Traumeel Epidural? The FDA, Spine applications and more about this Homeopathic treatment
Release Date: 12/11/2023
Hydrogen Therapy for Pain?
The PMRExam Podcast
PainExam Podcast Episode: An In-Depth Look at Hydrogen-Rich Water for Chronic Inflammatory Pain In a recent episode of the PainExam podcast, Dr. David Rosenblum delves into an intriguing study published in the journal Antioxidants, exploring the therapeutic potential of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) in alleviating chronic inflammatory pain and associated mood disorders in mice. The study, conducted by Santiago Coral-Pérez and colleagues from the Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, presents compelling evidence supporting the analgesic,...
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Using Ultrasound for Safe and Accurate Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
The PMRExam Podcast
Dr. Rosenblum serves at AMETD's 2024 Conference as faculty and discusses the safe and accurate usage of Ultrasound to Guide PRP injecitons Discussed in this lecure: Knee, Hip, Shoudler, Ligament and Tendon Targets, the ultrasound technique, the evidence for PRP and controversy. Controversy with respect to the Achilles Tendon! Other Announcements from : PainExam App is ready for iphone Pain Management Board Prep migrated to AnesthesiaExam Board Prep migrated to PMRExam Board Prep migrated to For Anesthesia Board Prep ...
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Corticosteroid Injections in Chronic Pain Management- New Guidelines
The PMRExam Podcast
Podcast Show Note Summary: Episode Title: "New Guidelines for Corticosteroid Injections in Chronic Pain Management" This podcast is a discussion about the recent review article In this episode, we dive into the recently published guidelines on the use of corticosteroid injections for managing chronic pain, developed by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, along with several other prominent pain societies. These guidelines address the safety and efficacy of corticosteroid injections for sympathetic and peripheral nerve blocks, as well as trigger point...
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The Trigeminal Nerve Block for Facial Pain
The PMRExam Podcast
PainExam Show Notes: Mandibular Division of the Trigeminal Nerve Block with Dr. David Rosenblum Introduction Host: Dr. David Rosenblum Topic: Mandibular Division of the Trigeminal Nerve Block for Cancer Pain Management Techniques: Ultrasound and Fluoroscopic Guidance Overview Purpose: Alleviate chronic facial pain, specifically in cancer patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia or other related conditions. Focus: Detailed discussion on the anatomy, clinical presentation, and procedural techniques for effective nerve block. Anatomy of the Mandibular Nerve ...
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Regenerative Pain Medicine Journal Club: Intraarticular vs Intraosseous vs ESW and more!
The PMRExam Podcast
Dr. Rosenblum addresses 2 Studies on this Pain Management Journal Club Podcast Article 1: The Treatment of Bone Marrow Lesions Associated with Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis: Comparing Intraosseous and Intraarticular Injections with Bone Marrow Concentrate and Platelet Products Article 2: Autologous US-guided PRP injection versus US-guided focal extracorporeal shock wave therapy for chronic lateral epicondylitis: Aminimum of 2-year follow-up retrospective comparative study Editorial: Dr. Rosenblum poses some important questions: Why are regenerative therapies not covered? ...
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Pain Fellowship, Research & Exosomes for Pain Management with Christopher Robinson, MD PhD
The PMRExam Podcast
Join us on this episode of the PainExam Podcast where rising star, Christopher Robinson, MD PhD discusses his upcoming paper on exosomes featuring some of the largest names in pain managment. Dr. Rosenblum also alludes to degenerative disc disease being a partially infectious podcast. Other topics discussed on this podcast: The Anesthesiology Job Market Pain Management Fellowship Duration of Pain Management Fellowships Should Pain Management be an Independent Residency? Other Announcements from : PainExam App almost ready Pain Management Board Prep...
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The role of L-PRP. Is Degenerative Disc Disease an Infectious Disease? A Journal Club
The PMRExam Podcast
Journal Club: Treating Degenerative Disc Disease with Leukocyte Rich PRP Dr. Rosenblum discusses an article written by Dr. Gregory Lutz describing Leukocyte RIch PRP's role in treating Degenerative Disc Disease and the theory that there is an infectious disease component to disc injury. Dr. Lutz describes multiple articles, as well as anectodal experience in which bacterial infectious was demonstrated in pathological discs, and PRP was successful in alleviating symptoms, modic changes and improved clinical as well as radiographic appearance. Other Announcements from : PainExam...
