No School<br />
Picnic<br />
Roller Blades<br />
Sandals<br />
Skateboard<br />
Soccer<br />
Solstice<br />
Sprinklers<br />
Sunburn<br />
Sunglasses<br />
Sunscreen<br />
Sunshine<br />
Suntan<br />
Sweat<br />
Swimming<br />
UV Rays<br />
Wasps<br />
Water Fights<br />
Watermelon
Dr. Tarun Jolly<br />
The founder of Louisiana Pain<br />
Specialists. Double board<br />
certified in pain management<br />
and anesthesiology, with a strong<br />
background in interventional<br />
therapies for spine disease<br />
and cancer.<br />
Dr. Satvik Munshi<br />
Raised in the New Orleans area, a<br />
comprehensive pain management<br />
specialist with advanced training<br />
in interventional pain therapies,<br />
double board certified in pain<br />
management and physical medicine<br />
and rehabilitation.<br />
Dr. Neil Jolly<br />
Completed ACGME accredited<br />
fellowship and anesthesiology<br />
residency. He performs a wide<br />
variety of advanced interventional<br />
procedures. He prides himself<br />
on returning to New Orleans and<br />
serving the community.<br />
Your Louisiana Pain Doctors!<br />
Interventional Pain Treatments Diagnostic Testing Medication Management<br />
Scheduling An Appointment Is Easy<br />
Call 504-434-7750 or visit us online at LouisianaPain.com<br />
5 Clinic<br />
Locations!