Meet Your Pain Doctor Serving Elkins, AR

Dr. Stephen A. Irwin is board certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine. He completed fellowship training in pain medicine at UT Southwestern and has practiced interventional pain management since 2008.

If you’ve tried several treatments, the details of each one matter. An injection may have relieved pain in one area while leaving another symptom unchanged. Physical therapy may have helped you move more easily even if you still have pain. Dr. Irwin considers those responses alongside your exam and available imaging when discussing what to do next. Learn more about Dr. Stephen Irwin.

Chronic Pain Conditions We Evaluate

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain can make it hard to lift, stand at a counter or get comfortable in bed. Tell Dr. Irwin whether you feel it across your lower back or mostly on one side, and whether it spreads into your buttock or leg.

Neck Pain

Persistent neck pain can interfere with driving, working at a desk or sleeping. If you also have shoulder or arm pain, tingling or numbness, tell Dr. Irwin whether those symptoms change when you turn or tilt your head.

Sciatica and Radiating Leg Pain

Sciatica can cause pain that runs from the buttock down the leg, sometimes with tingling or numbness. Describe whether the pain reaches your calf or foot and what happens when you sit, stand or walk.

Herniated Discs and Spinal Stenosis

A herniated disc or narrowing around the spinal nerves can contribute to pain in the back, neck, arms or legs. Dr. Irwin considers whether your imaging findings line up with your symptoms and exam. If standing or walking brings on leg pain that eases when you sit, mention that during your evaluation.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Pain from the sacroiliac joint can be felt low in the back or near the buttock. It can overlap with symptoms from the hip or lower spine. Dr. Irwin may ask what happens when you climb stairs, shift your weight or rise from a chair, then use the exam to help determine whether the joint is involved.

Joint and Muscle Pain

Joint or muscle pain can make specific movements difficult, such as reaching overhead, bending to pick something up or getting out of a vehicle. Point out where you feel the pain and whether it stops when you rest or continues afterward.

Nerve Pain and Pain After Spine Surgery

Dr. Irwin evaluates persistent nerve pain, complex regional pain syndrome and pain that continues or returns after spine surgery. If you’ve had surgery, explain whether the original pain returned, a new symptom developed or some symptoms improved while others remained.

Explore the painful conditions we treat.

Interventional Pain Management Treatments

Interventional pain management uses targeted procedures to help identify or treat certain sources of pain. If Dr. Irwin recommends a procedure, he’ll explain what it targets and what to watch for afterward. Depending on your evaluation, your care plan may also include medication management, bracing or a referral for physical therapy.

Epidural Steroid Injections

An epidural steroid injection delivers medication into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. Dr. Irwin may consider this option for certain types of arm or leg pain when the evaluation suggests irritation of a spinal nerve.

Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks

Facet joints are small joints along the spine. If Dr. Irwin suspects these joints contribute to your back or neck pain, a facet joint injection or medial branch block may help evaluate that possibility. After a diagnostic block, he may ask you to track how a movement that usually hurts feels and how long any change lasts.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation uses controlled heat to interrupt pain signals carried by selected nerves. It may be considered when diagnostic blocks suggest that those nerves are contributing to your pain.

Sacroiliac Joint Injections

A sacroiliac joint injection places medication into the joint. Your response can help Dr. Irwin assess whether the joint is a source of your symptoms and discuss whether further treatment makes sense.

Nerve Blocks

A nerve block places medication near a selected nerve. Depending on the condition, it may help identify whether the nerve is involved or help manage pain. Dr. Irwin can explain what the block is intended to do in your case.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation may be an option for some patients with persistent nerve-related pain. Eligible patients can try temporary stimulation and discuss their response before deciding whether to pursue a permanent device.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger point injections may be considered for certain types of localized muscle pain. Dr. Irwin evaluates whether a tender area in the muscle contributes to your symptoms before discussing an injection.

In-Office Procedures, Sedation and Payment Options

Sedation for Spinal Procedures

Many pain management procedures can be performed at our Rogers office. In-office sedation is available for most spinal procedures when appropriate. If you’re worried about an injection or had a difficult experience with a previous procedure, tell Dr. Irwin during your consultation. Our team can explain the options and give you instructions specific to your appointment.

Insurance and Self-Pay

NWA Interventional Pain works with most insurance plans and offers self-pay options. An office-based procedure may cost less out of pocket than having the procedure at a hospital or surgery center. What you pay depends on the service, where it’s performed and your coverage. Have your insurance card handy when you call so our team can help you check network participation and whether your plan requires a referral or prior authorization.

When to See a Pain Doctor Near Elkins, AR

Consider scheduling an evaluation if pain keeps waking you up, limits how far you can walk or makes it harder to get through a workday. A visit may also help if symptoms return after treatment or begin traveling into an arm or leg.

Before your appointment, pick one activity you’d like to do more comfortably. If you have to stop halfway through walking the dog, for example, note how far you get, what symptoms make you stop and what helps them ease. That gives you and Dr. Irwin a specific goal to discuss.