ALPINE, Wyo. — Star Valley Health provides an empathetic approach to women’s pain management. Just like men experience certain conditions more commonly than women, women experience certain conditions more commonly than men. Women may also face health challenges during times of hormonal change, like pregnancy or menopause.
“It’s usually not one thing. It’s one thing that’s caused another, that’s caused another,”  explains Dr. Brian McClure, who is board certified in both pain management and anesthesiology. Dr. McClure works at Mountain West Orthopedics, a service of Star Valley Health. “We address each of those symptoms individually on our way to getting the whole of you better, or at least feeling better, and moving forward.”
Osteoporosis and carpal tunnel syndrome are examples of conditions experienced more often by women than men. Another is fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes pain throughout the body, along with symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and abdominal pain.
There is currently no test to diagnose fibromyalgia. Rather, a diagnosis of exclusion rules out other conditions in the search for the source of pain. Dr. McClure reflects on the importance of open conversations with patients in treating such a condition: “I think that’s one of the most profound aspects of treating fibromyalgia. I believe it hurts you this bad. I believe it keeps you from doing your daily activities. Having patients understand that somebody believes them is half the battle.”
Dr. McClure also notes that menopause is a season where challenges may arise. “There are a lot of changes that occur in women’s bodies and health that need to be addressed and appreciated as they go through those stages.” Hormonal changes during menopause can lead to inflammation and joint pain and pose a risk of osteoporosis.
Whether a patient is overcoming an injury or navigating chronic pain, Dr. McClure emphasizes that treatment plans are unique to each patient. Medication may or may not be involved, and the same goes for surgery. Depending on the condition, help can come in the form of physical therapy, steroid injections, surgical procedures or a multimodal approach. What’s important, Dr. McClure says, is to seek help rather than suffer in silence.
“We try to give, give, give, and eventually get to a breaking point where we can’t give anymore,” says Dr. McClure. “That’s usually what precipitates a visit to my office. I hope patients know that I want to understand what the source of their pain is and how it affects them personally. I’m invested in this.”
