Patient Education Blog
Expert insights on pain management, treatments, and living better — from Dr. Edward S. Rubin, MD.
Why I Chose Private Practice — And Why It Matters for Your Care
Dr. Edward Rubin, private practice pain management specialist in Garden City, NY, explains why independent physicians offer better, more responsive care than large hospital systems and healthcare conglomerates.
Injured at Work or in an Accident? What Every Patient Should Know
Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains why work injuries and accident-related pain are frequently undertreated — and what proper pain management looks like for workers' comp and no-fault patients.
Managing Sciatica Pain: What Works and What Doesn't
A pain management specialist explains the most effective treatments for sciatica — from targeted epidural injections to radiofrequency ablation — and why most cases don't require surgery.
PRP Therapy for Joint Pain: What the Research Actually Shows
Dr. Rubin explains the science behind PRP (platelet rich plasma) therapy for knee, hip, and shoulder pain — including who responds best and realistic expectations.
Spinal Stenosis: Do You Really Need Surgery?
Many patients with lumbar spinal stenosis are told surgery is their only option. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains non-surgical alternatives including the MILD procedure and spinal cord stimulation.
Ketamine Infusion Therapy: A New Approach to Chronic Pain
An evidence-based overview of ketamine infusion therapy for treatment-resistant chronic pain, CRPS, and neuropathic pain — from Dr. Rubin, a board-certified pain specialist in Garden City, NY.
CRPS Treatment: A Comprehensive Approach to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains the current evidence-based treatment approach for CRPS — from early sympathetic blocks to spinal cord stimulation.
Facet Joint Pain: How It's Diagnosed and How It's Treated
Low back and neck pain from facet joint arthritis is common but frequently overlooked. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains the diagnostic process and treatment pathway.
Getting an Epidural Steroid Injection: What to Expect
A step-by-step guide to epidural steroid injections for back and neck pain — preparation, what happens during the procedure, recovery, and expected results.
Radiofrequency Ablation for Back Pain: Long-Lasting Relief Without Surgery
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) provides 12–18 months of relief for facet-mediated back and neck pain. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains who benefits and what to expect.
Herniated Disc Treatment Options: From Injections to Surgery
A complete guide to herniated disc treatment — what actually works, when surgery is needed, and how interventional pain management can help you avoid the operating room.
Neck Pain and Cervical Radiculopathy: What's Causing Your Arm Pain?
Arm pain, numbness, and weakness from the neck are caused by cervical radiculopathy — a pinched nerve. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains diagnosis and treatment options.
Managing Diabetic Neuropathy Pain: Options Beyond Medication
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain is often undertreated. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains interventional options — including spinal cord stimulation and low dose naltrexone — that go beyond standard medications.
Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Complete Patient Guide
Everything you need to know about spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic pain — how it works, who benefits, what the trial involves, and what to expect after implant.
Low Dose Naltrexone for Chronic Pain: An Underused Option
Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is a safe, inexpensive, and surprisingly effective treatment for fibromyalgia, CRPS, and chronic inflammatory pain. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains.
Cancer Pain Management: You Don't Have to Suffer
Advanced cancer pain management options — from celiac plexus blocks and intrathecal pumps to ketamine — available to cancer patients in Garden City, NY and Nassau County through Dr. Rubin, board-certified pain specialist.
Sports Injury Pain Management: PRP and Beyond
From PRP therapy to high-power laser treatment, Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain specialist, explains non-surgical options for athletes dealing with chronic sports injuries and joint pain.
Fibromyalgia Treatment: What Works for Widespread Chronic Pain
Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains current evidence-based approaches to fibromyalgia — including central sensitization, LDN, and why fibromyalgia is not 'all in your head.'
Sacroiliac Joint Pain: The Overlooked Cause of Low Back Pain
SI joint dysfunction causes 15–25% of chronic low back pain cases but is frequently missed. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains diagnosis, treatment, and when SI joint fusion is appropriate.
Whiplash and Chronic Neck Pain After Car Accidents
Many patients develop chronic neck pain after motor vehicle accidents. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains why whiplash causes lasting pain and what treatments actually work.
Knee Pain Treatment: From Injections to Nerve Ablation
Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains the full spectrum of knee pain treatments — steroid injections, PRP, hyaluronic acid, genicular nerve blocks, and nerve ablation — for knee arthritis and chronic pain.
High Power Laser Therapy: A Drug-Free Approach to Chronic Pain
High-power laser therapy (photobiomodulation) stimulates cellular healing and reduces inflammation without drugs or surgery. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains how it works.
Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Pain Specialist's Perspective
Chronic pelvic pain is frequently misdiagnosed and undertreated. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains interventional approaches including hypogastric plexus blocks and ganglion impar blocks.
Post-Surgical Pain: When Pain Persists After Surgery
Persistent pain after surgery — called chronic post-surgical pain — affects 10–40% of patients. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains why it happens and what can be done.
Managing Chronic Pain Without Opioids
Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains why non-opioid approaches — interventional procedures, regenerative therapy, and targeted medications — are better for most chronic pain conditions.
Chronic Headache and Migraine: Pain Management Options
Beyond triptans and preventive medications — interventional options for chronic migraine, cervicogenic headache, and occipital neuralgia from Dr. Rubin, a pain management specialist in Garden City, NY.
Shoulder Pain and Rotator Cuff Injuries: Non-Surgical Options
PRP therapy, suprascapular nerve blocks, and laser therapy offer effective non-surgical options for rotator cuff tears and chronic shoulder pain. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains.
The Intracept Procedure: Relief for Vertebrogenic Low Back Pain
The Intracept basivertebral nerve ablation procedure targets a specific, often-missed cause of chronic low back pain. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains who is a candidate.
The MILD Procedure for Spinal Stenosis: What You Need to Know
The MILD minimally invasive lumbar decompression procedure treats neurogenic claudication from spinal stenosis without surgery or fusion. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains.
Hip Pain: When It's the Joint, the Spine, or Something Else
Hip pain has many possible sources — the hip joint, the lumbar spine, the SI joint, or the surrounding muscles. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains how to tell the difference and what to do.
Regenerative Medicine for Chronic Pain: What's Real, What's Not
Cutting through the hype around regenerative medicine — Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain specialist, explains what PRP therapy and other regenerative approaches are genuinely effective for.
What to Expect at Your First Pain Management Appointment
A step-by-step guide to your first pain management consultation at Dr. Rubin's Garden City, NY office — what to bring, what happens, and what comes next.
Understanding Neuropathic Pain: When Nerves Are the Problem
Neuropathic pain — burning, shooting, electric-quality pain from nerve damage — requires different treatment than muscle or joint pain. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains.
Degenerative Disc Disease: What It Means and How It's Treated
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common diagnoses on MRI — but not everyone needs aggressive treatment. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain management specialist, explains what DDD means and what actually helps.
Why You Should Get a Pain Management Opinion Before Spine Surgery
Many patients scheduled for spine surgery could achieve equivalent results with interventional pain management. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain specialist, makes the case for getting a second opinion first.
Back Pain Facts: What Every Long Island Patient Should Know
Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Dr. Rubin, Garden City, NY pain specialist, shares what the research says about chronic back pain — and how to get better.
Navigating Insurance for Pain Management: A Patient Guide
Understanding insurance coverage for pain management procedures — from epidural injections to spinal cord stimulators — from Dr. Rubin, a pain management specialist in Garden City, NY.