Pain Dr. in Central/Northern CA - Pain Management Message Board

Katnaps · 03-15-2006, 04:15 AM

Hi everyone,
I am a newby to this website, but not to pain. I am so thankful to have found this message board.
My long-time pain management doctor is retiring. I would appreciate any referrals of great PM doctors in central/northern CA that anyone has gone to or heard of. My preference would be a female physician, but all referrals are welcome...as long as they have a good history of being compassionate and dedicated to helping intractable chronic pain patients...and one that is not afraid to prescribe opiates, etc., because my current treatment includes medications along with other therapies, which have gotten me out of the bed and slowly functioning again. I desperately need a doctor to replace the exceptional one I am losing and will miss dearly.
If there are any understanding souls out there that can help with any names and will kindly take the time to answer my post, I would deeply appreciate it.
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me.
Very truly yours,

slipperyslope · 03-15-2006, 08:57 AM

I used to see a good pain managment Dr in Greenbrae California, he was GREAT and was not uncomfortable giving me narcotics but I had a serious back injury and surgery for hernaited disc. than a few months later I was in a terrible car wreck and herniated more disc's in my neck. he was very good and helpful and has a nice office where they do all the injections, and any procedure you could ever want, there high end and he is a nice man. Let me know if this is the area you are needing a pain Doc in. its in Marin County California, near SF.

Katnaps · 03-16-2006, 02:04 AM

Hi Slipperyslope,
Thanks for answering my post so quickly. Marin County would be much closer than SoCal, where I was traveling to see my previous doctor (I used to live down there, but am back in NoCal now). I am very interested in learning more about your "GREAT" doctor and possibly setting up a consultation. I take it from your post you are no longer seeing this doctor...I hope it's because you have recuperated. If not, may I ask why you are no longer seeing him?
Like you, I also had several cervical herniated discs. I've had 3 surgeries with fusions. They also took bone from my hip and installed instrumentation plate & screws. I now have 2 more herniations in my lower back. I've also suffered with migraines most of my life, etc. etc. It sounds like you know very well about the chronic pain I am talking about.
Since I am new to these boards, I'm not sure if you are allowed to post his name, address, phone number and website. But I would greatly appreciate it if that would not violate any rules. Otherwise, maybe I could give you my personal E-mail address, or work it out some way.
Thank you so much for your help...if this works out, it sure will take some of the stress away from having to travel so far so often. The spine is such a delicate thing, that I hated to just pick a doctor out of the phone book, etc. I wanted a referral from someone that had first-hand experience with a pain doctor. I willl truly miss my doctor that is retiring...she was such a Godsend!
Thanks again...I will be looking forward to hearing from you.

slipperyslope · 03-16-2006, 06:02 AM

Hi Katnaps I saw this Dr for many years he was sooo nice. His name is Ernest Sponzelli this is his specialty he is more than pain management but also a
Diplomate, American Board Physical Medicine &Rehabilitation
Diplomate, American Board Anaesthesiology, Pain Management Subspecialty
they have a web site but I am not sure if I am allowed to post it. you could call them and get the site address to learn more about him , I hope he's taking new patients he was so busy all the time I would have to wait forever in the waiting room. he is a tiny little man but has a pretty big heart and he's smart as a whip.

anyhow the only reason I am not seeing him anymore is that I moved. I no longer live in California but am 3000 miles away in the South now. I have a new Pain management Dr that I just started seeing for my spine troubles who is good but not anything like the one I saw in California. the Dr in Cali believes in things like Accupuncture, chiro, swimming, injections, and on and on plus medications. anyhow good luck and you have to let me know if you liked him...

Take care!

slipperyslope · 03-16-2006, 06:05 AM

katnaps one more thing, his speciality is "Spine care" and pain managment, so I think this would be a GREAT Dr for you. he also has a staff of spine surgeons that share an office, and a hole slew of other specialist on board.