Chronic pain is always a challenge for physicians.  From not having in depth training to drug addicts impersonating pain patients, there is a lot to contend with.  The Spine Center at Medical Associates is not a “block shop” or a “pill mill”, and we strive to provide the finest care possible using a multi-modal approach.  We will gladly provide consultative services for all patients.  As my training is based in PM&R with my ACGME fellowship in Pain Medicine at Emory, I can assure you that the patient is thoroughly examined before any procedure is contemplated.  If it is not something that I would not do for my mother, it will not get done for your patients.  We take no unnecessary risks in the procedure suite or in the exam room.  There is no cookbook approach and if a procedure is not needed, it is not performed.  The Spine Center does not take over prescribing of opiates at time of consultation.  If opiates are warranted, a thorough screening is performed including a background check, UDS, Georgia's Prescritpion Drug Monitoring Program, and Risk Stratification.  Opiates are often not indicated and this can lead to distress for patients and providers alike.  Our office will work with you and the patient to best address these issues.  When patients are good candidates for opiates for chronic non-malignant pain, our office will take over prescribing only their pain medication and adjunctive agents that are helping to relieve pain and improve function.          

Education:

As a consultant to the medical board regarding opiate prescribing, I am frequently asked to provide opinions on best practices.  If you have questions regarding prescribing, abuse, logistics, or how to stay abreast of the latest legal and regulatory requirements as it relates to Pain Medicine, just give me a call.  The goal is to care for our patients while protecting our communities. 

 Procedures performed:

1. Spinal cord stimulator trials and implants
2. Peripheral nerve stimulator trials and implants
3. Medial Branch blocks and Radiofrequency Ablation
4. Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty
5. Epidural Steroid Injections
6. Sacroiliac joint injections
7. Discography
8. Synvisc knee injections
9. Gray rami communicans blocks
10. Stellate ganglion blocks
11. Ganglion impar blocks
12. Lumbar sympathetic blocks
13. Superior hypogastric blocks
14. Celiac ganglion blocks
15. Gasserian ganglion blocks
16. Sphenopalatine ganglion blocks
17. Cortisone injections into any/all joints
18. Radiofrequency ablation: genicular (knee), suprascapular, gasserian, hip, occipital.
19. Suprascapular nerve block
20. Intra-articular facet injections
21. Intrathecal implantable pumps
22. Other procedures performed on request