Premier Pain Talk

How Can Spinal Cord Stimulation Relieve Your Pain? With Dr. Michael Fishman- EP 3

On this episode of Premier Pain Talk, host Dr. Michael Danko talks with Dr. Michael Fishman. He is a fantastic pain physician of the Greater Philadelphia area. They are discussing spinal cord stimulation and some of the new horizons coming with it as well as digital health and data capturing and potentially new options for pain therapy down the road.
 
Episode Highlights:
Dr. Fishman went to medical school at Jefferson Medical College, and he developed an interest in anesthesia, ENT, and neck surgery. And at the end of the day, he ended up as a surgery resident at a program outside of Philadelphia.
During his time working with the anesthesiologist at the hospital, Dr. Fishman ultimately found that perhaps there is a better use of his interests to look after patients after surgery and around their surgeries. 
Dr. Fishman’s clinic is like a lab where we get the opportunity to think of new ways to help people and ways to get patients the right treatment at the right time.
One of the therapies that gets Dr. Danko super excited and makes it not feel like work sometimes, is something called a spinal cord stimulator. It is an implantable device and has been around for many years.
Spinal stimulation in Dr. Danko’s mind has gone through now maybe even more advancements than cell phone technology or other technology of any type.
What is ‘The Gate Control Theory On Chronic Pain’?
Tonic stimulation is something that people should be familiar with, and it's a buzzing electrical sensation or maybe tapping and pulsing. They talk about how it had previously been practiced.
Over the last few years, there has been a  fine tuning of  the electrical signals that are being passed in the spinal cord. 
If you talk to a bunch of different pain doctors or different people from industry, you are going to get a bunch of different answers for advancements with changes in the way the electricity is being delivered through devices.
There is a psychological and social component that is also important to understand when you think about why pain doctors do what they are doing; That is why when they do apply therapies like simulation, it's important to understand biologically why also.
For humans, isolation, depression, anxiety, status, etc all go in the same path with pain; But we can change the pain experience for the better or for the worse. 
 
3 Key Points:
One thing about Yale Haven hospital that everybody should know is it is smack dab in the middle at the junction of I-95 I-91, which means that it is a super busy hospital and gets most of the trauma in the state.
DTM therapy is fantastic and the science behind how to fine-tune that therapy is very durable. 
Getting patients the right treatment is the job of a pain doctor, but it’s also about the right timing being understood and the circumstances/ context for each person to make the best version of themselves that they can be, says Fishman.
 
 
Resources Mentioned:
https://premierpaintreatment.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PremierPainTreatment/
https://www.christianhospital.org/painfree
https://celerihealth.com/

The Benefits Of Pain Pump Implant Therapy For Chronic Pain, With Dr. Chris Beuer- Ep 2

The Benefits Of Pain Pump Implant Therapy For Chronic Pain, With Dr. Chris Beuer
On this episode, Dr. Danko introduces his friend Dr. Chris Beuer from St. Louis, Missouri.
He feels fortunate to have found the feel of pain management and have the ability to actually make a difference in people’s lives. They discuss Pain Pump Therapy, what it is, and why it is used. These two doctors are passionate about improving quality of life for their patients. Tune in now.
Episode Highlights:
Dr. Beuer introduces himself, shares about his practice in St. Louis, and what brought him to his current job position. 
What is pain pump therapy and why is it used?
Pain pumps have a reputation of being hard to manage but a lot has changed over the years. Dr. Beuer explains.
Dr. Danko has found that the earlier you can offer the Pain Pump Implant Therapy, the better in the chronic pain world. It doesn’t mean it is the first thing you jump to but it is also not something you need to wait to use as a ‘salvage therapy’.
What conditions are best for the pump? What are the steps to determine if it's right for the situation? Dr. Danko asks Dr. Beuer to talk about when it is indicated for patients.
There is an ability to test the pain pump as well to see if it is worth it to the patient to try.
How do pain pumps help people come off other pain medications?
There is concern that a pump is limiting. Life using it is very simple. The medicine is refilled about every three months or so which takes a couple minutes to do. It is also important to note that it is on very low doses because it is very effective when
Dr. Danko brings up that they both have been involved in a lot of Clinical Research and there is also a lot of great data already out on pump therapy.
What about cancer pain? What are typical situations that are seen in pain management practice?
Pain pumps can also be used for spasticity issues. Cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, or strokes are common scenarios with these spasticity issues. 
Dr. Beuer shares how he got into triathlons and Iron Man competitions. Originally people told him there was no way he could do it in six months and he took it as a challenge. He has completed 16 Iron Mans and shares experience about brutal weather.
Patient education on the body’s ability to adapt is important too for understanding a plan of building strength. 
Dr. Danko asks Dr. Beuer to share about his experience being involved with Team USA in triathlons.
3 Key Points:
Premier Pain Talk is shedding light on the misconceptions about pain management. The field is not correctly portrayed in the media. It is not just about handing out pills. There are many interventional procedures, including pain pumps.
How do pain pumps help people who have been on long term pain medications to no success?
The body has an incredible ability to adapt. Patient education around the topic is so important in showing them that they can overcome limitations, too.
 
Resources Mentioned:
https://premierpaintreatment.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PremierPainTreatment/
https://www.christianhospital.org/painfree

Premier Pain Talk with Dr. Michael Danko- Ep 1

Premier Pain Talk, Answers Your Questions About Chronic Pain Relief!
This a new podcast about pain management, healthcare, and what the journey is like for many. Dr. Michael Danko and Kyle Ingebritson introduce themselves and discuss their goal and mission of the podcast. They desire to shed light on the knowledge gap of what pain management is, dispel misconceptions, and have fun while educating listeners. 
 
Episode Highlights:
Dr. Michael Danko and Kyle Ingebritson introduce themselves and the mission of the podcast. 
There is a knowledge gap of what pain management is and many patients are scared away. Dr. Danko talks about how patients and providers alike have misconceptions about the field of care.
How does the field of pain management gain understanding for new interventions?
How many years does it take to function as an independent pain management doctor?
Pain management had potentially been forgotten about and it is back now. Kyle asks Dr. Danko to share his viewpoint on how therapies are related and where it fits.
Dr. Danko shares his journey in life and career formation to where he is now. 
What is chronic pain management? 
Premier Pain Treatment Institute was opened by Dr. Danko in 2016. They now have 3 locations and 8 providers. It started as a sub lease and a rental in another office. 
A staff of 40 people with different personalities and different needs as well as changes in the business overtime takes intentionality to be a good manager of people and lead everyone well.
Kyle asks Dr. Danko to share about his life and hobbies. 
3 Key Points:
There are many misconceptions around pain management and what it actually is; Patients and providers alike have all sorts of formulated thoughts from culture and media. 
Connecting how therapies are related is important in considering where pain management overlaps. It is helpful to create an understanding and benefit of care.
Premier Pain Treatment Institute is a leading provider of Pain Management Services in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
 
Resources Mentioned:
https://premierpaintreatment.com/
https://www.facebook.com/PremierPainTreatment/