WHEN
WHEN IT
WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN WE HEAR A LOT
ABOUT THE DANGERS OF OPIOIDS.
TODAY WE EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES
TO THIS AND LEARNING TO MANAGE
PAIN IN OTHER WAYS.
WE HAVE LESLIE GREGORY,
SPECIALIZING IN PRIMARY CARE AS
WELL AS ACUPUNCTURE.
-- THIS ACUPUNCTURIST.
>> LESLIE, I KNOW THAT YOU BOTH
DEAL WITH PAIN MANAGEMENT.
HOW DO YOU MANAGE CHRONIC PAIN
WITHOUT OPIOIDS?
WITHOUT OPIOIDS? >> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
SOME THINGS WE ARE ASKING ABOUT
ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES -- MORE
TIME WITH PATIENTS TO GO
THROUGH THESE IMPORTANT
DISCUSSIONS.
DISCUSSIONS. THIS MAY BE THE WAY YOU WERE
TREATED IN THE PAST BUT NOW WE
HAVE NEW INFORMATION.
WE ARE ASKING FOR MORE TIME TO
GO THROUGH THIS.
>> I'M THINKING HERBAL TEA.
IS THAT THE RIGHT PATH OR IS IT
SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
SOMETHING DIFFERENT? >> THERE ARE SOME HERBS THAT DO
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT FOR
MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN.
>> I THINK THAT WE NEED MORE
EDUCATION WOULD YOU AGREE?
>> YES, THAT IS WHY WE ARE
ASKING FOR MORE TIME.
EDUCATION TAKES TIME.
>> WHAT DID YOU HEAR ME SAY?
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION AROUND
PAIN?
PAIN?
PAIN? THIS ALL TAKES TIME TO FIND
OUT.
OUT.
OUT. >>
OUT. >> WE HAVE AN ACUPUNCTURE
SPECIALIST.
SPECIALIST. THIS IS A TOPIC THAT IS GAINING
INTEREST AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
BECOMING AWARE OF HOW OCCUPANTS
ARE CAN BE AN ANSWER OTHER THAN
POPPING A PILL.
>> -- ACUPUNCTURE CAN BE AN
ANSWER OTHER THAN POPPING A
PILL.
PILL.
PILL. >>
PILL. >> YES, THE BA IS USING
ACUPUNCTURE -- THE BA IS USING
A GOOD PUNCTURE AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO OPIOIDS AND ALSO
TRAUMA.
TRAUMA.
TRAUMA. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT.
TALKED ABOUT. THIS IS ALL ABOUT A PROCESS.
SHE SAID WE NEED MORE TIME WITH
HER PATIENTS.
HER PATIENTS. I HAVE MY OWN PRIVATE PRACTICE
AS A COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
PROVIDER.
PROVIDER.
PROVIDER. IT'S REALLY ABOUT A PROCESS.
I HAVE A PATIENT THAT COMES IN
AND SAYS OH, I NEED ONE OR TWO
TREATMENTS?
TREATMENTS? >> NO, THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
>> HOW DOES IT WORK TO TREAT
PAIN?
PAIN?
PAIN? >>
PAIN? >> IT TREATS PAIN BY INCREASING
BLOOD CIRCULATION.
BLOOD CIRCULATION. WHEN WE INCREASE BLOOD TO AN
INJURED AREA WE INCREASE ALL
THE FEEL-GOOD CHEMICALS THAT
MAKE US FEEL BETTER TO HAVE
LESS PAIN.
LESS PAIN. >> DOCTOR, HAVE YOU STUDIED
ACUPUNCTURE YOURSELF?
ACUPUNCTURE YOURSELF? >> YES, AND I LOVE THE IDEA OF
CO-TREATMENT.
CO-TREATMENT. THAT IS THE EXTRA BULLET POINT
THAT I WANT TO ADD HERE.
IS A PATIENT WE NEED TO -- AS A
PATIENT WE NEED THEM TO PUSH
BACK. I LOVE THE IDEA OF
INCREASING BLOOD FLOW BECAUSE
THAT IS A NON-COMICAL
THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION --
WHICH IS EXERCISE, MOVEMENT,
STRETCHING, PHYSICAL THERAPY.
>> I DON'T DO ANY OF THOSE.
>> I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THIS.
WHAT ABOUT COVERAGE IN TERMS OF
INSURANCE?
INSURANCE? DO A LOT OF INSURANCE COMPANIES
COVER THIS?
COVER THIS? >> THIS IS ONE OF OUR
CHALLENGES.
CHALLENGES. LESLIE FOR FIRST A LOT OF
PATIENCE TO ME AND SHE SEND
THEM TO ME.
ONE OF THE FIRST HURDLES IS,
THE PATIENT DOESN'T WANT TO SEE
ME BECAUSE IT'S NOT COVERED BY
INSURANCE.
INSURANCE. >> 70% OF MY PATIENTS ARE
COVERED BY INSURANCE SO THAT'S
PRETTY GOOD.
PRETTY GOOD. 30% CANNOT COME IN BECAUSE
THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL
NOT LET THEM.
>> WE WILL HAVE