How This Local Doctor Is Helping Patients Ditch Prescription Painkillers for Good?
A local doctor is showing patients a new way to manage their chronic pain without relying on prescription painkillers.
Dr. Charles Gordon, the medical director of New York Pain Management in Clifton Park, is educating people about alternative treatments that more directly target the source of pain.
Chronic pain affects millions of people, often leading them to depend on medications like opioids to get through the day. However, long-term use of these drugs can lead to tolerance, dependency, and a host of side effects.
Dr. Gordon aims to change that by offering treatments that address pain without the need for ongoing medication.
Before Carolyn Smith met Dr. Gordon, she had been suffering from constant pain due to nerve damage. This pain affected her everyday life, making simple tasks difficult. For nearly 14 years, she relied on prescription opioids to help her cope.
“It basically took the edge off the pain so that I could continue functioning,” Smith said. Her advanced degenerative disc disease forced her to retire early at age 60.
Like many others dealing with chronic pain, she was told that prescription pills were the way to manage her discomfort.
But over time, her body got used to the medication. “Your body gets habituated to it. Going off that stuff is really hard,” she explained.
Long-term use of opioids can lead to physical dependence, making it challenging to stop taking them without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Dr. Gordon believes there’s a better way. “When you are on the opiate, that becomes your new normal. What we do is try and keep people away from medication—any medication—as best we can using procedural-type therapy,” he said.
Procedural therapies involve treatments that focus on the specific area causing pain. Instead of masking the pain with medication, these procedures aim to reduce or eliminate the pain signals being sent to the brain.
This can provide longer-lasting relief without the side effects associated with drugs.
In addition to common treatments like epidural steroid injections, Dr. Gordon uses other procedures such as platelet-rich plasma injections, nerve blockers, and rhizotomy.
Platelet-rich plasma injections involve using a patient’s blood components to promote healing in damaged tissues.
Nerve blockers temporarily interrupt pain signals along specific nerves. Rhizotomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that reduces pain by destroying the nerve endings that send pain signals to the brain.
“We can go in, cauterize those nerves with special needles, and shut it down for six months to a year,” Dr. Gordon explained.
By targeting the nerves responsible for pain, patients can experience significant relief without the need for daily medications.
These treatments have made a big difference for patients like Michael Farr. After a serious trucking accident, he struggled with pain that limited his movement.
Thanks to the procedures, he’s now able to move freely again. “It’s very life-changing,” he told NEWS10. I have such a quality of life. That’s a reward: the quality of life. Being able to enjoy my dogs and my grandchildren.”
For many patients, the ability to return to normal activities is invaluable. Chronic pain can lead to isolation, depression, and a decreased quality of life.
Alternative treatments offer hope for those who have been relying on medications without finding real relief.
Carolyn Smith’s life has improved as well. “The pins and needles—gone after 14 years,” she said. “You don’t realize what it’s like having pins and needles in your foot all the time.” Being free from constant pain has allowed her to enjoy life again.
Dr. Gordon believes that moving away from opioids to other therapies benefits not just individuals but society as a whole.
“The more we can get away from opiates into other therapies, the better off we are individually and as a society,” he added.
The opioid crisis has affected communities across the country, with many people becoming addicted to prescription painkillers. Finding alternative treatments can help reduce the number of people who develop dependencies and decrease the potential for abuse.
By offering treatments that target pain at its source, Dr. Gordon is helping patients regain control of their lives without relying on prescription painkillers. His approach not only alleviates pain but also re
duces the risks associated with long-term medication use.
For those suffering from chronic pain, these procedures provide a new path forward.
Read More:
Urgent Alert: Big Lots Adds More Store Closures—Final Chance for 20% Off Deals in NY!
Inspirational 101-Year-Old Reveals How Dancing and Friendships Kept Her Fit!
Instead of accepting pain as a part of daily life, patients can explore options that offer real relief. Dr. Gordon’s work is making a significant impact, one patient at a time.