Twin Cities Pain Clinic is excited to help meet the growing need for comprehensive pain management. We understand that when you are in pain, convenience is key. In pursuit of our mission, we are happy to provide excellent care, in a new comfortable location. Our new office location will proudly serve Woodbury and the surrounding communities by continuing to offer the most advanced treatment options.

Twin Cities Pain Clinic first expanded to Woodbury in 2014 with a clinic location on Commerce Dr. To better serve our patients, we have moved from our old office on Commerce Dr to 683 Bielenberg Dr. #103. The new office opened to patients on March 4th, 2019.

Click here to see a map.

Your feet get you from point A to point B, but as you walk I’m sure most of you don’t even notice how you walk. What you might not be aware of, is that your feet can play a significant role in your pain. The way you walk and stand can impact your whole body.

According to Dr. Positano, director of the Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, “The foot is the foundation of the body. If the foundation is not sound, it could have a deleterious effect on the joints above the foot and ankle, namely the knee and the hip.” If you feel unbalanced, your shoes will likely be uneven. If your shoes are uneven, this can eventually cause weakness in your ankles, knees, and hips, making them vulnerable to injury.

Where you feel your pain is almost always never where your pain originates from. A lot of the times, pain will travel up the body. Indeed, the stabbing, throbbing, aching in your low back, hip, or knee could be a symptom, not the cause, of your discomfort. Many people don’t realize it, but how you stand and walk can play a key role in your pain.

Any problem with the foot or ankle can result in a compromised posture or gait which can lead to knee or hip pain.

Examples of foot problems that can lead to poor posture and irregular walking patterns

• Plantar fasciitis, which can lead to chronic heel pain and/or arch pain
• Nerve pain or numbness in the foot, (neuromas and tarsal tunnel syndrome)
• Bunions and bunionettes (big-toe versus little-toe side, respectively)
• Excessive foot pronation (rolling in) or supination (rolling out)

Some people's feet automatically go into a V shape when standing or walking. In this instance, the whole structure of your body is somewhat off balance, or “out of alignment.” Focus on standing and walking with proper alignment. This can help ease some of the back, knee, or hip pain you're feeling.

Changing how you walk may feel strange at first, but over time it will feel more normal. Make an effort to “square” your feet with your knees and walk with your toes pointing straight ahead. This is how to keep your body aligned, reducing your chances of injury to the low back and other parts of your body. The foot is the foundation of the body, and the way you walk can affect just about everything.

Resources

https://www.ipfh.org/media-press/features/low-back-pain-your-feet-could-be-the-culprit

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170919181533.htm

https://www.orthofeet.com/blogs/news/how-your-feet-impact-knee-and-hip-pain

Meet Crystal, Medical Assistant at Twin Cities Pain Clinic. Crystal was nominated by her fellow staff members for always going out of her way to help patients in any way she can. This winter she has helped brush snow off of patients cars and is always so kind to the patients she helps. Crystal always treats her patients with the utmost care and respect. Your hard work and compassion does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do, Crystal!

What is your position / What are your daily responsibilities?

I am a Medical Assistant at Twin Cities Pain Clinic. My responsibilities include rooming the patients, taking their vitals, collecting specimens and a variety of other medical tasks.

How long have you been with TCPC?

I have been with TCPC for about 8 months and truly enjoy it.

What are some of your hobbies?

Some of my hobbies include playing outside with my kids, reading new books with them and baking. I love water parks and the beach when it's warm outside.

What is your favorite thing about working at TCPC?

My favorite thing about working at TCPC is the patient care. I love getting to know my patients and enjoy seeing them improve. The environment is great as well. I absolutely love my co-workers and how well we all work together. 

Twin Cities Pain Clinic has been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune. This great award wouldn't be possible without our amazing staff members. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) stimulation is a type of therapy that provides relief from chronic neuropathic pain or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Neuropathic pain results from damage to or malfunction of nerves, which send pain signals to the brain. The peripheral nervous system includes all the nerves that lead to and from the spinal cord. If the nerves are injured, neuropathic pain may develop. Chronic neuropathic pain can be challenging to treat because it is often difficult to pinpoint the location and source of nerve damage.

Click here to learn more about neuropathic pain.

What is the dorsal root ganglion?

The dorsal root ganglion is a bundle of nerve cell bodies in the posterior region of various vertebrae along the spinal column. The primary function of the dorsal root ganglion is to transmit information regarding your senses. As such, the dorsal root ganglion carries sensory signals from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system, which includes your spinal cord and brain.

