Tuesday, December 27, 2011

PA Among Top States For Elderly Residents

According to the 2010 United States Census, Pennsylvania continues to rank among the top states for the percentage of the elderly population.  Pennsylvania's population of elderly citizens is about 15.4%, which is above the national average of 13%.  This should come as no surprise, as Pennsylvania traditionally ranks high among states in this area.

Although older Pennsylvania residents typically live comfortably and safely in our state, we also have significant reports of elder abuse in the state as well.  Whether in a nursing home, residential care facility, or at-home care, elderly PA residents are susceptible to elder abuse.  Elder abuse can come in many forms, such as physical, emotional/psychological, financial, and sexual.  It is prudent as a close family or friend to keep an eye on an elderly person that is being cared for by another to make sure that the are being treated properly. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving clients in western and central Pennsylvania.  He is experience with claims involving older Pennsylvanians, most often in regard to nursing home abuse and negligence, hospital negligence, and slip and fall injuries.  For more information on Attorney Stoehr and his law firm, please click here.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Highmark-UPMC Agreement Continues Into 2013

Throughout the year,  our blog highlighted the ongoing debate between UMPC, one of western Pennsylvania’s largest physician networks, and Highmark, a health insurance giant in western Pennsylvania.  The two companies had been in negotiation for months about renewing their contracts for the upcoming renewal period on their contract.  Through a series of lawsuits, legal arrangements, and negotiations between both parties, patients using both UPMC and Highmark services will be able to receive both services until 2013.
The latest update involved an agreement by both companies in which patients insured by Highmark, but using UPMC doctors, will continue to be able to use both companies' services until 2013.  This is an extension of the original agreement, in which services were scheduled to stop between the companies in 2012.  Both parties are still not clear about how they will be serving their patients together after their contract period ends in 2013.  Both parties also issued statements which can be viewed by clicking on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's link at the beginning of this paragraph.
If you have Highmark insurance and are also a patient within the UPMC Healthcare system, Attorney Doug Stoehr advises you to carefully examine any correspondence that your health insurance and medical provider may send you.  It is important to be as knowledgeable as possible about what you are entitled to from your insurance company and your healthcare provider, especially when major changes are occurring within those systems.

Attorney Stoehr is a lawyer specializing in personal injury and services the western and central Pennsylvania area.  If you would like to consult with him about a possible personal injury claim, please contact our law office.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Teenage Driving By The Numbers

For a teenager, finally getting your driver’s license is an exciting milestone in your high school life.  With their own license, teenagers are able to have more freedom to visit their friends, attend sporting events, and participate in activities and events around town.  Although getting a driver’s license is a fun and exciting time, teenage drivers can also be more likely to cause or be involved in serious accidents.  Teenage drivers are sometimes more reckless with their driving, including driving while using their phone, texting behind the wheel, speeding, or disobeying the rules of the road.

As mentioned above, new and inexperienced teenage drivers are much more likely to be involved an accident that will harm themselves and/or others.  Take a look at the following statistics and facts regarding teenage drivers and automobile accidents.  According to the CDC:

·       Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, with more than one in three deaths in this age group.
·       Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations.
·       In 2009, eight teenagers aged 16 to 19 died every day from automobile accident injuries. 
·       For every mile driven, teen drivers aged 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.
·       In 2008, 1/4 of drivers aged 15 to 20 who died in car crashes had a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher.
·       Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed and allow shorter headways (distance between cars).

If you or a loved one have been injured or another has been killed as the result of a new and inexperienced driver, it may be time to take legal action.  Although not all teenagers are poor drivers, there are many instances at which a new driver may be at fault for an accident or injury.  If you would like more information about this page or Attorney Stoehr’s areas of practice, contact our Altoona, Pennsylvania, law firm.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Depressed Elders in Nursing Homes


Currently in the United States, there are more citizens over the age of 65 than there are teenagers.  Every year, thousands of these elderly Americans make their way into nursing homes or other residential care facilities.  Although they may have moved there for a variety of reasons, most of these people experience some kind of psychological distress during their stay in one of these facilities.  Some of the most common shared types of psychological distress experienced by these residents are depression and loneliness. 
According to researchers, when elderly patrons are first admitted to nursing homes, many undergo a period of depression within the first 10 days. This is more severe in people who are coming from a home environment as opposed to those that are coming from a hospital environment.  Experts think that this period of depression is due to part to a loss of autonomy, loss of personal possessions, and a lack of familiar environment.
The adjustment process from home to a nursing home can take anyway from three to six months, and some residents never fully adjustment or get over symptoms of depression.  Depressed residents are often disengaged or disinterested in activities most of the day and do not seem to want to participate in either formal or informal activities put on by the nursing home community.  Unfortunately, your loved one’s depressive symptoms could also be a result of abuse at thehands of the nursing home staff.  Although not all depressive symptoms are a direct result of abuse, if you suspect that an elderly loved one has been abused while in the care of another, it could be time to take legal action.  
 
If you would like more information about this page or Attorney Stoehr's areas of practice, contact our Altoona, Pennsylvania, law firm by calling 814-946-4100.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Nursing Homes and Loneliness


Many of our country’s elderly citizens now reside in nursing homes or residential care facilities.  Although nursing homes can be a good environment for some residents, others often experience feelings of loneliness, isolation, and depression after being admitted to the facility.  Too often, these feels last and become chronic feelings that negatively impact the quality of life of the elderly person.

Some researchers say that up to 84% of the elderly population suffers from loneliness, and 20-25% of nursing home residents are also depressed.  Unfortunately, depression and isolation often go untreated in nursing home facilities because it is difficult to accurately assess.  

