FDA Approves New Opioid to Treat Breakthrough Pain of Cancer

Posted on January 14, 2011 | Comments Off
Harvey Finkelstein MD

Harvey Finkelstein MD

A new treatment for the pain caused by cancer has just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by adults who are ‘opioid-tolerant.’

The drug is known as Fentanyl (Abstral) and is administered in tablet form. It is to be used to manage “breakthrough” pain which appears suddenly and only requires short-term but high-dose treatment to control, as opposed to the constant, lower-dose opioid treatment which is part of the patient’s regular pharmaceutical regimen for pain management.

Specialists in pain management, treatment and control, such as Dr. Harvey Finkelstein M.D., who wish to prescribe this medication to their patients, will need to enroll in a special government program called the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) which was developed to minimize incorrect use of this powerful pain medication.

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New Research for Chronic Migraine Treatment

Posted on January 7, 2011 | Comments Off

According to the online monthly magazine Pain Medicine News, there may be new hope on the way for those suffering from chronic migraine headaches.  The report in PMN sites a feasibility study of a procedure called subcutaneous occipital nerve stimulation, or ONS, which shows promise as an alternative treatment for those who suffer from CM but do not respond to drug therapies.

“We were quite pleased with the results of this study,” said lead author Joel R. Saper, MD, professor of neurology at Michigan State University in Lansing and director of the Michigan Head-Pain and Neurological Institute and the inpatient Head-Pain Treatment Unit at Chelsea Community Hospital in Ann Arbor. “However, this study wasn’t designed to show ultimate efficacy or lack thereof. It was designed primarily to help us determine how to do a more complete and ultimate study to test the efficacy for subcutaneous nerve stimulation for chronic migraine.”

This is good news for Dr. Harvey Finkelstein MD, who, as a specialist in pain management, is always interested in new and more effective ways to help his patients treat their pain.

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New Study Points to Non-Drug Method of Treating Migraine

Posted on January 4, 2011 | Comments Off

As a specialist in pain treatment, control and management, Dr. Harvey Finkelstein MD is familiar with patients who suffer from chronic migraine headaches. A new study has found that subcutaneous occipital nerve stimulation, or ONS is most likely a safe choice for treatment of chronic migraine headaches. The feasibility study, a prospective, randomized study which was also controlled for placebo effect, points the way to the future hope of many patients with CM and are unresponsive to treatments utilizing medications.

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Dr. Harvey Finkelstein MD: Two Types of Epidural

Posted on December 30, 2010 | Comments Off
Harvey Finkelstein MD

Harvey Finkelstein MD

There are two main types of epidurals presently utilized to achieve pain relief in laboring women today. Dr. Harvey Finkelstein MD, an expert in pain management, can be consulted to discuss these two kinds of epidural anesthesia.

A regular epidural is given after a catheter is in place in the woman’s back. The medication, which is a combination of narcotic and anesthesia, is delivered through the use of either a pump or injections spaced at regular intervals into the epidural space of the spine. The administration of narcotic such as fentanyl or morphine is instead of higher doses of the anesthetic, including bupivacaine, lidocaine or others, which helps to reduce the unwanted side effects of higher amounts of the anesthetic.

The second type of epidural is known as a ‘walking epidural,’ or Combined Spinal-Epidural (CSE.) The laboring woman is allowed more movement, eating and drinking, depending on the hospital’s policy, through the special placement of the epidural by the anesthesiologist. CSE generally gives 4-8 hours of pain relief.

Before deciding on which course of action is best, it is recommended that any patient contemplating taking pain relief, for whatever reason, including labor, should consult with a physician. Dr. Harvey Finkelstein, as a specialist in issues relating to pain relief and management, is a perfect health care professional who can advise on this issue.

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Epidural for Labor Pain: Dr. Harvey Finkelstein MD

Posted on December 27, 2010 | Comments Off

One of the more well-known forms of anesthesia for pain relief is the epidural. Its fame probably arises from the fact that many women are given this form of anesthesia during childbirth. According to the American Pregnancy Association more women ask for this particular means of achieving a painless birth by name than any other method for pain relief during labor.

The goals of an epidural during labor are to provide what is more correctly known as analgesia, or pain relief. Anesthesia is more correctly the total absence of feeling, which is not necessarily the goal of an epidural. An epidural works by blocking the impulses from the nerves in the lower back, which reduces sensation of pain in the lower half of the body.

When necessary, as a specialist in the management of pain, Dr. Harvey Finkelstein MD will suggest an epidural as a way to achieve pain relief in laboring women.

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Two Approaches to Pain Relief

Posted on December 24, 2010 | Comments Off

Acetaminophen and NSAIDs reduce fever and relieve pain through two different mechanisms. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) probably lowers fever and alleviates pain by interacting with the parts of the brain which receive the messages of pain and control the temperature of the body.

NSAIDs, for instance aspirin, on the other hand, achieve the same results but by instead reducing the amount of prostaglandins (hormone-type substances) that your body produces. Prostaglandins cause your body to feel pain by irritating the nerve endings, and they are also involved in the body’s temperature control system.

Whenever someone is thinking about taking an OTC, it is always recommended to consult with a physician first, such as Dr. Harvey Finkelstein.

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Know Your OTC Meds: Dr. Harvey Finkelstein

Posted on December 22, 2010 | Comments Off

Over the counter (OTC) medications for pain relief are highly popular. Practically everyone has taken them at some time in their lives, either for a headache, back pain, or for many other types of non-serious pain-related ailments.

There are basically two types of OTC pain relief medications on the market. One kind is acetaminophen (Tylenol is one brand name for this type of medicine); and the other kind is called ‘non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs’ or NSAIDs. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are examples of NSAIDs. There are a few products that can be purchased OTC which contain both acetaminophen and aspirin together. Brand names of some of those are Excedrin Extra Strength and Vanquish. Before taking even the most common OTC drugs it is highly recommended to consult with a physician such as Dr. Harvey Finkelstein.

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Codeine for Mild to Moderate Pain:Dr. Harvey Finkelstein

Posted on December 18, 2010 | Comments Off

Codeine is an analgesic (pain relief medication) used primarily for mild to moderate pain. When a physician who specializes in pain management, such as Dr. Harvey Finkelstein, believes codeine to be the best choice of analgesic for his patients, he will also carefully calculate the correct dosage and the best form in which the patient should take the medication. Before taking codeine, or any other medicine, be sure to make your physician and pharmacist aware of any other medications you might be taking, or any other conditions you might have.

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Physician Will Prescribe Correct Dosage/Meds

Posted on December 16, 2010 | Comments Off

Pain relief medications come in many strengths, from the mildest to the strongest. A pain relief expert such as Dr. Harvey Finkelstein will prescribe the right medication in the correct form and dosage to achieve the best possible pain relief with the least amount of side-effects. Among the choices for analgesic relief of pain are codeine, Darvocet, Meperidine (Demerol), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and others.

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Analgesics Are Administered in a Variety of Ways

Posted on December 14, 2010 | Comments Off

Dr. Harvey Finkelstein, as a specialist in pain management, is intimately familiar with the large number of drugs available to ease the pain after surgery. Pain relief medications, also known as analgesics, can be administered in a variety of ways. Sometimes it is most convenient to introduce analgesics intravenously through an IV drip. This is most often the procedure when a patient is in the hospital. After discharge the patient can take analgesics in one or more of the following ways: as a pill, as a lozenge, a suppository, in liquid form as an elixir, or even as an ointment to be absorbed into the skin.

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