expert type icon EXPERT

Dr. Kimberly Sackheim, DO

Pain Management Specialist | Interventional Pain Medicine

Dr. Kimberly Sackheim, triple board certified: Pain Management, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Medicine. She is a well known headache and concussion specialist.  Treats all headaches and migraine, jaw pain, facial pain, vagal neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, spinal and joint pain and pelvic/rectal pain.  Adept at all medication management, injections, specialist referrals, alternative treatments, and infsuions (ketamine, magnesium etc).  
Dr. Sackheim serves as a consultant to other physicians but is often the principal treating physician, providing care at various levels; such as treating the patient directly, prescribing medication, prescribing rehabilitative services, performing pain relieving procedures, counseling patients and families, directing a multidisciplinary team, coordinating care with other healthcare providers, and providing consultative services.  She has had succes in complicated patients where other doctor have not succeeded.  She is well published in her field and teaches around the world. 
18 years Experience
Dr. Kimberly Sackheim, DO
  • New York, New York
  • Nova Southeastern College Of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Accepting new patients

How do you get rid of a numb toe?

First he would have to know why your toe is numb. Is it coming from a peripheral nerve? Is it coming from the lower back? You should have some diagnostic studies and woke up to READ MORE
First he would have to know why your toe is numb. Is it coming from a peripheral nerve? Is it coming from the lower back? You should have some diagnostic studies and woke up to see why you have this so that you can get the best treatment.

Is Tramadol good for arthritis pain?

Tramadol is technically a low-dose opioid. Some textbooks say that it is not an opioid but it does work on the opioid receptors. I like Tylenol arthritis best for arthritic pain READ MORE
Tramadol is technically a low-dose opioid. Some textbooks say that it is not an opioid but it does work on the opioid receptors. I like Tylenol arthritis best for arthritic pain but if that is not enough there are other things to consider.

Prior to being on tramadol long term for knee pain you should try physical therapy, steroid injections, Visco supplementation injections, Genicular nerve blocks And exhaust all other treatments. Most of the time these injections can be very successful.

If these help minimally or not at all then tramadol is a possibility but you should make sure you are very careful taking this medication long-term.

When should I be concerned about heel pain?

I recommend that you get evaluated in person. This could be Achilles tendinitis but there’s no way to know for sure without seeing you. Rest and ice may help. You might also benefit READ MORE
I recommend that you get evaluated in person. This could be Achilles tendinitis but there’s no way to know for sure without seeing you. Rest and ice may help. You might also benefit from physical therapy.

How do I get rid of pain in my arm?

The first thing with me to figure out why you have pain in your arm. Is it in your shoulder? Going down your arm? Do you have pain in your neck? Figuring out the cause of the issue READ MORE
The first thing with me to figure out why you have pain in your arm. Is it in your shoulder? Going down your arm? Do you have pain in your neck? Figuring out the cause of the issue helps to lead you and your physician to a treatment plan.

What does it mean when your knee hurts when you bend it?

There could be a lot of different possibilities here. It could be arthritis, tendinitis, ligament strain, meniscus tear and other possibilities. I would recommend an evaluation READ MORE
There could be a lot of different possibilities here. It could be arthritis, tendinitis, ligament strain, meniscus tear and other possibilities. I would recommend an evaluation with a physician to help determine this.

How do I get rid of pain in my arm?

In order to help get rid of pain you need to figure out what the cause is. It could be a lot of different things and I would recommend an evaluation with a physician.

What is the best painkiller for arthritis pain?

Tylenol is the safest and best treatment for arthritic pain. There is a maximum daily dose allowed So you should make sure to read the bottle and not exceed this dose. You also READ MORE
Tylenol is the safest and best treatment for arthritic pain. There is a maximum daily dose allowed So you should make sure to read the bottle and not exceed this dose. You also shouldn’t take Tylenol if you have any liver issues. Most importantly you should have an evaluation by a physician so that they can make sure you have a comprehensive treatment plan with all possible options to help you succeed and do well!

I fractured both wrists?

Hi! Thank you for your question. I’m so sorry to hear about this and I hope he is doing okay. The best physician to ask would be an orthopedic physician. It does make sense READ MORE
Hi! Thank you for your question.

I’m so sorry to hear about this and I hope he is doing okay. The best physician to ask would be an orthopedic physician. It does make sense that we would want your son to have some use of one of his wrists, but I fully understand your concern. I wish I could be more helpful! I deal mostly with headaches and pain.
Good luck.

My daughter has chronic pain. What should I do?

Hi. Thank you for your question. I’m so sorry to hear that she is suffering. Just because there is nothing wrong on imaging or tests doesn’t mean there is nothing wrong in READ MORE
Hi. Thank you for your question.

I’m so sorry to hear that she is suffering. Just because there is nothing wrong on imaging or tests doesn’t mean there is nothing wrong in her body. Sometimes people have hypersensitivity in their nerves or muscles that can cause pain. And anxiety only makes this worse. There are a lot of ways to help such as medications, relaxation techniques, physical therapy, psychologists, etc. The right consultant is key in a case like this.

Can I take painkillers before local anesthetic?