According to the experts, nursing home residents also have few opportunities for formal and informal social activities.  As a result of this, many of the residents experience feelings of prolonged isolation and loneliness.  One research study mentioned the fact that, in some nursing homes, there was formal staff engagement in social activities only 10% of the time.  The rest of the time, residents had to create their own social engagements or organize their own activities.
Unfortunately, your loved one’s isolation and loneliness could also be a result of abuse at the hands of the nursing home staff.  Although these symptoms are not always are a direct result of abuse, if you suspect that an elderly loved one has been abused while in the care of another, it could be time to take legal action.  Contact an experienced elder abuse lawyer, Attorney Doug Stoehr, for more information about your possible legal claim.
If you would like more information about this page or Attorney Stoehr's areas of practice, contact our Altoona, Pennsylvania, law firm by calling 814-946-4100. Home and hospital visits can be arranged. Evening and weekend hours are available for your convenience.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Texting Legislation Passed in State Senate This Week

As mentioned in the blog post yesterday, legislation officially making texting a primary offense while driving moved on to the State Senate on Tuesday of this week.  Both the Pennsylvania State Senate and the House of Representatives officially passed this piece of legislation, which Governor Corbett also reviewed earlier this fall.  Our blog has been highlighting the progression of this process since June of this summer and are happy to see the piece of legislation progressing into law.  The most recent update on this progression shows that the State Senate officially voted for the texting ban this Tuesday after some revisions were made to the earlier version of the ban.  Governor Corbett still needs to sign the legislation, and the law will take effect 120 days after he signs it.  If caught, texting drivers will face a $50 fine.  Recent surveys show that, although 96% of drivers see texting as a safety threat on the road, 30% still admit to doing it themselves.  Some Pennsylvania legislators are also considering forming a new piece of legislation that would also ban or limit cell phone use while driving.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving the western and central Pennsylvania area.  One of his major areas of practice is injury or death due to motor vehicle accidents.  He has noticed a trend of accidents involving cell phone usage, both talking or texting, and urges you not to use your phone while driving and be wary of other drivers on the road who may be using their phones.  For more information on his law firm, please click here.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Texting Teen Dies In Car Crash

Yesterday, a Butler County teenager died in a car accident.  Alexis Summers, a 17-year-old teenager from Saxonburg, PA was texting while driving when she drove over an enbankment.  Her car crashed into a tree near the road and Summers died at the scene.  This accident occured on the same day that the legislation officially passed in the Pennsylvania State Senate which bans texting while driving. Both the Pennsylvania State Senate and House of Representatives have been in conversation since June about the possibility of banning texting while driving, making it a primary offense in the state.  Once Governor Corbett signs the legislation, the law will take effect after 120 days.

Distracted driving is one of the major causes of motor vehicle accidents, especially with young and inexperienced drivers. Distracted drivers may also swerve off the road, hitting stop signs, telephone poles, and most seriously, other people walking or biking. Additionally, they are a danger to others in the car with them, since they may cause an accident in which the passengers in their car are also injured.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving the western and central Pennsylvania area.  One of his major areas of practice is injury or death due to motor vehicle accidents.  He has noticed a trend of accidents involving cell phone usage, either talking or texting, and urges you not to use your phone while driving and be wary of other drivers on the road who may be using their phones.  For more information on his law firm, please click here.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Safety Tips: Drugs and Pain Management


Over-the-counter and prescription drugs are often the first and most commonly used tool for managing chronic pain.  Although many people associate prescription drug use with the possibility of drug dependence, there are many other health hazards to take into consideration when regularly using medication to manage pain.

According to Pain Pathways magazine (Spring 2011), prescription drugs are being misused and accidentally harming the population in a variety of ways.  Teenagers may get their hands on their parent’s prescription drugs to get high, people may share their medication with others, and others may use their drugs after the expiration date.  All of these common occurrences are extremely dangerous to all those involved, whether legally, morally, or physically.  Improper disposal of expired drugs is also becoming a problem, as some people are flushing their medications down the toilet.  These drugs then seep into the general water supply of their city, potentially causing great harm to anyone who may use the water later on.

In addition to the risks associated with the use of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications pose their own set of risks and safety hazards.  Chronic pain sufferers frequently use acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as aspirin and ibuprofen, as a part of their pain management routine.   Although available more readily (and therefore, perceived as safer by the general public), the use of OTC drugs can result in accidental drug overdose, especially combined with prescription medications.  It is extremely important to be aware of exactly which prescriptions you are taking and at what times in order to avoid a drug reaction or overdose.  In all cases, it is extremely important to use and dispose of any medication responsibly and safely. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.   

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Radiofrequency Ablation

For many sufferers of chronic pain, the traditional treatment options of over-the-counter and prescription drugs are not sufficient enough to extinguish or significantly reduce their pain.  Many chronic pain patients turn to other, alternative, forms of treatment for their condition.  Some of these treatment options include counseling, occupational or physical therapy, herbal supplements, and acupuncture.  Additionally, many pain specialists are also trying a new technique in their offices known as radiofrequency ablation. 

Radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, is a medical technique that utilizes radio waves to use heat to inhibit pain-causing nerves (nociceptors) in the body.  RFA, a very accurate and precise piece of technology, was originally used to remove cancerous tumors and uteran fibroids, but is now frequently being used to treat neck, back, and head pain (Pain Pathways magazine, Fall 2011 issue, page 39).  For back pain specifically, RFA has significantly reduced pain associated with discogenic pain (otherwise known as degenerative disc disease), facet joint pain, and sacriliac pain in many patients. Radiofrequency ablation can also be used in a cooled format, in which the needles used in the procedure are cooled internally, allowing physicians to create a larger target of nociceptor inhibition.  This particular type of RFA is supposed to reduce risk and increase the success of the procedure.  The RFA procedure ends in a very short recovery time, with most patients being able to resume normal activities the next day.  RFA is also relatively safe compared with other similar procedures; complications are rare, and nerve damage is very unlikely. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.  

