David R Walega

Calculated based on number of publications stored in Pure and citations from Scopus
Calculated based on number of publications stored in Pure and citations from Scopus
Calculated based on number of publications stored in Pure and citations from Scopus
20042022

Research activity per year

If you made any changes in Pure these will be visible here soon.

Personal profile

Research Interests

Chronic pain has negative effects in every domain of life. Treating pain before it becomes chronic is critical. My interests in the management of pain symptoms vary greatly, as there is an incredible amount of new technology emerging now that improves patient outcomes, limits disability, and when introduced appropriately, is cost effective. My research interests include non-surgical methods of treating knee pain from osteoarthritis, namely, with nerve ablation procedures and regenerative treatments like stem cell injections and autologous platelet rich plasma. Chronic low back pain is another major clinical interest, for which we have a variety of evidence based treatments to improve pain, and to avoid the long term use of opioids with the ultimate goal of improving patient function and quality of life. Treatments include image-guided steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation procedures of the spinal facets and sacroiliac joints, spinal cord stimulation, and now, dorsal root ganglion stimulation. In addition, cancer survivorship issues, like chronic nerve pain and side effects from cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation treatment, hormone treatments like tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors) encompasses a huge population in the U.S. and is of great interest to me. Vasomotor symptoms (commonly known as hot flashes) have a tremendous negative effect on women with natural or surgical menopause, those patients on tamoxifen or other aromotase inhibitors and men with prostate cancer on anti-testosterone therapy. Men with prostate cancer who are on androgen deprivation therapy also suffer from this side effect of treatment. This is an active area of research in my practice, including research funded by the National Institute on Aging.

Treatment of degenerative spine disorders including facet arthropathy, sacroiliac joint pain, chronic pain after spine surgery, knee pain from osteoarthritis, non-opioid management of chronic pain, with advanced interventions: radiofrequency ablation, chemical neurolysis, spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation and regenerative treatments (platelet rich plasma, stem cell injections, amniotic stem cell injections). Treatment of knee pain from osteoarthritis and pain following joint replacement surgery.

Certifications and Licenses

Anesthesiology
Pain Medicine

Training Experience

1997Residency, Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)
1998Fellowship, Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center (Northwestern Memorial Hospital)

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Education/Academic qualification

MD, Medicine, Wayne State University

… → 1993

Research interests keywords

  • Back / Spine
  • Cancer Survivorship
  • Menopause
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Pain
  • Pain Management
  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Sports Medicine
  • Stem Cells
  • Translational Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics where David R Walega is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
  • 1 Similar Profiles

Network

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or