Hello, You can take a painkiller before local anesthesia. The best thing to do is ask the preference of the doctor performing the local injection. But overall, this is fully READ MORE
Hello,

You can take a painkiller before local anesthesia. The best thing to do is ask the preference of the doctor performing the local injection. But overall, this is fully safe.

Can a psychiatrist treat chronic pain?

Hi! A psychiatrist is a great addition to the treatment of chronic pain. I do also recommend a physical therapist and a pain specialist. Sometimes patients also need other READ MORE
Hi!

A psychiatrist is a great addition to the treatment of chronic pain. I do also recommend a physical therapist and a pain specialist. Sometimes patients also need other specialties as well. We call this a multidisciplinary approach so all providers can work together to make you feel the best that you can!

How long does spinal anesthesia pain last?

Hi, I do hear some patients complain of this. It might be local pain just from the needle going in and usually that resolved within a couple of weeks if not sooner. If you’re READ MORE
Hi,

I do hear some patients complain of this. It might be local pain just from the needle going in and usually that resolved within a couple of weeks if not sooner. If you’re still having an issue, it might mean that you had something going on in your spine prior, but would depend on specifically your story.

Should I get a chiropractic adjustment if my back hurts?

Hi, I think you should be evaluated by a physiatrist or pain management physician prior to going to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are great, but they can’t fix everything and READ MORE
Hi,

I think you should be evaluated by a physiatrist or pain management physician prior to going to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are great, but they can’t fix everything and some issues can get worse with chiropractic treatment. For example, if you have a herniated disc, this can sometimes get exacerbated with chiropractic treatment.
I hope you feel better.

How long does it take to get rid of a heel spur?

Hi, A heel spur is when the area where the tendon in the heel attaches to the bone gets irritated. The bone actually grows a little bit of arthritis. This can sometimes get READ MORE
Hi,

A heel spur is when the area where the tendon in the heel attaches to the bone gets irritated. The bone actually grows a little bit of arthritis. This can sometimes get inflamed, which can cause pain and sometimes it is not inflamed. When it is not painful or inflamed you still have the heel spur. The only way to get rid of a heel spur is surgery, but the trick is to decrease the inflammation. Things that can help this or physical therapy, rest, strengthening, topical creams, and anti-inflammatories.
I hope you feel better soon.

Do you need physical therapy after bunion surgery?

Hi, I hope I’m not answering this too late. I think physical therapy after any surgery is a great addition and only helps to increase your function and ability to feel better READ MORE
Hi,

I hope I’m not answering this too late. I think physical therapy after any surgery is a great addition and only helps to increase your function and ability to feel better after surgery. I have seen some bunionectomies cause a lot of pain after surgery.
I hope this helps.

Should I go to the hospital for a dislocated knee?

Hi, I would definitely go to the hospital, an urgent care center or an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible if you have a dislocated knee. Do you want to make sure this gets READ MORE
Hi,

I would definitely go to the hospital, an urgent care center or an orthopedic doctor as soon as possible if you have a dislocated knee. Do you want to make sure this gets put back in place so the tissues around can heal?
I hope you’re feeling better.

Why is nerve pain worse at night?

This is a great question. Nerve pain is sometimes better during the day because our brain is active and this distracts us from feeling the pain. Most nerve pain is worst at night READ MORE
This is a great question. Nerve pain is sometimes better during the day because our brain is active and this distracts us from feeling the pain. Most nerve pain is worst at night because our brain is at rest and there is nothing else going on so it focuses on the pain. If you have nerve pain that is worst at night, it might be good to take a nerve medication to help calm things down so you can sleep well. A good night's sleep is very important in helping to control your pain.

What is the best way to treat muscle pains?

Hi, This is a more complicated question. It really depends on what is causing the muscle pains. Each cause would have a different treatment. There are a lot of different things READ MORE
Hi,

This is a more complicated question. It really depends on what is causing the muscle pains. Each cause would have a different treatment. There are a lot of different things that can cause muscle pains in your legs. For example, a herniated disc in your back, stenosis, vascular issues, neurology issues. Treatment options would be muscle relaxers, nerve pills, etc. I would definitely recommend having an evaluation with a pain management doctor to see what the best thing for you is.

Medication?

Hi, I don’t have a lot of experience with Suboxone. I just wanted to make sure you are aware that there are so many other treatments for pelvic pain and endometriosis. These READ MORE
Hi,

I don’t have a lot of experience with Suboxone. I just wanted to make sure you are aware that there are so many other treatments for pelvic pain and endometriosis. These include pudendal nerve blocks, coccyx blocks, sacral injections, vaginal trigger point injections, Botox injections, nerve medications, and vaginal suppositories.

How long is physical therapy after hand surgery?

Hi, This would be different for each patient. It also depends on the specific hand surgery that you had done. The best person to ask this question would be your physical therapist. READ MORE
Hi,

This would be different for each patient. It also depends on the specific hand surgery that you had done. The best person to ask this question would be your physical therapist. If you’re not doing well, I would say stay in physical therapy longer, but if you’re doing well, you can stop. It could be a few weeks to a few months depending on how you do.