Friday, October 28, 2011

6 Tips For All Pain Patients

Regardless of what type of pain you suffer from--fibromyalgia, adhesion pain, whiplash, or others--there are a few general tips that can help you receive the best treatment possible.  According to Pain Pathways magazine (Spring 2010 Issue, pages 56-57), there are six small steps that every pain patient should take when receiving and deciding about treatment options.

The first step is to simply see your doctor.  As mentioned in previous posts, thousands of Americans suffer in silence and wait months or years before seeking treatment for their pain.  It is very important to not wait that long to seek treatment, since in most cases of chronic pain, the problems will not go away over time.  In fact, the pain may only get worse.  The second step is to be an active patient.  This means being well-informed, asking questions, and exploring all routes of treatment options that seem desirable or feasible for you.  The third step is to make a sustained commitment to managing your pain.  It is easily to get discouraged when dealing with chronic pain, since effective pain management usually involves a variety of treatments and a trial and error process.  As long as you remind yourself that there will be an effective pain management regimen that works right for you, staying committed to finding that regimen will be much easier. 

The fourth step is realizing the importance that your physical health plays in successful treatment.  This means that you should keep yourself as healthy as possible when dealing with chronic pain.  Secondary health-related problems such as being overweight, drinking, smoking, and not exercising will only exacerbate your chronic pain condition.  The fifth step is very related to the fourth, except that it involves taking care of your psychological health.  Keeping your attitude positive and upbeat while self-monitoring for the development of any mood disorders is critical to managing your pain.  You cannot effectively manage your pain when your psychological health is also suffering.  The sixth and final step is to talk with others who have the same condition.  Not only does this allow you find out more about different treatment options that you did not know about before, it also provides a network of support that you need to deal with your condition.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.  

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Elder Housing Complex Under Fire In Franklin County

Village Green Apartments in Waysnesboro, PA has received complaints filed against them through Franklin County Housing Authority with the Department of Aging, the Elder Abuse Unit of the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, and Department of Housing and Urban Development. The apartment complex, which caters exclusively to the elderly and disabled, had recently installed new toilets, shower heads, and heating pumps that are more energy-efficient, but do not meet the needs of their tenants.  Unfortunately, these new money saving mechanisms are not user-friendly and, in some cases, are also unsafe. 
Many of the Village Green residents have reported problems with the new installations of devices, ranging from inability to control heat/air flow, unsafe and inefficient toilets, to unusable shower heads.  Many of the elderly residents could not properly control the heat and air mechanisms in their apartments due to problems with the air flow mechanism, resulting in a lack of cool air during the hot summer months, and frigid cold temperatures during the cold spells of fall.  The new toilets are also not sturdy enough to accommodate the special chairs and other devices that people with special needs to use the bathroom. One elderly woman had reported making 40 calls to the energy services company for repairs related to the installation of her new and mandatory energy-efficient system.  Tenants were told to apply for reasonable accommodations to be made for the installations, and have received over 75 requests already.
Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania.  He has litigated several claims involving elder abuse. For more on his career and firm, please click here.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What's New With UMPC/Highmark

Throughout the summer, this blog highlighted the ongoing debate between UMPC, one of western Pennsylvania’s largest physician networks, and Highmark, a health insurance giant in western Pennsylvania.  The two companies had been in negotiation for months about renewing their contracts for the upcoming renewal period on their contract.  Since they could not reach a favorable agreement for both parties, the companies have launched campaigns against each other in order to draw customers toward their service and away from the other’s company.  Additionally, Highmark bought a rival healthcare company in the area, which is UMPC’s biggest competitor for physicians and patients.  This only served to fuel the fire of competition between the two organizations, which is still continuing on today.
The latest update involved advertisements put out by UMPC under the slogan “Keep Your Doctor”.  Highmark filed a lawsuit against UMPC for this campaign, which was recently overruled by a Pittsburgh area judge.  The judge cited lack of evidence as the primary reason why Highmark’s lawsuit against UPMC was unfounded thus far in regards to the advertising campaign.  As of this point, Highmark insured patients will be able to use UMPC doctors through summer 2013.   
As mentioned many  times in this blog, if you have Highmark insurance and are also a patient within the UPMC Healthcare system, Attorney Doug Stoehr advises you to carefully examine any correspondence that your health insurance and medical provider may send you.  It is important to be as knowledgeable as possible about what you are entitled to from your insurance company and your healthcare provider, especially when major changes are occurring within those systems.

Attorney Stoehr is a lawyer specializing in personal injury and services the western and central Pennsylvania area.  If you would like to consult with him about a possible personal injury claim, please contact our law office.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Rough Road For Fibromyalgia Patients (Part 2)


Continuing from yesterday’s post, the road to correct diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia is very difficult and can take years to figure out.  Once patients actually enter a doctor’s office to report fibromyalgia-like symptoms, doctors look out for the following hallmarks of the disorder: 

1)   Continuing pain symptoms in 18 trigger/tender points of the body
2)   Pain all over—not just on one side or above/below the waist
3)   Pain must have persisted for over three months to be considered chronic

Unfortunately, there is no known specific cause for fibromyalgia.  One theory is that the brain of fibromyalgia patients cannot properly regulate pain signals and receptors.  The fact that fibromyalgia paint also frequently occurs with other disorders, such as chronic fatigue, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, mood disorders, and sleep disorders (Pain Pathways, Spring 2011, page 64) also is consistent with the idea that the brain and spinal cord cannot properly regulate pain.  The condition also seems to have a “trigger” when the painful symptoms start, such as a period of extreme stress, illness, or injury.

