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The Cancer Pain Service sees outpatients at MD Anderson¡¯s Texas Medical Center location and at our locations in League City, Sugar Land, West Houston and The Woodlands. We also provide consultation services for inpatients experiencing pain related to their underlying disease. Care from the Cancer Pain Service starts with a comprehensive assessment. Doctors then create a plan for each patient¡¯s needs and condition. Patients are reassessed frequently, allowing doctors to adjust treatment plans as needed.

The Postoperative Pain Service provides 24/7 care to patients who are recovering from surgery. Our goals are to:

• Create a treatment plan for each patient that utilizes the latest pain management techniques
• Continually monitor patients to maintain comfort levels and reduce side effects and complications
• Teach patients and their families how to best manage post-surgical pain
• Listen to our patients and help meet their needs and desires regarding pain control

The Transitional (Perioperative) Pain Service manages pain during the critical transition period following surgery. Its primary goal is to prevent chronic post-surgical pain and reduce the risks associated with prolonged opioid use. Patients may receive medication, nerve blocks and non-pharmacologic approaches that often align with Enhance Recovery after Surgery guidelines. 

FY25 marked an important year of leadership growth within the Department of Pain Medicine, with several faculty members stepping into key leadership positions that reflect Pain Medicine's commitment to advancing clinical excellence, education, and innovation. Uzondu Osuagwu, M.D., was appointed Center Medical Director of the West Houston area location. Matthew Chung, M.D., was named Director of Interventional Pain Medicine, further strengthening the department¡¯s expertise in advanced procedural care. Saba Javed, M.D., was appointed Program Director of the Pain Medicine Fellowship. Further, Pain Medicine received institutional recognition for our outstanding commitment to maintaining compliance by receiving the Ambulatory QAPI Recognition certificate. These appointments underscore the department¡¯s dedication to cultivating strong leaders who will drive the continued growth and impact of Pain Medicine at MD Anderson. 

National Guidelines

• Benzon HT, Elmofty D, Shankar H, Rana M, Chadwick AL, Shah S, Souza D, Nagpal AS, Abdi S, Rafla C, Abd-Elsayed A, Doshi TL, Eckmann MS, Hoang TD, Hunt C, Pino CA, Rivera J, Schneider BJ, Stout A, Stengel A, Mina M, FitzGerald JD, Hirsch JA, Wasan AD, Manchikanti L, Provenzano DA, Narouze S, Cohen SP, Maus TP, Nelson AM, Shanthanna H. Use of corticosteroids for adult chronic pain interventions: sympathetic and peripheral nerve blocks, trigger point injections - guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2025 Mar 12:rapm-2024-105593. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2024-105593. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39019502. 
• Benzon HT, Provenzano DA, Nagpal A, Souza D, Eckmann MS, Nelson AM, Mina M, Abd-Elsayed A, Elmofty D, Chadwick AL, Doshi TL, Pino CA, Rana M, Shah S, Shankar H, Stout A, Smith E, Abdi S, Cohen SP, Hirsch JA, Schneider BJ, Manchikanti L, Maus TP, Narouze S, Shanthanna H, Wasan AD, Hoang TD, Rivera J, Hunt C, FitzGerald JD. Use and safety of corticosteroid injections in joints and musculoskeletal soft tissue: guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2025 Mar 12:rapm-2024-105656. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2024-105656. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40015722. 
• Gharibo C, Day M, Aydin SM, Kaye AD, Abdi S, Diwan S, Doan LV, Feng D, Ferguson K, Georges K, Kaufman A, Knezevic NN, Li S, Liongson FA, Nampiaparampil D, Navani A, Sanapati M, Schatman ME, Soin A, Staats PS, Varrassi G, Wang J, Manchikanti L. Diagnostic Guidance for Chronic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I and Type II from The American Society of Interventional Physicians (ASIPP). Pain Physician. 2025 Jul;28(4):E287-E327. PMID: 40773629. 
• Manchikanti L, Sanapati MR, Soin A, Kaye AD, Kaye AM, Solanki DR, Chen GH, Nampiaparampil D, Knezevic NN, Christo P, Bautista A, Karri J, Shah S, Helm Ii S, Navani A, Wargo BW, Gharibo CG, Rosenblum D, Luthra K, Patel KG, Javed S, Reuland W, Gupta M, Abd-Elsayed A, Limerick G, Pasupuleti R, Schwartz G, Chung M, Slavin KV, Pampati V, Hirsch JA. Comprehensive Evidence-Based Guidelines for Implantable Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) in the Management of Chronic Pain: From the American Society Of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP). Pain Physician. 2024 Nov;27(S9):S115-S191. PMID: 39565237. 
• Swarm RA, Youngwerth JM, Agne JL, Anitescu M, Are M, Buga S, Butler T, Chwistek M, Cleary J, Copenhaver D, Coyne C, Craig D, Finnes H, Greenlee H, Gupta M, Hansen E, Javed S, Kandil E, Mackey S, McDonald A, McGrath K, Moryl N, Nesbit S, Noonan M, Norris J, Paice JA, Prsic E, Rabow MW, Rickerson E, Sindt J, Smith M, Vorenkamp K, Bruce JY, Yoo S, Cunningham R, Gurski LA, Jones F. Adult Cancer Pain, Version 2.2025, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines In Oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2025 Jul;23(7):e250032. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2025.0032. PMID: 40639401. 

