Dr. Dec Andrew, DO is a Pain Medicine Physician dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive care for older adults at his clinic in Panama City, FL. He is registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practices under the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice), focusing on the unique needs of those 65 years and older. Dr. Andrew understands that managing chronic pain conditions can be particularly challenging in later life, and he is committed to partnering with primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals to create a comprehensive care plan. His approach emphasizes reducing pain, improving function, and enhancing overall quality of life through medication management, minimally-invasive procedures, and advanced therapies, all while prioritizing the patient's well-being and dignity.
Pain Medicine Physicians provide specialized expertise in managing complex chronic pain conditions common in older adults, partnering with primary care physicians and the broader care team to reduce pain, improve function, and enhance quality of life through comprehensive medication management, minimally-invasive procedures, and advanced therapies. Dr. Dec Andrew, DO is a pain medicine physician in Panama City, FL and has over 10 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2012 and is affiliated with HCA Florida Gulf Coast Hospital. He is accepting new patients, and they can call (850) 448-2410 to schedule an appointment. With over 10 years of dedicated experience in Pain Medicine care, he brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and compassionate care to his patients and their families. He is Board Certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine by the American Board of Anesthesiology. His commitment to collaborative, evidence-based medicine, combined with his understanding of the aging process, creates a supportive environment where patients and their families feel heard and empowered in their healthcare decisions. Dr. Dec Andrew provides consultations primarily in English.
A cornerstone of effective senior care is a strong patient-provider partnership. Dr. Dec Andrew is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on holistic strategies to protect health and enhance quality of life.
Dr. Andrew acts as a compassionate partner in your senior's health journey, providing comprehensive pain management tailored to individual needs. He collaborates closely with primary care physicians and the wider care team, focusing on reducing pain, improving function, and enhancing quality of life. This personalized approach includes meticulous medication management, minimally-invasive procedures, and advanced therapies, ensuring a holistic and supportive experience for both the senior and their family.
By working together, you, your family, and Dr. Dec Andrew can create a clear, actionable plan that respects your individual needs and healthcare goals.
Specific Plans Accepted
Aetna
Also Accepts These Carriers
- AWH Emory Northside Hospital System OAAS
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
- BlueCare
- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- BlueOptions
- BlueSelect
- CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Choice
- Choice Plus
- First Health
- First Health (Coventry Health Care)
- HealthyBlue Advantage
- MAPFRE Life Insurance Company of Puerto Rico
- Managed Choice (Open Access)
- Navigate
- Navigate Plus
- Nexus Open Access
- Options
- Premier Care Network Plus - Innovation Health
- UnitedHealthCare
Effective management of health is key to well-being in later life. Dr. Dec Andrew provides expert, compassionate care for a range of conditions common in older adults, with a focus on managing symptoms and maintaining function. Common areas of focus include:
- Spondylolisthesis: Spondylolisthesis, a spinal condition causing back pain, is treatable. A pain medicine doctor can help find the right combination of medications, therapies, or procedures to alleviate your symptoms and enhance your quality of life.
- Trigeminal Neuralgia: Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic condition affecting a nerve in your face, causing severe pain episodes. With the right care from a doctor specializing in pain management, you can reduce these episodes and live more comfortably.
- Postherpetic Neuralgia: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a persistent nerve pain that can develop after a shingles outbreak, often causing burning, tingling, or shooting pain in the affected area, and a pain medicine doctor can help manage it with medications and other treatments.
- Diabetic Polyneuropathy: Diabetic neuropathy's painful symptoms, such as numbness or tingling, can be better managed through careful control of blood sugar levels and, in some cases, with the assistance of your doctor's prescribed pain medications and therapies.
- Degenerative Disc Disease: Degenerative disc disease is a common condition where the discs in your spine wear down over time, causing back pain and stiffness that can be managed with medication, injections, or other therapies to help you stay active and independent.
