Pain Management in Philadelphia: A Doctor’s Holistic Approach

Everyone will experience pain in their lives. Yet, when your physical pain interferes and disrupts your life, it’s essential to find a doctor who’s an expert in helping people find relief from their pain AND who involves them every step of the way.

As DBT therapist in Philadelphia, I help people who are desperate for relief from their debilitating anxiety and painful relationships. For some of my clients, not only are they struggling with emotional pain, but they also are trying to deal with physical pain.

Pain Management in Philadelphia

In this edition of my guest blogging series, I’m featuring Dr. Christian Acharte. He’s a physician who’s board-certified in physical medicine & rehabilitation, and who specializes in pain management in Philadelphia.

Dr. Acharte completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania and Fellowship at Pennsylvania Pain & Spine Institute in Philadelphia. He is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Spine Intervention Society, and the North American Neuromodulation Society.

Dr. Acharte’s areas of interest include: treating the spine, joint, and complex neurological conditions. He is head of the Pennsylvania Pain & Spine Institute’s research initiative and has helped organize partnerships with nationwide research studies to provide his patients with access to new surgery sparing procedures.

Check out my interview below with Dr. Christian Acharte.

Why did you decide to join the Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute as a physical medicine & rehabilitation physician, who specializes in pain management in Philadelphia?

Upon finishing my training at UPenn, Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute allowed me to practice medicine in a manner I saw fit. A manner that allowed me to get to know my patients and come up with commonly understood goals. It is very important to me that medical plans are made WITH the patient and not by the provider’s sole opinion. In short, it’s important to prioritize the patient’s needs above financial gains. I found this at Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute. This is why I stayed.

As physical medicine & rehabilitation doctor in Philadelphia, what kind of work do you do?

I take a holistic approach in understanding a patient’s causes for joint, nerve, or muscular pain. Upon better understanding the cause, I can come up with a viable treatment plan with the patient. This typically involves a sequence of treatments ranging from least to most medically invasive. This can include education or lifestyle changes, physical therapy, joint/spine injections, or even surgical referrals. I typically do not require my patients to seek a surgical consult, but when it is medically necessary I don’t shy away from escalating the level of care.

How does your work as a pain management physician in Philadelphia, also help your patients who are also struggling with anxiety and/or relationship problems?

I help patients understand the link between pain and anxiety. Chronic pain and anxiety can each worsen the severity of the other. These issues can have a terrible effect on interpersonal relationships, which can in turn further drive the anxiety and pain to new heights. This leads to a terrible downward spiral that must be broken before it encompasses the whole of the person’s life. I encourage my patients to regularly talk with loved ones and perform healthy lifestyle changes to prevent this from occurring.

Who do you love working with and helping as a pain management doctor in Philadelphia?

My father suffers from Parkinson’s disease and underwent multiple emergent spine surgeries that left him an incomplete quadriplegic. His medical situation is entwined with chronic pain, dysfunction, and immobility. Patients like my father, who are in great need of relief, functional improvement, and hope are my favorite patients to treat. Being able to give a person that has lost much a semblance of their life back is priceless.

What can people expect during their first appointment with you at the Pennsylvania Pain and Spine Institute?

A comprehensive physical exam, a long talk about what ails them, a conversation about what they want to accomplish, and how we can get them there. I also spend a bit of time reviewing X-Ray/MRI reports to make sure the patients understand EXACTLY what is causing their neck, back, shoulder, hip, … (etc) pain.

What do you wish people knew about working with you and the services you provide as a pain management doctor in Philadelphia?

I’m here to treat all manner of pains. From head to toe. From nerve to muscular. I will find a way to help my patients gain mobility, function, and improvement in their quality of life. If I can’t help them I will take the time to explain to them WHY I  cannot help and point them in the direction of someone that can.

If you want to know more about Dr. Acharte and his work, you can go here and here.

Pain can be physical and emotional.

Pain can be experienced physically, emotionally, or both. If you’re experiencing emotional pain caused by your relationships, anxiety, or past trauma, therapy can be helpful. As a DBT therapist in Philadelphia, I specialize in anxiety therapy, and the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. To schedule a free virtual consultation for DBT therapy, please call me at 717-685-5074 or click here.