Category: Blog

If you’re one of the 4 million Americans with widespread body pain that doesn’t seem to end, you can rely on the expertise of the pain management specialists at Zephyr Medical.

Dr. Benjamin Portal, and our experienced medical team specialize in diagnosing and treating fibromyalgia. We take a proactive, integrative approach to managing your pain and easing other fibromyalgia symptoms.

Our providers also value improving your overall health to prevent fibromyalgia flare-ups.

What to know about fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes pain throughout your body. The root cause of this condition isn’t well understood, but those who have it may have an increased sensitivity to pain due to inflammatory or autoimmune disease.

In addition to persistent widespread pain, you might also experience:

• Chronic fatigue
• Joint and muscle stiffness
• Numbness and tingling in the arms and legs
• Difficulty sleeping
• Concentration issues
• Constipation, bloating, and other digestive issues

You may also be prone to increased sensitivity to temperatures, sounds, light, and smells.

Risks for developing fibromyalgia include genetics, environmental factors, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

When to seek help for fibromyalgia symptoms

Fibromyalgia symptoms can be nearly constant, and you may experience flare-ups where your symptoms are even worse. When you can no longer manage fibromyalgia pain with over-the-counter medications, schedule a consultation at Zephyr Medical.

We offer complete physical exams and may order lab tests to rule out other conditions. Our providers also test 18 different pressure points around your body. Pressing on these specific points can trigger a flare-up of pain and other symptoms that last for an hour or more, helping us (and you) understand your unique trigger points.

Based on the results of your exam and tests, we discuss your options for treatment and personalize a care plan to your needs.

Because fibromyalgia is chronic, we provide ongoing care to support your health and keep you pain-free.

Exploring your treatment options for fibromyalgia

When over-the-counter medications aren’t working well, we can prescribe pain medications or steroid injections to relieve fibromyalgia pain. Zephyr Medical also provides nerve blocks to disrupt pain signals that travel from your nerves to your brain.

Some people with chronic fibromyalgia pain may benefit from medical marijuana to improve their comfort and sleep quality.

Other fibromyalgia therapies may include:

• Antidepressants or anti-seizure medications
• Occupational therapy
• Biofeedback
• Acupuncture
• Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)

Psychological counseling may be helpful if you’re having trouble coping with fibromyalgia’s impact on your quality of life. We also recommend stress-reduction techniques to manage stress, which can worsen fibromyalgia symptoms in some individuals.

Physical therapy and at-home exercises are other essential parts of your fibromyalgia treatment. Daily exercise helps you maintain a healthy body weight, prevents your joints from stiffening, and keeps your muscles strong.

We offer resources to improve your diet and help you make necessary lifestyle changes, so you can continue to enjoy a high-quality, physically active life.

Call Zephyr Medical in Brooklyn, New York, to schedule a fibromyalgia consultation or book an appointment online today.

Weakness and numbness in your legs and feet might make you feel like you’re off balance, especially if these symptoms are persistent.

At Zephyr Medical, skilled physician Dr. Benjamin Portal, and our experienced medical team specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions that contribute to limb weakness and numbness, including peripheral neuropathy.

Understanding peripheral neuropathy

Your peripheral nerves provide sensations to your limbs and other areas of your body outside of your brain and spinal cord. These nerves make it possible to notice different temperatures and textures and experience pain.

When you have peripheral neuropathy, it means your nerves are damaged and may not be functioning properly. This can cause miscommunication between your nervous system and the rest of your body. For instance, you might feel persistent pain even when you don’t have an injury.

Other common side effects of peripheral neuropathy include:

• Tingling
• Burning
• Dull aches
• Numbness
• Weakness

These symptoms can progressively worsen over time and make you feel off balance. In some cases, you might experience a significant reduction in your mobility, affecting your ability to work, exercise, and remain independent.

Reasons you might have peripheral neuropathy

You might be at increased risk for developing peripheral neuropathy if you experience direct trauma to your body that damages your nerves.

Diabetes is another leading cause of peripheral neuropathy. In fact, nerve damage caused by diabetes has its own term – diabetic neuropathy. This condition can cause mobility issues, vision loss, and other serious complications.

