Each year, over two million Americans are injured in automobile accidents, often leaving victims with lingering pain and other complications that can severely impact their ability to work and lead a normal life. At Restore Brain Sport and Spine, located in West Chase, Florida Dr. Thomas Reilly specializes in advanced, innovative treatments designed to address the long-term effects of auto injuries. The clinic also provides comprehensive workers’ compensation services for those hurt on the job. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call today or conveniently book online to begin your path to recovery.

How are auto accident injuries treated?

Dr. Reilly is an interventional pain specialist adept at diagnosing and treating injuries that result from auto accidents. First, he evaluates your symptoms and thoroughly reviews your medical history before developing your personalized treatment plan.

He uses cutting-edge treatment methods that produce effective pain relieving results, including:

• Radiofrequency ablation

• Epidural injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

• Spinal cord stimulation

• Stem cell therapy

What workers compensation services are available?

Restore Brain Sport and Spine is a leader in treating work-related injuries. Dr. Reilly and his staff provide a variety of workers compensation services to get injured workers back to work as quickly as possible, including:

• Prompt evaluation and treatment of work-related injuries
• Prompt response to referring physicians, adjusters, and nurse case managers
• Comprehensive work status reports
• Development of work restrictions and light duty assignments
• Independent medical evaluations (IME) and peer-to-peer reviews

If you’ve been injured on the job and need an appointment, Dr. Reilly can typically provide an evaluation within 24-48 hours. The office staff keeps your employer or insurer, as well as any case managers, apprised of your treatment plan and progress through detailed notes and timely completion of DWC-25 forms at each visit.

Call or book your initial evaluation online and discuss treatment options for your automobile or workplace injury.

An estimated 15% of American adults have chronic neck pain. If you’re one of them, you know that it can have an impact on your ability to do your job, sleep, or even perform everyday activities. Dr. Thomas Reilly offers effective treatments for neck pain, including nerve blocks and injection therapy, at Restore Brain Sport and Spine in West Chase Florida. Call or book an appointment online to learn more.

How does you lifestyle impact pain?

Sitting, looking at a computer screen or your phone is a common cause of neck pain. Although that kind of pain is usually acute — lasting only a few days or weeks — it can become chronic without treatment. A workspace that is set up for physical safety — both at home and at work — can create major improvements in your neck pain.

Reducing your stress level can also have a surprising impact on neck pain. One of the best ways to reduce stress is exercise. Dr. Reilly is can help you find activities that are safe and will improve your health.

What treatments are available for Chronic Neck Pain?

At Restore Brain Sport and Spine, Dr. Reilly and his staff provide offers a variety of treatments for chronic neck pain. Often, over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers can provide temporary relief. For more serious cases, treatments include:

• Injections: to reduce inflammation and relieve pressure on the nerves causing your pain
• Cervical facet radiofrequency ablation and other nerve blocks: disrupt nerve function, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain

• Kyphoplasty: a surgical procedure that stabilizes the vertebrae and reduces pain
• Spinal cord stimulator implants: use electrical impulses to prevent your nerves from sending pain signals

If you’ve been living with chronic neck pain, book a consultation with Dr. Reilly to learn more about the treatment options available to you.

Chronic back pain is a leading cause of disability in the United States. If you’re dealing with severe pain, especially in your mid or low back, book an appointment online or by phone with Dr. Thomas Reilly offers effective treatments for back pain, including nerve blocks and injection therapy, at Restore Brain Sport and Spine in West Chase Florida. Call or book an appointment online to learn more.

What causes low back pain?

Your spine a complex structure, with 27 vertebrae that interlock and protect the spinal canal. Between the vertebrae are discs that provide shock absorption and cushion the bones. With so many intricate parts, there are numerous ways things can go wrong. Several conditions can contribute to back pain, including:

• Sacroiliac Joint Pain

• Degenerative diseases

• Herniated or bulging disks

• Spinal stenosis
• Arthritis

In some cases, you may have more than one cause of pain. Because any type of chronic pain is complex, Dr. Reilly performs a thorough examination, often including imaging tests, to diagnose the underlying causes of your pain.

