Kassie Spohr: Great Experience with IPCA:
“I had a great experience on this rotation: learning the art and science of pain management AND discovering all that an Alaskan winter has to offer!
Clinically, Dr. Cross did a great job of incorporating me into patient care and capitalizing on appropriate teaching points. She often tailored her teaching toward my future specialty. In a world where rotations can mean spending time with lots of different people, it was a unique opportunity to spend the majority of my time with one attending who knew me and my capabilities well. I was able to participate in procedures, new patient visits, and pain management follow-up appointments. I will be more comfortable managing chronic pain as a primary care physician and referring to a specialist when appropriate thanks to this rotation. In addition, all the staff at IPCA were very friendly and professional, quickly welcoming a medical student into patient care.
Outside of the office Dr. Cross, her family, and the staff at IPCA went out of their way to make sure I had a good time in Alaska. They made it possible for me to go snow machining, see the Northern lights, take a dip in Chena hot springs, watch the start of the Yukon Quest dogsled race and visit a few other tourist attractions and restaurants. It was everything I could hope for in a rotation and I would definitely recommend it!”
Kassie Spohr
University of Washington
School of Medicine
Medical Student, Class of 2014
Monthly Archives: April 2014
RACZ Caudal Neurolysis
This injection, generally performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, relieves low back and leg pain most often caused by scarring from a prior back surgery. The procedure is performed with the patient lying face down with a cushion placed under the stomach.
Ultrasound-Guided Ilioinguinal Nerve Block
This non-operative, outpatient procedure is designed to provide relief for patients with hip and lower abdominal pain. The technique allows the physician to inject an inflammation-reducing steroid around the ilioinguinal nerve with maximum accuracy.
Stellate Ganglion Block
This injection can both diagnose and treat pain coming from the sympathetic nerves. It is a common treatment for shingles and complex regional pain syndromes affecting the head, face, neck, or arms. Usually a series of these injections is needed to treat the problem.
Lumbar Sympathetic Block
This procedure is performed to relieve leg pain caused by complex regional pain syndromes, which may develop after an injury to a joint or limb. Usually a series of injections are needed to treat the problem.