by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jul 26, 2016 | Blog
This is Part 2 of a Dr. Wang’s Migraine series. Please click here for Part 1.
With a myriad of changes, the diagnoses of chronic pain become very complex. When so many symptoms are presenting themselves, and tests show imbalance in areas of physiological, chemical and psychological, sometimes it is hard to determine which is the cause and which is the effect. That is why patients with chronic pain are often treated for their symptoms.
Migraine is one of those pain diseases that is usually chronic, and can have many different sources of origin or cause.
It is complex because there are many contributing factors that will culminate in a migraine attack, however the cause of the migraine is sometimes illusive. What most people refer to as migraine can have its origin from disease or injury to different systems. It can be a disease of the vascular system, or nervous system, immune system, or muscular or soft tissue injuries, or even psychological system. The fact that there are so many symptoms reported by migraine sufferers, and so many different triggers that precede a migraine attack, it shows that some cases of migraine can be multi-factorial. As stated before, when different treatment through different doctors are tried and are not successful, the fallback position is symptomatic treatment. Control of pain is attempted by giving all kinds of pain killers, muscle symptoms by muscle relaxants, sleep disorder by sleeping pills, depression that inevitably appear is controlled by anti depressants. The rest of the symptoms are addressed by using anti-psychotic drugs, or anti-anxiety drugs, or even blood pressure medications.
The challenge of these patients and their families face each day is the prospect of unknown. Is this going to be a good day or bad day? Should I go out or not? Should I meet with my friends and socialize, or is it even worth it? They have been through so much treatment that have given them hope but end up letting them down. It is the physical pain that is limiting their daily activity or quality of life, but it is psychological drain that eventually makes them lose hope. My analogy for chronic pain is the situation of sleep deprivation; it is an unsustainable situation. The physical psychological impact on a person will eventually drag them into the abyss. Therefore it is really important to have a good support system. Our medical system need to give them the proper diagnosis and treatment if possible. It will only benefit the sufferer and provide them the opportunity to live a full life without having to change their habits because of chronic pain. While the patient is the main sufferer, his/her family can feel the emotional effects as well. Pain BC is one of a few organized support groups for chronic pain patients and their family.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jul 26, 2016 | Blog
What is BC HeadPain Institute?
BC HeadPain Institute was founded by Dr. Lun Wang, orthodontist and founder of PacificWest Dental, to offer pain management that is an alternative to drugs and medication for chronic sufferers. BC HeadPain Institute offers a comprehensive system that treats many different orofacial disorders including headaches, migraines, tinnitus, vertigo and temporomandibular joint disorders by progressively adjusting the way that your teeth bite together.
Wait, what?
The temporomandibular joint is the delicate ball joint of your jaw; it is what allows your jaw to open and close and move from side to side. The human jaw exerts enormous amounts of force, and any kind of change to the way that it moves can cause imbalances over time that often result in chronic pain not only in the jaw, but also in the network of nerves that run through the neck, face, and head.
What would change the way that my jaw moves?
You name it — extensive or poorly done dental work, physical trauma from sports or car accidents, excessive gum chewing, teeth grinding, or even just quirky one-sided chewing habits. Just like any other joint, the TMJ is susceptible to injury over time — imbalances in the way that your teeth bite together or the way that your jaw moves can stress the muscles and nerves that run through the face and jaw.
So, BC HeadPain Institute essentially offers a rehabilitation system for the mouth and jaw.
Yes. Basic treatments for these types of disorders (usually some form of mouthpiece) have been around for years, but our therapy is a more comprehensive rehabilitative approach that borrows heavily from the most recent advances in sports medicine. Like any other joint or muscle injury these disorders can require careful care over the course of several weeks or months, and our team received specialized training in treating the entire spectrum.
But my jaw doesn’t hurt. Does this mean that my TMJ is healthy, and my headaches or other symptoms must be caused by something else?
This is where it gets tricky, and why TMJ problems are so often left undiagnosed and untreated — bite imbalances and TMJ problems frequently don’t manifest just as actual jaw or facial pain. The abnormal muscle tension caused by bite imbalances can wreak havoc on the complex network of nerves and ligaments that run through the face and neck, causing neck pain, chronic headaches/migraines, facial soreness, tinnitus or ear pain, and even vertigo.
If my jaw doesn’t even hurt, how is the team at BC HeadPain able to figure out if I have issues with my TMJ or other parts of my face, neck and jaw?
Our rehabilitative system is designed around resolving issues related to the TMJ, so a proper diagnosis before treatment is essential — this is why the system includes a complete battery of diagnostic tests that can precisely measure any imbalances in the way that your teeth bite together. Part of this diagnostic process is technology that measures the pressure when you bite down, and creates a 3D map of your mouth that shows the precise forces exerted right down to each individual tooth. Dr. Wang will be able to tell right away if your bite is misaligned, and whether continuing treatment will be worthwhile.
