Car accidents are a common problem, especially those resulting in injury. In 2019 alone, 4.5 million Americans required medical care for injuries sustained in motor-vehicle crashes. And, unfortunately, even minor fender benders can lead to physical damage. That’s because they can cause your body to move in sudden, snapping, or...
If you have chronic pain, you know firsthand that it can take a toll on your physical and emotional well-being. Fortunately, innovative pain management solutions, such as spinal cord stimulation, can offer relief, even if you haven’t found effective therapies in the past. Vladimir Fiks, MD, brings the latest and...
As pain management specialists, we know firsthand that pain can derail your life, especially if it involves your joints or back. But we also have good news for you: There are solutions. At Advanced Pain Management Center in Portland, Oregon, Vladimir Fiks, MD, knows firsthand that effectively treating pain involves...
The brain and spinal cord get a lot of attention for good reason. As the central nervous system, they’re at the very heart of how our bodies work. However, the peripheral nerves, which are outside of the central nervous system, play an equally important role. The peripheral nerves connect your...
The bones that form your spine are known as vertebrae. Together, they support your weight, allow you to move your back, and protect your spinal cord and the nerves that branch out to the rest of your body. Unfortunately, if you develop a compression fracture in one of these bones,...
Nothing can derail your life faster than pain. Whether you have an acute injury, such as a muscle strain, or live with a chronic joint condition, such as osteoarthritis, pain can interfere with every aspect of your daily life. In the past, you had to turn to risky medications to...
Your spine contains a stack of bones known as vertebrae. They give your upper body support, stability, and flexibility. Each vertebra also has a small opening. This network of spaces in your spinal column forms a protective channel that contains the delicate nerves that make up your spinal cord. In...
You have one sacroiliac (SI) joint on each side of your pelvis. They’re located where your sacrum — the large triangular bone at the base of your spine — connects to your hip bone (the ilium). These joints get held in place by a taut band of ligaments. Unlike your...
The human body has two primary parts to its nervous system: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Your central nervous system contains your brain and spinal cord. Your peripheral nervous system contains all of the nerves that lie outside of your central nervous system. Together, your nervous...
Treating symptomatic spinal stenosis with a MILD procedure. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal. It can occur at any place in the spine, but is most common in the lower lumbar region and is called lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The spinal canal houses the spinal cord in your back. When stenosis occurs, it can cause pressure...
Spinal injections can be used to treat and diagnose numerous conditions. Vladimir Fiks, MD, of Advanced Pain Management Center in Portland, Oregon, is an expert at using spinal injections to help his patients manage painful ailments. In this blog, he discusses six spinal injections he uses for certain conditions. 1....
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered dramatic changes throughout everyday life — and in the medical community as well. Not only are providers across the country postponing elective procedures, but many are also encouraging people to avoid in-office appointments to reduce their risk of exposure to this highly contagious coronavirus.But what...
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Chronic and Postoperative Knee Pain Knee pain is one of the most common types of pain that affects people of all ages. Some of the most common causes of knee pain occur from injury to the cartilage or ligaments, arthritis and fractures. Another common occurrence of knee pain is...
Nerve stimulation therapy isn’t new. In fact, doctors have recommended this proven approach for more than 40 years. But what is it, and could it be right for you? At Advanced Pain Management Center in Portland, Oregon, Vladimir Fiks, MD, offers two types of nerve stimulation therapy: Peripheral nerve stimulation...
Most of us can expect to experience back pain at some point in life. However, even though it’s a common problem, its intensity and cause can vary significantly from person to person. At Advanced Pain Management Center in Portland, Oregon, Vladimir Fiks, MD, specializes in treating all sorts of spinal...
Do you suffer from persistent shoulder pain following a surgery? Shoulder pain is one of the most common types of pain that may affect a person. In fact, the shoulder is responsible for almost half of all joint dislocations in the US and among those, the axillary nerve is...
Many people assume that surgery is the only option for chronic back pain. However, this isn’t true. Spinal injections and regenerative medicine therapies have proven very effective at treating chronic back pain. As an interventional pain management specialist, Vladimir Fiks, MD, brings an integrative approach to his patients in Portland,...
If you’ve ever experienced shingles, you know of the burning pain that is associated with the rash. In most cases, pain persists until the rash has cleared up. About 20% of all people who get shingles will experience postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). At Advanced Pain Management Center, Dr. Fiks utilizes a...
If you struggle with chronic back or nerve pain, you know it can impact every aspect of your life. Unfortunately, many causes of nerve pain can be difficult to treat. As an experienced interventional pain management physician, Vladimir Fiks, MD, employs cutting edge technology at Advanced Pain Management Center in...