Treatment options for sufferers of fibromyalgia often have to be multimodal to be effective.  Some of the most common combinations of treatment include medication, a diet and exercise schedule, and stress reduction techniques.  Currently, three drugs are approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia—Cymbalta, Savella, and Lyrica.  Many fibromyalgia patients also join support groups, not only to socialize with people in similar situations, but also to get tips and recommendations on how to best treat their condition.  Since the triggers and symptoms of fibromyalgia are so varied, treatment techniques are also equally as variable.  

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.    


Monday, October 24, 2011

A Rough Road For Fibromyalgia Patients (Part 1)


According to Pain Pathways magazine (Spring 2011 issue), fibromyalgia patients often have a tough battle to face when they are first diagnosed with their disorder.  On average, it takes patients about two or three years to even get the correct diagnosis of fibromyalgia.  During that time, they usually see between three and five physicians, leading to a whirlwind of differing opinions and treatment options for their pain.  Pain Pathways interviewed a doctor who says that, although physicians are being trained to recognize and diagnose fibromyalgia, they often do not diagnose it the first time that they see a patient. 

One of the main challenges to correctly diagnosing fibromyalgia is the fact that there is not a definitive, standard diagnostic test for the disease.  Drawing blood and using technology such as MRIs or CAT scans alone do not accurately diagnose fibromyalgia, since the symptoms of fibromyalgia vary in both type and severity across patients.   Additionally, there are still some physicians who deny the existence of fibromyalgia, and attempt to pinpoint the pain as a manifestation of another bodily problem.  To help with this problem, the American Pain Foundation (APF) keeps a list of physicians who they recommend for fibromyalgia treatment.  The APF also has an online fibromyalgia toolkit, in which you may take a self-assessment to see if you possibly have fibromyalgia.  Currently, women account for 90% of all fibromyalgia cases, but this may be due in part to male’s reluctance to seek medical help if they suffer from pain, leading to underreporting about the actual prevalence of the disease.

Tomorrow this post will be continued, discussing what happens after diagnosis and what the options for treatment are.


Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.  


Friday, October 21, 2011

All About Whiplash


Whiplash is a painful and common cause of complaint after an injury such as an automobile accident.  Also known as Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD), this disorder is characterized by soft tissue damage to the neck and upper spinal area, and in some cases the face and back as well.  Due to the sudden flexion and extension of the neck following an accident such as an automobile collision, the body does not have enough time to compensate for the sudden change in motion and reacts by snapping the head front and back.  Unfortunately, this puts too much strain on the neck muscles and can lead to lasting pain, chronic headaches, restricted range of motion, and dizziness for months following an injury.  In some cases, the pain associated with whiplash is so severe that it interferes with work and sleep, thus leading to both fatigue and irritability.  In even more severe cases, these problems can develop into depression and lowered cognitive abilities, such as problems with memory and concentration.  Disc herniation may also have occurred during the accident and will need to be addressed by a physician.  It is important to realize that the symptoms of whiplash may not manifest themselves until a few days after an accident, so if you or a loved one are in an automobile accident and have unexplained neck and back pain a few days later, whiplash may be the cause of your discomfort. The most common way to experience whiplash from an automobile accident is from a rear-end collision.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.  

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Facts and Myths About Fibromyalgia

In an article of the Spring 2010 issue of Pain Pathways (page 53), a simple quiz was constructed to test people’s knowledge and perception about fibromyalgia, a debilitating and extremely painful medical condition.  Here were some of the most important and revealing questions and answers related to fibromyalgia as reported by the magazine:

-Fibromyalgia is considered an arthritis-related disorder and a rheumatic disease
-You may be diagnosed with fibromyalgia if you have widespread pain (not isolated to a specific body part or region) and pain in at least 11 of 18 standard recognized “tender/trigger points”
-Second problems associated with fibromyalgia (besides chronic pain) include sleep disturbances, fatigue, depression/anxiety, poor memory, and poor concentration
-Fibromyalgia occurs 7 to 9 times more often in women and most affects the 35-55 year old age range
-Treatments for fibromyalgia include patient education, stress reduction techniques, exercise, and medications
-Fibromyalgia is clinically diagnosed as a syndrome, not a disease (syndrome=collection of medical problems that occur together but have no specific, identifiable, cause; disease=medical condition with a specific cause and recognizable signs and symptoms)
-Fibromyalgia affects 1 in 50 Americans
-Fibromyalgia patients have both increased sensitivity to many different sensory stimuli and a very low pain threshold

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Stigma of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is very real and prevalent medical diagnosis, but it is also one that many refuse to accept and acknowledge, whether they are the sufferer of the pain or not.  Pain Pathways magazine (Spring 2011) had a brief article addressing the issue of chronic pain and public perception of the disorder.  Pain Pathways states that patients suffering from chronic pain have two major social issues to overcome when dealing with their diagnosis--perception that others will think that they are weak for reporting their pain, and fear of job loss if they report the condition to their employers.  Additionally, many chronic pain patients also don't want to seek treatment for their condition because they fear that it is untreatable or they don't want to become addicted to pain medications. 

