World of Pain MD

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🎙️ New Episode 🚨 — What does the first year as a pain medicine attending actually look like? 🩺

A year ago, three of us finished the same interventional pain fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital on the same day. Then we scattered into private practice in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia — and became the people with no attending standing behind us.

In this episode, I'm joined by my co-fellows Dr. Kevin Vu (Pain and Wellness Center, Peabody, MA) and Dr. Jacob Lurie (Orthopedic Specialty Group, Fairfield County, CT) to compare notes on year one. We talk about the first "the buck stops with you" moment, learning when not to do a procedure, the things we were terrified of in fellowship that turned out to be non-issues (billing, the patient inbox), how we're using AI in daily practice, what we'd weigh differently in the job search, work-life balance with a new house or a new baby, the fellowship note-keeping system that still gets opened before procedures, and why the group chat with former co-fellows has become the most important tool in our practice.

Whether you're a current fellow, a new attending, or just curious what life looks like on the other side of training — this one's for you.

#painmedicine #interventionalpain #fellowship #newattendingwhodis #privatepractice #physiatry #anesthesiology #medicine #podcast

All Things Pain With The Experts

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If you treat back and joint pain as I do, you become familiar with two patient goals. First, they want to feel better. Second, they want to understand why they hurt.

As an interventional physiatrist, I spend a lot of time talking about the traditional treatment pathway—physical therapy, exercise, medications, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and, when appropriate, injections. Surgery is sometimes part of that conversation.

What I've realized, though, is that something that needs to be more a part of this conversation is how is your sleep? I honestly can't think of anything that affects nearly every aspect of our physical and mental health more than getting good, restorative sleep. And if you're not sleeping well, your body's ability to heal and your perception of pain can change dramatically.

That's why I'm really excited about today's conversation. Joining us is Dr. Solomon, a licensed psychologist, board-certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. She specializes in the research and treatment of sleep disorders, including insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, parasomnias, and nightmares.

In this episode, we introduce the fundamentals of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, or CBT-I. We really just scratch the surface, but if you struggle with sleep—or especially if you're dealing with chronic pain—I think you'll find this conversation incredibly valuable.

I hope you enjoy the episode, learn something new, and as always, thanks so much for watching or listening.

Come see us at https://www.peachtreespine.com/contact-us/

#insomnia #medicine #sleep #pain

All Things Pain With The Experts

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🚨Sign the petition:
https://tinyurl.com/Pain-Petition

🚨Peripheral nerve blocks affected:
1. Occipital nerve block and denervation
2. Stellate ganglion block
3. Trigeminal nerve block
4. Suprascapular nerve block
5. Thoracic nerve block
6. Thoracic nerve denervation
7. Genicular nerve blocks (GNB), cryoneurolysis or ablation
8. Pudendal nerve block
9. Digital nerve block
10. Posterior tibial nerve block at the tarsal tunnel
11. Ulnar nerve block
12. Denervation of the trigeminal nerve for any diagnosis other than TN
13. Any other peripheral nerves blocks or denervations not listed above

🚨How you can help:
Leave comments here:

NGS (DL40267): https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdId=40266

Open Comment Period: closes 11/8

Noridian (DL40265): https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=40264
Open Comment Period: closes 11/8

Palmetto (DL40263): https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=40262&ver=8&contractorName=2&contractorNumber=all&proposedStatus=all&sortBy=title&bc=10
Open Comment Period: closes 11/8

CGS (DL40261): https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=40260
Open Comment Period: closes 11/8

WPS (DL40300): https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/view/lcd.aspx?lcdid=40299&ver=2&stateRegion=all&contractorNumber=all&proposedStatus=all&sortBy=title&bc=11
Open Comment Period: closes 11/22 

🚨Attending speaking events below:

Open Meetings Info (CT), register through:

• CGS: Tuesday, 10/28, 3–4:30 PM https://www.cgsmedicare.com/parta/medicalpolicy/articles/cope186940.html
• NGS: Thursday, 10/30, 11 AM–1 PM
  https://www.ngsmedicare.com/web/ngs/lcd-open-meeting?selectedArticleId=2462862&lob=96664&state=97244&rgion=93624
• Noridian: Thursday, 10/30, 2–4 PM
  https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jeb/policies/lcd/open
• Palmetto: Monday, 10/27, 9–11 AM or 12–2 PM
  https://palmettogba.com/jmb/did/qgiceha8vk
• WPS: Wednesday, 10/22, 1–3 PM
  https://www.wpsgha.com/guides-resources/view/539

For more information, check here:
https://www.ipsismed.org/news/712316/ACT-NOW-Save-Peripheral-Nerve-Block-and-RFA-Coverage.htm

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has proposed eliminating coverage for many peripheral nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablations.

We unpack the significance of this proposal in this episode.

Joining me are: Dr. Zachary McCormick, and to put it succinctly, he’s a legend. He is currently the Professor and Vice Chair of PM&R at the University of Utah and vice president of IPSIS, whose research and leadership have shaped modern interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine, and Dr. Alex Fogarty, a Harvard-trained triple board-eligible physician in PM&R, Sports, and Pain Medicine, and a rising voice in innovation and advocacy for comprehensive pain care. 

*not medical advice* *for education only*  

#pain #medicine #nerve

All Things Pain With The Experts

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Welcome back to the World of Pain MD Podcast - where we discuss all things pain with the experts —I’m Dr. Derick Davis, a physician in Pain and PM&R.

Today we’re tackling running injuries and RED-S—where biomechanics, training load, and fueling intersect with mental health and performance—plus what actually helps. 

I want to briefly introduce my incredible and brilliant guests, starting with Sara Kellahan, who is a nurse practitioner at the WashU Living Well Center. She practices lifestyle medicine for MSK pain, obesity, nicotine addiction, and other chronic conditions. 

Next, we have Dr. Elena Randazzo, who completed her PM&R residency at Ohio State and a Sports Medicine fellowship at WashU after medical school at Mizzou. She specializes in nonoperative MSK care with a special focus on female athletes and performing artists.

And lastly, Dr. Katherine Caldwell joins us. She is a former DI swimmer with an MD from Mizzou, she did her PM&R residency at Penn, and a Sports Medicine fellowship at WashU. She leads the WashU Female Athlete Program.

In this episode, we will hit early warning signs for injuries, myths related to running shoes, strength, and cross-training that actually reduce injuries, and how to protect long-term bone health and performance. So let’s get into it.

*not medical advice* *for education only* 

#runner #pain #medicine #reds #athlete

All Things Pain With The Experts

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Hello and welcome to the World of Pain MD podcast, where we discuss all things pain with the experts.  

I am Dr Derick Davis, a physician specializing in pain management. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Samantha Meints, a clinical pain psychologist. 

Dr. Meints received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Butler University, then attended Purdue University, where she obtained her PhD. She is now a clinical psychologist and established researcher at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham Hospital. 

In our conversation, Dr. Meints breaks down what it really means to be a pain psychologist—dispelling myths like “your pain is all in your head”—and explains how stress, trauma, and even negative thought patterns can amplify pain. She shares a personal connection to the field of pain, having suffered from psoriatic arthritis since she was 11 years old. 

We’ll explore how therapies like CBT, ACT, and mindfulness can help patients regain function, reframe their relationship with pain, and even reduce its intensity. 

And we’ll talk about why there are so few pain psychologists, what barriers patients face in accessing care, and the practical steps anyone can start using today to better manage their pain.

So let’s get into it, and as always, thanks so much for watching or listening. I hope you enjoy this episode and learn something.

*not medical advice* *for education only*

#psychology #pain #medicine 

All Things Pain With The Experts

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Hello and welcome to the World of Pain MD podcast, where we discuss all things pain with the experts.  

I am Dr Derick Davis, a physician specializing in pain management.

