Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Exercise May Help With Chronic Pain

A recent news report by HealthDay News covered new research that suggests that exercise may relieve some aspects of chronic pain stemming from nerve damage. Using laboratory rats as subjects, scientists found that exercise seems to relieve some pain associated with neuropathy.  Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain that may stem from injury, diabetes, and other conditions causing nerve damage.  Exercise seems to relieve some of this pain by reducing levels of inflammation-causing body chemicals known as cytokines. The particular kinds of exercise used in this study were swimming and treadmill running, which showed a 30-50% reduction in neuropathic pain. It should be noted that the article also explicitly stated the following: "Scientists note, however, that research with animals often fails to provide similar results in humans. Exercise is commonly recommended for patients with different types of chronic pain, but there are conflicting findings about whether it can help patients with neuropathic pain."

Neuropathic pain is notoriously difficult to control and manage with medication.
Traditional medication routes often result in significant and potentially dangerous side effects, which is why scientists continue to research alternative treatment options.  If you feel that you have neuropathic pain as a result of an accident due to the fault of another, it may be time to consult with an attorney.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania.  To learn more about his law firm, please click here.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Artficial Spinal Disc Procedure

 Back pain, in general, is a problem that is extremely common among adult Americans.  Chronic back pain often stems from this ailment and may lead to years of problems and discomfort.  According to a recent article by American News Report, there is a new procedure available that might help some of these chronic pain sufferers.

In some cases, surgery may be the only option to relieve the symptoms of chronic pain back.  Keeping this in mind, researchers at Brigham Young University have recently engineered an artificial spinal disc.  This disc involves a mechanism that aids in natural spine movement and may help to restore some function in the spine.  The BYU engineers working on the new artificial spinal disc, who tested it on human cadavers, reported results showing that their disc behaves very similarly to normal human spinal discs.  This is a good alternative to the other currently available procedures for chronic back pain.  Presently, the most widely used surgery to aid in back pain is spinal fusion, a surgery with only a 50% satisfaction rate.  In this procedure, the generative spinal disc is replaced with bone to join two adjacent discs. According to the article, the newly-developed artificial BYU disc has been licensed to Crocker Spinal Technologies, which could begin international sales of the device as early as next year.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer specializing in motor vehicle accidents and elder abuse.  To learn more about accident-related chronic pain and possible legal actions, please visit his website.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Pennsylvania Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

On June 15th, many people across the world gathered together to raise awareness and to find ways to stop elder abuse.  Pennsylvania took a part in these happenings. A recent press release vfor the Pennsylvania Securities Commission noted that, this year, the PSC is focusing on stopping financial elder abuse.  Although elder abuse can come in many forms--physical, sexual, emotional, among others--financial elder exploitation seems to be an especially fast-growing problem in the US.  Financial fraud against elders is estimated to cost around $3B annually and may often lead to emotional and mental problems later on.

According to an article about the PSC and elder abuse through the Market Watch (via PR Newswire), "While World Elder Abuse Awareness Day provides a good platform to discuss these issues, the PSC works year round to protect the elderly here in Pennsylvania," Lam said. In this past year alone, the PSC has hosted four Investment Fraud Bingo events to teach seniors about "red flags" when investing; three senior educational conferences, 45 senior expo events, 55 speaker presentations and five television interviews.

These events have reached 16,800 Pennsylvania seniors. These events help educate seniors of the many types of securities fraud including fraudulent investments, unregistered products, theft of funds or products sold by an unlicensed adviser or broker. To help identify investment fraud and abuse, the PSC is offering three customized resource kits: one aimed at adult children caring for their parents; another for doctors and health care professionals who see older adults on a regular basis; and a third for adult protective services workers who work on the front lines of elder abuse."

