Finding the right doctor can be difficult when chronic pain affects your daily life. Back pain, nerve pain, joint pain, headaches, and other conditions can make it harder to work, sleep, and stay active.
New England is home to many experienced pain management doctors who treat both common and complex pain conditions using personalized and interventional approaches.
To make your search easier, we have put together a complete list of 10 notable pain management specialists in New England, US, covering Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
How We Selected the Top Pain Management Doctors
We reviewed publicly available information from doctor profiles, hospital websites, university pages, and other reliable sources to create this list.
We looked at key factors such as:
- Pain medicine training and board certification
- Hospital or university affiliation
- Clinical experience and specialties
- Interventional pain treatment experience
- Research, leadership, and professional recognition
This is not an official ranking. The best pain specialist for you depends on your condition, treatment needs, location, insurance, and personal preferences.
List of 10 Best Pain Management Specialists in New England
Here are 10 notable pain management specialists in New England, selected based on their experience, expertise, and major medical affiliations.
- Dr. Blanki Cherubini, MD — Rhode Island
- Edward Michna, MD — Massachusetts
- Srdjan S. Nedeljkovic, MD — Massachusetts
- Wilfred Hynes, MD — Massachusetts
- Charles B. Berde, MD, PhD — Massachusetts
- Donna-Ann Thomas, MD — Connecticut
- Charles Odonkor, MD, MA — Connecticut
- Musa M. Aner, MD — New Hampshire
- Mark A. Horton, MD — New Hampshire
- Bruce M. Vrooman, MD, MS — New Hampshire
Detailed explanations of each specialist’s background and clinical focus are provided in the sections below.
1. Dr. Blanki Cherubini, MD — Rhode Island
Dr. Blanki Cherubini is one of the leading pain management specialists in New England, with a strong background in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
She practices in Cranston, Rhode Island, and focuses on acute and chronic musculoskeletal and spine-related pain.
Her clinical experience includes:
- Musculoskeletal and spine conditions
- Electrodiagnostic medicine
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Sports medicine
- Ultrasound-guided injections
- Non-surgical pain treatment
With this combination of rehabilitation and interventional experience, Dr. Cherubini offers a personalized approach to helping patients manage pain and improve daily function.
Her expertise also makes her one of the best pain management specialists in Rhode Island.
2. Edward Michna, MD — Massachusetts
Edward Michna, MD, is an experienced pain medicine and anesthesiology specialist affiliated with Mass General Brigham.
He completed his pain medicine fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1996 and is board certified in both pain medicine and anesthesiology.
His clinical background covers a broad range of chronic and complex pain conditions. His areas of interest include:
- Back and spinal pain
- Cancer-related pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Neurologic pain
- Pelvic pain
- Other chronic pain conditions
Dr. Michna has also been involved in the academic side of pain medicine through his work at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
His combination of specialized pain training, long-term clinical experience, and involvement in pain medicine makes him a notable specialist for patients seeking care for persistent or complex pain.
3. Srdjan S. Nedeljkovic, MD — Massachusetts
Edward Michna, MD, is an experienced pain medicine and anesthesiology specialist affiliated with Mass General Brigham.
He completed his pain medicine fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1996 and is board-certified in both pain medicine and anesthesiology.
His clinical background covers a broad range of chronic and complex pain conditions. His areas of interest include:
- Back and spinal pain
- Cancer-related pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Neurologic pain
- Pelvic pain
- Other chronic pain conditions
Dr. Michna has also been involved in the academic side of pain medicine through his work at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
His combination of specialized pain training, long-term clinical experience, and involvement in pain medicine makes him a notable specialist for patients seeking care for persistent or complex pain.
4. Wilfred Hynes, MD — Massachusetts
Wilfred Hynes, MD, is an experienced pain medicine physician at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He is board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine and has extensive experience treating chronic and complex pain.
He has also served as Medical Director of the Tufts Medical Center Pain Management Center since 2005.
