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ECU Health Pain Management Center

ECU Health Pain Management Center is located in Greenville, North Carolina – within an hour of Kinston, Washington, Ayden, Snow Hill and Tarboro. Directed by Juan Firnhaber, the ECU Health Pain Management Center helps relieve chronic pain issues including neck, back, and knee pain. Our staff also treats pain conditions caused by shingles, fibromyalgia, cancer, and more. Treatment options include BOTOX® and SphenoCath® to alleviate migraines, pain management procedures, injection therapies, neuromodulation and more.

Our Services

  • Flouroscopy Or Ultrasound Guided Spinal Injections
  • Neuromodulation
  • Other Injection Therapies
  • Implantable Technologies
  • Medical Management
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Conditions We Treat

This is a small sampling of the conditions we treat.

Neck Pain

Neck pain occurs in people of all ages and can come from bad posture, sleep position, ruptured discs, torticollis, and more. Good neck health includes practicing good posture, standing often if you sit a lot at work, sleeping in a healthy position, and being active. Symptoms of neck pain includes tightness and stiffness in the neck, the inability to turn the head, constant headaches, and numbness, weakness, or pain in or around the neck.
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Knee Pain

Knees are a very important part of your body and are subject to wear and tear over the years. Arthritis is a large cause of knee pain. If the orthopedic doctors can’t offer you a surgery, ECPC doctors can provide steroid injections or genicular nerve ablations.
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Back and Leg Pain

Intense back pain with extension to the legs and feet that is described as burning and throbbing often indicate a herniated disc. Riding in a car and sitting in a hard chair can greatly increase this pain. If physical therapy and conservative measures do not improve pain, you may benefit from an injection in your spine to decrease the inflammation. Visit an ECPC pain specialist and find a treatment plan that works for you.
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Cancer Pain

Some people who are diagnosed with cancer don’t experience any pain related to the cancer itself, but some do. Cancer pain can vary depending on the type of cancer you have, the type of treatment you are receiving, and even what part of the body it is affecting.
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Back Pain

At some point or another, most people will suffer from lower back pain, whether it be from age, an injury, or from an activity. There are many things you can do to relieve back pain, from stretches, medications, and heating pads. You can also change your habits to prevent future injuries. Things like exercising regularly, eating better, and avoiding bad habits like smoking can keep you from getting injured. Being active and working out help keep your body and muscles moving, making strains and tears less likely.
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Muscle Pain

Muscle pain is a common issue that can occur anywhere in your body. Muscle soreness of knots can be triggered by dehydration, fatigue, stress, and over-exercising.. To prevent muscle tension, it is important to drink plenty of water and stretch before working out or being active. Persistent muscle pain despite conservative treatments may be improved with trigger point injections.
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Headaches/Migraines

Headaches are painful episodes that can completely incapacitate someone. Increasingly painful headaches that last for hours or days are known as migraines. Migraines can make you nauseous, sensitive to sound or light, and are typically specific to one side of your head. Generally, migraines are genetic and run in families. Headaches are typically categorized into two types — primary and secondary.
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Complex Regional Pain

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a condition that can affect your legs, feet, arms, or hands. This condition is typically caused by problems in the central nervous system, and usually develops after an injury, surgery, or heart attack, and is most commonly found in women around 40 years old. Symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome can include a burning or intense pain, pain throughout an entire limb, sensitivity to touch, swelling, stiff or achy joints, or even involuntary jerking.
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Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a painful condition that often affects the nerves in the feet and legs. When blood sugar gets too high, the nerves in your body can become injured causing diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
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Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that can cause fatigue, pain, or tenderness in various muscles. Typically, fibromyalgia can lead to additional conditions, including arthritis, lupus, and IBS. Normally triggered by stress, fibromyalgia can be dealt with by reducing anxiety/stress and exercising frequently.
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Meralgia Paresthetica

Meralgia paresthetica is described as burning pain, tingling, or numbness in or around your outer thigh. This condition occurs when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is squeezed or compressed. This nerve can become compressed from tight clothing, obesity, pregnancy, or having scar tissue that occurs from injuries. Treating meralgia paresthetica depends on how damaged the nerves are and the symptoms that it causes. When symptoms occur, they are typically only on one side of the body, and can start off mild and worsen over time.
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Sacroiliac Joint

The sacroiliac joints are located where the spine and pelvis meet. Sacroiliac joint pain can cause stiffness and pain in the lower back and legs and is often mistaken as pain from a herniated disc. Typically, standing or sitting for too long can make the pain even worse. This pain can occur from arthritis, pregnancy, or injury/infection in the sacroiliac joints.
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Shingles Pain