It is great to hear that Pennsylvania is taking a stand to help the elderly in our area.  Attorney Doug Stoehr also helps to protect the elderly who have been a victim of some type of elder abuse or exploitation.  To learn more about him and his law firm, please click here
Financial fraud against seniors estimated to cost $2.9 billion annually
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Securities Commission today released a resolution recognizing June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day noting that financial exploitation is often a hidden form of harm inflicted on senior citizens.  The resolution also reiterated the commission's commitment to protecting the elderly.
"Elder abuse comes in many forms – physical, financial, emotional, neglect or abandonment – and often several types of abuse will be inflicted at the same time," said Pennsylvania Securities Commission (PSC) Chairman Bob Lam.
The Pennsylvania Securities Commission has taken a lead role in fighting the financial abuse by focusing on education and prevention.
"While World Elder Abuse Awareness Day provides a good platform to discuss these issues, the PSC works year round to protect the elderly here in Pennsylvania," Lam said.  In this past year alone, the PSC has hosted four Investment Fraud Bingo events to teach seniors about "red flags" when investing; three senior educational conferences, 45 senior expo events, 55 speaker presentations and five television interviews. These events have reached 16,800 Pennsylvania seniors.
These events help educate seniors of the many types of securities fraud including fraudulent investments, unregistered products, theft of funds or products sold by an unlicensed adviser or broker. To help identify investment fraud and abuse, the PSC is offering three customized resource kits: one aimed at adult children caring for their parents; another for doctors and health care professionals who see older adults on a regular basis; and a third for adult protective services workers who work on the front lines of elder abuse.
Studies show that for every case of elder abuse identified, another four cases go unreported. Of the abuses, financial exploitation is the most common and costs victims an estimated $2.9 billion a year.
"Financial losses through investment fraud scams can be devastating," PSC Commissioner Steve Irwin said. "Those who lose their life savings suffer a physical and emotional toll as well as a financial toll. They may become fearful, develop health issues, become depressed and even consider suicide. It's imperative that financial abuse be reported promptly to the proper authorities."
"Investors and caregivers are urged to 'investigate before investing' by calling the Pennsylvania Securities Commission at 1-800-600-0007 to verify if the product and person selling it are registered and/or licensed and if there have been any complaints," said PSC Commissioner Vince Gastgeb.
Financial fraud against seniors estimated to cost $2.9 billion annually
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Securities Commission today released a resolution recognizing June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day noting that financial exploitation is often a hidden form of harm inflicted on senior citizens.  The resolution also reiterated the commission's commitment to protecting the elderly.
"Elder abuse comes in many forms – physical, financial, emotional, neglect or abandonment – and often several types of abuse will be inflicted at the same time," said Pennsylvania Securities Commission (PSC) Chairman Bob Lam.
The Pennsylvania Securities Commission has taken a lead role in fighting the financial abuse by focusing on education and prevention.
"While World Elder Abuse Awareness Day provides a good platform to discuss these issues, the PSC works year round to protect the elderly here in Pennsylvania," Lam said.  In this past year alone, the PSC has hosted four Investment Fraud Bingo events to teach seniors about "red flags" when investing; three senior educational conferences, 45 senior expo events, 55 speaker presentations and five television interviews. These events have reached 16,800 Pennsylvania seniors.
These events help educate seniors of the many types of securities fraud including fraudulent investments, unregistered products, theft of funds or products sold by an unlicensed adviser or broker. To help identify investment fraud and abuse, the PSC is offering three customized resource kits: one aimed at adult children caring for their parents; another for doctors and health care professionals who see older adults on a regular basis; and a third for adult protective services workers who work on the front lines of elder abuse.
Studies show that for every case of elder abuse identified, another four cases go unreported. Of the abuses, financial exploitation is the most common and costs victims an estimated $2.9 billion a year.
"Financial losses through investment fraud scams can be devastating," PSC Commissioner Steve Irwin said. "Those who lose their life savings suffer a physical and emotional toll as well as a financial toll. They may become fearful, develop health issues, become depressed and even consider suicide. It's imperative that financial abuse be reported promptly to the proper authorities."
"Investors and caregivers are urged to 'investigate before investing' by calling the Pennsylvania Securities Commission at 1-800-600-0007 to verify if the product and person selling it are registered and/or licensed and if there have been any complaints," said PSC Commissioner Vince Gastgeb.
Securities or investment fraud should be reported to the Pennsylvania Securities Commission at 1-800-600-0007. Other types of elder abuse should be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging's statewide elder abuse hotline at 1-800-490-8505 or to local authorities. To order your resource kit at no cost, contact Christina Kotsalos, Investor Education Coordinator at the PSC, at ckotsalos@pa.gov or 1-800-600-0007 (call 717-787-8062 outside of PA).
Financial fraud against seniors estimated to cost $2.9 billion annually
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Securities Commission today released a resolution recognizing June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day noting that financial exploitation is often a hidden form of harm inflicted on senior citizens.  The resolution also reiterated the commission's commitment to protecting the elderly.
"Elder abuse comes in many forms – physical, financial, emotional, neglect or abandonment – and often several types of abuse will be inflicted at the same time," said Pennsylvania Securities Commission (PSC) Chairman Bob Lam.
The Pennsylvania Securities Commission has taken a lead role in fighting the financial abuse by focusing on education and prevention.
"While World Elder Abuse Awareness Day provides a good platform to discuss these issues, the PSC works year round to protect the elderly here in Pennsylvania," Lam said.  In this past year alone, the PSC has hosted four Investment Fraud Bingo events to teach seniors about "red flags" when investing; three senior educational conferences, 45 senior expo events, 55 speaker presentations and five television interviews. These events have reached 16,800 Pennsylvania seniors.
These events help educate seniors of the many types of securities fraud including fraudulent investments, unregistered products, theft of funds or products sold by an unlicensed adviser or broker. To help identify investment fraud and abuse, the PSC is offering three customized resource kits: one aimed at adult children caring for their parents; another for doctors and health care professionals who see older adults on a regular basis; and a third for adult protective services workers who work on the front lines of elder abuse.
Studies show that for every case of elder abuse identified, another four cases go unreported. Of the abuses, financial exploitation is the most common and costs victims an estimated $2.9 billion a year.
"Financial losses through investment fraud scams can be devastating," PSC Commissioner Steve Irwin said. "Those who lose their life savings suffer a physical and emotional toll as well as a financial toll. They may become fearful, develop health issues, become depressed and even consider suicide. It's imperative that financial abuse be reported promptly to the proper authorities."
"Investors and caregivers are urged to 'investigate before investing' by calling the Pennsylvania Securities Commission at 1-800-600-0007 to verify if the product and person selling it are registered and/or licensed and if there have been any complaints," said PSC Commissioner Vince Gastgeb.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

