Field Notes from a Pain Physician
The Blog
Evidence-based writing on pain medicine, the healthcare system, and what actually works — from the inside.
More from the blog
6 articles- Healthcare System
The 47 Steps Between "You Need an Injection" and Actually Getting One
From the moment I decide you need a procedure to the moment you're actually in the room — here's everything that happens in between that nobody tells you about. The teams, the paperwork, the denials, and the fight.
- Healthcare System
When Insurance Gets in the Way of Your Care
Prior authorization requirements are delaying care for real patients — and the criteria keep changing. A pain physician's honest reflection on what's happening, why it matters, and what needs to change.
- Treatment
Do Epidural Steroid Injections Actually Work? What the Headlines Got Wrong
Recent headlines questioned epidural steroid injections. Here's what the studies actually found — and why patient selection is the key the headlines missed.
- Medications
Suzetrigine (Journavx): What Pain Patients Need to Know About the First New Non-Opioid Pain Medication in 25 Years
The FDA approved the first new class of pain medication in over 25 years. Here's the honest picture — what Journavx does, what it doesn't, and what I've seen prescribing it to real patients.
- Conditions
SI Joint Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and When to See a Pain Specialist
SI joint dysfunction is one of the most commonly overlooked causes of lower back and buttock pain. Learn how to recognize the symptoms and what you can do about it.
- Treatment
Sciatica Treatment Without Surgery: A Pain Doctor's Guide
The vast majority of sciatica cases resolve without surgery. Explore proven treatment options from home remedies to physical therapy and injections.