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Uncategorized Published - 9 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Updates on Smoking and Low Back Pain

This review article highlights current knowledge on the association between low back pain and smoking, with an emphasis on the role of nicotine. By Bilal F. Shanti, MD and Ihsan F. Shanti, MD, PhD An estimated 1 in 5 adults in the United States uses tobacco products every day or some days. This equates to […]

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Uncategorized Published - 9 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Epidural Steroid Injections May Delay Surgery, But Only Minimally

Epidural injections of steroids may have only a small effect in preventing or delaying the need for spinal surgery for low back pain when compared to other treatments, according to a review and meta-analysis of several randomized controlled trials (RCT). The results were mixed: Injections reduced the need for surgery in some patients, but this […]

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Uncategorized Published - 9 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
HIPAA Rules

A patient whom I’d been treating with opioids for chronic back pain the family claimed they tried to call me to tell me about my patient’s drug addiction but that I’d refused to talk with them. The fact is, I did decline to take the phone call, and it was because the patient hadn’t given […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Who’s Better at Telling Operating Time?

Orthopedic surgeons are best, and anesthetists worst, at predicting operating theater time, according to orthopedic surgeons from New Zealand. “Our hypothesis going in was that the anesthetic time would be longer than they expected, as surgeons have become very good at predicting the time they require in recent times, potentially as a results of the […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Perioperative Management of Diabetic Patients

New Controversies Published in Br J Anaesth. 2014;113(6):906-909 Authors: P. Aldam, N. Levy, G. M. Hall Introduction The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is increasing rapidly. In 2011, it was estimated that 366 million people worldwide had DM with a projected increase to 522 million by 2030. Diabetes is one of the most common non-communicable […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Anesthesia considerations in stiff person syndrome.

A 34 year old morbidly obese stiff person syndrome (SPS) patient was scheduled for a permanent catheter placement. SPS is a rare neurologic condition with a suspected autoimmune etiology. SPS most common manifestations are progressive, including severe muscle rigidity or stiffness affecting the spine and lower extremities more than other muscle groups. SPS have superimposed […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Transdermal buprenorphine controls central neuropathic pain.

A 53-year-old male with peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage resulting in right hemiparesis and hemisensory loss. Three months later, he developed constant and burning pain within the entire right side of his body. He was diagnosed with central pain syndrome and treated with antiepileptics and tricyclic antidepressants. Minimal analgesia was achieved, which was […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Urine Drug Testing

UDT is Essential to Medical Care Pain physicians are at the forefront of providing diverse patient populations with quality medical care that improves lives. Chronic pain is one of the leading reasons why patients visit their doctor—who understands that uncontrolled chronic pain causes unnecessary suffering and can lead to depression. While treatment of chronic pain […]

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Uncategorized Published - 8 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
CMS Notifies Practices of their Non-Participation in PQRS 2013

In recent weeks, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent correspondence to a number of members, practitioners and billing companies detailing how the PQRS payment adjustment may affect their covered professional services in 2015. CMS sent these letters to Eligible Professional(s) (or their billing companies and departments) noting of their non-participation in the […]

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Uncategorized Published - 7 January, 2015    By - Dr Clemens
Calcitonin for phantom limb pain in a pregnant woman.

The use of calcitonin to relieve severe, treatment-refractory phantom limb pain (PLP) is reported. After an above-knee leg amputation, a 29-year-old pregnant woman (at eight weeks gestation) reported severe PLP (consistent scores of 9 or 10 on a 10-point pain severity scale). The pain persisted for more than two weeks and was not relieved by […]

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