U.S. Cracks Down On Financial Elder Abuse

Every year, millions of older Americans suffer from some type of elder abuse--sexual, physical, financial, or emotional.  Unfortunately for some, financial elder abuse is probably the least talked about and may occur for a long period of time before anyone realizes what is going on.

The United States government is taking a closer look at the occurrence of financial elder abuse experienced by its elderly population. The L.A. Times recently wrote an article reporting on the situation as well.  According to their report, "Americans over 60 lost at least $2.9 billion in 2010 to financial exploitation, a study finds. This 12% rise over two years is leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to begin looking into the types of scams affecting older consumers."  This investigation into elder financial fraud is looking into interactions between seniors, financial advisors, planners, and family members.  MetLife also studied this phenomenon and found that older Americans lost around $3B last year due to financial exploitation, a number that was up 12% from a similar study in 2008.

Due to these statistics, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is beginning to investigate the problem and is looking into more scrutiny for people who work as financial advisers.  Unfortunately, it seems that elder financial scams have increased as the economy as weakened.  Most experts in the field agree that financial exploitation has worsened in the past few years. Congress has also increased their focus on this problem.  The article states that "Lawmakers included the Elder Justice Act in the 2010 healthcare reform law to coordinate federal efforts. As part of the law, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday announced $5.5 million in grants to states to "test ways to prevent elder abuse, neglect and exploitation."

