Lukner Medical Clinic, LLC

07/30/2026

COLON CANCER SCREENING
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5TH 1PM - 3PM
CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT 806-329-3050
LUKNER MEDICAL CLINIC
2545 PERRYTON PKWY - STE 31
PAMPA, TX

Lukner Medical Clinic:
Innovative, effective care.
Primary & internal medicine for adults & teens.

07/29/2026

Nearly 30 years ago, before I opened my practice, I spent a long, agonizing day in a cardiac surgery waiting room.

My father was undergoing what was supposed to be a routine three to four hour bypass. He was brilliant, loved books more than people, and was deeply resistant to medical advice. For years he had chosen not to treat his cholesterol, blood pressure, diet, or exercise.

That "routine" surgery stretched past six hours. A planned three-vessel bypass became a five-vessel operation. Hours later, severe bleeding forced him back into emergency surgery. Sitting in that tense room, watching my mother pray and my siblings pace, permanently changed how I view medicine.

🩺 Why We Talk So Much About Prevention

At Lukner Medical Clinic, I spend a lot of time talking about cholesterol and heart health. I know many people in our community are skeptical about statins. Some have experienced real muscle aches. Others worry about stories they have read online or simply dislike the idea of a daily pill.

I hear you, and I understand. I would much rather have an honest, judgment-free conversation in the exam room than dismiss your concerns. Most cholesterol medications today are inexpensive generics costing pennies a day. The goal is not to sell a pill. It is to help you avoid a heart attack, a stroke, or a terrifying day in a waiting room for the people who love you.

📊 What the 2026 Guidelines Mean for You

The updated cholesterol guidelines expanded who qualifies for prevention, but the conversation changes depending on where you are in life.

For younger adults, the focus is cumulative lifetime risk. Catching risk factors early prevents decades of silent damage to your arteries.

For older adults, decisions are not driven by a risk calculator alone. They depend on quality of life, overall health, your other medications, and your personal goals.

💙 Prevention Is Worth the Conversation

My father survived that day and gained precious years with his beloved books. I am grateful for every one of them. But if a careful conversation, a few inexpensive pills, better blood pressure control, or healthier habits could have spared him and our family that day, I would choose prevention every time.

If it has been a while since you checked your numbers, or if you have questions about your heart health options, let's sit down and talk.

📍 Lukner Medical Clinic
📞 Call our office to schedule your preventive visit today.

07/27/2026

Welcome to summertime… and you know that virus that LOVES 100°F weather? That’s right, COVID-19. ☀️

This year he brought a sickening friend: influenza!!

These two delinquents are making the rounds across the Texas Panhandle (Amarillo, Pampa, and surrounding communities). We hope they’ll fizzle out quickly, but for now we’re seeing a noticeable increase in both illnesses.

The good news is that most people recover without needing hospitalization. However, some people are at higher risk for pneumonia, hospitalization, and other serious complications, including:

• Adults 50 years and older (especially those 65 and older)
• People with diabetes
• People with obesity
• People with asthma or COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)
• People with heart disease
• People with chronic kidney or liver disease
• People receiving chemotherapy, taking medications that suppress the immune system, transplant recipients, or others with weakened immune systems
• Pregnant women

If you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, influenza, or another contagious respiratory illness, or you’ve developed fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, body aches, or unusual fatigue, please help us protect other patients.

Please DO NOT come into the clinic if you think you may be contagious.

Instead:

• Drive to Lukner Medical Clinic.
• Stay in your vehicle.
• Call us at 806-329-3050.
• Tell our staff you’re parked outside, think you may have COVID-19, influenza, or another contagious respiratory illness, and would like a drive-up evaluation.
• Please remain in your car until a staff member gives you further instructions.

This helps protect newborns, older adults, cancer patients, and others with weakened immune systems while allowing you to receive prompt medical care.

Lukner Medical Clinic
2545 Perryton Pkwy, Suite 31
Pampa, TX 79065

We’re located at the Pampa Mall, behind Fire Creek Bar & Grill (across the parking lot), between PTX and the main mall entrance. Our entrance faces east toward Perryton Parkway (Hobart Street), with direct access from the parking lot.

If you develop severe shortness of breath, persistent chest pain, confusion, blue lips or face, or another medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Let’s all work together to keep these two troublemakers from overstaying their welcome. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay healthy!

Lukner Medical Clinic:
Innovative, effective care.
Primary & internal medicine for adults & teens.

07/24/2026

Do you recognize this illness?

07/21/2026

The following story reflects the experiences of many patients we've cared for. Details have been changed to protect privacy.

