Arthritis is a common ailment that causes pain. There are, however, many types of this disorder, including degenerative arthritis and inflammatory arthritis. These conditions have some symptoms in common, so figuring out which type is affecting you can be tricky. At Southern Pain Specialists, our team is very experienced in...
If you suffer from intense pain, a nerve block may be just what you need to stop the pain. At Southern Pain Specialists, our team aims to get pain under control, so you can get back to the activities you love. Our experienced pain management expert, Kenneth Varley, MD, can...
Do you deal with nerve pain in your spine? Have you tried medications and other treatments to no avail? Radiofrequency ablation, which stops targeted nerves from sending pain signals, may be able to help. In this blog, Kenneth Varley, MD, of Southern Pain Specialists explains what radiofrequency ablation does and...
If you don’t have osteoporosis, chances are you don’t think much about it. However, anyone can develop this condition — which causes bones to become brittle — and your chances of getting it can increase with age. In this blog, Kenneth Varley, MD, of Southern Pain Specialists in Birmingham, Alabama,...
Everyone has had their limbs “fall asleep” at one time or another. It can happen if you sit in an awkward position or fall asleep with an arm above your head. But what if your extremities get pins-and-needles or go numb when you don’t do these things? If this sounds...
Before you feel pain, a nerve somewhere in your body first sends a signal to your spinal cord and brainstem and then to your brain. This system helps us take care of ourselves if we sustain a cut or twist an ankle. However, sometimes the body can send pain signals...
Do you have back pain that gets worse when you stand up and decreases when you lie down on your back? Do you feel back pain when you sneeze, cough, or laugh? Furthermore, does it seem like you’re a bit shorter than you used to be? If this sounds familiar,...
If you have a pain, cramp, or ache in your back, it could be due to a poor posture. There are many ways to get a poor posture, and having one can lead to a host of problems. Kenneth Varley, MD, an expert pain management doctor at Southern Pain Specialists...
Just about everyone has experienced their hand, arm, foot, or leg “falling asleep.” If you sit in an odd position or lean on your arm for too long, you may feel a sudden tingling, numbness, or burning sensation when you adjust your body. This feeling — often described as “pins...
If you’ve ever dealt with seemingly unexplained back pain, you know how frustrating it can be. And you’re not alone. Back pain is one of the most common reasons that adults visit their doctors and miss work days, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Sometimes, back...
You’ve probably heard more times than you can count that vitamin D is essential for your health, namely your mood and immune function. But vitamin D has another enormously important health benefit that doesn’t get as much publicity: bone health. Yes, vitamin D is absolutely essential for bone health. Getting...
Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or car, sitting for long periods of time can lead to arthritis flare-ups. And that, put simply, is no fun. Arthritis can make traveling difficult, so much so that you might avoid travelling. However, you deserve a vacation, too. So Kenneth Varley, MD, and...
If you have back pain, you’re far from alone. About 80% people experience lower back pain at some point in their life, according to the National Institutes of Health. No matter the cause, back pain can seriously impact your day, from affecting your ability to work to precluding you from...
Nagging chronic pain can put a damper on all aspects of your life. Chronic pain may prevent you from working, playing with your kids or grandkids, or engaging in your favorite recreational activities. Furthermore, chronic pain may make it hard to get high-quality sleep, and it may mess with your...
If someone feels pain, numbness, and weakness that radiates along the sciatic nerve ― which goes from the lower back and down both legs ― they may think it’s sciatica. However, this isn’t always the case. Piriformis syndrome can also be the culprit. The symptoms can mirror each other, and...
One in three women and one in five men over age 50 will experience osteopathic fractures. Is there anything you can do to prevent this, or is it inevitable? Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent developing osteoporosis, a disease that can weaken your bones to the point...
Diabetes is one of the most common conditions affecting Americans today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and an additional 80 million have prediabetes. Diabetes is very serious because it can have so many other related health effects. One of...
Just like your car, your house, and even your favorite jeans, your body begins to show signs of age no matter how well you take care of it. One of the ways it reveals the advancing years is osteoporosis — the loss of bone density. Over time, if left untreated,...
Earlier this year, reports surfaced about a Scottish woman who couldn’t feel pain. As it turns out, her genes were mutated in such a way that pain didn’t register. While this may seem like a blessing, feeling pain is actually important. The Scottish woman didn’t know when she was getting...
There are over 100 different types of arthritis, and each one has a different cause. But one thing they all have in common is that being overweight worsens the symptoms. But does being overweight or obese actually cause your arthritis? In some cases, the answer may be yes. The Centers...
Feel that shooting pain starting in your lower back and descending through your bottom and down the back of your leg, even all the way to your foot? That’s called sciatica, and as much as 40% of the population will experience it at some point in their lives. Sciatica is...
If you suffer from chronic pain in one or both knees, you’re probably ready for relief. Chronic knee pain can arise from many conditions, and many different treatments exist. It’s hard to know which option is right for you. Dr. Kenneth Varley and the team at Southern Pain Specialists can...
In some cases, spinal compression fractures can be treated with nonsurgical remedies. But depending on the severity of your fracture and other variables, there may be a need for kyphoplasty. Dr. Kenneth Varley is a pain management specialist who understands the necessity for kyphoplasty in certain cases and wants to...
Being diagnosed with osteoporosis can be quite alarming. You may find yourself feeling uncertain and confused, and chances are you will be left with more questions than answers after receiving your diagnosis. Don’t worry! Once you have a better understanding of osteoporosis, you will see there are a variety of...
If you have pain that doesn’t respond to conservative treatments like over-the-counter pain relievers, your doctor might recommend a corticosteroid shot. A corticosteroid injection is an interventional pain technique that reduces inflammation in your tissues, nerves, and joints. When you have chronic back pain associated with nerves near your spine,...
