Ask the Professionals Q&A: Pain Management

On Jan 22, 2022

Rheumatologist and pain management expert, Terence Starz, MD answers common questions about tackling pain with arthritis, including questions about exercise, supplements, sleep and medication interactions. To locate a specific question, reference timestamps below:

1:57 Can you give a brief overview of the different types of arthritis pain and some tips on how to interrupt the pain cycle?
6:09 Why do I still have pain, even though my disease activity and inflammation are under control?
9:09 Why does pain come and go?
12:09 How can someone get better sleep with pain?
15:22 Best positions/practices for sleep with painful joints?
17:43 Any recommendation for sleep supplements to help with pain?
18:18 What is better for painful joints – ice or heat?
19:42 How much pain should you tolerate during daily activity before it causes more damage? Am I doing more damage to my joints by continuing activities and “pushing through the pain?
21:27 How do I talk to my doctor if I want to try CBD or THC products?
26:24 Is there any advice for foot and toe pain? Are there any types of devices or exercises that can prevent further damage to the joints of the feet?
28:41 What are options for people living with pain that cannot take NSAIDs and or cannot take Steroids?
30:16 What are your thoughts on Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Prolotherapy for OA and other forms of arthritis?
32:35 Do you have any suggestions to help with the pain and stiffness other than NSAIDS and heat?
34:31 How long should I endure the pain before I know it’s time to have joint replacement surgery?
35:40 Can osteoporosis cause pain?
36:19 How do I know if my pain is arthritis-related?
37:32 For an RA or Inflammatory arthritis patient, what is your “go to” pain strategy recommendation that is not a prescription med?
39:12 What’s the process of switching disease-modifying drugs and increasing pain relievers if your pain isn’t under control?
40:53 Since Sjögren’s can be very difficult and often a long process to diagnose, how can those living Sjögren’s get the best possible care and treatment plan for their disease?
43:34 Can the COVID-19 vaccines cause increased joint pain and sciatica?

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