Chronic Pain

Our Chronic Facial Pain Program, led by world renowned neurologists, neurosurgeons, otorhinolaryngologists and oral maxillofacial surgeons, specializes in treating trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, geniculate neuralgia, occipital neuralgia, headache syndromes and other debilitating facial pain conditions.

We begin with a comprehensive evaluation using state-of-the-art MRI to identify nerve compression caused by blood vessels, tumors or other structural abnormalities. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates with otorhinolaryngology and oral maxillofacial surgery specialists and may use X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans to rule out dental or sinus-related causes before proceeding with targeted neurological treatments.

Treatment options include medication management with anticonvulsants and other evidence-based therapies, followed by advanced interventional and surgical solutions when medical management is insufficient. We offer percutaneous rhizotomy procedures, minimally invasive outpatient treatments that provide significant relief with low risk, as well as microvascular decompression surgery, a highly effective procedure with exceptional success rates. Our surgeons have performed thousands of microvascular decompressions with exceptional outcomes. For appropriate candidates, we also offer neuromodulation with peripheral nerve stimulators and motor cortex stimulation.

We’ll coordinate any additional care or specialized services you may need, bringing together experts from across our health system to ensure your care is fully integrated and comprehensive. If surgery is recommended as part of your care plan, we’ll also coordinate scheduling with our world-renowned surgeons at one of the many locations within our health system.

Our Chronic Back and Spinal Pain Program provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for patients with persistent back and leg pain, including those with failed back surgery syndrome (post-laminectomy syndrome) and other refractory spinal pain conditions. Working closely with pain management specialists and rehabilitation medicine physicians, our team conducts thorough reviews of imaging and previous treatments to ensure no correctable spinal pathology is overlooked.

When traditional surgical approaches are not appropriate or have not provided adequate relief, we offer advanced neuromodulation therapies, including spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation. These innovative treatments use precisely placed electrodes to modulate pain signals before they reach the brain. Every patient undergoes a trial period with temporary electrodes before committing to a permanent implant, allowing them to experience the benefits firsthand with minimal risk. Patients who respond well to the trial can then receive a permanent, programmable system that provides ongoing relief in specific areas of the body while helping reduce or eliminate opioid use. We also collaborate with interventional pain specialists who provide targeted injections, nerve blocks and other minimally invasive procedures as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

We’ll coordinate any additional care or specialized services you may need, bringing together experts from across our health system to ensure your care is fully integrated and comprehensive. If surgery is recommended as part of your care plan, we’ll also coordinate scheduling with our world-renowned surgeons at one of the many locations within our health system.

Central pain syndromes, including phantom limb pain, post-stroke pain and other deafferentation pain conditions, occur when injury to nerves or the central nervous system creates abnormal pain signals that persist long after the initial injury has healed. These conditions can be profoundly disabling, but our team of neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, pain management specialists and physiatrists has extensive experience using advanced imaging technologies and functional assessments to pinpoint the mismatch between the signals the brain expects and those it is actually receiving. Based on these findings, the team can design targeted neuromodulation strategies that can provide meaningful relief.

Treatment approaches include deep brain stimulation, a process in which electrodes are placed deep within the brain to target the circuitry responsible for the pain; motor cortex stimulation, a technique that involves stimulating the surface of the brain (the cortex) to try and cancel out the disordered signals and restore a more balanced pattern of activity, and spinal cord stimulation, depending on the specific condition and location of pain.

We’ll coordinate any additional care or specialized services you may need, bringing together experts from across our health system to ensure your care is fully integrated and comprehensive. If surgery is recommended as part of your care plan, we’ll also coordinate scheduling with our world-renowned surgeons at one of the many locations within our health system.

For patients with cancer-related pain that is not adequately controlled with medications alone, our team of neurosurgeons, interventional pain management specialists, oncologists, radiologists and palliative care providers offers specialized interventional and surgical treatments designed to improve quality of life.

Our multidisciplinary team provides neuromodulation with spinal cord stimulators or intrathecal pump systems that deliver medications directly to the spinal canal for maximum pain relief with minimal side effects.

In select cases, we perform highly targeted procedures such as cordotomy to precisely interrupt pain pathways in the spinal cord and provide dramatic relief for patients with severe, localized cancer pain. Our goal is to help you enjoy meaningful time with loved ones by removing pain as a barrier to comfort and connection.

We’ll coordinate any additional care or specialized services you may need, bringing together experts from across our health system to ensure your care is fully integrated and comprehensive. If surgery is recommended as part of your care plan, we’ll also coordinate scheduling with our world-renowned surgeons at one of the many locations within our health system.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy and other neuropathic pain conditions can cause burning, tingling and severe discomfort that significantly impacts daily life. Our multidisciplinary approach brings together neurologists, endocrinologists, pain management specialists and neurosurgeons to address both the underlying condition and the persistent pain it causes.

For patients who have not responded to medical therapies, we offer spinal cord stimulation, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment that has been shown to significantly reduce neuropathic pain and improve function. Our team works closely with you to optimize your diabetes management while providing advanced pain relief strategies that help you stay active and engaged in life.

We’ll coordinate any additional care or specialized services you may need, bringing together experts from across our health system to ensure your care is fully integrated and comprehensive. If surgery is recommended as part of your care plan, we’ll also coordinate scheduling with our world-renowned surgeons at one of the many locations within our health system.