About
What is a pain medicine specialist?
Pain medicine is a recognized subspecialty. Its practitioners complete a full residency — most often in anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or neurology — followed by an additional accredited fellowship devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of pain.
A different diagnostic toolkit
A primary care physician manages the whole patient and a surgeon evaluates whether an anatomic problem can be corrected mechanically. A pain medicine specialist occupies the space between: identifying precisely which structure is generating pain, and treating it directly when surgery is not indicated or has already been performed.
That work depends on tools most other specialties do not use routinely — fluoroscopically guided diagnostic blocks, sympathetic blocks, radiofrequency lesioning and implantable neuromodulation devices. It also depends on understanding pain as a nervous system process, not only as a structural one.
What a pain medicine specialist does
- Establishes a working diagnosis for the specific pain generator rather than treating a region.
- Performs image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic injections.
- Manages medication regimens with attention to mechanism, interaction and long-term safety.
- Implants and programs spinal cord stimulators and intrathecal drug delivery systems.
- Coordinates with surgeons, physical therapists, oncologists and primary care physicians.
- Provides hospital consultation for acute and complex inpatient pain.
When a referral makes sense
Consider a pain medicine referral when pain has lasted longer than six to twelve weeks despite conservative treatment, when it radiates into an arm or leg, when it interferes with sleep or work, or when medication requirements are climbing without clear benefit.
Referral is also appropriate after spine or joint surgery that succeeded structurally but left the patient in pain, and for patients whose imaging has been read as unremarkable while their symptoms remain very real.
Our team
Physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners
Our physicians work alongside certified physician assistants and nurse practitioners who carry out evaluation, follow-up and medication management within the same plan of care — which is what allows us to see patients promptly across five offices.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.