Laboratory
Laboratory testing is done in our own in-house laboratory. All tests are performed by Medical Technologists who are certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathology. Our laboratory received a 100% score in COLA (Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation) inspections. This rating was achieved by only a few of the 4,000 office-based laboratories that were evaluated. Abnormal results are re-checked and followed closely as determined by the physician. Critical results are called to the patient for follow up. The results of your tests are faxed to your referring physician upon your request at no charge to you.

X-ray

This treatment is a lightweight, portable, comfortable, and easy-to-use, device that has revolutionized at-home neck pain treatment. Pronex gently reduces muscle spasm while slowly relieving pressure on inflamed nerve roots. The end result is elimination of the chronic pain cycle! Patients have total control over the amount of traction applied.  Pronex pays for itself in reduced pharmacy bills, lost days from work, and eliminates the need for ongoing office visits and drawn out physical therapy.  Pronex has no medical side effects and is based on scientific research which shows how gentle evenly applied traction can relieve more than 84% of neck pain. 

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 “I have seen first-hand that, as long as patients are suitable candidates and use the device regularly, neck pain is reduced with none of the traditional side effects of drug therapy...”  Nathan Wei, MD, FACP, FACR

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Pronex is reimbursed by most insurance carriers, including Medicare.  It is a prescription device and should only be used after full instruction by your arthritis doctor.  (Here’s a list of situations where Pronex is indicated: nerve impingement, herniated disc, ligament encroachment, osteophyte encroachment, spinal nerve root swelling, narrowing foramen, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, hypomobility, joint changes, degenerative changes, joint pain/ symptomatic facet joint, spasm/guarding, discogenic pain, postcompression fracture)

Electroanalgesia

Electroanalgesia is a new device that uses computer modulated electronic signals to irritate, “tire out”, and block the function of pain-carrying nerve fibers.

The device delivers a high frequency signal to obtain pharmaceutical level pain relieving effects… without the side effects of pain-killing drugs.

A German company named Senexas has developed an ultra high frequency device that provides what is called “electroceutical” pain relief.  Now this may be a bit hard to understand but basically this device delivers an ultra-high frequency stimulation (more than 20,000 HZ) and is able to create a wide-ranging nerve block effect.

The Senexas device be used for most neck and low back disorders, headache, shoulder, hip and knee pain, bursitis, tendonitis, and fibromyalgia.  Treatments are given in blocks of five sessions spaced as closely together as possible.  The physician will reevaluate your status after five sessions.  If you respond you may be given up to fifteen treatments. Most insurances will pay for this treatment as well.

With each session, the pain relief should slowly get better.  In addition to pain relief, you should also experience an improvement in range of motion.

What this device does also is help repair damage at a cellular level.  It helps to promote circulation. And it helps tremendously with swelling and inflammation.

 “My shoulder was feeling rough.  My pain level was at a 7.  I had to take pain medication so I could do my daily activities.  I didn’t stop doing things but I had to use medication.  The electrical stimulation treatment is good.  After my first treatment the pain started getting better already.  By the third treatment I was in good shape.  By the next treatment I didn’t need my pain medication!  I even shoveled a little snow.  I am really feeling good.  I’m going home today and carry my grandbaby around which I couldn’t do before!  She ran right to me yesterday and I was able to pick her up! She kissed me and laid her head down on my shoulder.  You’ll never know how that felt.  My pain level has kept going down all week.  Today my pain level is 0.  I will continue the treatments as long as I need them.  Watch, I can even move my arm better now!”…Roland Eyler (Thurmont, Maryland)

 “I suffered severe pain in my knee.  Walking was a very tiring and painful operation.  The pain in my knees affected almost all aspects of my life.  I could no longer do fingerprints at my volunteer work with the Maryland State Police because I had to stand the whole time.  I had been doing this for about 15 years and now I couldn’t.  I have been to almost no meetings of the Masonic Fraternity I belong to in almost two years.  It was too much trouble to get dressed, walk to my car and walk into the facility.  I would really like to be able to do that again.  Dr. Wei mentioned a treatment called high frequency stimulation.  I said let’s try it because I can’t do the things I have to do or I like to do.  The pain I have has affected my relationship with my wife.  I’m ashamed.  I can’t even carry out the garbage; my wife has to do it.  I feel very useless.  My son has to come over and help with things I used to do.  I like to feed the birds and my wife even has to do that also.  After having a week worth of sessions for the most part I have more use of my legs.  I have a decrease in the pain and I hope it’s going to get better.  I do feel like I’m walking a little better now.  I haven’t tried many activities yet but I want to get back to doing some exercises with my legs at FMH and at the YMCA.  I want to increase my activity level to work on losing some weight.  Today is the first time in two years that I have had no pain in my knee!  I’d recommend these treatments to anyone that has arthritic pain!”…Alan Miller (Frederick, Maryland)

