Help in identifying root causes of pain through Functional Medicine

Pain can be quite a puzzle. It can stem from inflammation, degeneration, trauma, scar tissue and mechanical or muscle imbalance, to name a few origins. Chronic pain not only creates physical stress but also emotional stress, further throwing us out of balance.

At Barr Center, we are keenly aware of the complex nature of pain. As pain management specialists, our mission is to work a little “pain magic” for our patients at each visit. Sometimes, however, complex challenges stand in the way.

When the answer to why you hurt is not clear from a standard exam and imaging, we can incorporate functional medicine tools available through our onsite affiliate, Hang 10 Drips IV Infusions and Functional Wellness Solutions.

In addition to being board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Lisa Barr is board-eligible in functional medicine through The Institute of Functional Medicine. By incorporating services available through Hang 10 Drips, our Barr Center team has the tools to employ a more holistic approach to solving your pain problems. A few things to note:

Because functional medicine is not covered by traditional insurance, these services must be provided through Hang 10 Drips, which works outside the insurance arena. Therefore, we cannot perform functional medicine at the Barr Center.

Initial functional medicine consultations, follow-ups and testing are “cash pay” services. If we believe you would benefit from a comprehensive functional medicine approach at Hang 10 Drips, we will let you know.

Help in identifying root causes of pain

When traditional pain management methods fail, functional medicine testing and treatment can be very helpful in giving our patients a leg up on their healing journey. Through functional medicine testing at Hang 10 Drips, we can identify root causes of pain such as autoimmunity, GI dysfunction, hormone imbalances, toxin exposure, micronutrient deficiencies, metabolic disorders, genetic weaknesses, food sensitivities and more.

Functional medicine testing can uncover hidden issues–occurring at the cellular and metabolic levels–that throw our bodies out of kilter. Not everyone who has pain needs a functional medicine workup. But when your pain problem cannot be solved easily, it is comforting to know there is the capacity to “dive deeper” through Hang 10 Drips’ functional medicine offerings.

These services must be performed during our dedicated “functional medicine time,” which we call “Functional Fridays,” at Hang 10 Drips. When needed, we can also arrange these evaluations and follow-ups on Tuesdays when the Barr Center is closed.

If you have not responded to a “quick fix” approach to your pain, and feel there is more to the equation, call Hang 10 Drips to schedule a comprehensive functional medicine assessment. We can guide you through this complex “pain puzzle.” For details, please visit www.Hang10Drips.com or call 757-974-5828

Functional Medicine Timeline and Tips

A “workup” is best conducted following a functional medicine (FM) consultation, during which our FM practitioners develop a timeline of your symptoms, identify triggers, and order an initial round of tests.
Most functional medicine testing is considered “not covered” under Medicare and health insurance plans. We understand this can be a costly process, and we will work with you to stay focused on the problem at hand and be respectful of your resources.
Once the appropriate tests are ordered and the results are available, we will schedule a follow-up visit with you to review the test results and establish an initial care plan. This can be done in person or virtually, if the patient resides in Virginia or North Carolina.
The goal of the initial functional medicine work up is to pare down the likely imbalances at the symptoms’ root. Depending on the findings, further testing may be needed, as well as coordination of care with other healthcare providers.
We will initiate a treatment plan to address your unique issues, and we have health and life coaches available through Hang 10 to help provide additional guidance.
Hang 10 Drips also offers a diverse menu of IV therapy options we can use to get you feeling better faster.
Not everyone with chronic health challenges has pain, and thus functional medicine as a specialty can provide the answer to many confounding symptoms.
Because our role at Barr Center for Innovative Pain & Regenerative Therapies is pain management, we can only see patients with pain. For those who need functional medicine (FM) services, we can see you at Hang 10 Drips.