On Monday morning, John coughed up blood at work.

His coworkers called 911.

Later, lying alone in the emergency room, he realized something had to change.

For years, alcohol never seemed to bother John. He was a hardworking man who enjoyed spending time with friends. A few drinks helped him relax after a long day, laugh a little easier, and fall asleep so he could get up and do it all again the next morning.

Little by little, the consequences became harder to ignore.

He hit the mailbox on his way home. He fell and ended up in the emergency room. The cut needed stitches.

His wife spent years trying to protect him. She made excuses. She covered for him. She apologized for things he couldn't remember saying. Eventually, there were no excuses left to make. She left, and the marriage was over.

John lost custody of his children. His daughter stopped answering his calls. She still loved her dad. She just couldn't keep believing the promises. He had said things to her that a father should never say. His son stayed polite, but never had anything to tell him anymore.

The bruises healed. The stitches came out. But some words leave scars that are much harder to erase.

Every Monday, John promised himself he'd only have a couple of drinks that week. By Friday, the promise was gone.

He wasn't trying to ruin his life. He just wanted to relax, enjoy his friends, and get enough sleep to make it through another day. But alcohol was costing him more than it was giving him.

One day John realized alcohol hadn't just been taking his health. It had quietly taken almost everything he loved.

He had tried to quit before. This time, he came to our clinic.

We didn't shame him. We didn't judge him.

We talked honestly about alcohol, the damage it was causing, and what it would take to get his life back, or at least stop losing what he cared about. Some of those conversations were hard. Every one of them came from respect and a genuine desire to help.

Recovery wasn't easy. There were setbacks and a lot of hard work. John still had to show up, be honest, and do the work himself. We couldn't do that for him. But we could walk with him, treat his alcohol dependence with proven medical care, and address the health problems that had developed along the way.

Recovery didn't erase the past. It didn't restore his health or repair his relationships overnight. He takes a lot more medications now, and physically, he doesn't feel good.

But today, alcohol no longer has the grip on John it once had. He has hope again. He's rebuilding trust one day at a time. Some wounds take years to heal, but for the first time in a long time, he's moving in the right direction.

At Lukner Medical Clinic, we believe recovery is about more than overcoming addiction. It's about restoring health, rebuilding relationships, and helping people reclaim their lives.

Whether you're struggling with alcohol yourself, watching someone you love struggle, or you've decided you're ready to give recovery another chance, we'd be honored to help you take that first step.

We'll have an honest conversation with you.
We'll tell you the truth.
We'll treat you with dignity and respect, never with shame or judgment.

Healing is a hard journey, but it’s worth it.

Call us today or simply stop by our clinic at the Pampa Mall.

Lukner Medical Clinic
📞 806.329.3050
🌐 https://luknermed.com

Lukner Medical Clinic:
Innovative, effective care.
Primary & internal medicine for adults & teens.

07/21/2026

With Tralee Crisis Center for Women, Inc. – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉

07/15/2026

Headaches on BOTH Sides of Your Head? Not All Headaches Are the Same.

A headache on both sides of your head (a bilateral headache) is often caused by a common, treatable condition, but occasionally it can be the only warning sign of something much more serious. If you regularly take Tylenol, ibuprofen, Aleve, or medications like that, you really should make sure you know what you’re treating. If you take pain relievers 10 to 15 or more days out of the month, your medications might even be causing your headaches.

Some of the more common causes include:

* Tension-type headache: a tight, pressure-like “band” around the head.
* Migraine: many people are surprised to learn that migraines can affect both sides of the head, often with nausea, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, or worsening with activity.
* Medication-overuse headache: taking pain relievers too frequently can actually cause headaches to become more frequent.
* Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): morning headaches accompanied by loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing during sleep, or excessive daytime sleepiness may be a clue.
* Rhinosinusitis (sinus infection): facial pain or pressure with thick nasal drainage and congestion. (Interestingly, many people who think they have “sinus headaches” actually have migraines.)
* Cervicogenic headache: pain originating from the neck.
* TMJ disorder: pain related to the jaw joint, often with clicking, popping, or pain while chewing.
Most headaches are not dangerous, but there are some important warning signs that should never be ignored.

