Specialized Services

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The UCSF Pain Management Center at Mount Zion has been treating patients with complicated and chronic medical, surgical and neurological pain since 1987. This treatment center, one of the few such centers in Northern California, averages about 800 patient visits per month. The center has a team of doctors and therapists with specialties in anesthesia, neurology, psychology, biofeedback and physical therapy.

In 2007, the center was the only West coast program and one of six nationally to be designated by the American Pain Society as a Clinical Center of Excellence in Pain Management. The program was recognized for outstanding clinical pain care offered to patients and efforts in creating pain management education programs for busy practitioners.

Services at the center include:

• Evaluation of complex pain problems
• Regional anesthesia, or nerve blockage
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Physical therapy and/or occupational therapy
• Home exercise and activity guidance
• Medication tailoring
• Shorter individual psychotherapy and behavior modification
• Self-hypnosis training and biofeedback
• Stress management and relaxation
• Group and family psychotherapy

The approach of the center emphasizes treating the patient as a whole, individual person. In turn, patient education plays a crucial role in helping us empower patients. We encourage patients to attend a free, four-part, repeating class on pain and coping, offered by members of the treatment staff during non-work hours.

The center assists patients with different types of pain, such as:

• Back pain
• Neuropathic, or nerve, pain
• Pain caused by cancer
• Musculoskeletal or rheumatologic pain
• Post-injury or surgical pain

At the center, each patient's case is reviewed by our team to determine the best combination of therapies for that individual.

Before visiting the center, you will be asked to obtain a referral from your primary care doctor or specialist. Your health insurance company may require prior authorization or approval to ensure coverage for our services.

For more information, contact:

Pain Management Center
2255 Post St.
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone (415) 885-PAIN (7246)
Fax (415)885-7575