Pain Management Specialty

The specialty of Pain Management is usually practiced by physicians with special training. Physicians who are board certified in Pain Management or Pain Medicine have to undergo additional training and testing. Actually, Pain Management or Pain Medicine is a sub-specialty; the doctor's primary specialty can be that of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry), Neurology, or Anesthesiology. The doctor with board certification recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties has the most stringent qualifications and requirements.

Some physicians may practice general pain management as well as interventional pain management. I, Jackie Chan MD, is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPM&R) and has a sub-specialty board certification in Pain Management / Pain Medicine granted by the ABPM&R which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. I currently practice both non-interventional and interventional Pain Management in Modesto, Califonia. I utilize both standard western approaches such as physical therapy, medications, soft tissue and spinal injections as well as alternative medicine such as acupuncture to manage pain. So make sure your doctor is board certified in Pain Management or Pain Medicine that is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Please refer to pain management wikipedia link for more general information about pain.

Pain Management Conditions and Techniques

Pain conditions most frequently seen at my office include the followings:

• Industrial injuries
• Disk herniation and other spinal disorders
• Back and neck pain
• Radiculopathy (pinched nerves)
• Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
• Cumulative Stress Injury
• Joint Injuries (ankle, elbow, knee, shoulder)
• Sprains or Strains
• Arthritis
• Bursitis / Tendonitis
• Tennis Elbow
• Sciatica

As a pain doctor, pain management techniques used to treat some of the conditions listed above would include:

• Local injections
• Epidural injections
• Facet joint injections
• SI joint injections
• Medical acupuncture
• Physical therapies
• Medications
• BOTOX injections
• Nerve blocks
• Radiofrequency nerve lesioning
• Surgeries