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Dry Needling the Iliopsoas Muscle with Therapeutic Stretching in the Treatment of Lumbar Radiculitis
The PMRExam Podcast
Dr. Rosenblum reviews an article by Dr. Reuben Ingber regarding the use of iliopsoas trigger point dry needling and therapeutic stretching in the treatement of 6 consecutive patients wiht acute lumbar radiculitis and foot drop. Other Announcements from : PainExam App almost ready Pain Management Board Prep migrated to AnesthesiaExam Board Prep migrated to PMRExam Board Prep migrated to For Anesthesia Board Prep References . CMS National Coverage Policy
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Managing Refractory Post Op Shoulder Pain with Radiofrequency Ablation
The PMRExam Podcast
Dr. Rosenblum describes a patient with chronic shoulder pain who failed shoulder replacement, steroid injections, nerve blocks, cryotherapy, and peripheral nerve stimulation of the axillary and suprascapular nerve block. In this podcast, he discusses his perfomance of Shoulder Radiofrequency Ablation targeting the articular branches of the suprascapular nerve, axillary nerve, nerve to subscapularis and lateral pectoral nerve. Reference: ...
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Physicians Lobby Capital Hill for more Transparency and Oversight of Independent Review Organizations
The PMRExam Podcast
Advocating for Transparency and Oversight in Pain Management Introduction: Welcome back to Painexam, where we delve into the latest advancements and challenges in pain management. Today's episode highlights a significant advocacy effort made by leading Interventional Pain Physicians and industry experts. Summary of Lobbying Effort: On March 20, 2024, a group of widely known and respected pain physicians and industry leaders, including Drs. Sean Li, Peter Staats, Mehul J. Desai, David Reece, Hemant Kalia, and David Rosenblum, alongside industry figures Mark Stultz, Christopher Conrad, and...
info_outlinePainExam Podcast Show Notes: Exploring Traumeel as an Alternative for Back Pain Relief
Board Prep and Continuing Education
Introduction:
- Today, Long Island Based Pain Physician David Rosenblum, MD delves into the latest advancements and alternative treatments for pain management.
- In today's episode, we shine a spotlight on Traumeel®, a homeopathic alternative gaining traction for its anti-inflammatory properties, with fewer reported side effects compared to corticosteroids.
Understanding Traumeel:
- Traumeel, a fixed combination of diluted plant and mineral extracts, has been available over-the-counter in Europe for over 60 years.
- Contrary to corticosteroids, Traumeel's popularity has surged due to its limited side effect profile, with reported contraindications primarily linked to allergies [9].
Scientific Insights:
- A study by Lussignoli et al. demonstrated Traumeel's efficacy in decreasing systemic interleukin-6 production and reducing edema, countering an unregulated inflammatory response [10].
- In vitro studies revealed Traumeel's inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, TNFα, IL-8) in immune cells, suggesting its potential in stabilizing the immune system [8].
- Notably, Traumeel's effectiveness seems to surpass the sum of its individual components, indicating a synergistic interaction [9-10].
Clinical Applications:
- Traumeel has shown efficacy comparable to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in treating various inflammatory conditions.
- It is available in oral, topical, and injectable preparations, making it a versatile option for pain relief [8-9].
Research Gaps and Potential:
- Despite its established use, current research lacks information on Traumeel's efficacy in epidural injections for short-term back pain relief.
- No studies have compared Traumeel to corticosteroid injections, although the TRARO study protocol proposes a potential avenue for comparison in rotator cuff syndrome patients [11].
Pain Management Board Prep
Clinical Cases:
- Five patients seeking back pain relief opted for Traumeel injections due to either a contraindication to or a preference against steroids.
- This real-world scenario lays the groundwork for further exploration into Traumeel's efficacy in epidural injections, providing additional pain-relieving options for patients unable to tolerate corticosteroid injections.
Conclusion:
- Traumeel presents a promising alternative for pain management, particularly in cases where corticosteroids may be unsuitable, however the FDA has yet to approve it and therefore it has failed to gain traction in the US. [14]
- As we wrap up, stay tuned for future developments in the research landscape surrounding Traumeel and its potential role in enhancing pain relief options.
Disclaimer:
- Consult with a healthcare professional before considering any alternative treatments. The information provided in this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
David Rosenblum, MD
President, NRAP Academy
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesiology
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Director of Pain Management
Maimonides Medical Center