The Neurocenter for Pain and Tremor provides neurological and neurosurgical evaluations, diagnoses and treatment for all types of chronic intractable pain and involuntary movement disorders. Neurocenter specializes in procedures and therapies to deal with difficult to treat chronic pain conditions. We use the latest innovative procedures and techniques available to achieve pain control.
We realize how debilitating and disrupting chronic pain can be. Seeking relief from chronic pain can be a long, drawn out ordeal, involving traumatic effects on patients and caregivers. Chronic pain patients are often bounced back and forth for years from professional to professional without achieving proper diagnosis or pain relief. Some patients even undergo multiple surgeries for pain without benefit. The Neurocenter receives difficult to treat cases of pain from all over the world and has been a leading center for treating difficult cases of chronic pain in California since 1985.
Our center specializes in chronic pain of unknown origin, pain that is resistant to most pain control treatments, and pain that persists even after treatment of an injury or illness. We provide a thorough evaluation and diagnosis for acute and chronic pain and select the appropriate therapy, or procedure that will provide optimum, long lasting pain relief.
OUR MISSION
Our goal at the Neurocenter for Pain and Tremor is to improve your total health and well- being and restore your former way of life. Our main objective at the Neurocenter is the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons in pain.
OUR TREATMENT PHILOSOPHY
At the Neurocenter for Pain and Tremor each patient is carefully evaluated to determine the best treatment plan for their individual needs. We believe that an early proper diagnosis and treatment plan will greatly improve chances of achieving lasting pain relief. Conservative methods of treatment such as medication, physical therapy, acupuncture, nerve blocks, epidural injections, etc are exhausted before any surgical treatment is considered. Surgery is considered only in cases when all else fails. The careful screening and selection of surgical candidates greatly increases the chances of achieving excellent pain relief.
We believe in educating patients about the newest treatment modalities that are available for treating chronic pain and empowering patients to explore innovative solutions to achieving pain control.
OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Jacob Chodakiewitz, M.D. is a Stereotactic Neurosurgeon, with a specialty in the field of Functional Neurosurgery. He has 21 years of experience performing stereotactic, neurosurgical procedures for the control of chronic intractable pain and tremor. Dr. Chodakiewitz collaborated closely with the late Professor D. Albe-Fessard of Paris, pioneer of microelectrode brain mapping in the thalamus, in the clinical applications of functional and stereotactic surgical techniques for the control of tremor and pain. He was director of the Functional Neurosurgical unit of the Department of Neurosurgery at UCI from 1992-1994.
Dr. Chodakiewitz was principal research investigator in the FDA studies of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for tremor and chronic pain, and his work was instrumental in helping gain FDA approval of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s in August 1997. Dr. Chodakiewitz serves as the Functional Stereotactic consultant for the department of Neurosurgery at the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Hospitals. Dr. Chodakiewitz is the Neurosurgical Director and Pain Consultant for various international Victims of Terror organizations. Dr. Chodakiewitz is also a Qualified Medical Examiner for the State of California Worker ’s Compensation Board.
SERVICES
We provide the following services :
- Neurological and Neurosurgical consultation for diagnosis and treatment
- Neurodiagnostic procedures (Electroencephalogrpahy, (EEG); Eletromyography (EMG); Nerve Conduction Velocity Testing (NCV); Electronystagmogram (ENG)
- Neuropsychological testing
- Vestibular testing for Balance and Dizziness disorders
- Nerve blocks and other anesthesia pain relief procedures
- Sleep Lab
- Chronic Pain procedures: implantable infusion pumps, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation; other surgical procedures
- Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery: Deep Brain Stimulation and other procedures
- Microphysiologcial and Neurophysiological monitoring during surgical procedures
- Pharmacy
- A Network of Specialists including: Radiology ( MRI CT etc ), Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Ear Nose and Throat, Urology, Opthamology, Orthopedics, Toxicology, Physical Therapy, Accupuncture.
- Fully bilingual staff in Spanish and English.
Evaluation includes
- interpretation of historical data;
- review of previous laboratory, imaging, and electrodiagnostic studies;
- assessment of behavioral, social, occupational and vocational issues;
- interview and examination of the patient by the pain specialist.
- specialized diagnostic procedures
COMMONLY TREATED DISORDERS
- LOW BACK PAIN
- FACIAL PAIN, NEURALGIA
- BURNING PAIN AS IN RSD
- HERPETIC NEURALGIA, SHINGLES
- CANCER PAIN
- HEAD PAIN
- POST SURGICAL SPINE PAIN
- EXTREMITY PAIN
- PHANOTM PAIN POST AMPUTATION
- PAIN AFTER STROKE
- PAIN AFTER NERVE INJURY
- DIABETIC AND OTHER NEUROPATHIES
- PAIN FROM MULITPLE SCLEROSIS
- PAINFUL PARALYSIS
- PAINFUL NUMBNESS
- PARKINSON’S TREMOR
- INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT DISORDERS
- RARE CONDITIONS
