Musculoskeletal Pain: Here’s What You Can Do About It!

According to Healthline, musculoskeletal pain refers to pain in the muscles, bones, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. You can feel this pain in just one area of the body, such as your back. You can also have it throughout your body if you have a widespread condition like fibromyalgia.

The causes of musculoskeletal pain vary from damage to muscle tissue, trauma, overuse, and prolonged immobilization. Yes, that is correct, using your muscles too much and too little can both cause musculoskeletal pain!

Symptoms of musculoskeletal pain include pain and body aches, fatigue, and even sleep disturbances.

If you are suffering from musculoskeletal pain, the A&M System has several programs available to you. To use these programs, you must be enrolled in an A&M System medical plan and be an employee, retiree, or dependent. These programs are currently not available to graduate student employees enrolled in the Grad plan.

Airrosti – Now with Virtual Offerings!

Airrosti provides diagnosis and treatment for most common musculoskeletal and joint conditions, including pain in the neck, back, shoulders, hips, elbows, knees, and feet. Their published outcome data shows their treatment to be effective at helping resolve everything from headaches to plantar fasciitis. Their data also indicates that they are just as effective at solving chronic back pain as they are at resolving acute sports/athletic injuries like pulls and strains, as well as repetitive stress/wear and tear injuries like tendonitis, frozen shoulder, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Check out Airrosti Remote Recovery for their digital solution at https://www.airrosti.com/remoterecovery/ or visit an Airrosti clinic in your area and present your BCBSTX insurance card. Employees and dependents enrolled in the A&M Care, 65 plus, and J plans are eligible to participate in Airrosti for a specialist copay. Retirees enrolled in a Medicare-primary plan can use the service for 20 percent coinsurance. Graduate student employees enrolled in the Grad plans may participate for a $35.00 copay.

2nd.MD – A Medical Second Opinion

Available to employees, retirees and their enrolled dependents on the A&M Care, 65 Plus and J plans, 2nd.MD offers medical second opinions and consultations with specialists via video or phone conference at no cost to you. If you are suffering from musculoskeletal pain and facing a possible surgery, or just have questions about chronic pain, 2nd.MD can help. You will get peace of mind and confidence in your treatment decisions when you speak directly with an expert in your specific diagnosis. A 2nd.MD doctor will take the time to evaluate your medical records, tests, and imaging to inform you of your treatment options. They can even connect you with a local doctor to start or continue your care.

Contact 2nd.MD by calling 1.866.841.2575​ or visit 2nd.md/tamus.

Hinge Health

If you experience chronic back, knee, hip, neck, or shoulder pain you might want to check out Hinge Health. This is a new, 12-week, coach-led digital musculoskeletal (MSK) program based on proven nonsurgical care guidelines. It is delivered remotely using mobile and wearable technology.

You will go through a clinical screening to determine eligibility. You can submit the screening questionnaire at https://hingehealth.com/tamus if you are interested in the program. Your eligible Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance plan will cover the program cost if you are accepted!

Hinge Health is only available to A&M System employees, retirees, and their spouses enrolled in the A&M Care, 65 Plus, and J plans.