Although these fears are are not unrealistic, they are only serving to harm patients who could otherwise receive very valuable help for their pain problems.  If you or a loved one have been experiencing prolonged pain, seek the counsel of a physician as soon as you are able.  There are a variety of options for chronic pain management that could greatly improve the quality of life for chronic pain sufferers.  Additionally, since chronic pain is becoming more frequently recognized and diagnosed as a primary medical disorder, fewer people are now denying the existence of persistent, significant pain problems.

It is very important to monitor your pain and consult with a knowledgeable physician if you suspect that you may have a case of chronic pain.   Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

What is CRPS?


There are many subtypes and categories of chronic pain.  One of the many categories or diagnoses within chronic pain is complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).  CRPS, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a syndrome that usually involves chronic pain in a limb that can develop after surgery, injury, heart attack, or stroke. The chronic pain that results from the events described above is much exaggerated or out of proportion compared to the original injury.  The underlying cause of CRPS is not yet understood.   Some of the major complications from untreated CRPS can include both muscle atrophy and muscle tightening (contracture), in which your fingers or toes are locked in a twisted or flexed position.  If you or your physician feels that you might suffer from CRPS, you may undergo tests such as a bone scan, an MRI, x-rays, or sympathetic nervous system tests. 

Once diagnosed with CRPS, treatment options include prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as physical therapy.  One of the newest ways to treat CRPS is through spinal cord stimulation therapy.  Highlighted in the Spring 2011 issue of Pain Pathways magazine (page 27) one woman tells her story about battling CRPS.  Once she aggravated her CRPS-related injury through a wheelchair accident, she decided to have a spinal cord stimulator implanted onto her spinal cord. The stimulator helps to regulate nerve impulses sent to the pain receptors of the body in an effort to regulate and decrease her sensations of pain.  Post-implantation, the woman, who was previously wheelchair-bound, can now walk, teach kindergarten, and even surf.  She is giving thousands of Americans hope for a life post-chronic pain.

 Attorney Doug Stoehr is a lawyer located in Altoona, PA who has successfully negotiated claims for those who have chronic pain as the result of personal injury.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here

Monday, October 17, 2011

Parenting with Chronic Pain

Individuals living with chronic pain are not only patients, they are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, etc. It is hard to cultivate these familial relationships and enjoy time with those you love while you are experiencing chronic pain.  The Summer 2011 issue of Pain Pathways magazine (page 34) spent a lot of time reflecting on this issue and came up with a few tips and tricks to help those who are parents and are also suffering from chronic pain. They divided it up by age range in order to give more specialized and relevant advice.

For parents of very young children, such as toddlers and kindergarteners, it is best to explain your pain by using simple, concrete words to explain the situation.  It is also very important to mention that the child is not the reason for the pain and that they will still be taken care of even though their parent is in pain.  As the children progress into school-age, you can become more detailed and can admit uncertainty when asked questions you don't know the answer to.  Additionally, you can put a concrete plan into place for day to day living, since children at this age rely on concrete plans and routines to feel comfortable.  At the ages of adolescence and beyond, you can become even more detailed and explicit with your pain management and chronic pain symptoms.  You are also encouraged to answer all questions as completely and honestly as possible.  If chronic pain is a truly pervasive and negative part of your relationship with your children, family therapy may also be a good option to consider at this point.

 Attorney Doug Stoehr is a lawyer located in Altoona, PA who has successfully negotiated claims for those who have chronic pain as the result of personal injury.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Brain Changes Under Stress of Chronic Pain


As noted in previous blogs, chronic pain not only affects your physical body, it also has other secondary effects.  Most notably, sleep deprivation and psychological disorders (such as depression or anxiety) seem to be the most prevalent and debilitating side effects of chronic pain.  Many researchers have considered these interactions and took their studying a step further to examine how all of these relationships affect the brain.  
Specifically, scientists at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine studied these interactions and found that, in patients with chronic pain, the emotional center of the brain is in constant overdrive.  This, in turn, deactivates other parts of the brain and changes neural connections and wiring.  Constant overfiring of some neurons while little to no activation of other neurons could lead to permanent damage and changes in the brain.  For example, it may be harder for a patient with chronic pain to make rational decisions or make them more likely to suffer from mood disorders.  Implications of this study are to have physicians not only help chronic pain to manage their chronic pain, but also to help identify possible areas of cognitive dysfunction as a result of the pain and treat those areas as well.
 Attorney Doug Stoehr is a lawyer located in Altoona, PA who has successfully negotiated claims for those who have chronic pain as the result of personal injury.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Acupuncture and Pain Relief


For years, many sufferers from various types of pain have turned to alternative remedies when traditional Western medicine wasn’t addressing their problems sufficiently.  Relaxation techniques, massage therapy, and herbal remedies are just a few of the many alternative medicines that chronic pain sufferers tend to try if their pain cannot be managed through more conventional routes.  In addition to these remedies listed above, many chronic pain patients have also turned to acupuncture for relief.  In recent years, scientists and researchers have acknowledged this phenomenon and have begun to research the relationship between pain relief and acupuncture.  One research study, recently presented at the Radiological Society of North America, examined this relationship and shed some light about the brain’s role in this process.  Through the use of MRI scans of patients receiving acupuncture therapy, scientists find that the brain activity related to pain perception was modulated or reduced significantly.  The study involved eighteen patients who were scanned with and without acupuncture treatment after an electrical pain stimulus was placed on their ankle. 

This research may shed light on the cognitive pathways modulating pain perception; the more scientists discover about pain pathways and how pain is modulated, the more effective the corresponding treatments will become.  Since it is not uncommon for chronic pain sufferers to not receive total or adequate pain relief through conventional methods, it may be worthwhile for researchers to continue to study how alternative medicine techniques aid in pain reduction.  

