Massage therapy, vitamin supplements, and exercise are usually thought of as the typical types of treatment patients receive when they go to a pain management clinic, but not at a clinic in Ohio. An Ohio pain management clinic has recently started
(prHWY.com) January 22, 2013 - Seattle, WA -- Massage therapy, vitamin supplements, and exercise are usually thought of as the typical types of treatment patients receive when they go to a pain management clinic, but not at a clinic in Ohio. An Ohio pain management clinic has recently started offering ice therapy in an effort to help people manage pain.
"I went to a medical conference that talked about how pain could be easily managed with ice and cold therapy", explained Dr. Lewis Balm. "There was very good supporting evidence that this could help people and I thought I would try it at my own practice."
Dr. Lewis Balm started engaging in cold and ice therapy in his office. He created a cold room that patients are told to sit in for 30 minutes. This treatment happens three times a week for two weeks, and the body's reaction to pain should be different.
"There is a belief that the body reacts differently once it has been exposed to the cold for such a long period of time", explained Dr. Balm. "I think of the cold therapy as a restart button for your body. It really is."
One of the latest additions to Dr. Lewis Balm's cold therapy is the idea that patients should go on an Antarctica cruise. Dr. Balm believes that the exposure to the cold elements combined with the fun and excitement found on the cruise could help his patients.
"The addition of the recommendation of
going on an Antarctica cruise just came about several months ago", explained Dr. Balm. "A patient mentioned the colder weather on the trip and I thought it sounded like an ideal way to treat the pain symptoms."
Every six months Dr. Balm plans a group trip that includes a three week voyage on an Antarctica cruise. Patients are encouraged to sign up for the trip, but it is not a necessary part of their treatment.
"When I saw the brochure for the new ice therapy that used an Antarctica cruise I just knew I had to try it out", said Noel Tamers, a patient of Dr. Balm's. "I have suffered from acute pain ever since a car accident five years ago. I tried everything and I just couldn't get it to go away. This ice therapy not only worked, but it was fun! I never imagined I'd be traveling through this part of the world, but I was. And my pain seems to have subsided. It really is amazing!"
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