“Ivy League Trained Physicians Create Regional Force in the Field of Pain Management”In September, we shared the story of Dr. Gugger, a pain physician who recently opened a new practice in Quakertown, the Pennsylvania Pain & Spine Institute. At the time, he was proud to share that his new patient Chip Brewer, of Lansdale, was receiving relief from his pain and returning to some of his cherished activities.Now, Dr. Gugger is joining forces with two other Ivy league trained physicians, David Qu, M.D., and Robert Kelly, D.O., of Highpoint Pain & Rehabilitation Physicians of Chalfont, PA. Together, the three will now practice under one name which will be, the Pennsylvania Pain & Spine Institute.Owners of Highpoint Pain & Rehabilitation Physicians, Drs. Qu and Kelly met as residents at Harvard Medical School; Dr. Qu subsequently met Dr. Guggger at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania during their specialist training in Pain Management. Together, the three young physicians will form a formidable force in southeastern Pennsylvania where their patients have dubbed them 'the answer guys'.When asked why they decided to join forces with Gugger, Dr. Qu says, “I’ve known Doug for several years and I know the high regard leaders in our field have for him at the University of Pennsylvania. He’s an excellent doctor, exactly the type of physician we want to help grow our practice and represent our values. We want to extend the high quality of care that we strive for in Chalfont, and Doug is the perfect physician to carry on our values in Quakertown. Additionally, the name, Pennsylvania Spine & Pain Institute, better represents the extent of our reach and breadth of our services."According to Dr. Qu, "We see patients with complex conditions who have been disappointed with other practice outcomes. We pride ourselves on getting to the root of our patients' pain conditions. We have been trained in the art of the physical exam as well as industry leading pain therapies and procedures. This allows us to make discoveries that perhaps other physicians have overlooked."Dr. Gugger's patient, Mr. Brewer, confirmed this notion. After years of physical therapy and cortisone injections he was about to give up. "My family doctor kept telling me that it was time to see a pain physician, someone board-certified specifically in the treatment and relief of pain; but I really lost hope that anyone was going to do anything different. I've seen therapists and surgeons, and no one seemed to have any new ideas. What was one more opinion going to do?" he feared."I'm happy to share that I was wrong! Dr. Gugger knows all of the newest techniques and introduced me to something I’ve never heard of before, a genicular nerve block with X-ray guidance. This procedure has changed my life," Brewer shared.Dr. Gugger shares, "Chip had severe knee pain and osteoarthritis that was not responsive to multiple traditional therapies. His condition was complicated by his previous history of trauma. We performed what is known as a genicular nerve block of his left knee. This new, minimally invasive procedure blocked the painful nerve signaling that caused his chronic discomfort. The procedure can also be utilized for those patients still experiencing knee pain after a total knee replacement or for those who aren't candidates or ready for knee replacement. Chip's prognosis is excellent and most importantly, he won’t need surgery."When asked what makes them different from other pain physicians, Dr. Kelly expresses, “We are board-certified and fellowship trained specifically in pain medicine with a focus on avoiding surgery and restoring function. We know the newest, minimally invasive procedures for alleviating conditions of the back, neck, knee and hip (among others) that are traditionally treated with surgery. Our goal is get our patients back to their daily activities and to enjoy long-term relief, without the need for surgery.”Drs. Kelly, Qu and Gugger are all board certified and fellowship trained in Pain Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Gugger honorably served in the United States Navy for four years and completed a long tour in Afghanistan before returning to civilian medicine. They welcome veterans.Dr. Gugger sees patients in The Atrium building in Quakertown at 127 S. 5^th Street, Suite 180. To make an appointment with Dr. Gugger, please call 215-695-6688. Drs. Kelly and Qu see patients in the Highpoint Medical Building, 700 Horizon Circle, Suite 206, Chalfont, PA 18914. To make an appointment with Dr. Kelly or Dr. Qu, please call 215-395-8888. For additional information or to learn more, please visit the Pennsylvania Pain & Spine Institute online at www.pennpain.com.