What surgical procedures can treat back pain?

At Restore Brain Sport and Spine, Dr. Reilly and his staff provide offers a variety of treatments for chronic back pain. Injections: to reduce inflammation and relieve pressure on the nerves causing your pain

• Lumbar facet Radiofrequency Ablation and other nerve blocks: disrupt nerve function, preventing pain signals from reaching the brain

• Kyphoplasty: a surgical procedure that stabilizes the vertebrae and reduces pain
• Spinal cord stimulator implants: use electrical impulses to prevent your nerves from sending pain signals

If you’ve been living with chronic neck pain, book a consultation with Dr. Reilly to learn more about the treatment options available to you.

The main cause of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) is osteoporosis. With age, everyone’s bones become thinner and weaker, but in people with osteoporosis, the process is accelerated.

The vertebrae of your spine are like blocks stacked on top of one another, with small discs between them. As the bones of your spine become weaker, they also get narrower and flatter — and at a much greater risk of fracture.

When a vertebra is weakened, even a common action such as reaching or sneezing can cause it to crack. VCFs usually occur near your waistline, at your mid back, or in your lower back.

In addition to age and osteoporosis, trauma to the spine and metastatic diseases can also cause vertebral compression fractures.

How are vertebral compression fractures diagnosed?

Dr. Reilly will first perform a physical exam and discuss your medical history with you. If he suspects a VCF, he will order an X-ray. Most of the time an X-ray is enough to confirm a fracture. If the X-ray is inconclusive, however, Dr. Reilly may request a CT scan for a more detailed cross-section image of your spine.

Once Dr. Reilly has determined you have sustained a vertebral compression fracture, he may order other tests to determine the most appropriate treatment program.

What treatments are available for vertebral compression fractures?

At Restore Brain Sport and Spine, treatments for a VCF may include medications, bracing, or surgical interventions.

Medication

Common medications include acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Narcotics and muscle relaxants may be prescribed temporarily, and antidepressants may be helpful. If you have osteoporosis, drugs to strengthen your bones could help prevent future problems.

Bracing

Bracing provides support to your spine and may also help with pain relief; however, braces can also lead to muscle loss. You should only use a brace under Dr. Reilly’s supervision.

Surgery

Surgery is usually a last resort and is reserved for the most serious cases. Surgical interventions include:

Vertebroplasty: an injection of bone cement into the fractured vertebra

Kyphoplasty: similar to a vertebroplasty, but Dr. Reilly uses a small balloon to create space for the bone cement

Spinal fusion: two or more vertebrae are connected, stopping movement between them and relieving pain

If you have questions about vertebral compression fractures, call or schedule a consultation online with Dr. Reilly.

Arthritis is not a single condition, but a term that describes a group of conditions — more than 100 — that affect the joints. Many forms of arthritis are degenerative and the main symptom across all varieties is joint pain.

What causes arthritis pain?

Most cases of arthritis fall into two categories: degenerative and inflammatory.

Degenerative arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of degenerative arthritis where the cartilage between the bones of your joints begins to break down and the bones rub together causing swelling, pain, and stiffness.

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but most commonly affects the joints in your:

• Knees
• Hips
• Hands
• Spine

Inflammatory arthritis

Most of the time, your immune system’s inflammatory response is designed to protect your body, but sometimes things go wrong and your immune system attacks your joints with inflammation. If you have an inflammatory form of arthritis, your joints — and even your organs — are at risk.

Rheumatoid arthritis, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, most often attacks the hands, wrists, and feet. It can lead to severe pain and loss of function, making pain management a critical concern. If you have questions about strategies to control pain associated with inflammatory arthritis, Dr. Reilly has answers.

Other forms of arthritis

Other types of arthritis include infectious and metabolic, and Dr. Reilly is familiar with treating the pain that results from all forms of arthritis. He is happy to discuss your condition and the pain management approach that may be most effective for you.

How is arthritis pain treated?

Dr. Reilly has a veritable arsenal of techniques to treat your arthritis pain. He may recommend some combination of the following treatments:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Prescription medications
• Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss and maintaining an active lifestyle
• Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

• Stem cell therapy

Regardless of the type of arthritis you’ve been diagnosed with, controlling your pain so that you can continue to live a healthy lifestyle is important. Call or book a consultation online at Restore Brain Sport and Spine to learn about your options.