His clinical expertise includes:
- Chronic and spine-related pain
- Interventional pain procedures
- Injections and radiofrequency ablation
- Medication management
- EMG and nerve conduction studies
Dr. Hynes combines long-term clinical experience with the resources of a major academic medical center.
He has also received recognition as a Boston Magazine Top Doctor in pain medicine, further highlighting his professional standing in the field.
5. Charles B. Berde, MD, PhD — Massachusetts
Charles B. Berde, MD, PhD, is a prominent pediatric pain medicine specialist at Boston Children’s Hospital and a professor of Anaesthesia (Pediatrics) at Harvard Medical School.
He holds the Sara Page Mayo Chair in Pediatric Pain Medicine and has extensive experience treating children with complex pain.
His clinical and academic work includes:
- Acute and chronic pain in children
- Neuropathic pain
- Cancer-related pain
- Complex pediatric pain conditions
- Multidisciplinary pain treatment
Dr. Berde has spent much of his career at Boston Children’s Hospital and helped establish its Pain Treatment Center.
His specialized pediatric training, research background, and long-standing clinical experience make him an important choice for families seeking advanced pain care for children.
6. Donna-Ann Thomas, MD — Connecticut
Donna-Ann Thomas, MD, is an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist at Yale Medicine.
She is an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at Yale School of Medicine and serves as Division Chief of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesiology.
Her clinical expertise includes:
- Acute and chronic pain
- Spine and musculoskeletal pain
- Cancer-related pain
- Headaches
- Sickle cell-related pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome
Dr. Thomas also provides advanced regional anesthesia procedures, including paravertebral and TAP blocks.
Her leadership at Yale, broad clinical expertise, and focus on individualized treatment make her a notable specialist for patients with both common and complex pain conditions.
7. Charles Odonkor, MD, MA — Connecticut
Charles Odonkor, MD, MA, is a Yale physician specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine.
He is an Associate Professor of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine and is fellowship-trained and double-board certified in Interventional Pain and Physiatry.
His clinical expertise includes:
- Complex chronic pain
- Spine and musculoskeletal conditions
- Joint pain and neuropathy
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Intracept treatment for vertebrogenic low back pain
Dr. Odonkor has particular expertise in the Intracept procedure. Yale identifies him as the first physician in Connecticut to receive a Center of Excellence designation for this treatment.
His combination of advanced training and interventional expertise makes him a notable option for patients with difficult chronic spine pain.
8. Musa M. Aner, MD — New Hampshire
Musa M. Aner, MD, is a pain medicine physician at Dartmouth Health and an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.
He is board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine and practices at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
His professional background includes:
- Pain medicine and anesthesiology
- Chronic and complex pain management
- Interventional pain procedures
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Epidural pain procedures
- Academic research and teaching
Dr. Aner serves in a leadership role within Dartmouth’s pain management program.
His combination of academic experience, clinical practice, and interventional pain expertise has also earned him recognition as a 2026 Top Doctor in Pain Medicine by Dartmouth Health.
9. Mark A. Horton, MD — New Hampshire
Mark A. Horton, MD, is a pain management physician affiliated with Dartmouth Health and practicing in Keene, New Hampshire.
His training combines anesthesiology with specialized fellowship training in chronic and interventional pain.
His areas of clinical expertise include:
- Acute and chronic spine pain
- Interventional pain management
- Ultrasound-guided procedures
- Head and facial pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
Dr. Horton brings specialized training to the diagnosis and treatment of persistent pain, with particular experience in spine-related conditions and image-guided interventions.
He has also received Top Doctor recognition in New Hampshire, including listings covering 2023 through 2026.
10. Bruce M. Vrooman, MD, MS — New Hampshire
Bruce M. Vrooman, MD, MS, is a pain medicine physician at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.
His practice focuses on helping patients manage both acute and chronic pain while addressing the underlying source whenever possible.