Treating Herniated Nucleus Pulposus with Epidural Steroid Injections Intervertebral discs are cushions between each pair of vertebrae in your spine that provide shock absorption. The outer ring of the disc is made up of strong fibers known as the annular fibers or simply annulus. The middle of the intervertebral disc...
Phantom limb pain is a condition in which pain is felt in a limb that is no longer there. Phantom limb pain affects 50-80% of all amputees. Phantom limb pain is described as neuropathic pain (caused by nerve damage), and for some it may be difficult to distinguish between pain...
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries associated with a motor vehicle collision. It typically occurs when the vehicle comes to an abrupt stop, causing the neck to “whip” back and forth rapidly, resulting in injuries to the muscles and tendons of the neck. Although whiplash is a relatively...
It is estimated that 23% of all adults in the United States have arthritis, making it a leading cause of work disability. Arthritis often occurs with age due to wear and tear of joints. As cartilage deteriorates, the cushion and protection of your joints decreases causing inflammation due to the...
Anyone with arthritis knows firsthand how stiff and painful joints can interfere with the ability to perform even the smallest tasks. Arthritis is caused when cartilage — which is a tough, flexible tissue that covers the ends of bones — wears aways. Normally, cartilage cushions joints and allows for smooth...
Peripheral vascular Disease (PVD) is characterized by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) of the arteries of the lower limbs. PVD affects about 10-15% of the entire U.S. population. Common risk factors include: Smoking diabetes, hypertension previous cardiac and cerebrovascular disease. A common early symptom is intermittent claudication, which typically presents as pain...
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) or Reflex Sympathetic Disorder (RSD) is a chronic pain condition that typically affects the arms, legs or feet. It may happen after an injury to a nerve or tissue. This condition causes high numbers of electrical nerve impulses to travel to the affected site. Studies...
For many people, the idea of a laser summons the idea of something suited for outer space. However, lasers are providing breakthroughs in the field of medicine. The word “laser” stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” Fortunately, you can think of lasers in far more general terms...
You probably don’t spend much time thinking about your sacroiliac (SI) joints. However, these joints have an important job. They connect the lowest part of your spine, or sacrum, to your pelvis. And, like other joints in your body, you can develop significant pain in this area from inflammation or...
Causes and Symptoms of Whiplash Injury Whiplash injury is very common in motor vehicle accidents especially with rear-end collisions but may be present in other types of accidents as well. Front end impact of the vehicle or a fall also may be a culprit. Other causes are a sequela of...
Vertebral compression fractures are the most common complication of osteoporosis (loss of bone mass) and can be a significant health issue leading to a lot of pain, disability and potentially serious complications. A fall, cough, or lifting of a heavy object may cause a fracture of the back bones. This...
Even though MRI(magnetic resonance imaging) is considered a “gold standard” in evaluating spinal problems it is not perfect. The difficulty with the results of an MRI scan, as with many other diagnostic studies, is that the "abnormality" that shows up on the MRI scan may not actually be the cause...
Few musculoskeletal conditions can hijack your life the way lower back pain can, as pain and limited mobility effectively sideline you. And when it comes to progressive conditions like spinal stenosis, the problem only gets worse as time goes on, leaving you casting about for solutions that will get you...
Distinguishing between neuropathic and nociceptive pain When determining an effective treatment option, it is important to work with your doctor in ascertaining the correct pain diagnosis. Treatment options differ vastly between nociceptive and neuropathic pain. The most common type of pain that people experience is nociceptive pain. The human body...
The rationale behind diagnosing and treating allergies in the setting of chronic pain. When your immune system overreacts to an allergen, you will likely experience allergy symptoms. Most people either have or know someone who experiences seasonal allergies such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose or itchy eyes at certain times...
As interventional and pain medicine specialists, we are always interested in ways to reduce oral narcotics. We recently started utilizing topical (applied to the skin) compounded pain creams for post-procedure, injection site pain and found that many of our patients found this approach to be very effective for their baseline...
Who takes care of the caregiver? In today’s world, learning to juggle work, family social activities and taking care of ourselves has become a crucial skill for everyone. This may be especially true for those of us who interact with others who are in chronic pain or are ourselves in...
Incorporating physical therapy with injections After sustaining an injury, it is common to be referred to physical therapy to assist you in regaining proper mobility and to reduce your pain. Depending on the severity of the injury, physical therapy can yield beneficial results in a short time. In some cases,...
I’m not trying to suggest that you actually sleep through the holidays but rather that you learn ways which may help you to get a great night’s rest during the holidays. As we all know, this time of year brings plenty of cheer, social interaction and let’s face it, stress, and...
At Advanced Pain Management Center in Portland, OR, our team of pain specialists, led by Dr. Vladimir Fiks, is committed to providing patients with ongoing relief. Spinal cord stimulators can be an excellent choice. Unlike drugs that merely mask the problem, they don’t carry harsh side effects. Nor are they...