Consider helping pain during Pain Awareness Month
Pain Management Clinic at VMH ... September is Pain Awareness Month. Help is available locally at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Pain Management Clinic. Shawn Blake, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, pictured at left, is originally of Dorchester and offers his specialized services, now three days per month, to provide relief for patients with chronic pain. He is pictured with Hannah Franzen, Infusion Nurse. Submitted photo.
September is Pain Awareness Month. Many individuals suffer from ongoing pain, thinking it will eventually go away, or that there are no options other than surgery.
Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) began offering a Pain Management Clinic to the area communities nearly two years ago, which continues to be a successful option in treating ongoing pain.
Shawn Blake, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, originally of Dorchester, began offering his services to provide relief for patients with chronic pain, in October 2024, just one day per month. That demand quickly grew to two days per month and now will be offered three days per month.
Shawn Blake has been specializing in Chronic Pain Management since 2019. He enjoys helping patients regain their life back after pain has greatly affected their day-to-day activities. Blake provides Epidural Steroid Injections, joint injections (including; shoulder, knee, hip, and facets), Radiofrequency ablation to the neck, low back, SI, and joints, and treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (CRPS). He also offers medication management when appropriate without the use of narcotics.
Anyone who has been dealing with chronic pain and would like to set up an appointment with this expanded Pain Management Clinic, can seek a referral from their primary care provider, physical therapist, or chiropractor, which can then be sent to the VMH team. Once they have received the referral information, the Pain Management Coordinator will reach out to schedule an appointment.
