Compare 17 pain management specialists in Seattle, WA. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
17
Pain Management Specialists
100%
Accepting patients
71%
Most common: MD
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Seattle is home to one of the country's deepest concentrations of medical research and clinical talent. UW Medicine anchors the academic side, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a global leader in oncology, and Swedish Medical Center (now part of Providence) operates the largest community hospital network in the metro. The city also has a strong tradition of community health centers serving immigrant and underserved populations.
Seattle has 17 pain management specialists. The most common credential is MD (71%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Seattle's medical geography centers on First Hill, sometimes called "Pill Hill," where Swedish, Harborview, and Virginia Mason cluster within a few blocks. UW Medical Center and Seattle Children's sit further north in the University District. The Link light rail connects Capitol Hill and the U-District to downtown, making hospital access by transit feasible. Crossing Lake Washington to the Eastside adds 20 to 40 minutes depending on bridge traffic.
Providers practice throughout Seattle. Capitol Hill is swedish Medical Center's First Hill campus and several LGBTQ+ affirming practices serve this dense, vibrant neighborhood. Fremont is a quirky neighborhood with growing healthcare options and proximity to UW Medical Center. Ballard is swedish Ballard campus provides community hospital care in this waterfront neighborhood. Queen Anne is lower Queen Anne is near the South Lake Union medical corridor and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
Nearby hospitals include UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, and Swedish Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle University. UW Medicine is ranked among the top 10 medical schools in the US for primary care, serving a five-state region.
The first visit takes 45 to 60 minutes. The pain specialist will take a detailed pain history: location, character, triggers, what makes it better or worse, and previous treatments. They will review imaging and perform a physical and neurological exam. The treatment plan may include medication adjustments, a series of diagnostic or therapeutic injections, physical therapy, and in some cases psychological support for coping strategies. Expect a multi-step approach rather than a single solution.
UW Medicine, Swedish (Providence), and Kaiser Permanente are the three main systems. If you work for a large Seattle employer (Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing), your benefits likely favor one system. Check your network before scheduling.
See a pain management specialist for back or neck pain lasting more than three months, pain after spinal surgery that persists, sciatica or radiculopathy not responding to conservative treatment, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), neuropathic pain (nerve damage), cancer pain, and chronic pain from any cause that is significantly affecting your daily function and quality of life.
Office visit copay: $30-75 · Epidural steroid injection: $1,000-3,000 · Nerve block: $500-2,000 · Spinal cord stimulator: $30,000-50,000
Seattle, WA has 17 licensed pain management specialists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of pain management specialists in Seattle, WA are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Premera Blue Cross and Regence Blue Shield are the two dominant commercial carriers in Washington State. Kaiser Permanente has a closed network. Apple Health (Washington Medicaid) is accepted at Harborview, UW Neighborhood Clinics, and most community health centers.
An office visit copay is $30 to $75. An epidural steroid injection costs $1,000 to $3,000. A nerve block runs $500 to $2,000. A spinal cord stimulator costs $30,000 to $50,000. Actual costs in Seattle, WA depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Insurance typically limits the number of epidural injections per year (usually three to six). Spinal cord stimulators require a successful trial period before permanent implantation is approved. Multi-step authorization is normal for advanced pain procedures.
Seattle has three major systems: UW Medicine (academic), Swedish/Providence (community), and Kaiser Permanente (integrated). Harborview Medical Center (run by UW) is the region's only Level I trauma center. Your employer's insurance plan is the best starting point for choosing a system.
MD stands for Doctor of Medicine and DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Seattle, WA, 71% hold the MD credential and 12% hold DO. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
53% of pain management specialists in Seattle, WA accept Medicare. Medicare covers pain management visits and medically necessary procedures (epidural injections, nerve blocks). Spinal cord stimulators require documented failure of conservative treatments. Physical therapy is covered. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
First Hill is the neighborhood just east of downtown Seattle where Swedish Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, and Virginia Mason are clustered. The nickname comes from this dense concentration of hospitals and medical offices.
Yes, but traffic matters. I-90 and SR-520 bridges connect the Eastside to Seattle, but commute times can double during rush hours. Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue and EvergreenHealth in Kirkland provide strong local options so you don't always need to cross the lake.
Top accepted carriers in Seattle, WA include medicare, unitedhealthcare, qhp-38344, qhp-56707, and centene.
Pain management visits and procedures are covered under medical insurance. Epidural injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation typically require prior authorization. Insurance often limits the number of injections per year. Spinal cord stimulators require extensive prior authorization with documented failure of conservative treatments. Most plans cover the trial period and permanent implant when criteria are met.