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

How Food Affects Pain

Interestingly enough, the type of food you eat can really play a difference in how you can manage pain.  A recent article in Pain Pathways magazine (Fall 2011, page 64) gave some useful, easy tips on changing your diet to manage pain.  Some of the most important pieces of information are:

1)  Decrease the amount of starch and sugar in your diet.  Also, eat protein and fiber with every meal, if possible.  Not only will this diet change help to manage weight loss and keep your body feeling fuller for longer, it also helps prevent diabetes and may help reverse some instances of chronic pain.  Some common fibrous foods include leafy greens and some fruits, and some common proteins include meat, nuts, and beans.

2)  Try to incorporate more magnesium and potassium in your diet to help with the care and treatment of hypertension.  These vitamins and minerals are most often found in plant-based food.  Magnesium is especially useful in treating problems with sleep, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis.  Additionally, eating pineapple in particular can also help with asthma and chronic sinusitis.

3)  Spices and omega-3 fats are also useful in treating types of chronic pain.  The fats found in fish, for example, can help reduce inflammation, and ginger and pepper have been found to reduce pain.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Chronic Pain and Sleep Deprivation

As you can imagine, chronic pain has a hugely negative affect on the amount and quality of sleep.  Many Americans suffer from chronic pain, and a large number of them also report secondary complains of chronic sleep loss and decreased quality of sleep.  For many chronic pain sufferers, it is extremely difficult to find a method of pain relief that will allow a good amount of sleep without waking up several times during the night.

As more and more patients are reporting instances of sleep loss, The National Sleep Foundation compiled data relating to this important issue.  According to their statistics:

-15% of adult Americans report experiencing chronic pain, but 50% of older adults report the same problem
-Among those reported experiencing chronic pain, 2/3 also report trouble sleeping (characterized as poor or unrefreshing sleep)
-The longer a chronic pain patient goes without a good night's sleep, the worse their corresponding pain seems to become
-Some common causes of trouble sleeping include: caffeine and/or alcohol consumption, vigorous exercise in the afternoon or evening, taking prolonged naps (more than 10-20 minutes long)
-Some common treatments include light exercise in the afternoon and relaxation techniques.  Prescription drugs and sleeping pills may also be used under the direction of a trained physician.


Sleep deprivation as it coincides with chronic pain will exacerbate an already debilitating condition. It is very important to monitor your sleeping patterns and consult with a knowledgeable physician if you suspect that you may have a case of  sleep deprivation with chronic pain.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Monday, October 10, 2011

What is Adhesion Pain?

Adhesion pain:  chances are that you have not heard of this medical term unless you or a loved one has had very extensive or invasive medical treatments; however, adhesion pain is a very real and painful medical disorder.  Adhesion pain can best be described as pain resulting from internal scar tissue that fuses together, most often in the abdominal region.  Adhesion scars can come not only from surgical procedures, but from injuries that do not require invasive surgery, such as getting hit in the stomach or being in a car accident.  Pain Pathways magazine reported on this phenomenon in their recent Fall 2011 issue (pages 48-52).  Adhesion scars can result in a myriad of medical complications, including chronic abdominal pain, fusion of internal organs, obstruction of the bowels, and infertility.  Unfortunately, adhesion scars are more complicated to treat and diagnose since they do not appear on medical scans, such as CAT, PET, or x-rays.  Treatment normally involves attending to the symptoms, such as bowel obstruction, and not the actual adhesion scar.  Surgery is available to cut adhesion tissue in the abdominal cavity, but may in fact lead to more scar tissue, so it is not the normal course of action.  As a result of the recognition and diagnosis of adhesion scar pain, some foundations and support networks have been formed around the country for those suffering from adhesion scar pain.

The formation of adhesion scar tissue can occur after a wide variety of accidents and injuries, such as car accidents.  It is very important to monitor your pain and consult with a knowledgeable physician if you suspect that you may have a case of adhesion scar pain, especially if it leads to bowel obstruction or other painful disorders.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serves the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Do You Think You Have Musculoskeletal Pain?

Musculoskeletal pain (M.P.), of the major subtypes of chronic pain, affects many Americans across the country.  In the most recent issue of Pain Pathways magazine (Fall 2011, page 43) a quick quiz is available that may help you figure out if you also suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain. Some of the answers from the quiz (answers to quiz questions are found below) might be surprising!

-Musculoskeletal pain can affect muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, AND nerves

-This type of pain can also result from injury, overuse/overexertion, poor posture, and immobilization

-M.P. can also be associated with carpal tunnel syndrome, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and other conditions

-True or false: musculoskeletal pain is rarely chronic. (FALSE, often chronic)

-Symptoms of M.P. include: localized or widespread pain that worsens with activity, aching or stiffness all over the body, deep/penetrating/dull bone pain, muscle pain characterized by twitching/burning/overexertion, and fatigue/difficulty sleeping

-True or false:  a physical exam is often enough information to correctly diagnose most cases of musculoskeletal pain (FALSE)

Additionally, the article stated some common non-medical treatments, such as hot/cold compresses, rest and activity reduction, immobilization (such as a brace, splint, or cast), regular strengthening and conditioning exercises, P.T. or O.T., and massage therapy.  They also outlined some common medication options, like OTC medications, local injections of anti-inflammatory drugs, prescription pain relievers, and prescription psychotropic drugs.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a lawyer located in Altoona, PA who has successfully negotiated claims for those who have chronic pain as the result of personal injury.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Driver In Court For Semi-Truck Accident

