MDNews - Long Island

Dr. Raj and his spine care team members: Divina Verde, Corey Oren and Emiray Ekren a r thritis a nd sacroiliac joint pa in, Dr. Raj notes. Spinal cord stimulation. During this procedure, a mild electrical current is used to impede the nerve impulses that transmit pain signals from the spine. Leads are placed percutaneously or via laminectomy, with power supplied by a small battery powered generator inside the body. Typically, patients undergo a trial period with an external gen- erator before the permanent generator is placed. Spinal cord stimulation can be an effective treatment for many pain condi- tions, including complex regional pain syndrome, nerve pain in the arms and legs, and chronic back pain that persists after surgery. Empathetic Pain Management Dr. Raj is part of a tradition of heal- ers — his father was a surgeon and his daughter is in medical school. His father emphasized the importance of passionate and compassionate care. So, when patients ask him, "What treatment would you recommend if it was your family member?" or "What would you do in my position?" Dr. Raj draws upon family wisdom. "It is very important for a pain physi- cian to put himself in patients' shoes when treating them," he says. "You have to understand the suffering of your patients in acute or chronic pain and treat them compassionately. Empathy is important for all physicians, but particularly for pain medicine physi- cians. You have to treat patients how you or your family member expects to be treated." In Dr. R aj's ca se, t he a nswer is always affirmative. "It is very important to give a sincere recommendation and do what is right." To learn more, visit newyorkispine.com. ■ COV ER FE AT UR E AN ONGOING CHALLENGE "THE ROLE OF a pain management physician does not end with evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of a painful condition with prescription of therapy or spinal injection," says Madan K. Raj, MD, Founder and Director of New York iSpine Specialist Medical PC. "It is important to educate your patients about how to prevent the recurrence of pain. Remind your patients to: + Maintain good posture at work and at home + Set up an ergonomic workspace + Take stretch breaks at work + Use proper body mechanics when lifting or moving objects + Establish an exercise routine + Eat right and maintain optimum weight + Quit smoking + Reduce stress + Sleep on their side "These are small tips, but they go long way to help patients avoid re-injuring their spine and aggravating back problems." 1 0 | Long Island MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M

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