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Our approach to treating chronic pain
Dr. Geoff Bellingham, Clinical Director of the Pain Management Program and Dr. Marilyn Hill, psychologist, share their thoughts on treating chronic pain through the Q&A below.
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®)
This is a fact sheet for patients about Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), a drug used to treat epilepsy, trigeminal neuralgia, and to manage nerve pain resulting from a spinal cord injury. Oxcarbazepine is also used for the treatment of acute mania or the prevention of bipolar disorder episodes. This fact sheet outlines how the medication should be used, what special precautions should be taken, what its potential side effects are and how it should be stored.
Pain
After a spinal cord injury, you are sure to experience all sorts of pains. Pain can be caused by damage to your skin, muscle, tendons, bones, organs, and nerves. Each pain is different and come with specific treatment options. To properly treat your pain, it is helpful to understand the source of the pain.
Pain 101 Resource List for Pain Self-Managment
List of resources for pain management, including apps, websites, books, community and home-based mental health services
Postural (Orthostatic) Hypotension
Postural hypotension is a quick drop in blood pressure that happens when you sit up or stand up. This can be a drop in your systolic blood pressure by 20 mmHg (top number) or your diastolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg (bottom number). It can make you feel dizzy or lightheaded. The feeling is often mild and goes away after a few seconds or minutes. Sometimes, the drop in blood pressure can be more severe and even cause people to faint.
Pregabalin (Lyrica®)
This handout explains that this medication is used to treat pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain) and fibromyalgia. Pregabalin works by dampening the pain signals sent through the body’s nervous system.
Pressure Relief Techniques
After a spinal cord injury, you are at high risk of getting a pressure sore (bed sore). A pressure sore is a wound caused from constant pressure to the skin. This can cause serious damage your skin. Shifting your weight to reduce pressure is the best way to allow blood to get to your skin.
Pressure Sore Prevention
After a spinal cord injury, you are at high risk of getting a pressure sore (bed sore). A pressure sore is a wound caused from constant pressure to the skin.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a procedure used to manage certain types of chronic pain. It uses electrical energy to create heat. The heat damages a small area of nerve tissue causing the pain signals coming from a specific nerve area to become interrupted.
Ramps for Home Access
After a spinal cord injury, many people need to make their home more accessible. If you have stairs outside of your house, you might need to use ramps to help you get in. There are both temporary and permanent solutions. Portable ramp options are also available.
Rectal Touches (Digital Stimulation)
After a spinal cord injury, it is common to no longer feel the need to empty your bowel. You also might not be able to start your bowel movement like you used to. This resource provides information about digital stimulation to help trigger bowel movements.
Sacroiliac Joint Injection
Sacroiliac Joint joint injection involves administration of a local anesthetic (when done as a diagnostic procedure) or a mixture of local anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory medication known as a steroid (when done for treatment purposes). The medication is injected into the capsule of the SI joint.
Self Care and Living Skills: Bathing and Showering
Bathing and showering after spinal cord injury often requires special devices. The bathroom might need to be modified to fit a wheelchair and other equipment. Being safe while bathing helps prevent injury. Bathrooms can be dangerous because there are many hard and slippery surfaces. When you have poor feeling, water temperature setting may need to be adjusted to prevent burns. Having the right set up helps you stay safe and prevent injuries.
Self Care and Living Skills: Dressing
After a spinal cord injury, daily activities like dressing can be challenging. Certain tricks can help you do more by yourself. Some clothes are easy to put on while others are more difficult. Using adapted devices or adapting your current clothing can help. Also, using the right techniques and positions can make it much easier for you to dress.
Self Care and Living Skills: Eating and Drinking
After a spinal cord injury, you may have weakness or loss of movement in your hands and fingers. This can make it hard to eat and drink without help. There are devices that can help you eat and drink with little or no assistance. If you have poor feeling, be cautious with hot foods and drinks to avoid burns.
Sertraline (Zoloft®)
This is a fact sheet for patients about the SSRI Sertraline (Zoloft) that explains what the drug is, how it works and how it should be taken. Sertraline is used to treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including unipolar depression (low mood), generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and eating disorders.
Sexual Health After a Spinal Cord Injury
This video discusses questions you may have about sexual health after a spinal cord injury. Run time: 24:14 minutes
Sexual Health After a Spinal Cord Injury
Sex and sexuality are important parts of being human, however after a spinal cord injury (SCI) many things can change. The way you experience your body may be different now. Many people with a spinal cord injury are concerned about their sexuality and sexual health but don’t know how, when or who to ask for information. At Parkwood Institute, we have developed a program to provide education and support to patients regarding sexuality and sexual health. A member of your health care team will talk to you and answer any questions or concerns you may have about your sexual health. If you have a...