A semi-truck driver who caused  a six-car accident in the greater Philadelphia area in currently undergoing trial for falsifying driving logs.  Valerijs N. Belovs was driving a large commerial truck in early 2009 when he caused a large accident claiming the life of a Fort Washington businessman.  Belovs had falsified his driving record fifteen separate times around the time of the accident in order to get less sleep and drive more hours, breaking federal rules and regulations.  According to the United States Department of Transportation,  truck drivers should not exceed the eleven hour maximum allowable daily driving hours without having rested or being off-duty for ten consecutive hours.  On the day of the accident, Belovs was driving in the Philadelphia area and came around a bend where cars were slowed down.  Due to faulty brakes, Belovs was unable to slow down his truck and, consequently, caused a six car pile-up.  Belovs had reported brake problems to his superiors multiple times, but was told to use the emergency brake on his trip until he had finished his delivery across the country to California.  His superior also supplied him with stickers stating that the truck had been inspected and passed all inspections, when in reality it had not been inspected at all.  Both Belov's superior and the person who had supplied the false inspection stickers were also jailed. 

Commercial truck drivers are a significant cause of motor vehicle accidents . Often, these commercial drivers are fatigued and are driving above the mandated allotment of hours. Additionally, many of them are driving large vehicles that are not up to federal and state safety standards. As a result, passengers and other vehicles often bear the brunt of their illegal activity and are often seriously injured or die from a resulting collision. If you have been injured or a loved one has died as a result of a commercial vehicle accident, please contact our law office for a consultation at no cost to you at the Law Offices of Attorney Doug Stoehr.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Research Allows Doctors to "See" Pain

One of the major diagnostic obstacles in treating patients with pain is effectively locating and evaluating the source of pain.  Since every person reports the intensity and frequency of pain differently (for example, a burn to you may only be a nuisance, but could be considered extremely painful by another), doctors have traditionally had problems treating symptoms of pain.  To combat this problem, researchers in Sweden have developed a tool that allows doctors to physically see pain areas with the use of a PET scan.  By injecting a certain biological compound into the bloodstream, doctors can put patients in PET scan and see where the compound accumulates in the body, thus denoting the area and intensity of the pain.  This technique is still undergoing clinical trials, and is focused on diagnosing and treating whiplash pain.  If the trials are successful, it is probable that this tool may become more accessible and common for treating all diagnoses of pain across the world. 

Whiplash and corresponding chronic pain, es common after a wide variety of accidents and injuries, such as car accidents.  It is very important to monitor your pain and consult with a knowledgeable physician if you suspect that you may have a case of chronic pain.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA and serving the central and western Pennsylvania area.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Suffers of Chronic Pain Speak Out

Chronic pain may seem like a distant and unimaginable condition unless you or someone you know suffers from the disease.  As chronic pain is becoming an increasing diagnosed and more scientifically acknowledged medical condition, many suffers are speaking out and offering their stories relating to their struggle with the disorder.  One of these stories was written up as part of a series by the Vancouver Sun.  In an article titled "You mean this isn't going away?", a woman named Cathryn Morgan spoke out about her battle with chronic pain following a car accident.  A former teacher, Morgan is now an author of children's books dealing with long-lasting pain.  Morgan found herself unable to perform her job as a teacher, even in a part-time capacity and says that it often feels like "fireworks are exploding in her head"; for this reason, it took her an extraordinarily long time to publish her book, since she could not physically bear to sit down in front of her computer for more than thirty minutes a day. Others have also spoken out and publicized the issue of chronic pain, such as 29 year old Melanie Thompson, author of "The Pain Chronicles", and Jennifer Grey, star of the original Dirty Dancing.

Once we begin to put personal stories and faces to the disease of chronic pain, it becomes obvious how much sufferers of chronic pain deserve proper care for their disorder.  This is especially true for accidents caused by another personAttorney Doug Stoehr is a lawyer located in Altoona, PA who has successfully negotiated claims for those who have chronic pain as the result of personal injury.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Managing Bills For Chronic Pain

For sufferers of chronic pain, the medical expenses often add up and can become overwhelming very fast.  A recent article by the New York Times offered some tips and tricks for effectively managing healthcare bills related to chronic pain expenses.  One of the most important tips the NYT offered was to find a knowledgeable primary care physician that can take care of you on a more personal level.  They may be able to administer tests and perform procedures in their office, avoiding costly specialist visits and the possibility of duplicate tests.  Additionally, the article recommends finding affordable mental health services, since people with chronic pain are much more likely to suffer from mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.  Although your health insurance may not cover psychological visits, you might be able to find some community resources or self-management resources.

One of the most important and least expensive ways to keep medical costs down for chronic pain is to exercise.  After consulting with a doctor, it could be very helpful to do stretching or light cardiovasular excerises.  Your insurance company may also pay for a small number of physical or occupational therapy visits, which may be enough sessions to allow you to learn the exercises and techniques you need to master in order to stay fit and regain some health back.  Also, it is important to find a doctor who can effectively manage your pain medications to keep your costs down while still regulating your pain relief effectively as much as you can.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Is Chronic Pain Genetic?


