A Pain Clinic Near You That Looks for the Source
Pain Management
Not every pain clinic works the same way. Some focus mainly on prescriptions. At Garden State Medical Center, we are an interventional pain clinic. That means we work to find where your pain is coming from, and then we treat that source directly whenever we can.
GSMC is led by Dr. Dharam Mann, who completed fellowships in pain management, cardiac anesthesia and critical care at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard.
GSMC's team of pain specialists cares for patients at seven offices in Ocean and Monmouth County.
What "interventional" means
Interventional pain care uses precise, minimally invasive treatments. Most are done through a needle, with X-ray or ultrasound guidance so the medicine or device goes exactly where it should. Many are outpatient, and most people go home the same day.
These treatments are not for everyone, and they are not the first step for most people. We usually start with physical therapy, exercise, daily changes and medicines. Procedures come in when those aren't enough.
Treatments offered through our clinic
Your plan depends on what's causing your pain. Options include:
Spine and nerve treatments - Epidural steroid injections for pinched nerves and sciatica - Nerve blocks to find and treat an irritated nerve - Radiofrequency ablation to quiet painful joint nerves for longer stretches - Spinal cord stimulation for long-lasting back and leg pain, with a trial first
Minimally invasive spine procedures - The MILD procedure for lumbar spinal stenosis - Basivertebral Nerve Ablation for vertebrogenic chronic low back pain - Minimally invasive SI joint fusion with the CornerLoc system
Joint treatments - PRP therapy for joint and tendon problems - Knee, shoulder and hip embolization, which reduces blood flow to inflamed tissue around the joint
Bladder and bowel control - InterStim and Axonics sacral neuromodulation for overactive bladder, urinary retention and bowel leakage
How medicines fit in
Medicines can be part of a good plan. We use them carefully, review them often and coordinate with your other doctors. But our main goal is to treat the cause of your pain, so you may need less medicine over time, not more.
Honest expectations
No pain clinic can promise a cure. Some people get strong, lasting relief. Others get partial relief, and some don't respond. We'll explain what we realistically expect for you, along with the risks of each option.
GSMC participates with all Aetna plans, including Aetna HMO. For other plans, our staff will check your benefits. We verify benefits before scheduling any procedure and can't promise coverage.
Inside our 7 offices
All seven offices are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Your exam happens at the office you choose. Some procedures are scheduled at a different GSMC office, and our staff will tell you where.
Toms River (Hooper Ave)
1314 Hooper Ave, 1st Floor, Toms River, NJ 08753. Our main clinic brings pain management, rheumatology and sports medicine together in one building. If joint pain may have more than one cause, your care can be coordinated without starting over somewhere new. Visit the Toms River office page.
Manahawkin
1109 Beacon Ave, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. This clinic brings pain care to southern Ocean County, next to HMH Southern Ocean Medical Center. If you've had tests at the hospital, being close by makes sharing results simpler. Visit the Manahawkin office page.
Whiting
1100 NJ-70, Entrance B, Whiting, NJ 08759. Whiting is one of our larger clinics. Pain management and rheumatology providers work in the same office, which helps when arthritis and nerve pain overlap. Visit the Whiting office page.
Freehold
322 Professional View Dr, 300 Building, 2nd Floor, Freehold, NJ 07728. Our Freehold clinic is a focused pain management office for western Monmouth County. It offers a calm, professional setting near CentraState Medical Center. Visit the Freehold office page.
West Long Branch
100 NJ-36, Suite 1K, West Long Branch, NJ 07764. This clinic serves the northern shore with two pain physicians on our team. It's a convenient stop off Route 36 for people who work or study nearby. Visit the West Long Branch office page.
Brick
1608 NJ-88, Suite 102, Brick Township, NJ 08724. The GSMC team covers our Brick clinic, which offers pain management and rheumatology under one roof. It's a good choice for northern Ocean County and the beach towns. Visit the Brick office page.
Barnegat
249 S Main St, Suite 5, Barnegat Township, NJ 08005. The GSMC team covers our Barnegat clinic. It is an interventional pain management office on the Route 9 corridor. You can also be seen at Manahawkin, Whiting or Toms River if another day works better. Visit the Barnegat office page.
Book a visit
If you're looking for a pain clinic that takes the time to find out why you hurt, we're here. Request a visit online and choose the office nearest you. We'll start with a conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What is an interventional pain clinic?
It's a clinic that treats pain with precise, minimally invasive procedures, such as injections, nerve ablation and stimulation, in addition to therapy and medicines. The focus is on finding and treating the source of pain.
Are procedures done in the office?
Many procedures are outpatient, and most people go home the same day. Some are scheduled at a different GSMC office. Our staff will tell you where your procedure will be done.
Does the clinic prescribe pain medicine?
Medicines can be part of your plan. We use them carefully and review them often. Our main goal is to treat the cause of your pain, so medicine isn't the only tool.
Does GSMC treat bladder or bowel control problems?
Yes. We offer InterStim and Axonics sacral neuromodulation for some people with overactive bladder, urinary retention or bowel leakage. A short test period comes first.
Which insurance plans does the clinic accept?
GSMC participates with all Aetna plans, including Aetna HMO. For other plans, our staff will check your benefits before your visit. We cannot promise coverage for any treatment.