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving western and central Pennsylvania.  His specialties include elder abuse and motor vehicle accidents.  To learn more about his practice or to schedule a consultation, please visit his website.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Bicycle Accident Injures Pittsburgh Area Boy


Late last month, a nine-year-old boy from New Brighton was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. The accident resulted in injuries severe enough for the boy to be listed in critical condition at an area hospital.  According to the police report, the boy was thrown over the car he collided with and landed on the pavement.  Unfortunately, he was not wearing a helmet.  Another boy who was riding with him also hit the car but did not seem to have suffered as many injuries.

 Unfortunately, pedestrian and bicycle accidents are not as uncommon as you might think, especially in the summer when children and their families are spending much more time outside. The warm weather and longer days also lead to an increase in reckless and distracted driving, which can result in many more motor vehicle accidents.  Accidents such as these are frightening, unexpected, and potentially life-changing.  The consequences of such accidents can be both severely emotionally and physically damaging. If you or a family member has been injured as a result of a pedestrian or bicycle accident and would like a free consultation with Attorney Stoehr, please contact our law office. 
Attorney Doug Stoehr is a lawyer specializing in personal injury and services the western and central Pennsylvania area.  If you feel that you have been wrongfully hurt in a pedestrian accident and would like to consult with him about a possible personal injury claim, please contact our law office.


Medicare Limits Specific Lower-Back Therapy

According to a recent press release, Medicare/Medicaid has released a final decision that would restrict coverage for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), which is a widely-used lower back therapy.  Non-invasive and inexpensive, TENS works to stimulate nerves through the skin through the use of a small, easily transportable electronic device.  Medicare has opted to limit coverage for this therapy as a part of their upcoming national coverage decision.

Pain management specialists will have to look for other options to treat Medicare patients with chronic lower back pain. This may prove difficult, since TENS is considered standard of care for those physicians specializing in lower back disorders.  It is estimated that over half of all American works have experienced prolonged back pain, and it is among the top complaints seen in doctors offices. TENS specifically has been used as a treatment option for over 30 years and is safe, cost-effective, and fast-acting.  It also have relatively few side effects and is popular with patients.  Medicare patients not suffering from chronic back pain may be able to use TENS for other disorders under Medicare coverage.


Attorney Doug Stoehr sees many cases in which chronic back pain has resulted from an accident due to the fault of another.  If you or a loved one are now experiencing chronic pain after an accident, please contact our firm to schedule a consultation and discuss your legal options.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Interview with Doctor About Opioid Usage and Chronic Pain

In the media website, Medpage Today, a recent transcribed interview with a doctor was published talking about the subject of opioid use and chronic pain.  According to the article, in the past twenty or so years, the number of opioid prescriptions for chronic pain has increased significantly and, consequently, instances of prescription opioid abuse have also increased dramatically. It has been said that opioid analgesics result in more overdose fatalities than cocaine and heroin combined. 


Physicians should take note of this trend and consider non-opioid prescriptions to manage pain before they begin to prescribe the stronger and more addictive opioid medications.  Vicodin, Oxycontin/oxycodone, methadone, and hydromorphone are some of the most commonly prescribed opioid medications.  Informed and responsible healthcare professionals should discuss common side effects of these drugs, assess patients for potential risk for addiction, and give them warning signs when one of their drugs is leading to a dangerous side effect.  Physicians may also choose to engage a patient in a medication contract (in which a patient and doctor agree to such terms as no early refills, mandatory drug tests, etc.), psychological evaluation, and urine screening for those patients planning to use opioids for long-term pain management. 

