SJM_DEPT_Health_0724FINAL.qxp_Dept 7 / 25 / 24 2 : 46 PM Page 1 ‘ You Do Not Have to Suffer ’ TODAY’S PAIN - MANAGEMENT APPROACHES PRIORITIZE NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENTS BUT ALSO ASSESSING THE HOLISTIC WELLNESS OF A PATIENT . by Madeleine Maccar nyone who’s suffered with pro - That holistic approach is what Dr . Theclarity of having a prescribed course longed pain understands how it Stephen Goldfine , chief medical officer at of treatment ahead , as well as an array of A is profoundly difficult to live life Samaritan , refers to as diminishing patients ’ options to help zero in on what works best on your terms when you’re besieged by “ totalpain . ” for an individual and their specific circum - discomfort without relief . “ Total pain is something we talk about stance , can be a tremendous first step in Persistent pain presents itself in infinitely a lot in hospice , ” he says . “ In my world , reclaiming some semblance of a patient’s individualized and different ways : Some is pain is not just physical : It’s emotional and pre - pain life . It also means being seen as a temporary , like an injury that will eventually spiritual and possibly financial , there’s so human being with hopes , fears and loved heal if handled properly ; some is conditional , many reasons why people have pain syn - ones rather than impersonally reduced to like managing chemotherapy treatment or dromes . If we don’t address all of those theirdiagnoses and ailments . a diabetes diagnosis ; and some comes from spheres of care , then we don’t get to that “ Oneof the major things we emphasize a terminal ailment , which then demands comfort for the patient . … There’s even is teaching those younger physicians to palliative and end - of - life care . things like music therapy and massage ther - really listen to their patients and their The science of helping people manage apy , and things that may help with some of stories , ” Dr . Kaufman says . “ We need to re - chronic pain is an interdisciplinary branch thenonphysical , emotional component of member that we don’t treat MRIs , we treat of medicine , calling on a range of profes - that pain syndrome . If you don’t deal with people . ” sionals to deliver treatment tailored to each that , then you’re not really taking care of It also means giving them back some patient’s wants , goals and circumstances . In theentire , total person . ” quality time with loved ones , as well as their a perfect world , a diagnosis identifies the After the alarming increase of opioid - ownautonomy , which is always an important offending issue so a team of physicians , related deaths since the ’ 90s and that era’s component to consider — especially in pa - psychologists , physical therapists and other dependenceon pharmaceutical options as tients who want to get the most from the professionals caring for a patient can begin the first line of defense , a less - medicinal timethey have left . treating the root cause instead of managing approachhas evolved to help patients man - “ There’sbeen a lot of data over the years symptoms . age if not mitigate their pain levels . that shows pain is underdiagnosed and un - “ First , understanding the patient’s med - “ Twenty years ago , obviously opioids dertreated , ” notes Goldfine . “ That leads to ical , surgical and pain history , including werethe mainstay , but that’s not something adecrease in functional capacity for a seg - any previous treatment outcomes and di - weutilize at this time with the opioid crisis , ” ment of the population . … [ But ] you do agnostic testing , is vital , ” says Dr . Young saysDr . Andrew Kaufman , executive director not have to suffer : I tell my patients and Lee , MD , a double board - certified anesthe - of the New Jersey Society of Interventional their families all the time that there’s no siologist and interventional pain specialist PainPhysicians . “ But I think even before it point in having a pain syndrome . Uncon - at Relievus Pain Management . “ Second , becamea crisis , most really good pain doc - trolled pain leads to worse outcomes , and identifying any physical signs that may in - torswere moving away from that as we saw ifa patient is suffering then their interactions n dicate the source and nature of the pain . whatthe long - term outcome was . ” with their loved ones aren’t as vibrant . ” Third , evaluating the characteristics of the “ Thefield of pain has advanced so much SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION pain , such as its intensity , duration , location , inthe last 10 years , ” Dr . Lee adds . “ Prescribing and any factors that alleviate or exacerbate painmeds is no longer the only solution to Finding Relief it . Fourth , I consider the psychological , alleviatingpain — in fact , there are so many for Chronic Pain social and emotional factors that may in - othernoninvasive and advanced techniques fluence the patient’s pain . Finally , it’s im - now available that are much more com - Specialists to help with a wide range of conditions portant to set goals and expectations along prehensivein treating most pain syndromes . Relievus Samaritan with developing an appropriate treatment Thefield has gotten so much more advanced Serving South Jersey Serving South Jersey plan . This comprehensive approach helps andspecialized . My best advice for patients ( 888 ) 210 - 3054 ( 800 ) 229 - 8183 in creating a personalized and effective pain in pain is to see a physician who is board RELIEVUS.COM SAMARITANNJ.ORG management strategy . ” certifiedin pain management . ” SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 21 issue 4 SOUTHJERSEYMAGAZINE.COM | 45