Dr. Jose Medina-Sanchez Offers Compassionate Pain Management in Brandon FL

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Dr. Jose Medina-Sanchez in our Brandon, Fla., location specializes in a few different areas of pain management including the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular injuries, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, and stroke patients. Laser-trained, he uses interventional methods to target pain rather than relying on opioids to mask it.  He is also actively involved in providing rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities.

Dr. Medina-Sanchez puts his patients first and every day looks forward to providing his patients with solutions.

C.W. writes: “Dr. Medina-Sanchez is very a compassionate doctor. During my initial visit I began having spasms while he was examining me and he was very sympathetic and reassuring. I thought he was going to cry. I’m joking about him crying, but he was very concerned about my pain. Obviously I was impressed. ”

J.B. writes: “They care about your pain. Dr. Medina-Sanchez has gotten my pain under control and for years 15 years I was not able to get out of bed or walk. Now I’m able to fly home for my sister’s birthday. It’s been 6 years. I am happy to say that he has given me hope to have a normal life again. I highly recommend Physician Partners of America/Florida Pain Relief Group. The staff is great. If you’re having back pain, he can fix it !!!! Give them a call and hope your experience is as good as mine. Thank you.”

Another patient tells Google Reviews: “Dr Medina was AMAZING!!! So sweet. So kind. He listened & didn’t prejudge my situation. He and I worked together to come up with a long term plan, after he asked me what my goals were. I’ve already recommended him to 2 people & I just had my 1st appointment yesterday. He & his staff are so great!! It makes going to the doctor, which is normally full of anxiety for me, rewarding & something I do not mind doing. I’m so glad I found him & his staff.”

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Jose Medina-Sanchez is a graduate of the University of Connecticut. He completed his residency at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital  in Wheaton, Ill., as Chief Resident. He also then completed a fellowship in Interventional Spine and Pain Management. That focus in spine and pain management had an impact of his extensive knowledge of non-surgical spinal procedures.

His office is located at 427 S. Parsons Ave., Suite #112, Brandon, FL 33511. Call (813) 285-5335 for an appointment. Same-day appointments are also available. The office accepts Medicare and most insurance.

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Dr. Chad Gorman Offers Laser, Stem Cell Pain Relief in Pasco County, FL

Dr. Chad Gorman is a Florida native working at our New Port Richey, FL office. Health Grades five-star rated, he has a devoted following among patients.

Patient J.L. writes: “Dr Gorman expedited a procedure giving me the first complete pain relief I’d enjoyed in decades. I was overwhelmed with the outcome especially after so many doctors had repeatedly thrown up their hands offering only hopelessness. His compassion is immeasurable.”

A patient writes on Vitals.com: “I am so thankful to Dr Gorman for relieving this terrible back pain I have had for years. I have my life back! I am able to walk without pain and I am so grateful. The staff are wonderful too.”

D.V. writes on Google reviews: “Doctor Gorman was great! Listened to everything I had to say and made me feel like I am going to finally get help with my issue. I am very glad that I found him!”

A.C. tells Google: “Dr. Gorman is a professional of the highest caliber. I highly recommend him and his staff to anyone in need of excellent medical care.”

Dr. Gorman specializes in treating chronic pain, particularly of the lumbar spine, major joints and extremities. He approaches his patients with the mindset that pain needs to be treated with a multi-variable approach that avoids the use of addictive opioid medication. He utilizes lifestyle modifications, medicine and minimally invasive procedures to achieve the right goal for each patient. In addition to using laser procedures, he also practices regenerative medicine: stem cell treatments and PRP.

Dr. Chad Gorman is a graduate of the University of Florida and completed medical school at the American University of the Caribbean. Following that achievement, he traveled to the University of Oklahoma to complete his residency and fellowship. His focus was in outpatient sports medicine/orthopedics and interventional pain management.

His office is conveniently located at 4419 Rowan Road, New Port Richey, FL 34653. Call (727) 261-1638 for an appointment anywhere in Pasco County. He accepts Medicare and most insurance.

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Dr. Alejandro Tapia Offers Laser Procedures in West Palm Beach

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Dr. Alejandro Tapia divides his time between PPPOA’s Boynton Beach and Wellington, Fla. clinics. He is extensively trained in the interventional pain management field and in laser spine procedures.

