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Philosophy of the clinic practice...
Over many years of treating patients with headache, migraine and many kinds of pain flareup, it became very frustrating to admit 200 patients per year to a very large urban hospital system. Precerting and admitting through the emergency room during the headache and flareup disrupted the patient care in the office clinic setting. Dealing with multiple kinds of delays, inefficiencies, nursing problems and barriers to getting the job done in a timely manner on behalf of the patient, who was there to have their symptoms treated. The main negative feeling and conclusion was that the hospital is NOT the real world for the patient. It was felt a new treatment system had to be developed. After all, it is the same distance for the person to go to the ER or to come to Anodyne Headache and PainCare.

About 11 years ago, Dr Krusz began to expand on the smaller number of patients treated with IV therapy by himself in the outpatient setting. The new office was in a converted former home with a cozy setting, very different from the hospital-based office that was used before this transformation. Seeing the same practitioner and staff consistently that cared about your symptoms is a more nurturing experience for the patient. Dimmable lighting, a quiet environment, lights out during treatment is homelike and soothing. It is not just about the medication approaches used in the clinic, but I believe that the treatment environment becomes very important as well.

Very simply, Anodyne Headache and PainCare is more efficient, gets much more effective treatment results than other settings, and is more caring for the patient’s needs and is significantly less expensive. Often, people will call us with a headache, migraine or pain flareup and they can be brought in to the clinic within the hour, depending on distance in our area. People have jumped on a plane from further away and gone back home the same day. Texas is a huge place but we do have a very efficient Southwest Airline system. You can get to Anodyne Headache and PainCare from anywhere in Texas or neighboring states in a short time with inexpensive fares.

We have a host of IV treatments available and some of them, if they help, can even be given by the patient or by family or in an ER setting. Some of our medications are specific to the clinic and not readily available. In many ways the reduction or eradication of migraines and pain flareups use some of the same IV medications in the clinic setting. You can find more information about IV treatments XXXXXXX

 

Beginning treatment...
Although we do not belong to any plan insurance structures, the business office is sensitive to costs and will help with filing of your claim to recover the maximum from your carrier. In this way, precious time to definitive treatment is not wasted while you are suffering in trying to precertify emergency treatment during a flareup. Above all, you will not be trapped in a hospital for treatment of headaches, migraines and pain. A 3-4 day stay with Anodyne Headache and PainCare is common, but sometimes can be extended a bit. Or, people will come back for another course of treatment.

On Day 1, we will do a thorough intake of your symptoms and prior treatments. The average number of practitioners previously seen is about 5.7, with an average of 7 medication attempts. Visitors from out-of-town can choose from at least 3 hotels/motels very nearby with van services to the office. A good percentage of our new patients learn about us from  the Internet. See, for example, MyMigraineConnection.com where I have written an “Ask the Clinician” column with the webhost, Dr. Teri Robert. As with new patients from the Dallas area, If you have a significant ongoing migraine or pain issue, we can begin IV treatment during the initial visit. Sometimes, IV lines can be kept in for several days to avoid re-insertion. We have a strong focus for helping sleep patterns early in our treatment strategy.

On Day 2, out of town patients return to continue treatment; sometimes, two treatments (AM and PM) can be done in the same day. We will be cleaning up old and ineffective medications and working on the quality of sleep. Discussions of newer treatment strategies can take a while. If there might be a self-administered medication offered, the nursing staff can begin giving a dose in the muscle and teaching patients how to give themselves the medication at home, avoiding the need to run to a local ER.

Day 4 would treat again and lock in a tentative game that would be re-enforced by a telephone follow-up in 1-2 weeks by our staff. We encourage call-ins to discuss dosing, any side effects or other problems, and also with any good news. Keeping headache and sleep diaries will be taught as a regular way to keep up with the ebb and flow of your symptoms. If our initial projected success for your symptoms is slow in coming, we can extend the visit for you. We usually suggest getting an open-ended airplane ticket from the longer distances. This is far less of a problem with Southwest airlines in Texas and surrounding states. We will plan regular telephone follow-up visits and can see you anytime the pain or headache pattern changes significantly. Of course, we will also try to coordinate with your regular physician or find you a headache or pain specialist in your home area. Sometimes, the IV treatment at Anodyne Headache and PainCare can be duplicated at your local ER or physician’s office.

In all, we look forward to helping you conquer your headaches or pain, or both, and helping you craft a better and more productive lifestyle. Family members, especially spouses and children are encouraged to accompany the patient even if only for a part of the treatment time at the clinic.

 
       
 

 

Anodyne Headache and PainCare
5446 Glen Lakes Drive; Dallas, Texas 75231
Phone: 214-750-6664

© John Claude Krusz, PhD, MD; 2007. All rights reserved.

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