Other Selected Manuscripts

• Kao G, Parmar J, Javed S. Burden of Emotional Stress in Chronic Pain Care: A Wake-up Call for the Care Team. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2025 May 20;29(1):86. doi: 10.1007/s11916-025-01399-8. PMID: 40394430. 
• Malik A, Javed S. Does Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Fall Within the Spectrum of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome? A Narrative Review. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2025 Apr 21;29(1):77. doi: 10.1007/s11916-025-01390-3. PMID: 40257707.   
• D'Souza RS, Yu Y, Singh V, Karri J, Javed S, Her YF, Chai N, Hoffmann C, Warner DO, Hussain N. To trial or not to trial before peripheral nerve stimulation for chronic pain: a retrospective multicenter comparative analysis of temporary-to-permanent and direct-to-permanent implantation approaches. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2025 Jul 13:rapm-2025-106734. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2025-106734. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40659443. 
• Javed S, Lam L, Nwankwo A, Komachkov Z. Patient-Reported Outcomes with Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Low Back Pain from Vertebral Plana Deformities: A Case Series. J Clin Med. 2025 Jun 4;14(11):3964. doi: 10.3390/jcm14113964. PMID: 40507726; PMCID: PMC12155884. 
• Sheen S, Hasan P, Sun X, Wang J, Tatsui C, Nouri K, Javed S. Retrospective Analysis of Cement Extravasation Rates in Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty, and Bone Tumor Radiofrequency Ablation. J Clin Med. 2025 Apr 23;14(9):2908. doi: 10.3390/jcm14092908. PMID: 40363941; PMCID: PMC12072942. 
• Vu PD, Mach S, Javed S. Neurostimulation for the Treatment of Cancer-Induced Pain: A Scoping Review. Neuromodulation. 2025 Feb;28(2):191-203. doi: 10.1016/j.neurom.2024.10.006. Epub 2024 Nov 25. PMID: 39601731.
• Ege E, Koyyalagunta L, Javed S. Not a match: Why women are not choosing pain medicine. Pain Pract. 2024 Nov;24(8):978-982. doi: 10.1111/papr.13381. Epub 2024 Jun 3. PMID: 38828916.    
• Koyyalagunta D, Mach S, Chung M. Comparison of Different Spinal Level Approaches in Splanchnic Sympathetic Neurolysis for Intractable Upper Abdominal Cancer Pain: A Retrospective Review. Pain Physician. 2025 Jul;28(4):E403-E410. PMID: 40773645. 
• Ruan QZ, Sarrafpour S, Hasoon J, Yong RJ, Robinson CL, Chung M. Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Fluoroscopic and Computer Tomographic Guidance in Concurrent Use of Radiofrequency Ablation and Vertebral Augmentation in Spinal Metastases: A Scoping Review. Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Jun 9;15(12):1463. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15121463. PMID: 40564784; PMCID: PMC12191964 
• Chung M, Abd-Elsayed A. Comparative efficacy of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation through combination trialing for cancer pain - A retrospective case series. Pain Pract. 2025 Feb;25(2):e70010. doi: 10.1111/papr.70010. PMID: 39831333. 
• Roldan CJ, Ye AL, Podgorski E, Song J, Chung M, Huh B. Sympathetic Blockade for Pain Associated With Nonaxial Bone Lesions in Patients With Cancer: An Uncontrolled Cohort. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2024 Oct;22(8):537-542. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2024.7028. PMID: 39413837. 
• Roldan, C.J.; Chai, T.; Feng, L.; Huh, I.; Huh, B. Fluoroscopy Dose and Time During Vertebral Augmentation for Spine Pain Due to Malignant Fractures. Radiation 2024, 4, 369-377. https://doi.org/10.3390/radiation4040028 
• Vu PD, Abdi S. Post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection and neuropathic pain: a narrative review of the literature and future directions. Pain Manag. 2025 Jun;15(6):333-343. doi: 10.1080/17581869.2025.2501521. Epub 2025 May 14. PMID: 40366711; PMCID: PMC12143702. 
• Ye AL, Abdi S. Beyond p-values: a cross-sectional umbrella review of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy treatments. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2025 Mar 19;6:1564662. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2025.1564662. PMID: 40176845; PMCID: PMC11961875. 
• Hirani S, Benkli B, Odonkor CA, Hirani ZA, Oso T, Bohacek S, Wiedrick J, Hildebrand A, Osuagwu U, Orhurhu V, Hooten WM, Abdi S, Meghani S. Racial Disparities in Opioid Prescribing in the United States from 2011 to 2021: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pain Res. 2024 Nov 7;17:3639-3649. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S477128. PMID: 39529944; PMCID: PMC11552391