Physical Therapy and Pain Management: Why They Work Better Together
Physical therapy only works if it sticks. Dr. Elbaridi and ATI Physical Therapy explain direct access in Illinois, prehab before surgery, and recovery.
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Interventional pain management
Pain management in Chicago that treats the source
Chronic pain changes how you sleep, how you work, and how you move through the day. Dr. Nidal Elbaridi — a pain management physician with more than 20 years of experience treating pain, from physical therapy to interventional medicine — uses minimally invasive procedures that target the source of pain to provide lasting relief rather than covering it up.
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Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.
- Same-week appointments
- South Loop & Streeterville
The approach
What is interventional pain management?
Interventional pain management is a medical subspecialty focused on diagnosing and treating pain through targeted procedures rather than long-term medication management.
Pain management physicians use image-guided techniques to identify the specific structure causing a patient’s pain and treat it directly with precision procedures.
At Loop Medical Center, every evaluation begins with a thorough review of history, imaging, and physical findings. Dr. Elbaridi does not treat a symptom in isolation — he identifies its source. That’s why patients who have cycled through multiple providers without answers frequently find a clear path forward at their first consultation here.
Conditions
Conditions our pain management doctors treat
We evaluate and treat a wide range of acute and chronic pain conditions.
Spine & back pain
- Herniated & bulging disc
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint syndrome
- SI joint dysfunction
- Failed back surgery syndrome
Nerve pain
- Sciatica & radiculopathy
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Nerve compression & entrapment
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Post-surgical nerve pain
Neck & upper body
- Cervical disc herniation
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Occipital neuralgia
Joint pain
- Knee, hip & shoulder pain
- Osteoarthritis
- Sacroiliac joint pain
Other conditions
- Fibromyalgia
- Migraines & headaches
- Work injuries & auto accident pain
Not sure where your pain is coming from?
That’s exactly what a consultation is for. Same-week appointments available.
Opens our secure booking calendar — this page stays open.
Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.
Diagnosis before treatment
How Dr. Elbaridi approaches pain management
Many patients arrive having been told their pain is untreatable, that surgery is the only option, or that ongoing opioid prescriptions are all they can expect. In most cases, none of those conclusions are accurate.
Treating pain without identifying its source is the reason so many patients cycle through treatments that don’t work. Before any procedure is recommended, Dr. Elbaridi reviews your imaging, takes a full history, and performs an examination directed at the specific structures that may be causing your pain.
Once the source is confirmed, he develops an individualized program that moves from conservative to interventional options based on your diagnosis and response to treatment. The goal is not to manage pain indefinitely — it’s to resolve the underlying cause.
Meet Dr. Elbaridi
Treatments
Pain management treatments at Loop Medical Center
Dr. Elbaridi performs the full range of interventional procedures using fluoroscopy and ultrasound image guidance for precision and patient safety.
Injections & nerve blocks
- Epidural steroid injections (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)
- Medial branch nerve blocks
- Facet joint injections
- Selective nerve root blocks
- SI joint injections
- Trigger point injections
- Occipital nerve blocks
- Stellate ganglion & celiac plexus blocks
Advanced procedures
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
- Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
- Intrathecal pain pumps
- Kyphoplasty & vertebroplasty
- PRP injections
- Joint injections for knee, hip & shoulder
Every procedure is performed under fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance.
Why Loop
Why Chicago patients choose Loop Medical Center
Specialist, not generalist
Dr. Elbaridi completed his Interventional Pain Management Fellowship at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. We focus exclusively on interventional pain management.
Diagnosis before treatment
Every recommendation follows a thorough diagnostic process. If another provider hasn’t been able to explain the source of your pain, that’s exactly what a consultation here is designed to address.
Targeted procedures
Our approach prioritizes targeted procedures that address the source of pain, a far better strategy than long-term opioids.
Patient stories
What Chicago patients say about Loop
Dr. Elbaridi and the entire team are truly exceptional. Their bedside manner and genuine care make you feel like more than just another patient…
If you feel like you’re not being heard please head here with Dr. Elbaridi. He got me my MRI asap, helped me get proper physical therapy…
Insurance coverage for pain management
Most insurance accepted, including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, PPO and HMO plans. Coverage depends on medical necessity — we verify before your visit. Plans we accept include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare and Tricare. Most procedures — epidural injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation — are covered when medically indicated. We verify benefits and pre-authorize before your procedure, so there are no surprise bills afterward. Workers’ Comp and Personal Injury cases are accepted.
Opens our secure booking calendar — this page stays open.
Workers’ Comp, HMO referral or complex insurance? Call (312) 414-1088.
FAQ
Pain management questions, answered
What does a pain management doctor do?
A pain management doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating the source of acute and chronic pain. Unlike primary care physicians or surgeons, pain management experts focus specifically on pain and use interventional techniques such as image-guided injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation. Dr. Elbaridi builds a program for each patient based on their diagnosis, imaging, and history.
What’s the difference between a pain management doctor and an orthopedic surgeon?
A pain management physician specializes in non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment of pain. An orthopedic surgeon specializes in surgical correction of structural problems. For most chronic pain conditions, interventional pain management is the recommended first step before surgery is considered.
How long do pain management treatments last?
It varies by procedure. Epidural steroid injections typically provide 3 to 6 months of significant relief. Radiofrequency ablation can provide 3–6 months. If needed, RFA can be repeated, typically 1–2 years after a successful first procedure. Spinal cord stimulation provides ongoing relief as a long-term option. Dr. Elbaridi will give you realistic expectations during your consultation.
What if I’ve already tried injections and they didn’t work?
The outcome of any injection depends on the accuracy of the diagnosis. If a prior injection didn’t help, it may have targeted the wrong structure. Dr. Elbaridi will review your history and prior treatments, and a diagnostic block is often used to confirm the exact source of pain before a therapeutic procedure.
Can chronic pain be treated without unnecessary surgery?
For most patients, yes. The majority of chronic spine, joint, and nerve pain conditions can be significantly improved with interventional procedures.
From the podcast
Inside the Loop on pain management
How to Choose a Pain Management Doctor
Not sure how to choose a pain management doctor? This guide covers what to look for and when to see a specialist in Chicago.
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Pelvic Pain in Women: Causes, Signs, and Treatment
Pelvic pain in women is real, common, and often dismissed. Dr. Elbaridi explains the causes and what treatment actually looks like.
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Why Your Pain Medication Stops Working
Pain medication that worked before may no longer be effective — and there is a medical reason why. Dr. Elbaridi explains what patients need to know.
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What Is Interventional Pain Management? How It Finds the Source of Chronic Pain
Most chronic pain patients get treated before anyone finds the cause. Dr. Elbaridi explains how interventional pain management does it differently.
Read moreBook your appointment at Loop Medical Center
Same-week appointments at our South Loop and Streeterville locations.