How to Choose a Pain Management Doctor in New Jersey

By the GSMC pain management team

Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor. Whether it comes from the spine, a worn joint, a sports injury, inflammation or recovery after an operation, it can limit work, sleep and time with family. If you are searching for a pain management doctor near you in New Jersey, this guide covers the questions worth asking any practice, so you can choose care that fits you.

GSMC is led by Dr. Dharam Mann, who completed fellowships in pain management, cardiac anesthesia and critical care at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard.

1. Check training and board certification

Pain medicine is its own specialty. Look for a doctor who is board certified and has completed fellowship training in pain management, usually after a residency in anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or neurology. Ask where they trained and which procedures they perform themselves.

2. Look for a "find the source" approach

Good pain care starts with a diagnosis, not just a prescription. Expect a careful history, a hands-on exam and imaging only when it will change the plan. Diagnostic injections, such as a medial branch block or an SI joint injection, can confirm where pain is coming from before longer-lasting treatment.

3. Ask about conservative care first

Many people improve with physical therapy, activity changes and medicines. A good pain doctor builds these into the plan and uses procedures when they add real value, not as a first reflex.

4. Ask which procedures are offered, and whether they are image-guided

Interventional pain care uses live X-ray or ultrasound to place medicine exactly where it is needed. Options at GSMC include:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation
• SI Joint Fusion (CornerLoc, minimally invasive)
• Basivertebral Nerve Ablation for certain kinds of chronic low back pain
• The MILD procedure for spinal stenosis
• PRP and joint injections for arthritis and tendon pain

5. Expect honest talk about results and risks

No treatment works for everyone. A trustworthy doctor explains the likely benefit, how long relief may last, the risks, and what happens if a treatment does not help. Be cautious with any practice that promises a cure.

6. Look for a team approach

Pain often has more than one cause. Access to interventional pain management, rheumatology, sports and regenerative medicine and physical therapy in one practice makes it easier to coordinate care.

7. Think about location and access

Pain care often means several visits, so an office close to home matters. Ask about wait times, how follow-up questions are handled and whether the practice accepts your insurance. GSMC accepts Medicare and many other plans.

Questions to bring to your first visit

• What do you think is causing my pain, and how will we confirm it?
• What should I try first, and what comes next if it does not help?
• Who will perform my procedure, and is it done with image guidance?
• What are the risks, and what results are realistic for me?
• How will we measure whether treatment is working?

Our first visit guide explains what to expect when you come to GSMC.

Conditions our team commonly treats

• Low back pain and sciatica
• Neck pain and pinched nerves
• Knee pain and joint arthritis
• Spinal stenosis and herniated discs
• Shoulder, hip and SI joint pain
• Nerve pain, headaches and pain that continues after an operation

Pain management at GSMC

Our team sees patients at 7 offices in Ocean and Monmouth County: Whiting, Toms River, Brick, Barnegat, Manahawkin, Freehold and West Long Branch. See pain management near you or meet our providers to find the office that works for your schedule.

Request a consultation to talk with our team.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general education only and is not medical advice. Individual results vary.