Blog Archive

Complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS) is a rare but incredibly painful condition that affects the nervous system, usually after an injury. Sometimes, the injury is as minor as a sprain or a small fracture. Other times, it follows surgery or trauma.  For people with CRPS, the pain becomes chronic, severe,...

Moms of little kids are built differently. You carry toddlers on one hip, push strollers uphill with one hand, bend down for the fifth time in 10 minutes to pick up toys, groceries, or laundry baskets, and still manage to hold it all together.  The physical demands are nonstop. While...

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that causes a strong urge to move your legs, especially when resting or asleep. This urge is often triggered by uncomfortable sensations like tingling, pulling, crawling, or an ache in your legs.  About 15% of adults in the United States experience symptoms...

Getting older comes with a few surprises. You wake up one day with an ache in a place you didn’t even know could hurt. Your knees groan when you stand up, and your fingers feel stiff after a long day.  It’s normal to feel occasional discomfort, but if you’ve been...

Many conditions can bring on back issues, from herniated discs to spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, and sciatica. These conditions can trigger pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. And if left untreated, most of these conditions eventually leave you incapacitated. We start most of our patients with conservative treatments like...

Your spine contains small, gel-like discs that absorb shock and keep it flexible. As you age or if you get a spinal injury, these discs can wear down, resulting in degenerative disc disease (DDD).  DDD causes chronic back pain and stiffness, and traditional treatments often require invasive surgeries like spinal...

Living with chronic pain often means trying every treatment under the sun, from surgery to acupuncture, to get long-term relief. Unfortunately, you may be all too familiar with many of these treatments, falling short of effectively treating your pain.  One treatment option that has proven to be effective for chronic...

Getting a headache that grounds you for hours or days isn’t normal. If you suspect it was a migraine, you’re probably right. A migraine is a neurological condition that causes severe pain and other symptoms, unlike typical headaches.  A migraine typically starts with intense, pulsating pain on one side of...

If you or someone you know is struggling with an opioid dependency, know that there’s no reason to feel ashamed. Opioid addiction affects people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. If you want to kick it once and for all, acknowledging that you need help is the first step. There...

Sciatica is nerve pain that typically radiates down your leg. Other symptoms, like tingling or numbness, often accompany it.  The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, running from your lower back down your legs. When that nerve is irritated or compressed, you can develop sciatica.  People living...

Up to 95% of people experience muscle spasms. These spasms are uncomfortable, sometimes even painful, and can happen at any time, even when you’re just lounging on your couch. There are many causes of muscle spasms from overuse to poor circulation, but one of the most overlooked triggers is dehydration. ...

If you have fibromyalgia, you know how debilitating the widespread pain can be, most commonly affecting your muscles and joints.  Some people report the pain as dull aches; for others, it feels like a stabbing pain. The pain can get so severe that you might find it impossible to go...

It’s no cause for alarm if your joints ache now and again at any age. But if you’re over 50, you may find that this aching occurs more often than not. As you age, your body experiences normal wear-and-tear, and your joints become less resilient and more vulnerable to conditions...

Dealing with a herniated disc can be excruciating. This spinal condition can prevent you from enjoying your typical daily routine, work, or even sleeping comfortably.  A herniated disc occurs when part of the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc pushes through a crack in the more rigid exterior. It...

Most people look forward to the end of the day when they can crawl into bed and get some much-needed shut-eye. But if you’re one of the 50-70 million Americans struggling with some form of sleep disorder, you may find yourself dreading bedtime instead.  There are many forms of sleep...

Living with severe back pain can make you desperate for long-term solutions that can ease your discomfort. While you may feel that you've tried everything and surgery is your last resort, this may not be the case.  Surgery for back pain is a delicate and invasive procedure. Before opting for...

If you're experiencing a persistent ache or discomfort in your neck around the clock, you've been living with chronic pain. Any form of pain that persists for three months or longer is regarded as chronic.  Many people with chronic neck pain have lived with the discomfort so long they may...

Headaches are a standard part of everyday life. You may not know that there are many forms, and telling them apart is crucial for you to get the treatment you need.  It’s hard to tell whether the pain in your head is just a tension headache or something more, like...

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes severe pain, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms, such as insomnia and mental difficulties. One of the biggest challenges with fibromyalgia is that it's often misdiagnosed.  The good news is that recent medical advancements have made understanding, treating, and managing this condition...

Managing chronic pain goes beyond taking the proper medications and treatments. It involves embracing healthy lifestyle changes. One aspect of your life in which this is crucial is your sleep. Most people don't pay much attention to their sleep habits. Their only goal is to get into bed at the...

Winter is filled with cozy blankets, warm drinks, and the joy of holidays. Yet, for many, it is also a time when health issues like hip pain tend to flare up, thanks to such factors as changes in atmospheric pressure and reduced physical activity.  At SEPA Pain & Spine in...

Your nerves are like fibers that help your brain communicate with the rest of your body. They can get damaged due to accident injuries, surgeries, or even repetitive motions.  When your nerves are damaged, you might feel pain, tingling, or numbness or find it hard to move a part of...

When you think about insomnia and chronic pain, it's natural to believe they're separate concerns. But did you know these two conditions often coexist? The connection between these two conditions also isn't one-sided; it's a bidirectional link where one condition can aggravate the other. The complex relationship between insomnia and...

If you've been experiencing pain from your lower back into one of your legs, sciatica could be the culprit.  Sciatica pain happens when your sciatic nerve, which runs from your hips to your feet, becomes irritated. It's uncomfortable and can get in the way of your daily life. Fortunately, there...

Whether you're a competitive athlete or a weekend trooper, injuries are an unfortunate part of any sport you love. Traditional treatments can leave you sidelined for months, but recovery times are shrinking thanks to groundbreaking advancements like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.  This breakthrough treatment is getting athletes back in the game faster than...

Joint pain and arthritis can be frustrating and debilitating, adversely affecting your quality of life. With so much information available on the internet and beyond, it's easy to become overwhelmed and fall victim to common misconceptions. At SEPA Pain and Spine, with six locations in southeastern Pennsylvania, our team of medical professionals offers a wide...

Many people across the globe are living with chronic pain. It can be debilitating and severely undercut your quality of life. It can also be challenging to find effective and long-lasting treatments. For some people, traditional pain medications are ineffective, while others who find them effective may find their side...

Neck pain is a more common condition than you may realize, affecting people of all ages and genders. When you feel pain in your neck, it typically originates from your cervical spine, the part of your spine located in your neck.  For some people, neck pain is temporary, the result of...

If you’ve recently had a sports injury or you suffer from a chronic pain condition like arthritis or fibromyalgia, it can be debilitating. Even dealing with occasional or acute neck, back, or joint pain can be frustrating and throw a wrench into your everyday activities.  Though coming up with a...

Ingredients: 1 spaghetti squash 13 oz. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces ½ red onion, sliced 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 5 eggs ½ cup coconut milk 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Directions: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees...

Chronic pain from arthritis, orthopedic injuries and degenerative conditions can dramatically change a person’s quality of life. Although there are several ways to treat chronic pain, many people require life-long treatment or surgery in order to gain long term relief. Now, there is Regennexx. Regennexx is an alternative solution for...

Thank you for visiting our blog, and we look forward to connecting with you. S.E. PA Pain Management is excited to bring you the latest information about research and advancements in pain medicine. This blog will also be used to post updates about our practice and keep in touch with...