In this episode, we speak about intrathecal pump therapy with Dr Arti Ori

Dr Ori firstly, has an awesome name and secondly, is a dual board-certified Pain Management Physician and Anesthesiologist with experience in advanced interventional therapies including neuromodulation and targeted drug delivery. She is from South Africa, where she attended medical school at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and also has spent time in the UK, where she trained in Emergency Medicine. She did a surgical intern year at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where she also did her anesthesiology training. She is no doubt well qualified to be an expert in intrathecal pump therapy and management, which is truly one of her passions.

In this episode, we’ll dive into how this therapy works, its indications, and the various types of medications that can be delivered through these pumps, providing both immediate relief and long-term management for multiple conditions. Dr. Ori will also discuss her experiences with the procedure, what makes it so impactful, and how it fits into the broader landscape of pain management treatments. Whether you’re a provider, patient, or just someone curious about innovative treatments, this episode is packed with valuable insights 

As always, thanks so much for watching or listening. I hope you enjoy this episode and learn something.

*not medical advice* *for education only*

All Things Pain With The Experts

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Hello and welcome to the World of Pain MD podcast where we discuss all things pain with the experts.  

I am Dr Derick Davis, a physician specializing in pain management.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jason Yong about Spinal Cord Stimulation (otherwise known as neuromodulation). 

Dr. Yong is the Chief of Pain Medicine and Medical Director of the Pain Management Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He earned his MD and MBA from Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University and completed his residency in anesthesiology at the Brigham. Dr. Yong served as Chief Resident and received multiple awards including FAER Practice Management Scholar. Following his fellowship in Pain Medicine at the Brigham, he served as faculty at Johns Hopkins Hospital as an Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology and Critical Care. While at Harvard and Johns Hopkins, he has published on opioid management, regenerative medicine, cancer pain, neuromodulation, and practice efficiency. But I guess most importantly, I think Dr. Yong is essentially the James Bond of pain medicine. He takes his neuromodulation, shaken, not stirred. He’s just that cool.

Neuromodulation is an innovative supplemental modality for patients who have not found relief through conventional treatments. One of the well-established forms of neuromodulation is spinal cord stimulation, a therapy that uses electrical pulses to essentially block pain signals before they reach the brain. By targeting the spinal cord, neuromodulation can provide relief for conditions such as post-laminectomy and complex regional pain syndromes as well as certain types of neuropathic pain. In this episode, we discuss some of the real-world applications and realities of spinal cord stimulation.  

As always, thanks so much for watching or listening, I hope you enjoy this episode and learn something.

#PainManagement #Neuromodulation #SpinalCordStimulation #ChronicPainRelief #PainMedicine #SCS #BackPainRelief #NervePain #RegenerativeMedicine #InterventionalPain #PainDoctor #MedicalPodcast #WorldOfPainMD #Harvard #JohnsHopkins #OpioidAlternatives #CuttingEdgeMedicine #MedicalInnovation #PainSpecialist #Anesthesiology #ChronicPainTreatment #PodcastEpisode #Podcast #HealthAndWellness

All Things Pain With The Experts

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Hello and welcome to the World of Pain MD podcast, where we discuss all things pain with the experts.  

I am Dr Derick Davis, a physician specializing in pain management.

In this episode, we speak about radiation safety with Leanne Miller

Mrs. Miller is the commercial lead for Burlington Medical’s attenuation material division. She works closely with the research and development team to produce new formulas and ways to improve radiation safety, protection, and comfort. She started out selling radiation protection equipment in the UK and soon moved to international sales, including managing all overseas operations. Her efforts as managing director in 2022 helped her garner the Queen’s Award for International Trade, which recognizes outstanding growth in international exports.

In our initial communications, Mrs. Miller pointed out a fact we all know well—radiation is an invisible presence. However, we are all still aware of the deleterious effects it can have on our health over long periods of exposure. It is important not to become complacent about radiation safety. I appreciate Ms. Miller’s time and expertise in this episode and for giving me a chance to discuss some topics related to radiation protection.

