Got back pain? We can help.
April 7, 2026
David Hakopian, DO, Medical Director, Interventional Physical Medicine & Spine, Trinity Health Grand Rapids and Muskegon, shares how physical medicine can help control back and spine pain.
Every day, millions of Americans live with chronic pain, doing their best to manage the symptoms. According to the U.S. Pain Foundation, an estimated 20% of Americans deal with various degrees of chronic pain, and it is the leading cause of long-term disability in this country.
If you’re one of those people who believe nothing can be done to treat your pain — that’s where physiatry, also called physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), can play an important role. PM&R can help reduce your pain symptoms, maximize your ability to function and improve your quality of life, so you can get back to what matters most to you.
What is Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R)?
PM&R is a medical specialty focused on restoring function and quality of life to people with pain, weakness, or disability affecting their ability to move and function in daily life.
PM&R physicians, called physiatrists, provide comprehensive, non-surgical, interdisciplinary care to treat pain and improve mobility. We diagnose and manage your overall care plan, and lead a team of professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, and more, to provide you with complete holistic care.
Watch 6 Reasons to Connect with a PM&R Specialist
Our approach to care
As physiatrists, our goal is to help you regain function using a combination of therapies and individualized treatments customized to what you need.
Many patients we care for have degenerative conditions, without a definitive cure. Our goal is to help them improve their quality of life and function by reaching a level of pain control where they can live their lives more comfortably and confidently.
We use targeted treatments — like image-guided injections, nerve blocks, and other non-surgical techniques — to reduce pain and restore mobility without resorting to surgery. Your treatments also may include exercise therapy, prosthetics/orthotics, and medication management.
Our offices in Grand Rapids and Muskegon specialize primarily in spine-related conditions, including neck and back pain, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy — some of the most common and debilitating sources of chronic pain.
Common misconceptions about chronic pain
Chronic pain is not a diagnosis — it’s a description. Saying someone has “chronic pain” is like saying they have a fever; it tells us something is wrong, but not what’s causing it.
Unfortunately, many patients are told they have “chronic pain” without a deeper explanation. That can lead to frustration, stigma, and a sense of hopelessness.
Our interventional physiatrists take time to understand the underlying mechanism or cause of the pain — whether it’s joint degeneration, nerve irritation, myofascial dysfunction, or central sensitization — to offer targeted treatments that help.
Chronic pain can lead to isolation, especially when it’s been going on for years. Today, we have more tools than ever to help you manage pain and reclaim your life — even if you’ve tried other treatments without success.
Keep in mind that pain doesn’t always go away completely, but it can become something you manage — not something that controls you. The key is not giving up.