Dr. Corrie Avenant Chronic Pain Management

25/12/2024

03/04/2024

Chronic pain affects millions of people. There are numerous kinds of Chronic Pain Conditions that vary in severity, but often affect the daily lives of those who are suffering with them.
At our practice, we understand the severity and the impact Chronic Pain Conditions can have on those affected. In some cases, Chronic Pain may be due to multiple medical conditions and must be treated on an individual basis.
Dr Avenant is highly experienced in die treatment of chronic pain. Contact us today on 011 791 0051 to schedule an appointment

30/01/2024

Verjaarsdag Wense!! Baie geluk aan Corrie Avenant met sy verjaarsdag vandag. Wense vir 'n baie spesiale dag en jaar word hom toegewens.

Birthday Wishes!! Wishing Corrie Avenant a very blessed and special Birthday today. May the year ahead be filled with blessings

12/10/2023

The SASIS workshop was held on 8 and 9 October at Advanced Health Medgate. Dr Avenant was one of the speakers at the event as well as doing the Workshop.

26/09/2023

Dr Avenant attended the Annual meeting of the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society held in Chicago recently. Dr. Avenant believes that by attending these congresses he can keep up to date with the latest international research, developments, trends and treatments for chronic pain.

31/05/2023

On Saturday 20 May Dr Avenant chaired a meeting for SASIS where he spoke about the management of low back pain and assisted in educating his peers interested in pain management on diagnosing, managing and referring chronic pain cases correctly and according to evidence based principles.

Delegates of all specialities from across the country attended the training and we feel, a breakthrough was made in terms of furthering education in chronic pain management so that we can continue doing our best to make sure YOU, the patient, are the centre of our practice!

04/04/2023

Cape Town!!
You asked and we listened. We will be coming your way from mid April 2023. Call us today to schedule your appointment: 011 791-0051

03/10/2022

What is pain?

“An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.” (International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), 1994)

Dr Corrie Avenant treats all chronic pain, irrespective of the cause. Phone today to schedule an appointment at any of our consulting rooms (Roodepoort, Bryanston, Boksburg or Kimberley)
011 791 0051

10/08/2022

Feedback received from a patient with regards to her experience at the pratice. Thanks Mrs BF.

I am writing this article as a "layperson" who has had this procedure done four (4 times). My first procedure was done in May 2018. My pain issues and matters started as a result of a nasty slip I had at the gym in March 2017 because of negligence. (That is: no OSH Orange Signs in place to warn of wet floors). Also perhaps from the slow onset of pain was through wear and tear over time because of my very active lifestyle and hiking when I was younger. (Heavy backpack and climbing mountains etc). My pain areas were in my lumber / hips and thighs and neck and right arm.

Sadly, many people, through skepticism, ignorance and limited or no education think that this procedure makes a person "numb or paralysed".

The benefit is that it takes away the "constant thread of pain" that is always there. It brings with it relief and happiness to get on with your day.. and freedom to do your daily chores and functional tasks. And exercise.

Many people think that you cannot feel pain afterwards. This is not true. The other day I walked into the corner of my dining room table and a chair and I immediately felt a lot of pain at the point of contact and for a couple of days afterwards. Not to mention the bruising.

In my own understanding this procedure burns (ablates or said differently cuts a nerve in half by an electrical current like slicing through butter with a hot knife) a small nerve that branches off from your Spinal Column that is the root cause of the pain pathway.

Discussions with Dr Avenant will determine which nerve/s this is. The Rhizotomy is performed in an Operating Theatre setting under sedation by a qualified medical person who monitors your vital signs etc.

This sedation means that you cannot move or feel pain while the procedure is being done.(Please note: Your Spinal Column is not touched at all. You are not rendered "numb or paralysed" afterwards at all). At the same time Dr Avenant may inject an anti-inflammatory solution into your facet joints. This relieves the pain. It is non-invasive surgery with no downtime afterwards.

The downside about this procedure (or said another way) is that this procedure is not a permanent solution for pain management. This is because the nerves that were ablated do regenerate / grow back together over time and the anti-inflammatory solution in your facet joints wears off. The cessation of pain is felt about 5-6 weeks after the procedure only. Pain relief is not instant. This is because your body has to adjust to the burnt nerve until your body recognises that the pain pathway/s is removed. (Think of a hose pipe that has a "kink" in it. No water flows through it. Remove the kink and the water starts to flow.)

The rate, in terms of time that the nerve regeneration happens is all dependent on "how active" you are. So the more active you are the faster it regenerates (grows back together again) and when this happens you will start to feel pain again. On average this can take anything between 12 months to 24 months. When this happens then the procedure should be repeated.

Many people don't understand this procedure and many medical practitioners, such as Orthopedic Surgeons and General Practitioners are unaware of the benefits of a Rhizotomy and prescribe chronic medication for your pain management.

Please take note that only through a consultation and a thorough medical examination with Dr Avenant will it be determined if this is the right procedure for you. In some cases it may not be.

But I always say to people:

"Give it a GO and see and feel the results after about 5-6 weeks".

Your nerves will regenerate and grow back together again so it is not a permanent solution.

You simply just have nothing to lose.

GO FOR IT.

Thank you.

09/06/2022

Chronic pain affects millions of people. There are numerous kinds of Chronic Pain Conditions that vary in severity, but often affect the daily lives of those who are suffering with them.

At our practice, we understand the severity and the impact Chronic Pain Conditions can have on those affected. In some cases, Chronic Pain may be due to multiple medical conditions and must be treated on an individual basis.
Dr Avenant is highly experienced in die treatment of chronic pain. Contact us today on 011 791 0051 to schedule an appointment