Q&A: Michael Burchell, MD

Michael Burchell, MD joined National Spine & Pain Centers’ (NSPC) network of practices in February of 2024. He attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, KS. Following medical school, he completed a residency in Anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC before pursuing fellowship there for Chronic Pain Management. Dr. Burchell specializes in minimally-invasive procedures utilizing fluoroscopic imaging and ultrasound guidance, and is Board-Certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine.

Q: Are there any specific treatments, technologies, or diagnostic specialties that you are particularly excited about?

A: I am excited to discuss treatment options with patients who unfortunately do not have many other treatments due to other medical comorbidities. Through careful evaluation and assessment, I am excited to explore and exhaust any and every option to help in the management of their pain.

Q: What drew you to the field of pain management and/or anesthesiology?

A: As an anesthesiologist, I have always been intrigued by various ways we are able to provide pain relief preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. My desire to enter the field of pain management combines interest in managing pain with my desire to also build long lasting relationships with patients that extend far beyond the perioperative setting.

Q: What is your approach to medication management as part of developing treatment plans?

A: Medication management is an important component to a comprehensive treatment plan. Each patient should be addressed as an individual, taking their medical history, current illness, personal desire, as well as current clinical scientific evidence.

Q: What is your philosophy about doctor-patient interaction and patient-centered care?

A: Patients should be intimately involved in their care. I take time to discuss their disease process as well as options so that as a team we can develop the best treatment plan.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time (hobbies, interests, etc.)

A: I enjoy being outdoors and active. I love hiking, playing basketball, fishing, and spending time on the water. Whenever I have to be indoors, I enjoy cooking, salsa dancing, and playing board games with family.

Q: What do you enjoy the most about your job? What drives you to do it?

A: I enjoy spending time with patients and discussing their life experiences. Our mental well-being is shaped so much by our ability to experience the things that we enjoy doing. I receive the most gratification when patients tell me a treatment plan has given them their lives back or that they have been able to go out and enjoy activities that they haven’t been able to do in years.

Q: Is there a particular treatment or technology on the horizon that has you excited about the future of pain management and the opportunities to help your patients?

A: Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and Neuromodulation continues to grow in its efficacy as well as its indication. SCS recently received FDA approval for diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I have seen tremendous results with my patients. I hope that with the assistance of general practitioners and endocrinologists, I will be able to offer patients a sustainable, narcotic-free approach to managing this disorder.

Q: What gets you excited about working at NSPC?

A: I am excited about working for a reputable company that provides patients with cutting edge, state-of-the-art care. This is engrained into the culture of the company which allows specialists to adapt and grow with the rapid advancements in healthcare.

Q: What would you do for a living if you weren’t a doctor?

A: If I weren’t a doctor, I would most likely pursue a career in culinary arts. I love to experiment with various foods in the kitchen which falls right in line with my scientific background as a biologist. I was born in Jamaica, so I love to experiment with fusion cuisines, such as my native Jamaican dishes blended with other cultures.

Dr. Burchell treats chronic and acute pain related to:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Cervicogenic Headaches

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS/RDS)

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Discogenic Back Pain

Facet Syndrome

Herniated Disc

Lower Back Pain

Occipital Neuralgia

Osteoarthritis

Post-Laminectomy Syndrome

Rotator Cuff Injuries

SI Joint Dysfunction

Spinal Compression Fractures

Spinal Stenosis

Tendinitis and Bursitis

Some of the treatments and procedures they perform include:

Epidural Injections

Facet Joint Injections

Hip Injections, Medial Branch Blocks

Kyphoplasty

Occipital Nerve Blocks

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Radiofrequency Neurotomy

SI Joint Injections

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Steroid Injections

Sympathetic Nerve Block

Trigger Point Injections