St. Jude Medical Center - Chronic Pain Center

Pain Program

2253.9 miles away
714-578-8716
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Recognized as one of the nation’s most innovative and successful programs, our Chronic Pain Program helps patients, age 8 to 90, break the crippling cycle of chronic pain and reclaim their quality of life.

Our comprehensive, highly integrated services draw upon the expertise of board-certified interventional anesthesiologists and rehabilitation medicine physicians, as well as clinical psychologists, physical therapists, biofeedback experts, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and recreation therapists. This holistic, multidisciplinary approach allows us to treat the whole person, addressing each issue that contributes to their pain and inability to live life fully.

While most pain management programs focus almost exclusively on medications, we offer the entire spectrum of today’s best evidence-based therapies, allowing us to successfully treat conditions including debilitating headaches, back and neck pain, CPRS, and fibromyalgia.

Our structured program is individualized to meet each patient’s unique needs, but typically involves therapy four to five times a week—each visit lasting one to five hours—for an average of eight weeks.

Through physical therapy, interventional procedures and pain-reducing strategies, the multidisciplinary team of pain management specialists are able to evaluate symptoms and provide treatment for many types of pain, including:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Arthritis
  • Nerve pain
  • Back pain
  • Pain
  • Amplification Syndrome
  • Cancer pain
  • Pelvic or abdominal pain
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
  • Post-surgical pain
  • Chronic Pain Syndrome
  • Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
  • Diabetic neuropathy
  • Sacroiliac joint pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Sciatica
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Hypermobility Syndrome
  • Tailbone pain (Coccydynia)
  • Irritable bowel disease
  • Trigeminal nerve pain
  • Myofascial Pain Syndrome

The multidisciplinary pain management team includes specialists experienced in restoring health and wellness to those with chronic pain. These specialist include:

  • Fred Nowroozi, M.D. - Board-certified, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine
  • Arthur Zepeda, M.D. - Board-certified, Interventional Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
  • Joe Kolb, Pharm. D - Licensed pharmacist
  • Gary A. Baffa, Ph.D., M.S. - Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  • Allison Bicksler, Psy.D. - Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  • Vibhuti Dharia, OT - Licensed Occupational Therapist
  • Andrea Romero, MOT - Licensed Occupational Therapist
  • Marina Leontiev, DPT - Licensed Physical Therapist
  • Brad Shumawy, DPT - Licensed Physical Therapist
  • Michele Ledesma, PTA - Physical Therapy Assistant
  • Lee Zambrana - Biofeedback Specialist
  • Lenny Recinos - Support Staff

To relieve chronic pain and reactivate a more enjoyable quality of life, our program offers a full range of services customized to meet the specific needs of each patient. These medical management pain services include:

  • Pain interventions
    • Epidurals
    • Facet injections
    • Trigger point injections
    • Nerve blocks
    • Intra-articular injections
    • Intrathecal drug delivery
    • Radiofrequency ablation
    • Implantable pain pumps
    • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Medication management
    • Evidence-based techniques for helping patients avoid addiction and destructive patters of medication overuse
  • Emotional and psychological support
    • Pain Lecture Series – weekly lectures on pain management topics
    • Happiness Over Pain Everyday (HOPE) Support Group
    • Mindful Relaxation – breathing exercises and mindfulness practices
  • Physical and Aquatic Therapy
    • Therapeutic interventions designed to rebuild strength, endurance and balance
    • Transitional Fitness Class – physical therapy that includes gentle strengthening and stretching using weights, exercise bands, kettle bells and other fitness equipment
    • Pool Group/Aquatic Therapy – one-on-one warm water pool therapy for patients who have difficulty with traditional therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
    • Simulated work, home, leisure and school experiences to increase activity tolerance, endurance and safety
    • Exercises include: pacing, energy conservation, time management, work simplification, posture and body mechanics, problem solving, stress management and relaxation
  • Biofeedback
  • Relaxation exercises and self-management techniques, which you will fine-tune to control your body’s reaction to pain.
    • Biofeedback therapy relaxation exercises include: deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery and mindfulness meditation (focusing your thoughts and letting go of negative emotions)
  • Recreation Therapy
    • Once-a-week class offers opportunities for self-expression and growth, reintroduces hobbies that may have been lost, and encourages new interests
  • Classes and Support
    • Crafternoon: Activities and Recreation
    • Fitness Classes
    • Nutrition and Wellness Coaching

The length of the program is based on a patient's unique needs; however, the average program lasts eight to ten weeks, with three to five visits a week. Visits typically last two to five hours.

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