His clinical interests include:
- Neck and back pain
- Neuropathic or nerve pain
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Chronic pain conditions
- Interventional pain treatments
- Neuromodulation therapies
Dr. Vrooman’s background in interventional pain medicine allows him to offer treatment options such as injections and neuromodulation when appropriate.
His experience makes him a notable specialist for patients dealing with persistent spine, nerve, and musculoskeletal pain.
Comparison of These Top Pain Specialists
The following table provides a quick way to compare the specialists by state, major affiliation, and clinical focus.
| Pain Specialist | State | Major Affiliation | Notable Clinical Focus |
| Dr. Blanki Cherubini, MD | Rhode Island | Pain Center of Rhode Island | Musculoskeletal, spine, ultrasound-guided care |
| Edward Michna, MD | Massachusetts | Mass General Brigham | Back, cancer, neurologic and pelvic pain |
| Srdjan S. Nedeljkovic, MD | Massachusetts | Brigham and Women’s | Back, cancer, myofascial and nerve pain |
| Wilfred Hynes, MD | Massachusetts | Tufts Medical Center | Chronic and interventional pain |
| Charles B. Berde, MD, PhD | Massachusetts | Boston Children’s Hospital | Pediatric and neuropathic pain |
| Donna-Ann Thomas, MD | Connecticut | Yale Medicine | Acute, spine, cancer and complex pain |
| Charles Odonkor, MD, MA | Connecticut | Yale Medicine | Spine pain, RFA, Intracept |
| Musa M. Aner, MD | New Hampshire | Dartmouth Health | Pain medicine and interventional care |
| Mark A. Horton, MD | New Hampshire | Dartmouth Health | Spine pain and ultrasound-guided procedures |
| Bruce M. Vrooman, MD, MS | New Hampshire | Dartmouth Health | Neck, back, neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain |
Pain Conditions Treated by New England Pain Specialists
Pain management specialists treat a wide range of conditions. Common examples include:
- Chronic back and neck pain
- Sciatica and radiculopathy
- Arthritis and joint pain
- Neuropathic or nerve pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches and facial pain
- Cancer-related pain
- Myofascial pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Spinal stenosis
- Chronic postoperative pain
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Pelvic pain
Treatment depends on the diagnosis.
A specialist may recommend physical therapy, medications, behavioral strategies, injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, neuromodulation, or other interventions.
How to Choose the Right Pain Management Specialist in New England
Choosing a pain management specialist starts with understanding your condition and the type of care you may need.
The right doctor should have experience treating your specific type of pain and offer suitable treatment options.
When comparing specialists, consider these important points:
- Area of expertise: Look for experience with your specific pain condition.
- Training and credentials: Check board certification and specialized pain medicine training.
- Hospital affiliation: Consider doctors connected with established medical centers.
- Treatment options: Ask whether the specialist offers medications, injections, physical therapy, or other interventional treatments.
- Insurance and availability: Confirm insurance coverage, appointment availability, and referral requirements.
During your first visit, ask about the possible cause of your pain, recommended treatments, potential risks, and expected results.
A good pain management plan should aim to reduce pain while helping you move better and improve your daily quality of life.
Cost of Pain Management in New England
Pain management costs in New England depend on the doctor, treatment, location, and insurance.
Without insurance, a pain management visit may cost about 150–500, while procedures such as injections or nerve blocks may range from 300–2,000 or more.
Medicare Part B generally covers eligible pain management services, although patients may still have out-of-pocket costs.
Before treatment, check your insurance coverage and ask the doctor’s office about copays, deductibles, referrals, and additional procedure fees.
Final Thoughts
New England has many experienced pain management specialists who treat conditions ranging from chronic back and nerve pain to complex and pediatric pain.
The right specialist depends on your condition, treatment needs, location, and insurance. Review each doctor’s experience and areas of expertise before making a decision.
Most importantly, choose a pain management doctor who understands your symptoms and focuses on helping you manage pain and improve your quality of life.
