Frequently Asked Questions About Denver Back Pain Specialists

What kind of doctor should I see for back pain?

There are several different types of providers who diagnose and treat back pain. Most back pain can be managed by your primary care provider or one of our advanced practice providers in our Neurosurgery One Spine Clinic. If back pain persists or your primary care provider is unable to determine the source of your pain, you may be referred to a Denver back pain specialist, such as a physiatrist, interventional pain specialist or neurosurgeon. Physiatrists and interventional pain specialists use nonsurgical therapies or minimally invasive procedures to treat back and neck pain. Denver neurosurgeons treat back pain using nonsurgical and surgical techniques.

What does a pain management specialist do?

Pain management specialists are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic pain. Our Denver back pain specialists will find the root of your back, neck or joint pain, looking deeper to determine the cause of your condition. Often, this includes spinal stenosis, arthritis and pinched nerves.

We offer a special type of pain management called interventional pain management. Our board-certified physiatrists not only look for the underlying cause of your pain but also offer a wide variety of nonsurgical or minimally invasive procedures to relieve pain, including:

• Injections
• Neuromodulation
• Nerve blocks
• Ablation
• Spinal stimulation
• Sprint PNS
• ReActiv8 neurostimulation
• Intracept basivertebral nerve ablation
• Kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty

We also help you understand lifestyle changes or other treatments that could decrease inflammation naturally, leading to pain relief and improved overall health in the long term.

It’s important to note that our interventional pain management physiatrists do not manage patients who require long-term use of opioids. While we may prescribe opioids for very short-term pain management until other treatment takes effect, we do not oversee chronic pain management that requires opioid use.

What does a physiatrist do?

A physiatrist is a medical doctor with specialized education in pain and disability caused by illness, injury or another condition. The physiatrists at Neurosurgery One diagnose and treat lots of different types of spine and musculoskeletal conditions, including general back and neck pain, joint pain and sports injuries. Such conditions include spinal stenosis, arthritis and pinched nerves.

We treat these conditions using spinal injection therapy, nerve blocks, nerve ablations and kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty. We also conduct spinal cord stimulator trials, allowing patients to test out a spinal cord stimulator for the management of back pain prior to having the device surgically implanted.

Who should consider seeing an interventional pain management specialist?

There are two primary reasons to see an intervention pain management specialist for back, neck or joint pain. If you still have pain after attempting conservative treatments like over-the-counter pain relievers, physical therapy, ice/heat therapy and massage for three months or longer, it’s time to consider interventional pain management. Similarly, you may wish to pursue interventional pain management when you are looking to delay or avoid surgery.

What can I expect from an interventional pain management specialist?

If your primary care provider or another provider refers you to a Denver back pain specialist or your pain persists after three months of conservative treatment, it might be time to consider scheduling an appointment with an interventional pain specialist.

At Neurosurgery One, we have a team of pain management specialists that includes board-certified interventional pain management physiatrists and advanced practice providers (APPs). An APP is a physician assistant or nurse practitioner who has specialized training in spine and musculoskeletal conditions. They work closely with our physicians and can typically accommodate new patients within three days, whereas seeing a physician often requires a wait of three weeks or longer. We require all new patients at Neurosurgery One to have an initial assessment before any treatments, including spinal injections, so seeing one of APPs within days can help get treatment started faster.

Whether you consult with a physician or an APP, certain essential steps will be taken to address your back, neck or joint pain. During your initial visit, you can anticipate the following:

• Comprehensive physical examination and assessment of your medical history
• Diagnostic imaging (if your pain has persisted for more than 6 weeks)
• Collaborative goal setting to establish treatment objectives
• Preliminary diagnosis
• Referral for conservative treatments

Taking these necessary measures ensures that we start addressing your back or neck pain promptly and create a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

How do I switch pain management doctors?

If you’re looking for a new pain management doctor and you are interested in seeing an interventional pain management specialist who can assess you, switching your care to Neurosurgery One is simple. You don’t even need a referral (unless your health plan requires one). Just call our main number at 720-638-7500 to schedule an appointment. Mention you’re switching from another pain management specialist so we can request your previous medical records. We want to emphasize that we utilize non-opioid treatments to manage back, neck and joint pain and will not manage long-term prescriptions for pain.