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Blog Archive

How Viscosupplementation for Knee Osteoarthritis Can Prevent the Need for Surgery May 15th, 2024

Joints are architectural marvels that allow the human body to move, bend, and flex in myriad ways — unless you have osteoarthritis. With no cure, this progressive disease can seem like a one-way ticket to lifelong pain and eventual surgery, but viscosupplementation may offer a hopeful detour. New Jersey’s leading...

What Causes Back Pain that Radiates into Your Legs? Jan 17th, 2024

When your leg hurts, it’s logical to assume that you’ve injured it or have some sort of problem with your leg muscles or joints. But often, leg pain has nothing to do with your leg at all — instead, it indicates a lower back problem. Renowned physician Jay M. Shah....

Common Causes and Treatment Options for Upper Thoracic Pain Dec 12th, 2023

Your spine contains three main areas: cervical (neck), lumbar (low back), and thoracic (mid-back). The cervical and lumbar regions have a lot of movement and flexibility, so they experience the lion’s share of injuries. Your thoracic spine connects to your rib cage, so it’s less susceptible to injury. However, when...

What to Do About Neck Pain Following Spinal Surgery Oct 1st, 2023

Most spinal surgeries are successful, but once in a while, patients report ongoing or new symptoms after surgery. If you’re experiencing burning neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling, hindered range of motion, and/or pain that radiates down your arm, you may have failed neck surgery syndrome. In this blog, Dr....

How Spinal Cord Stimulation Can Remedy Sciatica, Back, and Leg Pain After Surgery Jun 22nd, 2023

You expect surgery to solve your pain problems, but chronic pain after surgery is a serious problem that affects millions of Americans. In fact, recent studies showed that up to 85% of Americans experience chronic post-surgical pain extreme enough to interfere with their daily activities, meaning it reduces mobility, causes sleep loss, and contributes to...

Is Working from Home a Pain in Your Neck? May 2nd, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic turned countless office workers into homebodies, and many of them made the transition permanent. After all, working remotely comes with plenty of perks, like ditching the morning commute, saving on gas and dry cleaning, and working in your sweats.  Sadly, your cushy home office may take a...

How to Prevent Low Back Pain as You Age Apr 12th, 2023

The United States Census Bureau estimates that, on average, American adults will live to age 85.6 by 2060 — a six-year jump from the average lifespan of 79.7 years in 2017. That’s great news if you’re in good health, but age has a way of wearing down your body parts,...

What to Do About Spinal Stenosis Mar 14th, 2023

Spinal stenosis — narrowing of the spinal canal — is almost inevitable as you age. As all body parts do, your spine degenerates over time, its tissues thicken, and the bones compress. Not everyone experiences spinal stenosis to the same degree, though. Dr. Jay M. Shah, our double-board certified specialist...

Prolonged Sitting and Chronic Pain: Turning this Conundrum Around Feb 14th, 2023

Whether you stare at a computer all day or hang out on your couch, prolonged sitting is wrecking your health in many ways. Dr. Jay M. Shah, our double board-certified interventional pain specialist at SamWell Institute for Pain Management in Colonia and Livingston, New Jersey, sees the negative effects of...

Why You Shouldn't Give up Hope After Failed Back Surgery Jan 18th, 2023

You underwent back surgery to fix a problem, but you still have pain or have discovered new pain. Unfortunately, the problem is so common that it has an official medical name: failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) or post-laminectomy syndrome.  This is also referred to as persistent spinal pain syndrome.  Back...

Non-Surgical Orthopedic Procedures for Spine and Joint Pain Dec 6th, 2022

Millions of people suffer from joint and back pain because they fear surgery. If that sounds familiar, we’ve got great news for you. Most spine and joint pain doesn’t call for open surgery and the long recovery time associated with it. In fact, At SamWell Institute for Pain Management in Colonia and...

Is Lumbar Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation Effective for Chronic Lower Back Pain? Nov 7th, 2022

Pain can be acute, intermittent, dull, sharp, excruciating, debilitating, and depressing. In all its forms, pain disrupts your life, but when it becomes chronic, as it does for some 60 million Americans, it can outright change your life and even shorten it. Dr. Jay M. Shah, our double-board certified and...

Understanding Neck Pain, Facial Pain, and Chronic Migraines Oct 10th, 2022

From strained muscles, tension, and stress to severe injury, degenerative diseases, and chronic conditions, your face, neck, and head are susceptible to several painful problems involving your bones, muscles, vertebrae, and tendons. However, the countless nerves that run through these complex areas are the most vulnerable and can trigger pain...