- Herniated Disc: A herniated disc puts pressure on your nerves, causing pain and potentially impacting your ability to move. However, modern treatments, such as physical therapy and targeted injections, can lessen pain and improve your overall well-being.
- Spine Deformities: Spine deformities, like scoliosis or kyphosis, can cause chronic back pain and stiffness, but a pain medicine physician can create a treatment plan to manage your pain and improve mobility, helping you stay independent.
- Myelopathy: Spinal cord problems, known as myelopathy, can lead to discomfort and limited movement in older adults; however, with a pain management specialist's care, including medication and minimally invasive procedures, significant pain relief and improved function are often achievable.
- Spondylitis: If you have spondylitis, which is spinal inflammation, you might experience persistent pain and limited movement. However, your doctor can work with you to find the right combination of treatments like medication or spinal injections to ease your pain and help you remain active.
- Fibromyalgia: Living with fibromyalgia can be challenging, marked by persistent pain and stiffness, but a pain management specialist can work with you to develop a strategy using medication, therapies, and lifestyle adjustments to improve your comfort and function.
- Spinal Stenosis: If you're experiencing back pain, leg weakness, or numbness that may be caused by spinal stenosis, know that there are effective treatment options available to help you live more comfortably and independently, involving pain management techniques and possible procedures to create more space in your spine.
- Migraine: Migraines are debilitating headaches that can significantly impact daily life, but a doctor specializing in pain management can work with you to develop a treatment strategy perhaps including medications or even injections to lessen the pain and regain your ability to enjoy your daily activities.
This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes. An accurate diagnosis and a personalized care plan can only be developed through a direct consultation with a qualified medical professional based on your specific health history.
To provide comprehensive and person-centered care, Dr. Dec Andrew offers a range of services designed to diagnose, manage, and support the health of older adults:
- Epidural Lysis of Adhesions (LOA): To address the limitations caused by chronic spinal pain, LOA helps seniors regain lost mobility and participate more fully in life by breaking up spinal adhesions and reducing nerve compression.
- Facet Blocks: As part of a comprehensive pain management plan, facet blocks help your doctor understand the effectiveness of this treatment for your specific pain.
- Myofascial Trigger Point Injection: This minimally invasive procedure helps diagnose and treat myofascial pain syndrome, a common source of chronic pain in older adults, supporting their overall well-being.
- Nerve Destruction by Neurolytic Agent: As a last resort for managing severe, intractable nerve pain, nerve destruction with a neurolytic agent may help reduce pain signals, improving function and quality of life for seniors.
- Non-Cosmetic Chemodenervation: To improve seniors' quality of life, non-cosmetic chemodenervation helps manage chronic pain by carefully targeting and reducing the activity of overactive nerves.
- Peripheral Nerve Block: To better manage your chronic pain, a peripheral nerve block can temporarily numb specific nerves, reducing discomfort and improving your mobility.
- Somatic Nerve Block: To better manage your chronic pain, a somatic nerve block can temporarily block pain signals from a specific area of your body, improving your comfort and mobility.
- Spinal Nerve Block: To manage your chronic pain, a spinal nerve block may temporarily numb specific nerves, relieving discomfort and improving mobility.
- Stellate Ganglion Block: For seniors with persistent pain in the head, neck, or shoulders, a stellate ganglion block injection may provide significant relief and improved mobility.
- Steroid Injection: Steroid injections are sometimes used to help determine if a specific area is the source of your chronic pain, thereby informing further treatment decisions and improving care coordination.
- Sympathetic Nerve Block: To improve a senior's quality of life, a sympathetic nerve block can reduce intense pain stemming from nerve problems, allowing for greater independence.
- Trigger Point Injection: To help diagnose the exact source of muscle pain, your doctor may use trigger point injections to pinpoint painful areas and guide the most effective treatment.
Service availability can change. To understand which services are appropriate for your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation to develop a personalized care plan.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Pain Medicine Physicians in Florida.