DRG Stimulation

DRG stimulation consists of electrical leads and an implantable pulse generator. A physician threads the electrical leads into the epidural space, where the DRG lies. Each lead contains electrode surfaces that are placed over the DRG. A pulse generator is implanted in either the upper buttock/low back, or into the abdominal wall. In the period after surgery the leads can be programmed to give stimulation based on the pain pattern. Patients go home with a small hand-held controller that switches between stimulation settings.

DRG stimulation is similar to traditional spinal cord stimulation (SCS), with one very important difference. Rather than placing leads in a general region of the spinal cord, DRG stimulation targets the specific regions of the spinal cord that are transmitting the pain and shuts down those painful signals directly by placing the leads over the DRG’s.

To learn more about DRG stimulation click here.

Resources

https://columbiapain.org/drg-stimulation/

http://www.ladneurosurgery.com/dorsal-root-ganglion-neuromodulation.html

Meet Ieasha, Patient Service Representative at Twin Cities Pain Clinic! Ieasha was nominated by her fellow staff members for always going above and beyond with the patients she encounters. Ieasha continues to demonstrate exceptional customer service to the patients she helps. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do, Ieasha!

What is your position / What are your daily responsibilities?

I am a Patient Service Representative at the front desk of the Edina clinic. I help patients check-in and check-out.

How long have you been with TCPC?

I have been with TCPC for 3 months and I enjoy working with patients and the TCPC team.

What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy spending time relaxing at home reading or watching movies and I also love spending time with my family.

What is your favorite thing about working at TCPC?

The staff are amazing! The atmosphere is positive and I can always find help if I need it. I enjoy being a team player. I believe that in order to be effective and deliver the best care possible we have to be equipped with the support to do our jobs efficiently. Here at TCPC the support and leadership is amazing and I am proud to be part of the team.

Twin Cities Pain Clinic has been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune. This great award wouldn't be possible without our amazing staff members. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

40% of people will experience sciatica during their life, ranking it one of the most common causes of persistent pain. “People who suffer from acute or chronic back pain tend to be more susceptible to sciatica,” says Dr. Jeffrey N. Katz, professor of medicine and orthopedic surgery at Harvard Medical School. “Your risk also rises if you’re obese, if you smoke, or if you’re sedentary.”

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve branches from your low back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica affects millions of Americans, and it can range from a minor nuisance to a debilitating problem.

Symptoms

Sciatica describes a set of symptoms of an underlying medical condition. The term describes the pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that starts in the lower back and moves to the large sciatic nerve located in either leg. Sciatica most commonly occurs when a herniated disk, bone spur on the spine or narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) compresses part of the nerve, acting like a kink in a garden hose. This can happen because of an injury or trauma, but, is often the result of years of bending and sitting for long stretches.

Some symptoms that can occur are inflammation, pain and some numbness. Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You might feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it’s especially likely to follow a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf. Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness can also be present in the affected leg or even foot.

Treatments

There are various treatments for sciatica, depending on the severity of the diagnosis. Treatments of sciatica range from rest and stretching exercises to various injections, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), medications, physical therapy, and spinal decompression. Not one treatment is right for everyone, as the underlying reason of sciatica varies from person to person.

Tips to Help Prevent Sciatica

Sciatica is not totally preventable, but there are a few things you can do to help strengthen and protect your back. Regular exercise is key. To keep your back strong focus on your core muscles, the muscles in your abdomen and lower back. These muscles are essential for proper posture and alignment, which, will help to prevent sciatica pain.

Maintaining proper posture when you sit is also important. Choosing a good seat is the first step. Find a seat with good lower back support, armrests, and a swivel base. Keep your knees and hips level. And sometimes keeping a pillow or towel at the small of your back will help maintain its normal curve. Also, be sure to use proper body mechanics. Sitting and standing upright and not slouching. Making sure if you are reading or working it is in front of you, preferably at eye level and avoiding excessive twisting and bending at the hips.

If you stand for long periods, resting one foot on a stool or small box from time to time can help ease the weight of standing. When you lift something heavy it is important to lift with your legs and not your back. That means bending down at the knees while keeping your back in a straight line, not bending forward at the hips. Hold the load close to you. And avoid lifting and twisting simultaneously. If the object is heavy or awkward, find a lifting partner.

To Find Out More

If you are experiencing pain, numbness, or tingling as mentioned above, severe pain in your low back or leg, or pain following an accident, please do not hesitate to reach out to Twin Cities Pain Clinic at 952-841-2345 or twincitiespainclinic.com to talk to a professional today.

Resources

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/taming-pain-sciatica-people-time-heals-less-2017071212048

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20377441

https://www.spine-health.com/blog/10-quick-facts-about-sciatica