Those suffering from chronic pain can often name others in their family who suffer from the same or similar type of chronic pain.  Researchersat The University of Utah have investigated this phenomenon.  In a large-scale study analyzing data regarding chronic back pain, taken from over one million Utah citizens, the researchers discovered some interesting results.  Chronic back pain does indeed seem to be related, or exacerbated by, genetic factors.  If someone in your immediate family (parents or siblings) has chronic back pain, you are over four times more likely to experience chronic pain as a result of a back injury.  Additionally, having a second-degree relative (aunts, uncles, or grandparents) or third-degree relatives (cousins) that also suffer from chronic back pain will increase your likelihood of suffering from chronic back pain as well.  All of these differences were found after environmental factors, such as smoking, exercise, and career choice (manual labor versus desk job, for instance) were taken into consideration.  It is important to note that this study only focused on chronic back pain as a result of a degenerating or herniated disc; however, this leads the door open for other scientists to research the relationship between other forms of chronic pain and familial likelihood of contracting the same pain problems. 

Chronic pain, especially back pain, is common after a wide variety of accidents and injuries, such as car accidents or slip and fall accidents.  It is very important to monitor your pain and consult with a knowledgeable physician if you suspect that you may have a case of chronic pain. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer located in Altoona, PA.  For more information on him and his firm, please click here.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Teen Driving Bill Moves On To Governor

New drivers and teenage drivers in Pennsylvania are seeing many new changes come into effect after the passing of a House bill today.  State representatives voted in the House this week to approve many changes to Pennsylvania's driving laws as they apply to teenage and new drivers.  Some of the major changes that will take effect once Governor Corbett signs the bill into law (which he states that he intends to do)  are:

-For the first six months after a new driver receives their license, they are not allowed to carry more than one passenger in the car if a parent is not present.  After the driver has been accident-free for six months, the passenger limit increases to three passengers.
-For drivers and passengers under the age of 18, failure to wear a seatbelt will be made a primary offense.  This means that a police officer can pull over a teen driver for not wearing their seatbelt, even if they are obeying all other traffic laws.
-The number of driving experience hours to receive a permit will be 65, which is a significant increase of the previous amount (50 hours).  10 of those hours must be night driving, and 5 hours should be in inclement weather conditions.

Inexperienced driving is a major component in many motor vehicle accidents. Teenage drivers are arguably the most likely group to cause a car accident, due to a lack of experience, a tendency to talk on their cell phones and text while driving, and distractibility by other friends in their vehicle. Our law office hopes that these changes in driving laws will lead to a decrease in accidents and will result in more responsible and experienced teenage drivers. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury attorney serving western and central Pennsylvania.  Please contact our office if you would like more information about a potential claim. 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

PA Department of Aging Recognizes Fall Prevention Day

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging, as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Health, officially recognized yesterday, the first official day of fall, as Fall Prevention Awareness Day.  43 other states observed this day as well.  Accidental falls are a major source of medical care and early nursing home admittance for Pennsylvania's elderly population.  It is estimated that, across the United States, fall-related deaths claim about 18,000 people every year.  Hospital bills and medical costs also associated to fall-related accidents amount to about $2B per year. Pennsylvania is an aggressive proponent of preventative safety measures targeted at the elderly population, since the state has such a large percentage of aging residents.  Currently, PA has over 2.4 million residents over the age of 60.  It is also estimated that every 11 minutes, an elderly Pennsylvania resident is hospitalized from a fall injury, and every week, approximately 20 PA residents die from a fall-related injury. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving clients in western and central Pennsylvania.  He is experience with claims involving older Pennsylvanians, most often in regard to nursing home abuse and negligence, hospital negligence, and slip and fall injuries.  For more information on Attorney Stoehr and his law firm, please click here.

Monday, September 26, 2011

MacArthur Genius Grant Goes to Elder Abuse Prevention Advocate

Every year, the MacArthur Genius grant is awarded to a few American citizens who are working to better the world in the areas of U.S. programs (such as community and economic development), and media, programs, and special initiatives.  This year, one of the winners of the grant is Maria-Therese Connelly--a lawyer who worked in D.C. for the Department of Justice and now spends her time working to raise awareness about elder abuse.  One of her most harrowing cases involved a mother and son, in which the son literally allowed his mother to spend her final days confined to bed, covered in severe bed sores and her own waste.

Connelly has been trying for years to make elder abuse a prominent social justice issue in America through writing, lecturing, and even testifying before Congress.  As a result, the MacArthur Foundation is giving her a $500,000 grant in which she may continue her good work.  During her time at the Department of Justice in the Clinton administration, Connelly was put in charge of a new initiative to fight elder abuse, called the Elder Justice and Nursing Home Initiative.  She was also part of the creation of the Elder Justice Act in 2007, the first of its kind in national history. Since that time, she has started an organization called "Life Long Justice" which works to fight elder abuse, and is in the process of writing a book on the same subject.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania.  He has litigated several claims involving elder abuse. For more on his career and firm, please click here.

Friday, September 23, 2011

New Steps in Research for Spinal Cord Damage/Neuropathic Pain

Scientists in San Diego, working for the University of California, have been researching nerve regeneration and nerve repair after significant injury.  Through their studies of over two years and looking at 654 genes, they have discovered over 70 genes that play a role in nerve regeneration after injury.  Surprisingly, little is known about how adults grow and regenerate damaged nerves, although much is known about how embryos perform the same biological tasks, leading the field of scientific inquiry wide-open for new discoveries and strides in the field.

Interestingly, the scientists working on this project also discovered six genes that seem to work to repress nerve growth and regeneration, which also serves an important biological function.  Many of the genes that the researchers identified as being important for nerve regeneration also play a role in other neurological processes, such as creating and sending neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and seratonin, which regulate emotions).   This new discovery can lead to great strides in research regarding recovery after spinal cord injuries, strokes, paralysis, and neuropathic pain.  It may also serve to inform scientists as to how depression is linked to a prolonged injury and/or chronic pain, due to the role of the neurotransmitting genes.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania.  For more on his career and firm, please click here.