It is important for doctors and patients to work together to manage chronic pain and possible opioid prescriptions responsibly and ethically.  Attorney Doug Stoehr sees frequent cases in which chronic pain has resulted from an accident due to the fault of another.  If you or a loved one are now experiencing chronic pain after an accident, please contact our firm to schedule a consultation and discuss your legal options.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Depression Among the Elderly

In addition to the physical aches and pains associated with getting older, many elderly Americans also suffer from mental and emotional problems as well.  This may include loneliness, anxiety, or depression.  A recent study testing the effect of a certain drug to aid in depressive symptoms in seniors offered a little background information as well.

The article stated that depression, a known and relatively common psychological diagnosis, affects over 120 million people all over the globe.  It is estimated that depression also affects almost 20% of America's seniors--that's about 6.5 million people.  Additionally, depression is a leading cause of disability and the 4th leading contributor to the global burden of disease in 2000.  Depression is a difficult disease, since it can impact patients in a variety of ways.  The feelings of depressing may ebb and flow, or may be consistent.  They might also affect a person physically as well as mentally and could lead to digestive disorders.  In the most severe cases, depression may also lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. 

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a central Pennsylvania lawyer specializing in nursing home abuse and negligence.  For more information on his practice, please visit our website.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Hip Fractures and Seniors

Seniors are arguably the highest-risk group to suffer a major hip fracture.  This can either be due to an accident, a slip-and-fall, or through abuse/neglect. The National Safety Council estimates that hip fractures are the number one cause of injury-related deaths in elderly American citizens. The CDC also reports around 280,000 hospitalizations each year for elderly patients that have suffered a hip fracture.  Additionally, the CDC estimates that over 90% of these fractures are caused by slip-and-fall accidents.  Although some of these accidents may just be mobility-related, some of these injuries are the fault of the property owner or nursing home in which the elderly person fell.  For example, an uneven or broken sidewalk, a missing or loose guardrail, or insufficient lighting are all property-related conditions that may result in a slip-and-fall accident. 

If you or a loved one has been injured after a slip-and-fall accident due to a circumstance surrounding the property or facility in which you fell, it may be a good idea to consult with an attorney about your options.  Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer serving central and western Pennsylvania.  He specializes in elder abuse and car accidents. To set up a consultation with his law firm, please call 814-946-4100 or visit his website here.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Seniors Prescribed Medication That Is Too Strong

An article by the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel did an extensive research piece on the rising trend of seniors and narcotics use to control chronic pain.  According to the article, opioid dispersal to people aged 60 and over has increased by over 30% since 2007; this is double the growth for prescriptions dispensed in the age bracket directly below that (ages 40-59).  Interestingly, as quoted from the article, " In 2009, the American Geriatrics Society joined others in advocating for greater opioid use to treat chronic pain in seniors, especially those 75 and older. The group's guidelines are a key reference for thousands of doctors on the front line of medicine. The new guidelines recommended that over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, be used rarely and that doctors instead consider prescribing opioids for all patients with moderate to severe pain."  The members of the panel recommending these guidelines said that they relied only on personal experience and their own research, which they admitted was weak.  Additionally, at least half of these panel members had finanical ties to prescription drug companies that sell and manufacture opiates.  The panel members said they relied on research and their own experience in revising the guidelines, acknowledging "existing weak scientific evidence."


Interestingly, seniors who were prescribed these opioid drugs said that they felt the medication was too strong for their medical complaints.   For the elderly, frequent use of these drugs can lead to dangerous side effects such as falling (and subsequently fracturing bones), getting into car accidents, overdosing, and memory and cognition problems.   Side effects include overdosing, increased risk of falls and fractures in older people, serious cognitive problems and a condition in which opioids actually cause worsening pain.

If you or an elderly loved one feels that you have been wrongly prescribed a painkiller that is too strong, you may need to consult a trained physician about your complaints. Attorney Doug Stoehr is a personal injury lawyer specializing in automobile accidents and elder abuse and neglect.  For more information on his firm, please click here.