Dr. Tapia is patient-focused and enjoys improving the quality of his patients’ lives. He has appeared in local newspapers and on television shows to spread the word about the benefits of interventional pain management, including laser spine and spinal cord stimulation (watch the video below) as a better alternative than opioid painkillers. He is very highly rated by patients on doctor review sites.

Dr Alejandro Tapia Google Reviews

Google Reviews

One patient writes: “Dr. Tapia is always considerate and professional. His staff is excellent: lots of smiles (that goes a long way!) and privacy is assured. Dr. Tapia and staff are obviously very careful and conscientious about their jobs: they do the right thing for me while carefully complying with all paperwork, testing, etc. … I’ve spoken to other patients in the waiting room (short wait times!) and no one has ever said anything negative about this office or about Dr. Tapia.”

Patient J.J. writes: “Great staff, Super friendly. Dr. Tapia is a great doctor. He cares! Glad I found him. I would recommend him and his team to anyone.”

Patient C.W. left this review: “Dr. Tapia is definitely in the top 5% of doctors with a warm bedside manner. He takes the time to speak with you and actually cares about his patients. Since my injury I have seen about six different doctors due to insurance changes and I found that Dr. Tapia is definitely a doctor that is worth the wait to see. [He] will actually listen to your questions and actually give you an answer that you can understand. I highly recommend Dr. Tapia.”

After earning his medical degree from Universidad Central del Este Facultad de Medicina in San Pedro, Dominican Republic, Dr. Tapia completed his residency in anesthesiology at the University of Miami, his internship at the Department of Surgery at the University of South Alabama, and his fellowship training in Interventional Pain Medicine at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Alejandro Tapia is a member of the International Spine Intervention Society, Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. He speaks English and Spanish.

Chronic pain sufferers can see him at one of two locations:

10301 Hagen Ranch Road Boynton Beach, FL 33437. Phone: (561) 264-0802.

1397 Medical Park Blvd., Suite 460, Wellington, FL 33414. (561) 475-2695. Click here to make an appointment.

Dr. Tapia accepts Medicare and most insurance.

 

 

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Dr. Luis Nieves in Hurst, TX Puts Patient Satisfaction First

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Dr. Luis Nieves combines an approachable manner with a depth of experience in interventional pain management. As the lead specialist at PPOA’s busiest Texas clinic in Hurst, these two qualities are essential. He consistently earns high marks on reputation sites, including a 3.9 out of 5 stars on WebMD.

Dr. Luis Nieves Google rating

Nieves Google rating

 

Patient A.Y. says: “Dr. Nieves is easy to understand and explains things well. He is awesome at his job, he gave me my life back and the ability to not live in constant pain.”

Patient M.H. writes: “Absolutely one of the best doctors I’ve ever encountered.”

Patient D.H. tells Google Reviews: “I have been to MANY, MANY doctors and …Dr. Nieves by far stands out to be the absolute BEST!! He is very humble but incredibly knowledgeable, very talented, multitasking, caring and professional with a great sense of humor!!”

Patient J.C writes: “Good guy to deal with, really down to earth. If it’s your first time to see him you will feel comfortable.”

In addition to being board-certified in pain management, Dr. Luis Nieves is fellowship-trained by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (AGME), a non-profit private council responsible for evaluating and accrediting medical residency and internship programs.

He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and trained in anesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his residency in family medicine at John Peter Smith Health Network followed by a fellowship in sports medicine at JPS Health Network.

He was selected as one of a handful of trainees in a prestigious interventional pain management program with JPS Health Network and UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Nieves derives great satisfaction from helping patients transition from crippling pain to a more functional, normal life – without relying on opioid pain killers. His preferred form of treatment, interventional pain management, is designed to eliminate pain precisely where it starts and not mask it with medication. He is also trained in laser spine procedures and stem cell treatments.

He accepts Medicare and most insurance, and warmly welcomes patients to schedule a same-day appointment. Click here.

 

 

 

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FDA Addresses Opioid Withdrawal in the Midst of National Crisis

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Physician Partners of America offers opioid alternatives and careful dosage reductions –

Many chronic pain patients come to interventional pain management specialists, including Physician Partners of America doctors, while taking opioid medication. PPOA, like many other practices, sets a goal of tapering them off these highly addictive medications to avoid opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is officially cautioning doctors to go easy when it comes to reducing dosages. Opioid withdrawal symptoms, recurrence of pain and mental distress has led some patients to turn to street drugs. Tragically, some commit suicide.

