Category Pain Management
Patient education on pain management from Empire’s board-certified pain specialists — back, neck, joint, and nerve pain, plus minimally invasive treatments like epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, nerve blocks, and regenerative options. Serving New York and New Jersey.
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain: Treatment Options and What to Expect
If you have stubborn pain low in your back that sits to one side and spreads into your buttock or hip, the problem may not be a disc or your hip joint at all – it may be your sacroiliac…
Trigger Point Injections for Muscle Pain: What to Expect
A trigger point injection targets a painful muscle knot to relieve myofascial pain. What it is, what to expect, recovery, and how long relief lasts.
Radiofrequency Ablation for Back Pain: How It Works and How Long It Lasts
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to quiet the nerves carrying your back or neck pain. How it works, who it helps, recovery, and how long relief lasts.
Medial Branch Blocks vs. Facet Joint Injections: What’s the Difference?
Facet joint injections and medial branch blocks sound alike but do different jobs - one treats the joint, one diagnoses the pain source and sets up radiofrequency ablation.
How to Heal a Bulging Disc Naturally
Most bulging discs heal without surgery. Learn how to heal a bulging disc naturally - safe steps, what to avoid, healing timelines, and when to see a specialist.
What Is a Microdiscectomy? Procedure, Recovery, and Success Rates
If a herniated disc in your lower back is sending pain down your leg and months of treatment haven’t helped, your doctor may have mentioned a microdiscectomy. It’s one of the most common and reliable spine surgeries for sciatica —…
Epidural Steroid Injection Cost, Coverage, and Safety: An Honest Guide
What an epidural steroid injection really costs with and without insurance, whether Medicare covers it and how many it allows, plus an honest look at the risks and side effects.
Epidural Steroid Injection vs. Radiofrequency Ablation: Which Is Right for Your Back Pain?
Epidural steroid injection or radiofrequency ablation? They treat different back-pain sources — ESI for inflamed nerve roots and sciatica, RFA for facet-joint pain. Here's how to tell which fits.
How Long Does an Epidural Steroid Injection Take to Work for Sciatica?
Most epidural steroid injections start working in 2–7 days, with fuller relief by about two weeks. Here's the real ESI timeline for sciatica — plus how long relief lasts and what to do if it doesn't help.
Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion ACDF Things To Know Before Surgery
Neck pain that radiates into the shoulder, arm, or hand can be more than a temporary discomfort. For many patients, it may signal nerve compression in the cervical spine caused by a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or spinal cord…
Is Cervical Endoscopic Discectomy Right for Me?
Neck pain that radiates into the shoulder, arm, or hand can significantly interfere with daily life. For some patients, symptoms improve with physical therapy, medications, or injections. But when pain, numbness, or weakness continue despite conservative treatment, surgery may become…
What Do Pain Management Doctors Do
What Do Pain Management Doctors Do? Pain is more than an occasional inconvenience—it can affect your work, sleep, and quality of life. If you’re struggling with persistent pain, a pain management doctor may be your key to relief. At Empire…
Endoscopic Discectomy: Minimally Invasive Relief for Herniated Discs
Herniated disc pain doesn’t always require major back surgery. Endoscopic Discectomy relieves nerve pressure through a tiny incision with faster recovery and less downtime. At Empire Minimally Invasive Spine & Pain, we help NY and NJ patients return to normal…
Which Doctor to Consult for Lower Back Pain? A Pain Management–Focused Treatment Guide
Pain management specialists play a critical role in diagnosing the source of lower back pain and delivering non-surgical, image-guided treatments designed to relieve nerve compression, reduce inflammation, and restore spinal stability. Lower back pain is one of the most common…
Foot Arch Pain: Causes, Relief, and When to See a Doctor
What causes pain in the arch of your foot, how to tell plantar fasciitis from a tendon problem, home relief that works, and when to see a specialist.
Medicare, Workers Comp,
No Fault & Others.
We accept most major insurance plans across our New York and New Jersey offices. Select your state to see accepted plans.
Accepted at our New York Locations
Workers' Compensation
No-Fault (NY & NJ)
Lien Cases
Medicare
Empire BCBS
BCBS / Anthem
Cigna
Aetna
Empire NYSHIP
Oxford (PPO)
United Health Care
GHI / Emblem Health
Humana (PPO)
Magnacare (PPO)
Northwell Direct
1199 SEIU
Self Pay
Accepted at our New Jersey Locations
No-Fault (NJ)
Lien Cases
Horizon BCBS
Empire NYSHIP
BCBS / Anthem (PPO)
Cigna
Aetna (PPO)
GHI / Emblem (PPO)
Port Authority UHC
Verizon Plan
Carpenter & Trade Unions
Self Pay
Medicare and Medicaid are not accepted at our New Jersey locations. Not sure about your plan? Call us and we'll verify before your visit.
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Meet Our Pain Management & Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. Monica Misak
Interventional Pain Specialist
Dr. James Yu, D.O.
Board Certified Anesthesiologist
Board Certified Interventional
Pain Management Physician
Dylan J. O'Rourke
Certified Physician Assistant
Pain Conditions Affecting Daily Life
Improve your quality of life with our comprehensive approach to pain management
We are dedicated to finding individualized treatment options tailored to fit your needs. Our team is dedicated to helping you lead a productive and active life, free from pain and disruption.
We use an integrative approach to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and assess your condition.
Physical examination and review of your medical history. We assess the cause of your pain, determine its severity and duration, and help you develop an individualized treatment plan.
We provide a range of treatments and procedures to address your chronic pain. These include nerve blocks, injections, physical therapy, implantable therapies and more. We also offer health education to help you better manage your condition.