For more information or to
schedule an appointment:
phone: 570-969-7253
fax: 570-969-8691

About

We provide interventional pain management for the evaluation and treatment of:

1. Non-Malignant Pain:

Epidural, transforaminal or selective nerve root injections

Facet injections or radiofrequency

Neuropathic pain management for CRPS I and II, phantom limb pain, Herpes Zoster

Injections of local anesthetics for nerve entrapment, scar neuroma and muscle spasm

Neuromodulation by spinal cord stimulator

2. Malignant Pain:

C.T. guided procedures

Implantation of narcotic pumps

patient Edmond Urbas
and Dr. Cynthia Jose

The Pain Clinic at CMC treated
over 2,100 patients in 2008.

The pain clinic is located at CMC hospital and provides a variety of treatment options for patients suffering from acute or chronic pain. Treatment options are based on patient complaints and general diagnosis.

Our staff of six anesthesiologists specialize in the care of patients with complaints of back and neck pain that may radiate to the limbs. We also treat neuropathic pain resulting from diabetes or vascular insufficiency, nerve entrapment, scar neuroma, facial pain or complex regional pain syndrome. Treatment options may include epidural, nerve root, or facet injections of an anesthetic and/or steriods, radiofrequency, cryotherapy or implantation of spinal cord stimulators.

We also treat patients with pain caused by malignancies with a variety of procedures best suited to the type of disease process, including implantation and management of morphine pump.

Patients with herpes zoster (shingles) are seen as early as possible to initiate nerve blocks and/or medications to lessen pain and to reduce the risk of developing post-herpetic neuralgia.

Staff

Our staff consists of physicians who are Board Certified and Fellowship trained in pain as well as registered nurses to assist with patient care. Our entire staff of physicians and nurses provides extensive education of patients and families to encourage more active and productive lives.

L-R: Diane Hoagland Sweet, RN; Jan Zlotnicki, RN; Carol Conway, RN; Cheryl Smith, Office Assistant; Kim Maddage, Anesthesia Secretary

	Kishor Vekaria, MD Subspecialty Certification in Pain Medicine by American Board of Anesthesiology Board Certified in Anesthesiology Board Certified in Transesophageal Echocardiography
	Cynthia Jose, MD Subspecialty Certification in Pain Medicine by American Board of Anesthesiology Board Certified in Anesthesiology
	Jamshid Khademi, MD Fellowship trained in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Board Certified in Transesophageal Echocardiography Board Certified in Anesthesiology
	P.K. Prahalad, MD Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine Board Certified in Anesthesiology Board Certified in Transesophageal Echocardiography
	Rafi Punekar, MD Board Certified in Anesthesiology
	Rohit Singh, MD Fellowship trained in Pain Medicine Subspecialty Certification in Pain Medicine by American Board of Anesthesiology Board Certified in Anesthesiology

Referrals

The clinic provides a referral base for physical, occupational and aqua therapy as well as psychological support in dealing with chronic pain.

Patients are referred to our clinic by either primary care physicians or consultants. In order to expedite the process referral information should include:

Patient demographics including address, phone number, insurance information, and appropriate referral forms

Office notes pertaining to patients complaint of pain

All supporting MRIs, Cat Scan or X-rays

Current medication list

Upon receipt of the above, our office assistant will contact the patient with the date and time of appointment.

Initial Visit

Your first visit to the Pain Clinic will involve:

Filling out an assessment form

Review of medical records by our anethesiologist

Physical exam related to your pain

Detailed discussion of treatment options

Prepping for procedure, if it is to be done, which may include IV-blood pressure, heart rate monitoring

Procedure will be completed by the anesthesiologist

A brief period of post-procedure monitoring (15 to 30 minutes)

Detailed instructions for home care