Says the FDA: “Rapid discontinuation can result in uncontrolled pain or withdrawal symptoms. In turn, these symptoms can lead patients to seek other sources of opioid pain medicines, which may be confused with drug-seeking for abuse.”

In a recent survey of 6,000 pain patients by the Pain News Network, more than 80 percent said they had been taken off opioids or had their dose reduced. Almost half said they had considered committing suicide because their pain was being poorly treated. Others turned to other substances – legal and illegal – for pain relief.

According to the survey:

  • 26% turned to medical marijuana
  • 20% used alcohol to quell pain
  • 20% used the poorly regulated Asian herb kratom11% got opioid medication from friends, family members, or the black market
  • 11% got opioid medication from friends, family members, or the black market
  • 4% used illegal drugs such as heroin and illicit fentanyl

PPOA has long taken the recommended go-slow approach. Its specialists may use special medications to prevent symptoms if needed.

“There are several tools at the disposal of the physicians to mitigate opiate withdrawal symptoms,” says Abraham Rivera, M.D., PPOA Chief Medical Officer. “A new drug called Lucemyra can block most withdrawal symptoms in patients with abrupt opiate cessation. Most commonly, the opiates are slowly decreased no more than 20 percent per week until the doses are minimal.”

To prevent opioid withdrawal, PPOA strives to avoid prescribing opioids in the first place. The company advocates interventional pain management treatments instead, such as nerve blocks, injections, neuromodulation, intrathecal medication pumps and laser spine procedures. These treat the pain at its source.

Careful medication management is part of treatment plans for new patients who have come to rely on opioids as a daily pain management tool.

“At PPOA we use opiates as a means to an end, not as an end by itself,” says Dr. Rivera.

Reducing a patient’s medication, a process called titration, can catch some new patients by surprise. They may be used to getting their prescriptions filled time after time by previous providers. But as laws tighten the grip on prescribing, and the effects of the opioid crisis escalate, patients will be hard-pressed to find any ethical provider who offers unfettered access to addictive painkillers.

The FDA did not give details on specific patient harm cases but said in a statement that it was tracking them. The regulatory agency indicated it will change warning labels on prescription opioids to guide physicians on safe reduction rates.

The agency also did not recommend a specific tapering schedule to prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms. Instead it recommends that physicians take into account the length of time that a patient has been using additive analgesics, the type of pain experienced and the patient’s physical and mental health. That is PPOA’s approach.

“No two persons are alike when it comes to opioid titration; however most patients can have their opiates reduced to be in compliance with CDC guidelines in six months or less,” says Dr. Rivera.

 

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Advanced Care Providers on the Front Lines of the Opioid Crisis

ADVANCED CARE PROVIDERS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE OPIOID CRISIS

Patients seeking pain relief from PPOA are just as likely to see a Physician Assistant (PA) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) as they are a physician.

Both of these advanced care providers have advanced training and are able to write prescriptions, including those for controlled substances, without direct physician supervision. They can administer opioid antidotes  and also adjust medicine dosages autonomously.

This is significant as the opioid crisis continues to rage nationwide. Bound by a combination of policy and principle, Physician Partners of America continues to focus on interventional treatment modalities; we favor minimally invasive and laser spine procedures that treat pain at its origin instead of masking it with opioid medication.

The onus is often on the PAs and APRNs to manage medication and taper patients down.

“Advanced care providers get to be the enforcers of the number of medicines – pain pills – that can be taken at a time,” says Abraham Rivera, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Physician Partners of America. “They get to police what to do with the results of an abnormal urine drug test. They get to educate the patients about drug interactions. They get to enforce those reductions when they are part of a treatment plan.”

The physicians design treatment plans, and work hand in hand with Physician Assistants and APRNs to ensure that these plans are followed.

“Say I’m going to design a patient’s taper-down treatment plan for opiates because the doses are too high,” Dr. Rivera says. “Over the next three months, I’m going to scale them down in a certain fashion; but it is my advanced care provider who might be seeing that patient in those three months. They will have to endure the difficult task to make sure the patient sticks to that scale-down plan. That creates some very difficult interactions. “

Eric Shelton is a Physician Assistant in PPOA’s busy Habana Avenue, Tampa, Fla. practice. He says tapering down opioids is a challenging part of his job.