Dr. Dec Andrew is dedicated to partnering with older adults and their families to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how compassionate care can make a tangible difference in a patient's life:
- With a tailored treatment plan, a senior was able to resume walking her beloved dog without the debilitating back pain caused by spondylolisthesis. The family felt a sense of relief and joy knowing their mother could once again enjoy her daily walks.
- With specialized pain management, a senior was able to resume enjoying familiar walks in the park without the debilitating pain episodes of trigeminal neuralgia. The family felt a profound sense of relief and security knowing their loved one could once again participate in daily activities.
- After a shingles outbreak, a senior was plagued by debilitating nerve pain. With the guidance of a pain medicine specialist, the patient found relief from the burning and tingling sensations, allowing them to resume their beloved hobby of knitting once more.
These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results vary and depend on many factors specific to each person. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.
- Primary Location:
Practice
3801 E Highway 98 Ste 100100, Port St. Joe, FL, 32456
Phone: (850) 229-5752
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- HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital Port St. Lucie (Residency Hospital)
- American Board of Anesthesiology (Anesthesiology)
- American Board of Anesthesiology (Pain Medicine)
Here are answers to some common questions about Pain Medicine care with Dr. Dec Andrew:
- What is a Pain Medicine specialist?
- A pain medicine specialist, like Dr. Dec Andrew, is a medical doctor who has specialized training in diagnosing and treating chronic pain. Their goal is to find the cause of your pain and create a plan to improve your function, mobility, and overall quality of life, not just to prescribe medication.
- Is the only treatment option more pain medication?
- No. Our multimodal approach uses a variety of treatments, including minimally-invasive procedures like injections and physical therapy, to address the source of pain and reduce reliance on oral medications. Dr. Dec Andrew focuses on helping patients feel better and live more actively.
- My osteoarthritis makes my knees (or back) so stiff and sore. What can a pain specialist do?
- Osteoarthritis is a very common cause of chronic pain. While we can't reverse the arthritis, we can significantly reduce your pain. Treatments like joint injections and radiofrequency ablation can improve mobility and comfort.
- My back pain has been here for years. Can anything really be done?
- We understand the frustration of long-term back pain. While a complete cure isn't always possible, significant pain reduction and improved daily function are often achievable. Dr. Dec Andrew uses advanced diagnostic techniques to identify the source of your pain and creates a personalized treatment plan, which may include injections or other targeted therapies.
- What is an epidural steroid injection and is it safe?
- An epidural steroid injection is a common and effective procedure where a strong anti-inflammatory medicine is delivered directly to the source of pain in the spine. It helps reduce swelling and inflammation around nerves, providing significant pain relief. When performed by a specialist like Dr. Dec Andrew using x-ray guidance, it is a very safe procedure.
- I have terrible nerve pain from my diabetes (neuropathy). Can you help?
- Yes. Neuropathic pain requires a different approach than other types of pain, and Dr. Dec Andrew has expertise in managing this, using specific medications, sympathetic nerve blocks, or even advanced treatments like spinal cord stimulation to calm overactive nerves and provide relief.
- What is a facet joint injection?
- A facet joint injection is a precise injection of numbing medicine and a steroid directly into a small, stabilizing joint in your spine, like a knuckle. When these joints become arthritic, they can cause neck or back pain. The injection helps confirm if the joint is the source of the pain and provides temporary relief.
- What is Radiofrequency Ablation (or Neurotomy)?
- Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to temporarily disable a nerve causing pain. This technique can provide significant pain relief from arthritis for six months or more. It's a long-lasting solution for targeted pain relief.
2011 Harrison Ave
Panama City FL 32405
Phone: (850) 448-2410
Dr. Dec Andrew, DO is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1871851824
Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.
The information on this profile, provided by infoaging.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with healthcare partners for yourself or a loved one. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the provider named. Pain Medicine Physicians like Dr. Dec Andrew are skilled in helping seniors and their families navigate their health journey. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. Always consult with a qualified medical professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your care plan.