Professional Interests
I treat all manner of pain, many of which are listed here. No list can be comprehensive, so please inquire if you do not see your condition listed. Whenever possible I advise and treat patients in collaboration with their primary care physician, chiropractor, physical therapist, pharmacist, and other medical professionals. Like many pain specialists, I developed interest and expertise in particular pain conditions. Several of these are "orphan" conditions that receive little interest by pain specialists.
Pelvic and Sexual Pain
My focus on chronic pelvic and sexual pain grew naturally out of my initial specialization in menopause and women's health. I became aware of the general lack of interest in the health issues of menopausal and perimenopausal women as a medical student in the mid-90's. After attending my first meeting of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) in 1997, I created a dedicated menopause clinic in Atlanta, GA. By then my interests in women's hormonal issues had expanded to include Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), hirsutism, infertility and low sexual desire.
Combining my background in women's health with the knowledge and skills of interventional pain management provides me a unique capacity to evaluate and treat pelvic and sexual pain. These conditions are often complicated and require the expertise of multiple specialists ‐ psychologists, physical therapists, gynecologists, urologists and others. Pain management specialists like myself also have an important role to play.
PTSD and Stellate Ganglion Blocks
My military patients often had PTSD from combat experiences, sexual assault, and other trauma. Following in the footsteps of Dr. Sean Mulvaney, Colonel, USA (retired), I have been using Stellate Ganglion Blocks to treat symptoms of PTSD. I have extended this treatment to people with severe anxiety that is unresponsive to other treatments. I have done my own pioneering work using intravenous ketamine and real-time psychotherapy for people with PTSD in collaboration with Benjamin Keizer Ph.D.
Stellate ganglion blocks can also be used to treat various pain conditions, lost or distorted sense of smell from COVID-19 infection and milder forms of traumatic brain injury. It is also very effective for reducing menopausal hot flashes in women who cannot use hormones and do not respond to other treatments.
Headache and Facial Pain
Few pain physicians have significant training or expertise in treating headaches and facial pain. Following training provided by the American Interventional Headache Society, I achieved board certification in headache. I offer interventional treatment options for people who cannot achieve pain control with medications or other conservative therapies.
Regenerative/Reparative Medicine
Pain caused by soft tissue injuries or persistent inflammation can often be treated by local injection of substances (dextrose, platelets, stem cells) which stimulate the body's mechanisms of tissue repair. I gained extensive experience providing these treatment options while I was on active duty. These types of treatments are offered for a wide variety of musculoskeletal pain and degenerative conditions
Peripheral Nerve Problems
Pain in the arms or legs may be caused by nerve entrapment or nerve injury. There are a variety of procedures, using some new technologies, which can be used to alleviate pain in the upper and lower extremities.