“We’re the target of frustration from changes in politics to changes in protocols, and definitely tapering opioids is very, very difficult,” he says. “Patients are hurting. You reduce their opioids, they see that as a threat and therefore that’s offensive and you’re the one doing that to them.

“I can educate patients all day long on why it’s a good thing and why using interventional pain management methods instead of opioids are going to be better in the long run,” Shelton continues, “but the truth is that instant gratification in any field of medicine is the most desired, and that’s what opioids provide. And when you start to reduce that, it’s not welcomed at all.”

To be successful in the pain management field, advanced care professionals must get to know their established patients. He or she must be highly observant for such red flags as patients coming up short in their medication supply, requesting refills sooner than expected, or coming into the clinic with an “off” demeanor.

“Knowing these things contributes to a patient’s quality of care,” Shelton says, “and you’ve got to be able to pick that out and be a detective in the amount of time that you’re given. You use the tools at hand to do the job to the best of your abilities.”

In all, it takes a strong and well-educated professional to help patients in their journey out of pain, but advanced care practitioners see it as a very rewarding challenge.

“Advanced care providers need to have spring in step and happiness in heart,” says Dr. Rivera. “They have to have peace that they are doing the right thing for patients and endure the fact that we won’t please every patient. They have to be secure in the knowledge that what they are doing is the right thing.”

At Physician Partners of America, we are in the business of caring for people. Our goal is to transform the doctor-patient experience with our patient-centric model. We are a diverse and extended family of professionals bringing innovation and wide-ranging talents that to our healthcare mission.

 

 

 

 

 

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Laser Spine Procedures Now in Palm Beach County

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Neck and back pain relief in Wellington and Boynton Beach

Dr. Alejandro G. Tapia is a board-certified and fellowship-trained interventional pain management physician in our Boynton Beach and Wellington locations.

A familiar face on local TV, he brings extensive experience in minimally invasive techniques to treat neck and back pain. Dr. Tapia is a member of the International Spine Intervention Society, Diplomat of the American Academy of Pain Management, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

His approach is evidence-based and devoted to using the most cutting-edge approaches medicine has to offer. That is one reason he has embraced laser techniques in his practice.

Laser Spine Procedures in Palm Beach County

The laser is the latest tool used by Physician Partners of America to relieve neck and back pain without opioids. It precisely targets pain-causing nerves along the spine and ablates them quickly. The incision is just 2-3 mm. – less than a quarter-inch. That means muscles are not cut or torn, and therefore, recuperation takes days instead of  months. You can walk out of the procedure suite. The majority of patients report that the original pain is gone.

Dr. Tapia performs this procedure for two common debilitating conditions: arthritis of the spine and facet disease.  His offices accept Medicare and most insurance. You can be sure he will explain all your options, from conservative to cutting-edge, and do his best to get you back to doing the things you love.

Make an appointment today to see Dr. Tapia about laser spine procedures in Palm Beach County. Make an appointment at PPOABoynton.com or PPOAWellington.com today!

 

 

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Laser Spine Procedures Available in Frisco TX

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Dr. Prasad Lakshminarasimhiah may have an unfamiliar last name, but his longtime patients in Frisco, TX, have no trouble saying how they feel about his approach to pain medicine.

He earns a 4.7 out of 5 stars on all the major review sites with such comments as:

“Very professional and caring!”

“He listens and cares about your pain.”

“The best pain management doctor in the DFW area.”

“Dr. P. has a great sense of humor to help alleviate your concerns.”

“I recommend him without reservation.”

Dr. Prasad is board-certified in Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. A U.S. Army veteran, his interest in pursuing pain medicine was sparked by caring for injured soldiers at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas.

His approach is comprehensive, evidence-based and devoted to using the most cutting-edge approaches. That is one reason he has embraced laser techniques in his practice.

Laser Spine Procedures in Frisco

The laser is the latest tool used by Physician Partners of America to relieve neck and back pain without opioids. It precisely targets pain-causing nerves along the spine and ablates them quickly. The incision is just 2-3 mm. – less than a quarter-inch. That means muscles and tissue are not cut or torn, and recuperation is measured in days, not months. You walk out after the procedure and, for most people, the pain is gone.

