Center for Pain Management

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s Center for Pain Management has expanded to offer consultations and office-based procedures at the hospital. 

The Center for Pain Management now offers a full spectrum of pain management services - from evaluation and diagnosis to medical therapies, including both medications and special procedures to treat short-term, long-term or chronic pain. (See FAQs for more details about this change.)

Our experienced team of board-certified pain specialists will work with you and your care team to develop a personalized treatment plan for even the most difficult to treat conditions. This expert team includes Dr. Nathan Jorgensen, Dr. Dennis Thapa, Dr. Christopher Curatolo, Shelley Landry, PA-C, Julia Orsi, APRN, and Kelly Hochstetler, PA-C. 

Conditions we treat include back pain (acute & chronic), neck pain, cancer pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), Sacroiliac joint pain, nerve injuries, peripheral neuropathies, shingles pain, work-related injuries and more.

Patients who would like to transfer their care to the Wentworth-Douglass Center for Pain Management are encouraged to complete the Authorization for release of health information (PDF). Completed forms can be faxed to (603) 609-6821. 

The Center for Pain Management has two locations inside Wentworth-Douglass Hospital:

Office Visits
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
789 Central Ave
Dover, NH 03820
2nd floor across from elevators 1 & 2

Procedures
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
789 Central Ave
Dover, NH 03820
3rd floor near elevators 8 & 9

Office Visits in Portsmouth
WDH Portsmouth Outpatient Center
67 Corporate Dr
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Building A 2nd Floor

Conditions We Treat 

Neck and back pain

• Spinal stenosis
• Disc degeneration
• Herniated discs
• Arthritis
• Sacroiliac Joint Pain
• CPRS/RSD

Joint and Muscle Pain

• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Pain of Myofascial Origin
• Other Musculoskeletal Injuries

Neurological Pain

• Herpetic Neuralgia
• Neuralgia
• Neuropathic Pain
• Scarred Nerves
• Shingles
• Postherpetic Neuralgia

Other Painful Conditions

• Cancer Pain
• Headaches
• Pelvic Pain
• Phantom Limb Pain
• Post-Surgical
• Post-Trauma
• Raynaud’s Disease

Advanced Treatment Options

Our comprehensive program includes the latest non-surgical protocols and technology to treat a variety of pain conditions.

• Ketamine Infusion Therapy
• Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI)
• Sacroiliac Joint Injection
• Trigger Point Injection
• Intra-Articular Joint Injections
• Medial Branch Block
• Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
• Sympathetic Nerve Block
• Stellate Ganglion Block
• Intercostal Nerve Blocks
• Occipital Nerve Blocks
• Radiofrequency Ablations
• Genicular Nerve Ablations
• Intrathecal Pump Trials/Insertion and Pump Management
• Greather Trochanteric Bursa Injections
• Ischial Bursa Injections

Frequently Asked Questions

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital recently announced the expansion of our Center for Pain Management, which traditionally offered procedural services to treat chronic and acute pain needs, to also offer office appointments and services. There has been a bit of confusion about services, so we wanted to provide you with some answers to the following frequently asked questions. 

Did you take over Seacoast Pain Institute of New England?

No, Seacoast Pain Institute announced it was closing the office in late November. Seacoast Pain Institute was not owned by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Wentworth-Douglass Hospital recognized the need to provide pain management services to patients in our community and developed a new practice – which is an extension of the Wentworth-Douglass Center for Pain Management located right at the hospital in Dover.

Can I see the same provider that I was seeing at Seacoast Pain Institute?

The following providers will be seeing patients at the Center for Pain Management office location at the hospital: Christopher Curatolo, MD; Nathan Jorgensen, MD*; Dennis Thapa, MD; Shelley Landry, PA-C; Julia Orsi, APRN; and Kelly Hochstetler, PA-C.  *Dr. Jorgensen will begin seeing patients in early January 2020.  

How do I make an appointment?

Appointments are now being scheduled. You can call (603) 609- 6819 to speak with our registration staff.

Do I need a referral to transfer my care there?

The need for a referral depends on your insurance plan. Most carriers require a referral from your primary care provider or a specialist you see. Check your plan for details.

How do I transfer my medical record?

Please complete the AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF HEALTH INFORMATION (PDF). Completed forms can be faxed to (603) 609-6821. We will work with your previous provider office to transfer your records to us. 

Why do I need to re-establish care if I am seeing the same provider I used to see at Seacoast Pain Institute?

When a provider moves from one business to another, their Tax IDs need to change. When this happens, all past authorizations become invalid affecting many things, including your insurance coverage. Re-establishing care in the new office is an important step to continuing your care.     

What services do you offer?

Conditions the Center for Pain Management will treat, include:

Neck and back pain: spinal stenosis, disc degeneration, herniated discs, arthritis, sacroiliac joint pain, CPRS/RSD, joint and muscle pain; Arthritis: Fibromyalgia, pain of myofascial origin,  other musculoskeletal Injuries; Neurological Pain: herpetic neuralgia, neuralgia, neuropathic pain, scarred nerves, shingles, postherpetic neuralgia; other painful conditions including cancer pain, headaches, pelvic pain, phantom limb pain, post-surgical, post-trauma, Raynaud’s Disease

Treatments offered include:

Ketamine Infusion Therapy, Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI), Medial Branch Block, Sacroiliac Joint Injection, Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS), Sympathetic Nerve Block, Trigger Point Injection, Radiofrequency Ablations, Genicular Nerve Ablations, Intrathecal Pump Trials/Insertion and Pump Management, Greather Trochanteric Bursa Injections, Ischial Bursa Injections, Stellate Ganglion Block Intra-Articular Joint Injections, Intercostal Nerve Blocks, Occipital Nerve Blocks and more.

Do you offer ketamine treatments for pain?

Yes, the Center for Pain Management does provide ketamine treatment as an option to treat pain. Talk with your provider about the benefits of Ketamine treatment.

Isn’t there already a Center for Pain Management at Wentworth-Douglass?

Yes, Wentworth-Douglass has historically provided procedure-based care to treat the chronic and acute pain needs of our patients at the Center for Pain Management, located on the third floor of the hospital.  Now, we are expanding the center to add a second location on the second floor of the hospital where physicians and advanced practitioners can see patients for office visits and office-based procedures that were not previously available here.  

How do I prepare for my first appointment?

Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time. Please note, if you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, your provider may ask that you reschedule. You will receive a reminder call prior to your appointment. If you should have any questions or concerns, please call our office at 603-609-6819 at anytime between 7:00 am and 5:30 pm. For us to best address your needs at the time of the appointment, please bring with you the following documents:

• Photo ID
• Updated insurance cards
• New Patient Packet included with this letter
• Imaging reports if applicable

Where can I fill my prescriptions?

Did you know that the hospital has an outpatient pharmacy right on the first floor?  Prescriptions can be filled at any pharmacy you wish; however, our location is conveniently located and open Monday-Friday 7:00am to 5:30pm. Our friendly and knowledgeable pharmacists can assist you. Call (603) 740-3253 with any questions.

What if I need financial assistance?

If you require financial assistance to enable you to afford the health care that you need, please ask any staff member and they will provide you with a Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Financial Assistance Application and a copy of the Financial Assistance Policy. If you are a self-pay patient pursuant to RSA 151:12−b, you will receive a discount off charges at the time of billing that is consistent with discounts provided to patients covered by commercial health insurance as required by state law (NH RSA 151:12−b). For questions regarding your bill, please call 617-726-3884. For questions regarding Financial Assistance, please call (603) 740-3342.

 

For more information about the Center for Pain Management, call the office at (603) 609-6819.