Shingles is an itchy, painful rash that occurs on a single side of the face or body. The rash typically shows up as scabbed over blisters. Shingles is most common in older adults but can affect anyone who has had chicken pox. Once someone has had chicken pox, the virus stays in the body and can potentially reactivate and develop into shingles. Similar to chicken pox, once a person has shingles, it is likely they will never get it again. Shingles is not contagious, but it is possible to pass it on to someone who has never had the chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccine.
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Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a type of neuropathic condition that causes facial pain from the trigeminal nerve. Typically occurring on one side of the face, symptoms include pain that can last from a few seconds to multiple minutes. Trigeminal neuralgia is often random but can be brought on by face injuries or dental surgeries. Other known causes include blood vessels and nerves contacting, causing the nerve to be exposed and sensitive. Many times, trigeminal neuralgia shows up with sudden and extreme burning or stabbing facial pain. The other type of pain that can occur is more dull but still sore.
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Neck Pain

Knee Pain

Back and Leg Pain

Cancer Pain

Back Pain

Muscle Pain

Headaches/Migraines

Complex Regional Pain

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Fibromyalgia

Meralgia Paresthetica

Sacroiliac Joint

Shingles Pain

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Patient Testimonials

"Dr. Unnithan is very professional and caring. Excellent bedside manner!"

Patient Testimonials

"Had a wonderful experience at ECPC, staff was very welcoming, and Dr. Firnhaber was super nice and the procedure went smoothly. Kudos to Dr. Doerr for referring me. Thank you!"

Contact ECU Health Pain Management Center

2010 West Arlington Blvd.
Greenville, NC 27834

252-847-0601

Hours:

Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

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    Our Providers

    • Juan B. Firnhaber, MD, ABAPM (Director)

      • Juan B. Firnhaber, MD, ABAPM (Director)

    • Patricia C. Doerr, MD, ABAPM

      • Patricia C. Doerr, MD, ABAPM

      BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
      • American Board of Anesthesiology
      • American Board of Anesthesiology / Pain Medicine Subspecialty Certification
      • American Board of Pain Management
      EDUCATION
      • University of Alabama Birmingham, Fellowship in Pain Medicine, 2020-2021
      • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, Medical Internship and Anesthesiology Residency, 2016-2020
      • University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, Doctorate in Medicine, 2012-2016
      • University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program, 2008-2009
      • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, Morehead Scholar, Bachelor of Arts with Honors, Double Major in English and Spanish, 2002-2006
    • Scott Frieary, DO, ABAPM

      • Scott Frieary, DO, ABAPM

    • Christopher T. Grubb, MD, MBA

      • Christopher T. Grubb, MD, MBA

    • Lynn R. Johnson, MD

      • Lynn R. Johnson, MD

      BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
      • American Board of Anesthesiology
      • American Board of Anesthesiology / Pain Medicine Subspecialty Certification
      • American Board of Pain Management
      • American Board of Addiction Medicine
      EDUCATION
      • Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, Fellowship, Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine/Regional Anesthesia, 1987-1988
      • Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, Residency, Anesthesiology, 1985-1987
      • Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, Internship, Medicine, 1984-1985
      • University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, Doctor of Medicine, 1984
      • Georgetown University, Washington, DC, Master of Science, Physiology, 1980
      • University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/Biology, 1976
    • Ajay Unnithan, MD, D.ABA, ABAPM

      • Ajay Unnithan, MD, D.ABA, ABAPM

      BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
      • American Board of Anesthesiology
      • America Board of Anesthesiology – Subspecialty Certification in Pain Medicine
      EDUCATION
      • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Fellowship, Pain Medicine, 2021-2022
      • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Internship and Residency in Anesthesiology, 2017-2021
      • University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Doctor of Medicine, 2013-2017
      • University of Pittsburgh, Bachelor of Science with Honors in Neuroscience, Minor in Chemistry, 2009-2013
    • Melissa J. Fulmer, AGACNP

      • Melissa J. Fulmer, AGACNP

    • Amy A. Hopkins, ANP

      • Amy A. Hopkins, ANP

    • Margaret A. Dillon-Spruill, DNP, MSN, RN, ANP-BC

      • Margaret A. Dillon-Spruill, DNP, MSN, RN, ANP-BC

      BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
      • ANCC Certified
      EDUCATION
      • East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2020
      • East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, MSN, 2008
      • East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, BSN Alternate Entry Program, 2005
      • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, B.S. Bachelors of Sociology, 2001
    • Jill S. Williams, RN, MSN, ANP-C

      • Jill S. Williams, RN, MSN, ANP-C

      BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
      • Adult Nurse Practitioner
      • Registered Nurse
      • Advanced Cardiac Life Support
      • Basic Cardiac Life Support
      EDUCATION
      • University of North Carolina, Greensboro, NC, MSN, Adult Nurse Practitioner / Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, 2010
      • East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, BSN, 2006