Sports injuries can be divided into two major categories: sprains and strains, and overuse injuries. Overuse injuries include conditions like tendonitis, fasciitis, and bursitis, each of which can cause debilitating pain that keeps you from enjoying sports, and may limit your ability to perform your daily activities.

The most common sports injuries include:

• Sprains, especially ankle sprain
• Pulled muscles, especially groin pulls
• Hamstring strain
• Shin splints
• Knee injuries, especially ACL tears and patellofemoral syndrome
• Repetitive motion injuries, especially tennis elbow

What other treatments are available for sports injuries?

If you’ve used the PRICE method and your injury persists, or if the injury makes your body look “crooked” or move oddly, you can’t bear weight, or there’s excessive swelling, schedule an appointment with Dr. Reilly for an evaluation.

Common treatments for sports injuries include:

• Medications
• Physical therapy
• Injections
• Surgical interventions
• Nerve blocks

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

• Stem cell therapy

What is involved in rehabilitation following a sports injury?

• Dr. Reilly will provide you with a comprehensive treatment program, from managing your pain through returning to your active life. Regardless of your injury, you will probably need some form of rehabilitation in order to prevent re-injury.
• Rehabilitation is likely to include physical therapy to help you rebuild full function, and you may need to use devices, such as a brace, for support. Dr. Reilly will continue to address your pain control needs throughout the rehabilitation process.
• If you’ve sustained a sports injury, call or schedule a consultation online with

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of your spinal canal. As your spinal canal narrows, it can put pressure on your spinal cord, causing pain, usually in your neck or lower back.

What are the symptoms of spinal stenosis?

As a result of spinal stenosis, you may develop sciatica, which is a shooting pain that begins in your buttocks or lower back and runs down your leg. Foot drop is another symptom that involves a painful weakness that causes your foot to suddenly drop to the ground.

Pain while standing or walking and loss of bladder or bowel control are other symptoms of spinal stenosis.

What causes spinal stenosis?

• The primary cause of spinal stenosis is aging. Wear and tear on your spine can cause the tissues surrounding your vertebrae to thicken and place pressure on your spinal cord. Most people who have spinal stenosis are 50 or older.
• Some people have a genetic predisposition to spinal stenosis or have experienced an injury that makes it more likely they will develop the condition.
• Arthritis, herniated or bulging discs between your vertebrae, and other health conditions can also increase your risk of developing spinal stenosis.

What treatments are available for spinal stenosis?

A number of treatments can provide effective relief from spinal stenosis. Your age, how advanced your condition is, and any other conditions you may have the will are all factors in determining which option is best for you.

Dr. Reilly typically begins with a conservative approach to treatment, which may include:

• Over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers
• Cortisone injections to provide short-term relief
• Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of your back and abdomen

If conservative treatments prove ineffective, Dr. Reilly also offers several surgical procedures for spinal stenosis, such as:

• Laminectomy: the removal of part of the vertebrae
• Foraminotomy: expanding the area around your nerve roots
• Spinal fusion: a procedure to join the bones of your spine together to increase stability

If you have questions about which approach is best for you, call or book an appointment online at Restore Brain Sport and Spine.

Muscle pain is usually the result of strenuous physical activity. Most of the time, you know exactly what caused your issue, but in some cases, the cause isn’t so easy to pinpoint because your muscle tissue is interconnected and pain in one area may be the result of an injury to another area.

Common causes of muscle pain include:

• Overuse of muscles during physical activity
• Muscle tension in one or more areas of the body
• Muscle injuries resulting from exercise, physical labor, or trauma

Muscle pain can also develop from other disorders or illnesses such as fibromyalgia, lupus, and thyroid problems.

What is myofascial pain syndrome?

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a chronic pain disorder that causes muscle pain and inflammation in the soft tissue that covers muscles.

Accurately diagnosing MPS can be complicated because you may feel pain in a different area than the point of origin of the injury. With MPS, you may develop sensitive areas called “trigger points” and experience pain when these places are pressed or stressed.

