Other Therapies
Medication Management
Careful, monitored use of the right medication class for your pain type, with clear goals and safety oversight.
Time in the office
Initial visits typically run 30 to 45 minutes to review your full history and set a plan, and routine follow-up visits generally take about 15 to 20 minutes and are scheduled every one to three months depending on your medications.
When relief starts
Some medications provide relief within days, while others, such as certain nerve pain agents, take several weeks of gradual dose adjustment to reach their full effect, and the plan is reassessed at each follow-up visit.
What it is
Medication is one tool within a broader plan, not the plan itself. Matching the drug class to the pain mechanism matters more than the dose.
Neuropathic pain responds to different agents than inflammatory or mechanical pain. We also address sleep, mood and muscle spasm where they are amplifying pain.
Where controlled substances are appropriate, we follow Virginia prescribing requirements including registry review, agreements and periodic monitoring — safeguards that protect patients.
What to expect, step by step
A full review of current medications, prior trials, side effects and other medical conditions.
A written plan with defined goals and a schedule for reassessment.
Coordination with your primary care physician and pharmacy.
Recovery
New medications are started at low doses and adjusted deliberately.
We schedule follow-up specifically to evaluate whether the change is helping.
Typical results
The goal is improved function and sleep with the lowest effective medication burden.
Where an interventional procedure can reduce medication requirements, we will recommend it.
Risks and considerations
Serious complications are uncommon, but no procedure is risk-free and you deserve the honest version before you consent.
- Side effects specific to the medication class prescribed, such as sedation, constipation or dizziness
- Physical dependence with certain medications, requiring careful, gradual tapering if the medication is stopped
- Drug interactions, particularly for patients on multiple medications from different prescribers
- The need for periodic monitoring, including urine screening and prescription monitoring program checks, for controlled substances
- Risk of reduced effectiveness over time with some medication classes, requiring plan adjustments
Common questions
Will I be started on opioids?
Why do I need urine testing?
Can medication management work alongside procedures?
What if a medication is not working?
Conditions this treats
Medication Management is most often recommended for the conditions below, once the source of pain has been confirmed.
- Chronic PainPain persisting beyond expected healing, requiring a coordinated, multi-modal long-term plan.
- FibromyalgiaWidespread musculoskeletal pain with fatigue, sleep disturbance and heightened pain sensitivity.
- NeuropathyNerve damage causing burning, numbness and tingling, most often in the feet, legs and hands.
- ArthritisDegenerative and inflammatory joint disease of the spine, hips, knees and shoulders.
- Cancer PainPain from tumor, treatment or nerve involvement, managed alongside the patient's oncology team.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.