Meet Interventional Pain Specialist: Dr. Jay M. Shah, MD, FAAPMR Sep 6th, 2022

The doctor-patient relationship should be personal and based on trust. But all too often, the health care system distills this connection to a brief conversation, a rushed examination, and medication to address symptoms temporarily.  You deserve better than that. Treat yourself to world-class care right here in New Jersey. One...

Comprehensive and Effective Functional Restoration by SamWell Pain Aug 2nd, 2022

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 20% of American adults — some 50 million people — struggle with chronic pain that lasts for months or years, although some studies report the number may be as high as 40%. Chronic pain is a big problem because it’s associated...

Treatments for Sciatica Pain from Sports-Related Injuries Jul 1st, 2022

Thanks to your spine, you can put some heat on a tennis serve, absorb the shock of mogul skiing, and squat twice your bodyweight — but you might experience some back pain along the way. Although athletes don’t typically suffer from injuries related to weak musculoskeletal structure, they do encounter...

Get Relief for Your Chronic Migraines with Innovative Treatment Options Jun 1st, 2022

Chronic migraine headaches are a complex neurological condition with varying causes, triggers, and symptoms. But when it comes right down to it, migraine attacks are a pain management problem, and that’s our specialty. Dr. Jay M. Shah at SamWell Institute for Pain Management is a leading pain expert who has studied and treated chronic...

HFX™ Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy for Complex Nerve Pain Apr 1st, 2022

Nerve pain is tricky. It can persist long after your illness or injury is resolved and fire off pain signals for no apparent reason.  Double-board certified pain expert Dr. Jay M. Shah at the SamWell Institute for Pain Management leads the field of pain management and helps our patients throughout Colonia and Livingston, New...

Neuropathy and Pinched Nerves: How Are They Treated? Mar 8th, 2022

You know your nerves make it possible for you to feel textures and test surface temperatures, but it may surprise you to learn that nerves also control other bodily functions, such as digestion.  When something compresses or damages a nerve, you may experience a wide range of symptoms from tingling...

What is Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome after Neck Surgery? Feb 1st, 2022

Undergoing surgery is a big decision, and one that should never be taken lightly. Although surgical intervention is often the best and necessary course of treatment for instability in the spine, it comes with certain risks and the potential for post-surgical nerve pain, so it’s always best to exhaust all...

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome After Surgery Jan 10th, 2022

Your spine is a complex system that relies on intricate anatomical parts working harmoniously within a very tight space. Countless nerves run in and out of your spinal column, sending messages to and from your brain so you can feel and function. Any abnormality, such as a misaligned vertebra, a...

Hip Check: Are Your Sacroiliac Joints Causing Chronic Low Back Pain? Dec 27th, 2021

Very few people get through life without ever feeling the sharp twinge or nagging dull ache of back pain. In fact, about 65 million Americans report they’ve had a recent bout with back pain, and they spend more than $12 billion every year desperately seeking relief.  One of the reasons...

Best Injections for Chronic Knee Pain Nov 8th, 2021

Knee pain plagues millions of Americans and stems from several different causes. The most common culprit, arthritis, accounts for severe joint pain in 15 million people in the United States, and about 50% of them live with the pain day in and day out. But arthritis isn’t the only problem....

Pain Treatments for Postherpetic Neuralgia Oct 26th, 2021

About one-third of all Americans get shingles — a viral infection that develops into painful stripes of a blistering rash that follows the path of a nerve. Anyone who’s ever had chickenpox in their life is susceptible to shingles, and up to 18% of people who get shingles end up...

How Occipital Nerve Treatments Can Help Chronic Headache Pain Sep 17th, 2021

There are many different types of headaches, and they respond to different treatments. Some subside after a dose of aspirin or ibuprofen. Others take stronger medication and intentional lifestyle adjustments. And some call for a more direct approach that silences the pain at the source — your occipital nerve. Dr....

When to Refer to a Pain Specialist: A Guide for Patients and Referring Physicians Aug 10th, 2021

A workplace accident, a car crash, a sports injury, or a flare up of degenerative joint or spine pain — these are just a few of the countless causes of pain. In most cases, the pain subsides when the injury heals. But in many instances, the pain continues long after...

