Meet Your Pain Doctor Serving Cave Springs, AR

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

At your consultation, Dr. Irwin will ask which symptoms bother you most and what has changed since they began. If a previous treatment helped, tell him what improved and how long it lasted. For example, an injection may have eased pain down your leg while leaving your lower back pain unchanged. That distinction can help guide the next step. Learn more about Dr. Stephen Irwin.

Chronic Pain Conditions We Evaluate

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain can make lifting, standing or getting comfortable in bed difficult. Let Dr. Irwin know whether the pain stays in one spot, spreads across your back or extends into your buttock or leg. Tell him if it changes when you bend, sit or get up after sitting for a while.

Neck Pain

Neck pain may interfere with driving, desk work or sleep. If you feel symptoms in your shoulder, arm or hand, describe where they start and whether turning or tilting your head affects them. Mention any tingling or numbness that occurs along with the pain.

Sciatica and Radiating Leg Pain

Sciatica can cause pain that travels from the buttock down the leg, sometimes with tingling or numbness. Note whether the pain reaches the calf or foot and which positions make it better or worse. That information helps Dr. Irwin decide what to examine more closely.

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 imaging findings alongside your symptoms and exam. If leg pain builds while you’re walking and eases when you sit, describe how far you usually get before you need to stop.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

The sacroiliac joints connect the lower spine and pelvis. Pain from one of these joints may be felt low in the back or near the buttock. Because it can resemble pain from the hip or lower spine, Dr. Irwin will ask how your symptoms change with movements such as climbing stairs or getting out of a chair.

Joint and Muscle Pain

Pain that comes on when you reach overhead, climb steps or carry something may limit what you can do at home or at work. Show Dr. Irwin where you feel it and explain whether it stops when you rest or lingers 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, describe which symptoms improved, which remained and when you first noticed any new pain.

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. Your evaluation may also lead to a recommendation for medication management, bracing or a referral for physical therapy. If Dr. Irwin recommends a procedure, he’ll explain what it targets and how you’ll assess your response together.

Epidural Steroid Injections

An epidural steroid injection delivers medication into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. Dr. Irwin may consider it 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 they contribute to back or neck pain, a facet joint injection or medial branch block may help evaluate that possibility. After a diagnostic block, the office may ask you to note whether a movement that usually hurts feels easier and how long the 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 those nerves are contributing to your pain.

Sacroiliac Joint Injections

A sacroiliac joint injection delivers medication into the joint. How your pain changes afterward can help Dr. Irwin assess whether the joint is contributing to your symptoms and guide the discussion at follow-up.

Nerve Blocks

A nerve block places medication near a selected nerve. Depending on the condition, it may help identify whether that nerve is involved or help manage pain. Dr. Irwin can explain what he hopes to learn or accomplish 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 review how they responded before deciding whether to pursue a permanent device.

Trigger Point Injections

Dr. Irwin may consider a trigger point injection for certain types of localized muscle pain. He’ll assess whether a tender area in the muscle contributes to your symptoms and discuss whether an injection could fit into your care.

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’ve had a difficult experience with a previous injection, tell Dr. Irwin what happened. He can discuss your options and our staff can explain how to prepare for your procedure.

Insurance and Self-Pay

NWA Interventional Pain accepts 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, referrals and prior authorization.

When to See a Pain Doctor Near Cave Springs, AR

Consider scheduling an evaluation if pain keeps interrupting your sleep, limits how far you can walk or makes it harder to get through a workday. A visit may also be helpful if symptoms return after a treatment that previously helped or begin traveling into an arm or leg.

Think about one activity you’d like to do more comfortably. If standing long enough to prepare a meal has become difficult, note how long you can stand, where the pain starts and whether sitting brings relief. That gives you and Dr. Irwin a specific limitation to discuss.