Intervention Pain Services Offered at Holzer

Vasantha Kumar, MD

Did you know that Holzer Health System offers interventional pain services? Vasantha Kumar, MD, Interventional Pain Specialist recently provided information on how these services can benefit our communities.

Kumar explains interventional pain services as the way in which patients can control their pain by offering injections such as nerve blocks and other procedures.

“The common treatments provided are epidural steroid injections, joint nerve blocks, and other procedures like sympathetic nerve blocks and stimulators,” said Kumar. “More recently, we have seen patients for hip and knee joint injections as well as radio-frequency, which can provide long-term pain relief for some patients.”

Dr. Kumar decided to go into interventional pain medicine because he had basic anesthesia training. He described it as a natural fit and a specialty where he felt most comfortable. Kumar sees patients 18 years and up. Patients between 30 to 80 years old is the most common age range. He will sometimes see patients that come directly through the emergency room or urgent care, but a referral is needed to coordinate care. Dr. Kumar said the simplicity of interventional pain services is his favorite part of being in the field.

“Something as simple as a nerve block can help people with their day-to-day activities,” said Kumar. “It’s the best feeling knowing that what I’ve done has helped them recover.”

Kumar shared that he enjoys working with Holzer Health System and in our communities. Patients have benefited from his procedures and injections. Kumar is happy to offer these services for patients and has found a good fit at Holzer.

“Holzer is a better fit for me compared to some of the other place I have been before,” said Kumar. “Relationships between providers, as well as the staff, is good. We support each other, and it is not too big and not too small.”

In his free time, Dr. Kumar enjoys hiking, travelling, and playing tennis. He previously worked at The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and he just recently published a book titled, Handbook on Opium: History and Basis of Opioids in Therapeutics.

Dr. Kumar provides a broad range of interventional pain services. He is currently accepting patients at the Holzer Athens and Jackson locations. He completed his residency at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine fellowship at University of Cincinnati, Ohio.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kumar, call 1-855-4-HOLZER or visit www.holzer.org.