grandpa lifting his baby grandchild

When it comes to chronic pain, nothing is more important than getting back to living.

That’s why so many people turn to Tri-State Pain Institute in Erie, Pennsylvania for advanced treatment and proven relief.

At Tri-State Pain Institute, our pain experts work with you to avoid unnecessary surgery, prevent long-term problems with addicting medications, and help you to return to the activities that you enjoy most.

Tri-State Pain Institute is an independent practice and no referral is needed. We look forward to serving you.

Treatments & Services

We treat back pain.

Most people experience a form of back pain at some point in their lives. Tri-State Pain Institute offers expert treatment and relief from back pain, whether it’s from an accident, injury, or strain. Learn more.

We treat neck pain.

We find that some people experience only neck pain or only shoulder pain. Others may experience pain in both areas. This pain can be caused by a wide range of illnesses, injuries, or conditions. Learn more.

We treat leg pain.

While leg pain is common after an injury, it also may occur because of medical conditions or nontraumatic reasons. Our pain experts work with you to identify the cause of the pain and develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Learn more.

We treat joint pain.

At Tri-State Pain Institute, we offer expert treatment of joint pain, focusing on reducing your discomfort and increasing joint function. Many different conditions can lead to painful joints, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, gout, strains, or sprains. Whatever the cause of your joint pain, Tri-State Pain Institute can help you to manage it properly. Learn more.

We treat arthritis pain.

Tri-State Pain Institute offers expert treatment for arthritis, a pain condition that affects about 50 million American adults. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, occurs as cartilage wears away. Among the symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain that aches deep into the joint, pain that feels better with rest, and pain that isn’t noticeable in the morning but gets worse throughout the day. Learn more.

We treat fibromyalgia.

Tri-State Pain Institute offers expert treatment for fibromyalgia, a condition that results in widespread pain all over your body. We have found that fibromyalgia is one of the most common chronic pain problems, affecting nearly one in every 60 Americans, mostly women. Overactive nerves, infections, trauma, and family history are factors that may contribute to this condition. Learn more.

We treat pain from cancer complications.

Pain resulting from treatment for cancer complications is common. Rest assured that Tri-State Pain Institute can help. Nearly half of cancer patients experience pain, typically from cancer tumors, chemotherapy, or surgery. Fortunately, our pain experts find that pain from cancer complications is very treatable. About nine out of ten cancer pain patients find relief using a combination of medications and therapy. Learn more.

We treat shoulder pain.

Tri-State Pain Institute’s goal is to use a comprehensive plan to treat your shoulder pain without developing long-term reliance on medications. To properly diagnose your problem, we may use X-rays, CT, MRI scanning, or electromyography (EMG). Learn more.

We treat headache pain.

The pain management specialists at Tri -State Pain Institute may be able to prescribe different medications to control your headaches or even prevent them from occurring. It is important to develop a pain management plan because over-the-counter pain medication may have side effects if it is taken in high doses or too frequently. Learn more.

We treat post-surgery pain.

Post-surgery pain management may help to speed your recovery as well as reduce your risk of certain complications after surgery, such as pneumonia and blood clots. If your pain is controlled well, you will be better able to return to the activities that you enjoy most. Learn more.

Treatment Options

  • Non-surgical, therapeutic injections are the foundation for Tri-State Pain Institute’s reputation for proven results.

    Our pain experts are highly skilled in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic injections as well as image-guided interventional procedures. The targeted use of these procedures can yield both immediate results and long-term relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain as well as joint pain and arthritis.

    Rest assured that these non-surgical treatment options are accurate and safe with minimal patient discomfort. Our range of diagnostic and therapeutic injections includes:

    • Bursa injections

    • Carpal tunnel injections

    • Denervations

    • Discograms

    • Epidural steroids injection

    • Facet blocks

    • Knee, hip and shoulder joint injections

    • Lumbar sympathetic block

    • Nerve root blocks

    • Occipital nerve blocks

    • Pain pump refills and reprogramming

    • Radiofrequency ablations

    • Sacroiliac joint injection

    • Spinal cord stimulator trials

    • Trigger point injections

  • At Tri-State Pain Institute, we believe that physical therapy can be an important part of pain treatment.

    Our pain experts work together with skilled physical therapists throughout the area to coordinate a comprehensive approach to your pain treatment, from initial evaluation through recovery.

  • Tri-State Pain Institute offers radio frequency ablation as a treatment option for patients with chronic pain.

    Also referred to as rhizotomy, radio frequency ablation is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to reduce or stop pain. Radiofrequency waves ablate, or “burn,” the nerve that is causing the pain. This reduces or eliminates the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

    At Tri-State Pain Institute, we use radio frequency ablation to treat conditions such as arthritis of the spine (spondylosis) and sacroiliitis. The benefits of radiofrequency ablation include avoiding surgery, immediate pain relief, little to no recovery time, decreased need for pain medication, and a faster return to work and other activities.

  • When it comes to managing chronic pain, our pain doctors at Tri-State Pain Institute sometimes use medications as part of your treatment plan. Rest assured that we take a conservative approach to pain treatment. In turn, our pain physicians are highly committed to preventing problems that may stem from addicting medications.

    Although there are many types of medications, what our pain management specialists may prescribe depends on you and your pain level, treatment goals, and overall health. A number of our patients find that simple, over-the-counter medications provide adequate relief when used in conjunction with therapeutic injections, physical therapy, or other treatment options. We work with you to develop the best comprehensive approach.

    Remember that some medications can have serious side effects if they are not taken as directed. For this reason, it is important to tell your pain physician about everything you are taking for pain, including any herbal remedies or supplements that may create possible drug interactions or side effects.

  • More and more patients are finding relief from pain with spinal chord stimulator implants from Tri-State Pain Institute.

    A small device similar to a pacemaker, the spinal chord stimulator helps to reduce pain signals before they reach the brain. The device is implanted in the body and delivers electrical pulses to the spinal cord, helping patients better manage chronic pain symptoms and decrease dependence on medications.

    At Tri-State Pain Institute, we often suggest the option of a spinal chord stimulator implant for patients suffering from chronic back, leg, or arm pain. While an implant does not eliminate the source of the pain, even a small reduction in perceived pain may help you to return to daily activities or reduce the amount of medication that you take.

    If you are a candidate for a spinal chord stimulator, we perform a three-day trial stimulation before the device is permanently implanted. If successful, we then permanently implant the device.

  • At Tri-State Pain Institute, we sometimes find that surgical procedures are the best solution for long-term relief from pain.

    Our pain doctors will work with you to carefully consider the benefits of surgery versus other treatment options.