To say that COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into our daily lives would be a massive understatement.  As pain management professionals, we had to quickly adapt to the challenges this pandemic put in front of us and navigate a new landscape of twists and turns while continuing to provide top-notch healthcare to our patients.

Telemedicine for Pain Management in NJ

Telemedicine for Pain Management in NJ

One of the most significant changes the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about is the way we meet with others.  Video conferences have replaced in-person meetings in the workplace, and the same holds true in the healthcare industry.  Thanks to technology, we were able to transition smoothly to a telemedicine-based approach, whenever appropriate.

Telemedicine allows us to communicate with our patients while minimizing the risk of infection.  Chronic pain doesn’t stop for a pandemic, so video chats and phone calls allow us to provide the same level of healthcare without putting our patients or employees at risk.

Some of the things we can utilize telemedicine for include:

• Initial Consultations
• Prescription Refills
• Follow-up Appointments

Beyond minimizing the risk for infection, telemedicine came with other added benefits, including:

• Eliminating the need for travel for our patients
• Increased efficiency for our practice
• Ability to assess our patients in their home environment
• Ability to work with patients outside of our immediate geographical area

There are certainly procedures and situations that require us to meet with our patients face to face, and we take appropriate safety precautions in those cases.

If you are interested in telemedicine for your pain management, contact us today here.

COVID-19 Vaccinations and Steroid Injections

Covid-19 Vaccinations and Steroid Injections

With the emergence of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, we need to be mindful when scheduling steroid injections for chronic pain relief.  While there is no data to support negative interactions between steroid injections and COVID-19 vaccine administration, it is accepted as a general rule of thumb to wait 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the administration of the vaccine before receiving any steroid injections.

Since there is no long-term data yet on COVID-19 vaccines, the 2-week waiting window is derived from guidance on other existing vaccines.  While there hasn’t been any evidence of immunity suppression from the steroid injections, it’s better to err on the side of caution until we have enough data on the subject.

Pain Management in COVID-19 “Long Haulers”

COVID-19 survivors may be at risk of opiate addiction, due to the high rate of pain medications being prescribed while recovering from the virus.  While hospitalized, these patients may be prescribed opiates such as OxyContin, Vicodin or Codeine for their pain or anxiety.   For example, patients put on ventilators to assist with breathing, may be sedated in order to remain comfortable.

This puts a whole new group at risk for future opiate dependency without the proper guidance from an experienced pain management doctor.

Alternative treatments such as physical therapy, over the counter anti-inflammatory medication or biofeedback may be recommended for long haulers in lieu of opiates.

These are just a few of the ways pain management healthcare has changed in the face of COVID-19.  While we continue to face new challenges as variants of the virus emerge, you can always count on Progressive Pain Management to evolve and adapt.  Our goal is to provide our patients with the best pain management throughout New Jersey!