Winning the Chronic Pain War

Countless millions nationwide suffer from chronic or acute pain in some way every day. Unrelenting pain, whether caused by injury, illness or otherwise, can be extremely difficult to manage. It can reap havoc by disrupting one’s normal routine, often bringing with it economic distress, deteriorating quality of life, and even possible chemical dependency. If not successfully treated and managed, the ramifications can be enormous and far-reaching.

            June is National Migraine Awareness Month, and, fittingly, one of this issue’s editorial themes is Chronic Pain Remedies. For chronic pain sufferers and those dealing with debilitating pain, finding remedies that actually provide relief can be a constant pursuit.  

            The facts are revealing. Studies show that pain affects more Americans than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. According to the National Academy of Medicine, more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic or acute pain annually. Furthermore, findings from a recent poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation indicate that an estimated 20 percent of American adults (42 million people) report that pain or physical discomfort disrupts sleep. In 2010, it was estimated that the annual incremental cost due to pain in the U.S. ranged from $560 to $635 billion—a figure that combines pain care medical costs and the economic impact related to lost wages, productivity and disability days.

            Both chronic and acute pain are serious conditions requiring the highest degree of quality care. Having successfully cared for and treated hundreds of patients battling chronic pain, Dr. Matthew Furman, of Palmetto Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants LLC (aka PAAPC), fully understands the importance of carefully assessing and administering the correct treatment options for chronic and acute pain that lead to optimal results. Before calling Columbia home, Furman received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Kansas City University of Osteopathic Medicine and Biosciences in 1999. In 2003, he completed his residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center, in San Antonio, spending his last six months in the pain clinic. From 2003 until 2016, Furman served as a partner and staff anesthesiologist at Parkview Medical Center, a level II trauma center in southern Colorado. In fact, he was the sole pain-management hospital physician serving patients. States Furman: “Unlike most anesthesiologists that spend two months in a pain clinic, I spent a total of eight. Because of how well I successfully met the high requirements of my residency at the University of Texas, San Antonio, I was allowed to dictate my final six months of training. Not only did I get significantly more training than most, with my Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree, I attained other skills that few pain doctors have.”

            Since July of 2016, Furman has served the Midlands as the primary anesthesiologist at the Palmetto Surgery Center (home of PAAPC), located at 109 Blarney Drive, in Columbia. He is a board-certified osteopathic physician with pain-management training, which means that he can use two powerful medical modalities to treat chronic and acute pain—allowing for the greatest chance for long-term pain relief. Furman and the Palmetto Anesthesiology and Pain Consultants team are determined to provide individuals with the best pain-management care in ways that allow patients to return to normal activities the same day. “With 14 years of combined experience in treating chronic and acute pain, I feel confident that pain relief is just a phone call away,” adds Furman.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 803-272-7246 or visit paapc.net.