Other conditions that can contribute to peripheral neuropathy include:

• Stroke
• Shingles
• Kidney failure
• Celiac disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Hormonal disorders

Lifestyle factors like alcoholism and poor diet can also increase your risk factors for peripheral neuropathy.

Exploring your treatment options for peripheral neuropathy

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Zephyr Medical if you have persistent numbness, weakness, pain, or other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy that you can’t manage on your own.

Our team offers complete physical exams and advanced diagnostic tests to confirm your symptoms are related to nerve damage. We also identify how severe your nerve damage is to create the right treatment plan for you.

Initially, we may recommend lifestyle and diet changes you can make now. This may include incorporating exercise into your daily routine, eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet, and limiting your use of alcohol. You should also aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night

Other treatments we offer to manage peripheral neuropathy include:

• Medications
• Laser therapy
• Medical marijuana
• Ketamine treatments
• Peripheral nerve stimulation

You may also need an additional care plan to address diabetes, kidney disease, or other causes of peripheral neuropathy.

We continue to monitor your progress with treatment, so you can stay pain-free and physically active. You may also benefit from a referral for physical therapy to strengthen your muscles to prevent feelings of being off balance from returning. We can also recommend psychotherapy that teaches you techniques to cope with your condition healthily.

Call Zephyr Medical in Brooklyn, New York, to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, or book an appointment online today.

If you’ve ever dealt with a bad back, then you know how debilitating it can be — even the simplest movements are plagued with searing pain.

That’s where we come in.

Here, Dr. Benjamin Portal, our expert pain management specialist at Zephyr Medical, shares exactly what you need to know about where sciatica comes from, how we treat it, and how you can work toward preventing it.

Getting on your nerve

Sciatica is a pain condition that occurs when your sciatic nerve becomes irritated. The sciatic nerve is one of the largest in your body. It begins in your lower back and branches down through each of your hips, buttocks, and legs.

Sciatica pain is a symptom of an underlying problem, typically a herniated disc, a bone spur, or a narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis). Some other factors that can contribute to sciatica include:

• Age-related changes in your spine
• Excess weight that puts pressure on your spine
• Having a job that requires you to twist your back
• Carrying heavy loads
• Sitting for long periods of time
• Diabetes

The pressure and irritation on your nerve trigger pain that radiates along the pathway of your nerve.

For some, sciatica is a mild ache; for others, a sharp, burning sensation. The pain can also be worse when you do something like sneeze or cough. Numbness, tingling, and/or muscle weakness can also accompany sciatica.

Mild sciatica, though frustrating, isn’t usually a cause for concern. However, it’s important that you seek immediate medical attention if you have sudden, severe pain, pain that follows a traumatic injury, or trouble controlling your bowels or bladder. All are signs of significant nerve damage that needs prompt treatment.

Your first steps toward relief

Sciatica can affect nearly every facet of your daily life, but the good news is that there are many ways to find genuine, lasting relief. Here’s a closer look at some of your options.

Nonsurgical options

Often, sciatica can resolve itself when you give your body time to heal from whatever’s causing it. Many people find that their symptoms improve over a few weeks with at-home remedies, including:

• Gentle stretching
• Exercise
• Rest
• Hot and cold therapy
• Yoga
• Massage
• Over-the-counter pain medication

We may also recommend physical therapy to develop a stretching and exercise routine that specifically targets the underlying causes of sciatica.

Surgical options

Only in the most severe cases do we recommend surgery to address sciatica. Depending on your unique situation, you may require a diskectomy or a laminectomy. Both procedures involve removing tissue pressing on your sciatic nerve.

Preventing sciatica in the future

Whether you’re simply gathering information or if you had a recent bout of sciatica, we know that avoiding sciatica pain is a top priority. Though there’s no guarantee that you’ll never experience sciatica again, there are a few things you can do to significantly reduce your risk, such as:

• Exercising regularly
• Focusing on activities that strengthen your back
• Maintaining proper posture when sitting or standing
• Not sitting for too long
• Using proper technique when lifting a heavy object

As you can see, the name of the sciatica-prevention game is protecting your spine and strengthening your back. If you commit to these healthy habits, your chances of developing painful conditions like sciatica go down tremendously.

If you’d like more information, or if you suspect you have sciatica, don’t hesitate to request an appointment online or over the phone at our Brooklyn, New York, office today.