Minimally Invasive Options for Lumbar Disc Herniation and Sciatica Jul 7th, 2021

Worldwide, about 577 million people suffer from low back pain. In the United States, upwards of 80% of all Americans will feel the stab of low back pain at some point during their lives. One of the common causes of this type of pain is a herniated disc, also known...

Nonsurgical Treatments to Relieve Post-Car Accident Pain Jun 22nd, 2021

If you’ve been in an auto accident, you not only experienced the frightening event, you likely sustained injuries, and if you’re like many victims, you may have ongoing pain. Often, this pain lingers even after your obvious injuries heal, which can be frustrating at the least, and debilitating at the...

How Mindfulness Meditation Can Help with Comprehensive Pain Management May 3rd, 2021

Chronic pain is more common than you may think — about 100 million Americans live with constant pain and spend more than half a trillion dollars every year desperately seeking relief. This widespread problem led many of these sufferers and their doctors to turn to opioids for a powerful solution...

Interventional Pain Specialists and How can Non-Surgical Orthopedic Treatment Help With Chronic Pain Apr 18th, 2021

Chronic pain changes your life. It doesn’t go away with over-the-counter pain relievers, simple home remedies, or even time. Chronic pain is your constant companion and the main reason you miss work, cancel social plans, and experience bouts of depression.  Board-certified Dr. Jay Shah at the SamWell Institute for Pain...

Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Neck Pain and Headaches Mar 11th, 2021

Everyone experiences mild headaches and neck pain now and then. Commonly caused by stress, tension, or poor posture, these occasional annoyances usually subside on their own with a little rest, ice, and maybe some OTC pain relievers.  Next-level pain caused by trauma, spinal joint arthritis, spinal stenosis, occipital neuralgia, or...

Can Spinal Cord Stimulation Relieve My Complex Regional Pain Syndrome? Feb 4th, 2021

Maybe you sprained your ankle, broke your wrist, or had neck, back, or foot surgery. Maybe you had knee arthroplasty, a severe cut, or a heart attack. Any of these events have the potential to cause complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a debilitating condition characterized by unrelenting pain associated with...

When Nothing Stops Your Knee Pain, Genicular Nerve Ablation Will Jan 1st, 2021

General aches, soreness, and fatigue affect everyone now and then, but above all else, American adults’ number one physical complaint is knee pain. Whether it stems from an acute injury or a progressive degenerative disease, the knee tends to take the brunt of gradual wear-and-tear, as well as blunt force...

What Causes Chronic Facial Pain And How Can You Treat It? Dec 1st, 2020

Bending, lifting, working out, gardening, and countless other activities we humans do can tax our muscles and cause temporary pain. You usually feel it in your back, legs, and arms. So when you suddenly get a twinge in your face, it’s unfamiliar and a little worrisome. Dr. Jay Shah at...

Can Anything Stop My Horrible Headaches? Nov 1st, 2020

Vice-like pressure, unrelenting pounding, sharp stabs, pain associated with neck pain, or dull aches — however, you describe your head pain, you’ve likely tried everything you can think of to stop it. But if over-the-counter pain medications, at-home remedies, and lifestyle changes haven’t been able to quell your chronic headaches,...

Can Anything Stop My Chronic Pelvic Pain? Oct 8th, 2020

Even though chronic pelvic pain is common, affecting one in seven women, it’s often hard to talk about. First, it involves private body parts that aren’t up for discussion in most social circles. Second, it’s usually difficult to describe even to your doctor, as it can come and go, feel...

New Hope for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Two Treatments to Stop the Pain for Good Sep 2nd, 2020

Just like the outward signs of aging, the passing of time takes its toll on the inside of your body as well. One of the places at risk, when you get older, is your lower back, called your lumbar spinal region.  The reason this area is so susceptible to pain...

Spinal Cord Stimulation versus Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulation Aug 14th, 2020

Unlike acute pain that goes away when you heal, chronic pain sticks around for months or years. It’s relentless and often debilitating. If that sounds like a depressing situation, you’re right — studies show that chronic pain causes depression and anxiety in up to 50% of sufferers. And that’s a...

What Is Spinal Cord Stimulation and How Can it Help with Chronic Pain? Jul 21st, 2020

Pain serves an important purpose: it tells you when the stove is too hot, when to stay off of a sprained ankle, and when you need medical attention. But pain should be temporary and should subside when the painful stimulus is removed or when healing is complete. Sometimes, though, your...

