Trinity Health Prioritizes Continued Growth of Comprehensive Pain Management Program in West Michigan

Approximately nine million steroid injections are administered each year for patients with chronic pain. Yet these injections are only one component of a comprehensive pain management strategy.

At the Trinity Health Neuroscience Center – Muskegon, Trinity Health Medical Group physiatrists, providers who are specialty trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and experts in conditions that limit function or cause pain, develop personalized treatment plans to address the root causes of pain.

Using conservative methods such as home exercises, medications, and precisely administered injections, and collaborating with other specialists such as osteopathic manipulative medicine, physical therapy, neurosurgery, and neurology, the team provides comprehensive care to patients with chronic pain.

"Providers who are trained in various types of injections and non-surgical procedures are key factors that make interventional physiatry a strong option for patients seeking pain management care," said Leanna Krukowski, MSN, RN, administrative director, Neuroscience Services, Trinity Health West Michigan.

Recently, the Neuroscience Center in Muskegon added a dedicated injection suite featuring a C-Arm machine with X-ray and ultrasound. The unique design of C-arms allows them to move in various directions, expanding the field-of-view and enhancing image quality and accuracy. The physiatrist can obtain comprehensive visual information from different perspectives, enabling more informed decision-making during procedures.

“For pain that persists after conservative treatments, injections can be a helpful next step,” said Anita Bell, DO, interventional physiatrist, Trinity Health Medical Group. “Injections can be classified into two main categories: Steroid injections work by delivering powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected area and non-steroid injections use other mechanisms to ease pain.”

In September, two fellowship-trained PM&R interventional physiatrists are joining the experienced teams of Trinity Health Medical Group providers in Muskegon and Grand Rapids.

The Neuroscience Center in Muskegon will welcome Daniyal Bashir, MD. Dr. Bashir recently completed an interventional spine medicine fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health and will join Dr. Bell and Harrison Johnson, MD, physiatrist.

"Our care is integrated, evidence-based, and comprehensive,” said Joshua Nicholson, DO, interventional physiatrist, Trinity Health Medical Group. “We see the need in West Michigan for greater pain management and it’s exciting to bring on more interventional physiatrists to help patients in our communities.”

In Grand Rapids, Trinity Health Medical Group, Physical Medicine and Spine will welcome Shashank Vodapally, DO. Dr. Vodapally recently completed a pain medicine fellowship at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health in New York and will join interventional physiatrists Dr. Nicholson and David Hakopian, DO.

People with chronic pain and functional or mobility limitations can be referred for treatment by their primary care provider. Or, for additional information, call Trinity Health Neuroscience Center – Muskegon at 231-672-4243 or Trinity Health Medical Group, Physical Medicine and Spine in Grand Rapids at 616-685-5050.

 

About Trinity Health Michigan

Trinity Health Michigan is a leading health care provider and one of the state’s largest employers. With more than 24,000 full-time employees serving 29 counties, Trinity Health Michigan operates nine hospitals located in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Howell, Livonia, Muskegon, Pontiac, and Shelby, and two medical groups. The health system has 2,314 beds and 5,446 physicians and advanced practice providers. With operating revenues of $4.16 billion, Trinity Health Michigan returns $184 million back to their local communities each year. Together with numerous ambulatory care locations, home health and hospice agencies and 23 senior living communities owned and/or operated by Trinity Health, Trinity Health Michigan provides the full continuum of care for Michigan residents. Trinity Health Michigan is a member of Trinity Health, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the country serving more than 30 million people across 22 states. www.trinityhealthmichigan.org