 “I was experiencing a lot of discomfort in my back, legs and across my shoulder.  The pain interfered with my activities and my symptoms drained my energy.  I couldn’t do any yard work or any of my normal routines such as sweeping, lifting and many other things.  After Dr. Wei recommended that I start a treatment called high frequency stimulation, I’ve had several treatments now.  I can actually move much better and I can do my normal routines.  The pain in my upper back is no longer there.  Even the little things such as small activities that I used to not be able to do I’m back doing.  Overall I feel much better, much more comfortable!”…Robert W. McKinney, PhD, (Frederick, MD)

 “I would have pain anytime I was sitting down for any length of time.  It seemed like the pain was worse at noon and in the evening.  Heat would help but it didn’t take the pain away.  Because of such pain I was limited in my activities.  I couldn’t walk far and I couldn’t practice on my keyboard as much as I needed to.  I felt like I was becoming more sedentary.  I’m optimistic about the treatment Dr. Wei recommended for me.  The electrical stimulation.  My pain level has come down throughout the week.  It was a 0 today.  I can actually sit for longer periods of time at the keyboard now.  Yesterday when the pain increased I rested and the pain went away, so it is improving.  Walking is about the same but this pain also comes from my knee.  I definitely need to keep doing these treatments to help with my arthritis!”…Lanita Bennett (Mt. Airy, Maryland)

 “I couldn’t turn my head very well from side to side.  It was very uncomfortable and painful.  I did wear a neck collar when I rode in the car.  I would tense my neck when driving because the pain was so bad.  I also wore the neck collar at night because it supported my neck and I was able to sleep better.  When I wanted to do any activity I just had to keep doing things with the pain.  Dr. Wei recommended I start the electrical stimulation treatments and said it might help.  I’ve had several treatments and my pain level has gone down.  I don’t wear the collar as much but I do feel support from it.  The collar gives me comfort.  My pain level started around a 4 or 5 and now it’s down to about 2 or 3.  I am able to turn my head from side to side now with less discomfort.  I would recommend this treatment to others.  I like it because it helps and it is worth doing as an alternative to taking other medications.”…Jean Whitaker (Salem, New Jersey)

Cold Laser

Low level therapeutic laser, better known as phototherapy, is a relatively new form of treatment. Phototherapy has been shown in experimental settings to stimulate cell growth, increase cell metabolism, improve cell regeneration, induce an anti-inflammatory response, reduce edema, reduce fibrous tissue formation, reduce levels of substance P, stimulate production of nitric oxide, decrease the formation of bradykinin, histamine, and acetylcholine, and stimulate the production of endorphins. These effects are felt to be what reduce pain.

Phototherapy is FDA approved for a number of applications and has been deemed safe. It also requires relatively little time to perform. Established protocols and tissue dosages have been established that make clinical application relatively easy.

The number of sessions required varies according to disorder, length of time the disorder has been present, and the severity of the disorder.

Cold laser appears so far to be a safe, effective mode of therapy for many rheumatologic disorders and is worth trying before subjecting a patient to more invasive and dangerous procedures.

Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is a special, sophisticated way of looking inside a joint by putting a highly refined, small camera into the joint. The goal is to remove any arthritic, diseased tissue that can cause pain and suffering. Those who benefit most from arthroscopy are patients with arthritis who've failed other treatments. This practice is done in our office with local anesthesia. It is therefore safe, for people with other medical diseases for whom general or spinal anesthesia would be too risky. After receiving local anesthesia, the patient will be taken to the procedure room, where the nurses will continue the sterilization procedure of the surrounding area. The doctor will then insert a small camera into the joint, assess the extent of damage in your joint and clean it of any clinically significant arthritic changes. Washing the joint space with a large amount of sterile fluid completes the arthroscopy. This is done to remove any remaining debris inside the joint that might be causing pain.

This procedure lasts on average 15 to 45 minutes. You will be able to walk immediately after the procedure, but we do advise you to take it easy for the next couple of weeks to promote better healing. We will then schedule a follow up appointment seven days after the procedure to ensure that everything is fine.

The Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center is an internationally recognized center in arthroscopy for arthritis. Since 1990, arthroscopy procedures done in our center have helped patients with pain and suffering, have helped them avoid crippling, and restored their enjoyment of life. We've refined many existing techniques and pioneered others for the treatment of arthritis in other areas such as the hands and wrists. The result of our work has been published in a number of scientific journals. Thus we have been able to share our knowledge with physicians worldwide.

Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland
71 Thomas Johnson Drive
Frederick, Maryland 21702

301-694-5800
1-888-863-7646 (Toll Free Line)
1-888-71-STUDY (Clinical Study Line)

aocmd@aocm.org

Please call our 24-hour, toll-free hotline for requesting FREE information on knee pain and arthritis. (1-888-863-7646)

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