Pain & Neuromodulation
For patients whose pain is no longer controlled by medication, injections, therapy, or prior procedures, neurosurgical and neuromodulation options can provide targeted relief. Dr. Barone evaluates each case around the pain generator, anatomy, prior treatment response, goals, and the safest available path.
Pain and neuromodulation pathway
From pain mapping to durable management
Goals
Clarify pain relief, function, sleep, medication burden, and quality-of-life priorities.
Mapping
Identify whether symptoms follow a nerve, spinal pathway, facial pain syndrome, or broader pain pattern.
Treatment review
Review therapy, medications, injections, blocks, surgery, imaging, and prior response.
Option selection
Choose stimulation, intrathecal pain therapy, lesioning, nerve surgery, or continued non-surgical care.
Trial or procedure
Use trials when appropriate, or proceed with the selected targeted treatment plan.
Long-term care
Adjust programming, dosing, refills, precautions, and follow-up over time.
Goal-directed care
Treatment planning starts with pain relief, function, sleep, medication burden, and quality-of-life goals.
Selective options
Surgery is considered when medication, therapy, injections, or conservative care are not enough.
Adjustable follow-up
Stimulation and pump therapies require ongoing management to keep treatment aligned with goals.
When conservative treatment is not enough
If nerve-related pain, spine-related pain, facial pain, or pain after nerve injury has not responded to medication, injections, therapy, or prior procedures, options such as spinal cord stimulation, DRG stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, intrathecal pain therapy, or selected lesioning procedures may help. The right choice depends on careful evaluation of symptoms, goals, and risks.
Treatments & procedures
- ✓Trigeminal neuralgia and trigeminal neuropathic pain care
- ✓Spinal cord stimulation, DRG stimulation, and peripheral nerve stimulation
- ✓Intrathecal pain pump evaluation
- ✓DREZ lesioning for selected brachial plexus avulsion pain
Conditions & treatments we cover
Intrathecal Pain Pump
An intrathecal pain pump delivers pain medication directly to the spinal fluid for carefully selected patients with severe cancer-related or chronic pain that has not been controlled with other treatments.
Learn more →Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia causes sudden, electric facial pain that can be triggered by talking, chewing, touch, or brushing teeth, and selected patients may benefit from targeted neurosurgical treatment.
Learn more →Trigeminal Neuropathy & Anesthesia Dolorosa
Trigeminal neuropathy and anesthesia dolorosa are complex facial pain conditions that can cause burning, numb, painful, or deafferentation-type facial pain after nerve injury or prior procedures.
Learn more →Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is pain caused by nerve injury or dysfunction, often described as burning, electric, shooting, or hypersensitive pain that may require targeted neuromodulation or nerve procedures.
Learn more →Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation is an implantable neuromodulation option for selected chronic pain conditions, using electrical stimulation near the spinal cord to reduce pain signals and improve function.
Learn more →Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation
Dorsal root ganglion stimulation is a targeted neuromodulation option for selected focal neuropathic pain conditions, especially pain that follows a specific limb or regional pattern.
Learn more →Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Peripheral nerve stimulation is a targeted neuromodulation option for selected focal nerve pain conditions, using electrical stimulation near a peripheral nerve to reduce pain.
Learn more →DREZ Lesioning for Brachial Plexus Injury Pain
Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesioning is a specialized neurosurgical option for selected severe deafferentation pain after brachial plexus avulsion injury.
Learn more →Request an evaluation with Dr. Barone
New patients and referring physicians are welcome. Patients from outside Houston, across the United States, and internationally are welcome.