5 Common Workplace Injuries (and How We Can Help) Jun 25th, 2020

No matter where you work or what you do when you’re there, you’re never exempt from potential accidents. Even seemingly safe workplaces pose risks, from loose carpeting to slippery stairs. In fact, about 60% of job-related accidents happen because of normal, everyday activities, not violent events. Dr. Jay Shah is...

Relieving Your Lower Back Pain with mild® May 26th, 2020

The majority of Americans  — to the tune of 80% — will suffer from low back pain during their lives. And as a result, they’ll spend a lot of time and money trying to stop the pain and regain their ability to get through the day without wincing, cringing, and...

Telemedicine during COVID-19 Apr 1st, 2020

Keeping your distance from others during this global COVID-19 outbreak is critical. Many doctors and patients are turning to new ways of connecting that will minimize the spread of the virus, and telemedicine seems to be a great option. This concept allows patients to stay home yet still engage in...

Here's How Osteoarthritis Affects Your Shoulders Mar 1st, 2020

Think of all the things your shoulders help you do: lift a child, hug a friend, reach for your coat, even brush your teeth. When you have pain in your shoulder joint, your whole life changes. And if you think it’s just something you’re destined to live with, think again....

Everything You Need to Know about Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation Feb 10th, 2020

When pain racks your body, whether it’s localized in one area or widespread, it changes your life. You become unable to participate in the regular, everyday activities you once enjoyed. Simple tasks like tying your shoes, lifting a baby, or even walking across the room are excruciating. You may also...

Signs Your Neck Pain Is Actually Cervical Radiculopathy Dec 5th, 2019

Your neck is a complicated part of your anatomy. It’s the hub of several nerve roots that branch out from your spinal cord and allow your shoulders, arms, and hands to feel and move. If those nerves become damaged or inflamed, you have a condition called cervical radiculopathy — the...

5 Ways to Reduce Your Chronic Sciatica Pain Nov 6th, 2019

You may think no one can relate to your lower back pain, but it’s actually one of the most common physical complaints in the world. Studies show that about 80% of the population experiences back pain at some point in their lives, and they miss more work days because of...

Suffering from Knee Pain? It Could Be Osteoarthritis Oct 7th, 2019

More than half of adults will end up with osteoarthritis at some point in their lives regardless of their age, though it generally sets in after age 50. While it may affect various joints, like your spine, hips, or hands, it most commonly shows up in your knees. What begins...

Understanding Your Back Pain: Spinal Stenosis With Neurogenic Claudication Sep 1st, 2019

Your spine houses a bundle of nerves. It also houses essential muscles, bones — 26 to be exact — and fluids that make it possible for you to stand, sit, walk, and move. With all those moving parts, it’s easy to understand how even the slightest problem in your spine...

Why Exercise is So Important when You Have Arthritis Aug 6th, 2019

When you’re in pain, it may seem counterintuitive to flex and move the muscles and joints that hurt, but the right activities can do wonders for your arthritis. Keep in mind that it’s important to choose your exercises carefully. The right ones will improve your body’s functionality and reduce your...

Why You Should Have a Medical Evaluation After a Car Accident Even if You're Not in Pain Jul 2nd, 2019

If you have ever been involved in a car accident, you know those moments immediately following the wreck are some of the most difficult minutes of your life. You aren’t sure exactly how you got there, you’re waiting for help to arrive, and you don’t know what will happen next....

If You’re Experiencing Pain after Neck or Back Surgery, It Might be Post Laminectomy Pain Syndrome Jun 1st, 2019

You may have had neck and back surgery in hopes of getting rid of your pain. After your recovery from the surgery, you probably expected to feel better. But sometimes, surgery yields unexpected results. Because back surgery involves such delicate nerves and small spaces, it is an inherently risky process....

When Neck Pain Doesn’t Respond to First-Line Treatment, Radiofrequency Rhizotomy May Be the Answer May 1st, 2019

Neck pain is one of the most common ailments. While prescription and over-the-counter medications, injections, and other pain treatments work well for some, these first-line remedies don’t work for all. Failure to find relief over time means your neck pain has achieved chronic status. When that happens, it’s time to...

How Advanced Spinal Cord Stimulators Provide Drug-Free Relief for Chronic Back Pain Sufferers Apr 5th, 2019

With an estimated 50,000 spinal cord stimulators implanted every year, this safe treatment is rapidly becoming a preferred option for relieving pain. It’s also widely used to give patients the chance to reduce or stop medications. At SamWell Institute for Pain Management, we specialize in interventional therapies that effectively relieve...