AOCOPM 2023 Midyear Educational Conference-259668

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Yousef Saeed, an esteemed pain management specialist, shared comprehensive insights into the treatment of low back pain. With a multifaceted background in electrical engineering, public health, and medical training from prestigious institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Saeed now serves as the deputy chief of staff at the Columbia, South Carolina VA Health System. In his discussion, Dr. Saeed outlined the biomechanics of the spine, emphasizing the significant role and health challenges of the lumbar spine, particularly under sedentary conditions exacerbated by recent increases in remote work due to COVID-19. Highlighting the importance of a thorough history and physical examination, he delineated the guidelines for imaging and pharmacological treatments, including cautious use of NSAIDs and muscle relaxants. Dr. Saeed detailed interventional techniques like epidural injections and their applications in treating radiculopathy, as well as discussing the complexities of facet joint-mediated pain and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) protocols. He advocated for using dual medial branch blocks before RFA to improve diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, Dr. Saeed addressed the emerging role of orthobiologics, such as PRP, particularly in soft tissue regeneration, underscoring its growing preference among veterans compared to traditional steroid treatments. The session covered significant ground in pain management and underscored personalized, evidence-based treatment approaches within the veteran population.

Keywords

pain management

low back pain

Dr. Yousef Saeed

lumbar spine

epidural injections

radiofrequency ablation

orthobiologics

PRP

veteran health

COVID-19 remote work