ASSESSMENT OF CHRONIC PAIN

Infrared thermography is based on an analysis of skin surface temperature that reflects normal or abnormal human physiology.  A highly sensitive infrared camera is interfaced with a sophisticated computer to create an image.  This image is analyzed by a medical doctor who is Board Certified in thermography.  Thermography has been used for over 30 years in clinical settings and as a result, normal values have been established.  Variations or deviations from these established normal values are compared much the same way, lab tests from blood and urine are comared to determine the presence of disease and thus determine a correct diagnosis.

Thermography can be used to determine pain in any part of your body and has proven beneficial especially in non-specific and difficult to diagnosis cases of chronic pain syndromes.  Thermography is useful in detecting associated changes in complex pain states such as arthritis, low back pain, vascular disease and especially RSD or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, to name a few.  Determining the CAUSE of chronic pain is one of the most difficult diagnostic challenges facing physicians today.  Large, multi-doctor Pain Clinics are present in virtually every city and town and the number of patients being referred to these pain specialty clinics is increasing at an alarming rate.  Sadly, many times the diagnostic tests do NOT correlate with the patient's symptoms and complaints of pain.  In desperation, many of these chronic pain patients, are written off as being neurotic and are placed on anti-depressent and narcotic pain medication. 

"A PICTURE OF PAIN"

Thermography is the only test capable of measuring the Autonomic Nervous System which controls all of our internal organs. One component of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is the sympathetic nervous system.  This causes constriction of the blood vessels and is responsible for the severe pain seen with RSD, now called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.  It is these vascular changes that are documented by the images generated by an infrared thermogram camera.  Many patients who have suffered from chronic pain are amazed at how specific and accurate the thermogram pictures correlate with their pain and symptoms.  Thermography has been labeled as a "picture of pain" by many of these patients.

Several patients presented to our clinic in the past with complaints of severe, debilitating pain due to "sciatica".  Sciatica is due to nerve irritation due to lumbar disc disease such as herniation or degeneration.  None of these patients had undergone MRI or CAT Scans or nerve conduction studies to actually determine a correct diagnosis of "sciatica".  While these tests are medically necessary to arrive at a correct diagnosis, they are expensive.  A lumbar MRI, for example, usually costs $1,200 and nerve conduction and EMG studies usually cost over $1,000.  THERMOGRAPHY IS PRESENTLY THE SIMPLEST AND BEST WAY TO PROVIDE ACCURATE, OBJECTIVE INFORMATION ABOUT SUCH CONDITIONS.

These patients underwent thermography and the test results DID NOT confirm the diagnosis of "sciatica".  Instead, these patients had vascular disease of the arteries in their legs which was actually the cause of their leg pain.  These patients were treated with IV chelation at a medical clinic and their leg pain resolved.  This is only one small example of patients who have benefited from a correct diagnosis with thermography.  It is essential that the CAUSE OF PAIN be accurately determined in order for the correct therapy to be administered.

INDICATIONS FOR THERMOGRAPHY

• Atherosclerosis (Hardening of Arteries)

• Breast disease (Including Cancer)

• Bursitis

• Arthritis

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Deep Vein Thrombosis

• Disc Syndromes

• Fibromyalgia

• Headaches

• Muscle Spasm

• Nerve Entrapment

• Neuropathy

• Neuralgia

• Non Specific Pain

• Peripheral Artery Disease

• Raynaud's Disease

• Referred Pain Syndromes

• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

• Spinal Pain

• TMJ Pain

• Thyroid Disease

• Tendonitis

• Whiplash
  

SAFE, RISK FREE

Thermography does NOT expose you to x-ray radiation and is perfectfully safe for all ages.  This test is PAIN FREE and NON-INVASIVE.

SCHEDULE A TEST TODAY

Call our clinic at 1-800-253-8024 or 432-363-8020 to schedule a thermography test.  Our front desk will give you the details and can schedule an appointment for you.