🚩 Seek immediate medical evaluation if a headache is:

* A sudden, explosive “worst headache of your life” (thunderclap headache)
* Associated with weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, confusion, or vision loss
* Accompanied by fever, severe neck stiffness, or a very ill appearance
* Associated with swelling of the optic nerve (papilledema) or progressively worsening vision
* New after age 50, especially with scalp tenderness or jaw pain while chewing
* Occurring during pregnancy or within the weeks after childbirth
* Occurring in someone with cancer or significant immune suppression
* Progressively worsening over time without a clear explanation
Although uncommon, these headaches can sometimes be caused by conditions such as bleeding around the brain, stroke, giant cell arteritis, increased pressure inside the skull, pregnancy-related complications, or other serious neurologic disorders.

One important message: Don’t ignore persistent or unusual headaches.

There are more than 200 recognized headache disorders, and identifying the exact cause can take time. In busy primary care, urgent care, or emergency settings, it isn’t always possible to fully classify every headache during the first visit.

As a patient, be patient but persistent. If your headaches continue, change, or don’t respond to treatment, keep asking questions. Don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion or ask for a referral to a neurologist or headache specialist if you aren’t getting answers.

This post is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. If you have a sudden severe headache or a headache with concerning symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.

07/13/2026

When life feels overwhelming, you don’t have to face it alone.

💜 Tralee Crisis Center is here to provide compassionate, confidential support every step of the way.

Our services include:
🏠 Safe Shelter
🤝 Accompaniment
🗣️ Counseling
📞 Crisis Intervention
🚗 Emergency Transportation
💬 Support Groups
❤️ Assistance & Advocacy

No matter where you are in your journey, help is available. Every call is answered with compassion, every story is met with dignity, and every survivor deserves to be heard.

If you or someone you know needs support, we’re here. Hope starts with reaching out.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, know that support is available and you do not have to face it alone Tralee Crisis Center is here to help.
Counties we proudly serve:
Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hemphill, Roberts, & Wheeler

☎️24/7 Hotline: (806) 669-1788
📞Office: (806) 669-1131

07/10/2026

John thought he just had a bothersome rash. It turned out his skin was trying to save his life. 🩺

You know how the breakroom gets after the early morning rush. The coffee is fresh, the everyday small talk fades, and the real conversations begin.

That is when John spoke up. A stubborn rash on his back was getting worse. It was constantly painful, a full round of antibiotics had not touched it, and his doctor finally referred him to a dermatologist.

That is where the story takes an unexpected turn.

THE QUESTION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

The dermatologist examined the cluster of firm, painful bumps, much like the ones shown in the attached image, and took a small skin biopsy. Then, she asked a question that seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with dermatology:

"Did your mom or your sisters ever struggle with severe uterine fibroids at a young age?"

The answer was a resounding yes. John’s mother had suffered for years with heavy bleeding and intense pain from fibroids, eventually requiring surgery. Both of his sisters faced similar struggles, with his older sister discovering fibroids on a scan in her early twenties.

But that question unlocked one more memory, and it was a tragic one. John’s uncle Delbert had passed away on his 30th birthday from an aggressive kidney cancer that had already spread.

To the dermatologist, this was not a random collection of family health issues. It was a roadmap.

CONNECTING THE DOTS: REED SYNDROME

What looked like a simple rash was actually a vital medical clue. Here is how those seemingly unrelated family symptoms connect:

* The Skin Bumps: The painful nodules on John's back were leiomyomas, which are benign tumors of the smooth muscle.

* The Uterine Link: Uterine fibroids are made of the exact same smooth muscle building blocks. They are close cousins to John's skin bumps, just growing in a different part of the body.

* The Genetic Common Denominator: When these skin bumps show up alongside a strong family history of early uterine fibroids, doctors look for a hereditary condition called Reed syndrome, also known as HLRCC.

Reed syndrome is caused by a mutation in a single gene, known as the FH gene, and it can be identified with a simple genetic test.

WHY THIS KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

The same genetic change that causes these skin bumps and uterine fibroids also significantly increases the risk of developing a fast-moving, aggressive form of kidney cancer. This type of cancer can spread while it is still entirely silent, before a person feels sick at all. That was Uncle Delbert’s story.

But there is profound hope in John's generation. When a family knows they carry the FH gene:

* Doctors can monitor the kidneys with a specialized annual MRI.

* Potential issues are caught early, when they are highly treatable.

* Family members can get tested to learn their own risks.

CARING FOR THE WHOLE STORY

Your skin, your family history, and seemingly unrelated symptoms are often chapters in the exact same book. A painful, persistent skin issue should not be ignored, especially if your family has a pattern of early fibroids or kidney issues.

At Lukner Medical Clinic, we do not just treat isolated symptoms. We listen to your entire story.

If you or a loved one have noticed persistent, painful skin bumps, or if your family history has a pattern of early fibroids or cancers, come talk with us. Little clues can open big doors.