These dedicated professionals are here to help those who are managing pain.
Pain can steal away our comfort and joy. It can fill our thoughts as we try to do the simple and mundane activities that end up causing discomfort. Even activities such as walking or sitting can trigger a persistent ache.
This ache is a daily reality for millions of Americans. Sometimes pain is associated with an injury, a disease or postoperative healing. In other cases, pain is the disease itself.
Pain doesn’t just affect one person. It can place stress on both patients and their families. It often results in more frequent medical treatment and steals our already precious time, resulting in more time for rehabilitation services and lost productivity at work.
It’s a problem impacting far more Americans than some of the nation’s deadliest diseases. Nearly 100 million Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain – nearly four times as many as those who have diabetes and nearly six times as many as those who experience coronary heart disease, according to the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM).
A study by AAPM suggests that pain relief costs American society more than $560 billion every year – a cost of nearly $2,000 to each person in the U.S. Pain can impede a person’s enjoyment of life, trigger depression, take away one’s concentration and energy, and impair sleep.
Many Americans seek a wide range of treatments to help relieve their pain – some healthy and some less so. Some people turn to prescription drugs, which can have addicting and sometimes lethal effects. Others turn to illegal drugs, which carry their own risks.
In our region, many skilled medical professionals offer a better way to manage, treat and relieve chronic pain. They understand both the complex medical and emotional needs of those suffering with pain, and they stand ready to treat the underlying causes of pain. They may use federally approved medical solutions, or they may provide holistic solutions such as therapy and massage. Either way, these certified medical professionals carry a high reputation and certifications to verify their expertise. They’ve spent decades in their field, helping many to rediscover the joys of living life free from pain.
We hope you find this Guide to Living Pain-Free to be a helpful resource as you seek ways to relieve pain.
Medical Pain Management
235 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-8400, medicalpain.com
Living with pain can be a reality that every age group faces.
Medical Pain Management physicians, who are highly trained and nationally awarded, specialize in interventional techniques that manage many forms of acute, chronic and debilitating cancer pain. The latest treatment modalities are available for lumbar pain disorders, spinal decompression, regenerative medicine and implantable devices that control pain without opioid addiction.
MPMS nurses are experienced in the field and understand the unique medical and emotional needs of pain patients.
Acute pain signals that there is a problem in your body; the perception of pain is highly individualized. When pain is not resolved after medical treatment lasting a duration of six months or more, the pain then is considered to be chronic in nature.
Chronic pain often causes dramatic changes in a person’s ability to function and lead a normal life. Early intervention is the key in evaluation and treatment. This can reduce the impact of pain and restore a patient’s quality of life.
Rockford Nephrology Associates
612 Roxbury Road, Rockford, p: (815) 227-8300 // f: (855) 243-0207, rockfordnephrology.org
Nephrology is the study of the kidneys and related diseases, including hypertension. At Rockford Nephrology Associates (RNA), the goal of the medical staff is to serve nephrology patients with quality care and continuing education.
The staff includes 10 board-certified nephrologists and five nurse practitioners, all working exclusively in nephrology. In addition to a main office on Roxbury Road, RNA provides outpatient appointments at several convenient satellite locations, and visits inpatients at 11 area hospitals.
Comprehensive care is available, including consultations and follow-up visits, blood pressure monitoring, kidney disease education and dialysis services. Additionally, the physicians may diagnose and manage hypertension, kidney disease and situations that could lead to disease. Interventional nephrologists serve dialysis patients in an outpatient setting to ensure the best possible care.
With a goal to empower patients to learn about kidney disease, RNA offers free kidney education classes aimed specifically at patients diagnosed with Stage 3, Stage 4 and Stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Classes are held at the Rockford main office as well as in Beloit and cover everything patients need to know about disease progression and healthy lifestyles.
RNA cares for your kidneys. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (815) 227-8300.