How long does the rehabilitation process take?
Joint injuries can be complicated and every patient is different, but even the most severe TMJ disorders can be resolved in as few as eight treatments. Like a sports injury, the treatment time can depend on how an individual’s muscles and ligaments respond to the therapy as well as the severity of the problem. And like traditional injury rehabilitation programs, the focus of the treatments themselves is tailored to each individual case.
What are the treatments like?
Don’t worry — your appointments will be free of any poking, prodding, or scraping. Each treatment is completely non-invasive and drug-free, and a large part of rehabilitation process involves gentle pain-relief technology like ultrasound, microcurrent, and cold laser therapies.
What about insurance?
Every insurance provider is different — we offer to contact your Insurance provider on your behalf to see what coverages may be available. Sometimes insurance providers seem reluctant to provide cost coverage for migraine-related treatments, and it might take some persistence to get approval.
How do I get started?
Ready to schedule an appointment? Contact us today to get started.
Any questions or comments? Feel free to contact us or browse our website for more information.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jul 26, 2016 | Types of Head Pain
Jaw pain from TMJ/TMD can cause a number of issues related to the teeth and jaw. If you have trouble chewing, experience jaw pain or grind your teeth, BC Head Paint Institute’s system can help you find relief.
TMJ is the joint where your jaw meets the side of your head and is one of the most complicated joints in the body. If this joint doesn’t function properly, a person can experience chronic pain. Someone suffering with TMJ disorder can experience discomfort or pain that could be temporary or long term. TMJ disorder can cause painful chewing, jaw stiffness or a locking or popping feeling when moving the jaw. If not treated, TMJ disorder can lead to symptoms of migraines or tinnitus.
The highly trained Vancouver and Surrey team at BC Head Pain is equipped with a revolutionary treatment system that provides patients with proven therapies that reduce the pain and improvement the movement of the jaw.
Dr. Wang first consults with the patient to determine the full symptoms and medical history. The evaluation takes about 20 minutes and allows Dr. Wang to assess the movement of the jaw and the balance of the dental forces. During this consultation, Dr. Wang will develop a treatment plan specific to the patient’s needs. A variation of the comfortable, needle-free and drug-free therapies are utilized to offer the patient long term relief from TMJ.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jul 26, 2016 | Types of Head Pain
Those plagued by chronic pain due from an auto accident often struggle with finding relief for their back and neck pain. The treatment available at BC Head Pain Institute can improve those injuries that have lingered over time.
If you have recently been in a car accident and have experienced neck or back pain, you could be suffering from whiplash. Whiplash is caused when the head and neck are whipped back and forth due extreme impact. Sometimes whiplash pain doesn’t present itself immediately after the accident. and often the pain persists over time.
Some accident sufferers try various medications or repeatedly visit various doctors’ offices to find relief from pain that can extend from the head down to the back. Dr. Wang and the team at BC Head Pain Institute are highly trained in therapies that treat the underlying cause of whiplash which is often linked to the joint that links the jaw to the skull.
At a patient’s first visit at BC Head Pain Institute, Dr. Wang will conduct a thorough evaluation of the patient’s symptoms to immediately detect the source of the pain. Dr. Wang will determine the appropriate course of treatment for each individual. Treatment consists of comfortable therapies that do not require drugs or needles.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jul 26, 2016 | Types of Head Pain
Headache and migraine sufferers may no longer have to try to live with the debilitating pain that can affect their quality of life. By using our revolutionary system, BC Head Pain Institute can often provide lasting relief that can often occur within a few treatments.
Are you missing out on life due to migraines or chronic head pain? Chronic headache and migraine pain sufferers often experience period of debilitating pain, overall weakness and loss of energy, often resulting in missing work or school. Some sufferers have changed their lifestyle to accommodate or avoid the pain, which can lead to general unhappiness and depression. Many have tried treatment measures that may have been unsuccessful or rely too heavily on medication and therefore feel that there isn’t an answer to relieve the chronic pain.
Chronic headaches, migraines, TMJ/D, tinnitus and other pains of the head, neck, face and jaw could be caused by improper or unbalanced dental forces. A painless examination by Dr. Wang can quickly determine if your symptoms can be resolved by a drug-free, needle-free system.
If Dr. Wang and his highly trained team can diagnose your symptoms as something they can treat using our various techniques to evaluate each patient, they will review with you an individualized course of treatment that meets your specific needs. Upon the start of treatment, Dr. Wang will use our cutting-edge system to begin providing you relief. Individual results will vayr, but the treatment is a comfortable, drug-free and needle-free solution that has been proven to be successful.
With the treatment and therapy available at BC Head Pain Institute, Dr. Wang is able to treat the underlying cause of the pain rather than simply masking the pain, which results in successful and long term results.