As always thanks so much for watching or listening, I hope you enjoy this episode and learn something.

#WorldOfPainMD #PainManagement #RadiationSafety #MedicalPodcast #Healthcare #PainRelief #RadiationProtection #PodcastEpisode #MedicalExperts #BurlingtonMedical #HealthAndSafety #DoctorPodcast #Radiology #XRaySafety #MedicalInnovation

All Things Pain With The Experts

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Hello and welcome to the World of Pain MD podcast, where we discuss all things pain with the experts.  

I am Dr Derick Davis, a physician specializing in pain management.

In this episode, we speak with Mr. Ryan Ross about fluoroscopy and radiology technologists in general, specifically regarding C-arm use in the OR. 

Mr Ross is originally from Scotland, hence why his accent is so incredible. He initially was a drummer; however, he later owned, and as he describes in this episode, he found a keen interest in imaging and particularly radiography. He attended Mercer County Community College, graduating with an Associate of Applied Science in Radiography in 2013. In 2015 he moved to Nashville and worked at Vanderbilt University in their level 1 trauma center as a surgical radiology technologist. Mr. Ross eventually transitioned into education. He started as the clinical coordinator for South College of Radiography in Nashville in 2021 and is now the Program Director for their radiography program.    

One simply cannot stress enough how important fluoroscopy imaging is to the field of pain. We rely on it for most of our procedures, and as such, we often depend on our radiology technologists’ expertise. In my conversations with Ryan, I was struck by the relative dearth of education for technologists regarding the use of the C-arm and fluoroscopy in general. 

Mr. Ross not only has a podcast of his own, he also has a YouTube channel and has developed equipment, known as the C-arm training phantom to help hone and educate technologists and fill this educational void. I will make sure to link all of his affiliated websites in the show notes. 

As always, thanks so much for watching or listening; I hope you enjoy this episode and learn something.

Links to Ryan's websites and podcast - called The Central Ray Podcast, including his C-Arm Training Phantom:
www.thecentralraypodcast.com

https://youtube.com/@c-armed?si=C3RZ82hTttBAZ2Qx

#PainManagement #Radiology #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalPodcast #PainRelief #HealthTech #MedicalProfessionals #MedTech #RadiologyTechnologists #PainCare #MedicalEducation #TechInMedicine #HealthCare #ClinicalRadiography #HealthAndWellness #MedicalTechnology #SurgicalImaging #WellnessJourney #HealthPodcast #RadiographyLife #MedicalExperts

All Things Pain With The Experts

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Hello and welcome to the World of Pain MD podcast where we discuss all things pain with the experts.  

I am Dr Derick Davis, a physician specializing in pain management.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Mairin Jerome about orthobiologics and regenerative medicine

Dr. Jerome is from the Big Apple - New York City!  She did her undergraduate studies at Brown University, where she studied studio art with an emphasis on sculpture. She went to medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She completed her residency at Emory University School of Medicine (my home program) and was recognized as resident of the year for 3 years in a row and served her last year as chief resident.  She did her fellowship in interventional orthopedics and regenerative medicine at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic. Dr. Jerome is obviously a person of many talents, yet she remains personable, passionate, and what I think to be a pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine, having published extensively on the topic.

We briefly touch on a fascinating topic I was unaware of until I met Dr. Jerome: dysbiosis of the intervertebral discs.

As always thanks so much for watching or listening, I hope you enjoy this episode and learn something.

The article referenced regarding intervertebral disc dysbiosis:
Rajasekaran, S., Chand, D., Chitraa Tangavel, Raveendran Muthurajan, Vijay, S., Matchado, M.S., Nayagam, S.M., Shetty, A.P., Kanna, R.M. and K. Dharmalingam (2020). Human intervertebral discs harbour a unique microbiome and dysbiosis determines health and disease. European Spine Journal, [online] 29(7), pp.1621–1640. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-020-06446-z.

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All Things Pain With The Experts