Circle of Wellness
3626 E. State St., Rockford, (779) 423-1700, circleofwellnessrockford.com
What if there was a way to reduce or eliminate pain by recharging your body’s natural healing process? It’s no longer science fiction. Thanks to the SoftWave machine, it’s now science fact.
Available at Circle of Wellness, in Rockford, the SoftWave machine uses a gentle shock wave to activate nearby stem cells that can help your body to regenerate and repair its own damaged tissue.
“It’s letting the body heal itself,” says Dr. James Morgano, DC, who oversees SoftWave treatments at Circle of Wellness. “And that’s the whole point of any natural approach to pain management.”
This process is approved by the FDA to activate connective tissue, provide temporary pain relief, improve blood supply, treat second-degree burns and treat diabetic foot ulcers. Its ability to increase circulation, reduce inflammation and heal wounds – including spinal cord injuries – makes it a growing choice for physicians as well as major sports teams like the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburg Steelers. At Circle of Wellness, orthopedic and neuropathic pain are some of the most common patient concerns.
“We had a woman come in and she had drop foot, which is a condition where you can’t raise your foot because your nerves have been damaged. She had this for 20 years,” says Morgano. “This woman is now walking without a cane, and she’s back to the gym. Some of the conditions where we’re seeing responses, it’s truly a miracle.”
SoftWave works like this: there are stem cells in your body that are waiting to become a specialized cell, like a nerve, liver or heart cell. The SoftWave targets those stem cells by sending a high-energy sound wave into the injured, degraded or painful area. The sound waves activate nearby stem cells and stimulate them into replacing and repairing the damaged tissue.
This non-invasive process requires no anesthesia or numbing and has no side effects. Treatments can take as little as five minutes, says Morgano.
“It has an immediate influence on pain receptors,” he adds. “So, when a person comes in and they’re hobbling, they can get almost instantaneous results. They stand up and take a step and they say, ‘I can’t believe the pain is gone. They realize that if they put together this treatment with a comprehensive approach, they’ll experience true long-term benefits.”
Circle of Wellness offers an initial $49 evaluation and initial treatment. Morgano says a typical treatment regimen requires eight visits over a 10-12 week period, with optional additional visits. The service is not covered by insurance, Morgano says, but it’s much more affordable than stem cell shots.
Circle of Wellness specializes in natural approaches to pain management and overall wellness with services including massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and laser treatments. Often, these services combine with stem cell treatments for a multipronged attack on a person’s pain.
“I tell patients there’s this fire going on in your body,” says Morgano. “Just doing chiropractic is like using a squirt gun on the fire. So, if you can combine it with massage, physical therapy, acupuncture, SoftWave, you can put out that fire and get them feeling better faster.”
For more information or to schedule a visit, call or visit circleofwellnessrockford.com.
Elite Spine & Wellness Center
6833 Stalter Dr., Ste. 203, Rockford, (815) 904-6650
Dr. Brittany Sullivan earned a bachelor’s degree from Rockford College, now known as Rockford University, before attending Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida. She then moved back home to begin her career.
After working as an independent chiropractor for nearly 10 years, Sullivan has branched out on her own. She opened her new Elite Spine & Wellness Center location this past January at 6833 Stalter Dr., Ste. 203 in Rockford.
Sullivan works with patients who suffer from any type of pain in the neck, back and extremities, including muscle strains, misalignments, arthritis and lifting injuries. She also specializes in Cox Flexion/Distraction, which helps decompress the spine often used to treat disc injuries.
Among her various approaches to chiropractic care, Sullivan performs manual adjustments, though she also uses the Activator method, where a unique hand-held tool allows her to do adjustments with low force.
After taking a full medical history and completing a thorough examination, Sullivan works with her patients to tailor the treatment plan to each individual’s needs. “We start with acute care,” she says. “We’ll do adjustments and passive therapies like muscle stimulation, ultrasound and massage just to keep their pain down. Once their pain improves, we’ll do rehabilitative treatment.”
When she’s not practicing, Sullivan spends her time with her son, Declan, and her husband, Matt.