Myofascial pain syndrome can affect a single muscle, muscle group, tendon, or ligament and is often caused by excessive strain. Other possible causes of MPS include:

• Repetitive actions or motions
• Damage to muscle fibers
• Muscle inactivity, such as when you immobilize a broken arm in a cast or sling

Dr. Reilly typically treats MPS with medication, injections, and/or physical therapy.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that results in musculoskeletal pain throughout your body. Although the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known, researchers believe that the disorder increases pain by interfering with the way your brain processes pain signals. Symptoms can accumulate over time or be brought on by an accident or physical trauma, as well as surgery, infection, or psychological stress.

Although both men and women can develop fibromyalgia, it is more common in women. Fibromyalgia sufferers may also be more likely to develop tension headaches, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and anxiety.

Currently, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. Treatments to control the symptoms include:

• Medication

• Physical therapy
• Injections
• Activities to reduce stress
• Nerve blocks to prevent pain signals from reaching the brain

If you’re suffering from muscle pain, call or book an appointment online with Restore Brain Sport and Spine today.

Peripheral neuropathy is not a single condition; more than 100 types have been identified. The condition is marked by some form of damage or malfunction of the peripheral nervous system, which is made up of the nerves that send signals to and from the spinal cord and brain.

Diabetes is the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy and an estimated 60% of people with diabetes also have peripheral neuropathy — usually beginning in the nerves of the feet and progressing up the legs and the rest of the body.

Other causes of peripheral neuropathy include:

• Vitamin deficiencies
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth and other inherited disorders
• Infections
• Trauma
• Alcoholism
• Autoimmune diseases

What treatments are available for peripheral neuropathy?

Treating any underlying condition that is contributing to peripheral neuropathy is important. For example, people with uncontrolled diabetes often have more symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, so getting your diabetes under control is a critical step toward relief from the neuropathy pain.

Pain due to nerve damage is often difficult to control, but Dr. Reilly is dedicated to helping his patients find relief. Elements of a pain management program for peripheral neuropathy include:

• Medications, such as antidepressants, antiarrhythmic drugs, anticonvulsant medications, and narcotics
• Topical medications like lidocaine or capsaicin
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units that deliver small electrical currents through electrodes placed on the painful area
• Braces or orthopedic devices
• Surgical interventions
• Spinal Cord Stimulation

If you have questions about managing the pain of peripheral neuropathy, call or book a consultation online with Dr. Reilly

CRPS is a chronic condition involving damage to or the malfunction of the peripheral and central nervous system. Your central nervous system is made up of your brain and spinal cord, while your peripheral nervous system comprises all the other nerves in your body, which send and receive signals from the central nervous system.

There are two types of CRPS:

1.CRPS-I: Once called reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, CRPS-I occurs when there is no confirmed injury that could have damaged your nervous system.

2.CRPS-II: Previously called causalgia, in cases of CRPS-II, you have experienced a confirmed injury associated with nerve injury.

What causes complex regional pain syndrome?

Experts don’t know why some people develop CRPS and others don’t. About 90% of cases of CRPS are categorized as CRPS-II and are associated with a previous injury. Injuries that can lead to CRPS are varied and include:

• Fracture
• Sprain or strain
• Soft tissue injuries like bruises, cuts, or burns
• Being in a cast
• Surgery

Anyone at any age can develop CRPS, but it is more common in women and people around the age of 40; it is least common in elderly people and children.

What treatments are available for complex regional pain syndrome?

There is no cure for CRPS, but there are treatments that can address the symptoms and relieve the pain.

Physical therapy, psychotherapy, and pharmacological treatments are successful for some people. If those approaches are unsuccessful, Dr. Reilly may suggest:

• Nerve blocks: an injection that numbs the nerve and prevents it from sending pain signals to the brain
• Spinal cord stimulator implant: sends electrical pulses that prevent pain signals from reaching the brain

In serious cases, Dr. Reilly may recommend surgery.

If you’re living with unexplained, debilitating pain, book an appointment with Dr. Reilly for a consultation to start down a path to a more comfortable life.