Dr. Prasad performs this procedure for two common debilitating conditions: arthritis of the spine and facet disease.  His office takes Medicare and most insurance. You can be sure he will explain all your options, from conservative to cutting-edge, and do his utmost to get you back to doing the things you love.

Make an appointment today to see Dr. Prasad in our Frisco pain relief clinic today! Call 972-737-PPOA (7762) or visit ppoafrisco.com to learn about laser pain procedures near you.

 

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PPOA Expands Use of Laser Procedures

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Laser procedures speed recovery for most patients

In its mission to combat the opioid crisis and follow best practices in medicine, Physician Partners of America is pleased to announce the widespread use of laser spine techniques.

PPOA pain management physicians are in the process of being trained in the use of the Holmium YAG laser to perform neck and back pain procedures. The laser is used to ablate pain-causing nerves, as well as tissue that is pressing on nerves.

“It’s better therapy, better efficacy, and the safety is unparalleled,” says Abraham Rivera, M.D., PPOA’s chief medical officer. “It’s a new set of skills that many physicians do not have.”

The company has invested in training and equipment for each of its pain management physicians.

Are laser procedures the best treatment for chronic pain?

The laser is the next step on the continuum of cutting-edge medicine, and Physician Partners of America has always focused on the latest developments in interventional pain management. That subspecialty of pain medicine focuses on treating pain at its source, rather than masking it with medication.

Interventional pain management encompasses a less-is-more approach:

  • Noninvasive techniques, such as injections and nerve blocks
  • Regenerative medicine, such as stem cell therapy and PRP

Patients who are ready for the next level of treatment can consider other approaches PPOA offers:

  • Minimally invasive surgical techniques, with incisions of less than one inch, and small instruments
  • Endoscopic procedures, which use a series of narrow, camera-enabled tubes through which the surgeon works

The laser can be used in any type of minimally invasive procedure.

What are laser spine procedures?

The laser procedures performed by PPOA pain management physicians require an incision barely wider than a needle.

The laser allows for precise targeting of nerves and tissue, quicker healing through muscle-sparing techniques, and a reduced chance of bleeding and infection. Patients walk out the same day and can get back to work or activities in days or weeks instead of months. It is a revolutionary instrument that PPOA uses to stay at the forefront of medical technology.

“It sets us apart from the competition,” says Dr. Rivera. “It’s not a procedure we make money on. That’s not the end result or purpose of it, but it’s something we believe gives patients much better results.”

Many patients choose PPOA for additional reasons: it accepts Medicare and most insurance, and has a long history of performing interventional techniques as an effective alternative to opioids. Services are available throughout Florida and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Initial appointments can be made the same-day patients call and transportation is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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PPOA Pilots New Endoscopic Camera

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The MIDASVu endoscopic camera is used for joint surgery and regenerative medicine

 An age-old problem with some types of joint surgery isn’t one that patients hear much about: for the surgeon, finding the target area isn’t always precise.

“Forty percent of knee injections are not in the knee. Even with people who know what they’re doing, it’s easy to miss the capsule,” says Dr. Abraham Rivera, Chief Medical Officer of Physician Partners of America.

Knowledge and experience are critical to a specialist’s success, but PPOA has taken patient safety a step further. It has becoming a pilot center for a device called MIDASVu. This next-generation endoscopic video camera can see what a live x-ray, or fluoroscope, can’t.

MIDASVu is an 18-gauge needle with an endoscopic camera attached to the tip. The creator, IntraVu Medical, Inc. of California, developed the device for a number of applications. These include arthroscopic surgery and regenerative medicine procedures.

“It’s an amazing piece of equipment. The endoscopic camera allows us to make certain that the needle is exactly inside the joint to deliver the medication or stem cells exactly in the right place inside the joint. It’s one order better than the fluoroscope,” Rivera says.

“Additionally, a physician can now quickly and easily check on healing and progress following a procedure with a simple, in-office needle stick using the MIDASVu,” Rivera says. “That’s something which previously required another visit to the MRI.”

MIDASVu is available in all PPOA locations.

Watch a demonstration here: https://vimeo.com/223131450

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