Dr. Hari Prabhakar
Harvard-trained, double board-certified interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist with advanced training in public health and healthcare management.
Dr. Hari Prabhakar is a Harvard-trained, double board-certified interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist with advanced training in public health and healthcare management. He completed his medical school, anesthesiology residency, and pain fellowship at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, the top-rated medical school in the country, and top residency program for anesthesiology and pain medicine. He also holds 2 masters’ degrees in public health and international healthcare management at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London respectively, which he received as a British Marshall Scholar.
He has extensive clinical experience in restoring functionality and treating painful conditions including neck and back pain, pelvic pain, abdominal pain, spinal stenosis, disc herniations, sciatica, vertebrogenic pain, whiplash, joint pain, arthritis, headaches/migraines, neuropathic pain, complex regional pain syndrome, pain after motor vehicle accidents, neuropathy, and post-surgical pain.
He specializes in a wide variety of minimally invasive procedures, including spinal injections, radiofrequency ablation, minimally invasive decompression, peripheral nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation (trials and implants), vertebral augmentation, and basivertebral nerve ablation. He strongly believes in a comprehensive approach to pain treatment, including appropriate pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, and targeted intervention.
Outside of his medical practice, Dr. Prabhakar's passion is global health and humanitarian aviation. As a rated commercial pilot, he has dedicated numerous hours to earn his private, instrument, multi-engine, and commercial licenses, and has published at the intersection of aviation, medicine, and patient safety. He also runs the Tribal India Health Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare for indigenous communities.
He is thrilled to serve his family's hometown of Augusta by providing the highest levels of comprehensive and compassionate pain care in the Augusta/Grovetown/CSRA area.
About Us
Harvard-trained, double board-certified pain specialist and anesthesiologist, Dr. Hari Prabhakar, welcomes you to Aviator Pain & Spine in Grovetown, Georgia! Our practice aims to elevate the quality of your pain care through a compassionate, experienced, targeted, and multimodal approach to restore your functionality. With a breadth of Ivy-League clinical training and experience, along with exceptional patient interactions, Dr. Prabhakar works to provide you with the finest pain care in the region.
Address: 304 Insperon Drive, Grovetown, GA 30813 (Located in Brighton Professional Park)
Phone: 706-222-4559
Fax: 706-400-6493
Email: info@aviatorpain.com
| Office Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Thursday | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Friday | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Sat & Sun | By Appointment Only |
Auto Injuries:
Dr. Prabhakar has years of experience in treating personal injury, diagnosing and treating auto
injuries, relieving pain, and documenting injuries for insurance companies and advocates. Prompt
treatment after an auto injury is key to avoiding long-term pain issues. Schedule an appointment with
us today to get prompt treatment from your injury!
Concussion:The classic symptoms of a concussion — headache, dizziness, and confusion — may not appear for days or possibly weeks after your accident. As a result, you may continue to stay active rather than giving your brain the rest it needs to heal and prevent post-concussion syndrome.
Whiplash: Whiplash is known for being painful, yet the primary signs of neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches may not appear for days following a whiplash.
Lower back pain: Delayed lower back pain is common because it can take a little time for injured muscles to stiffen and for inflammation to get severe enough to cause pain.
Whether you suffer an obvious injury or not, it’s important to get an immediate medical evaluation by Dr. Prabhakar. A thorough exam allows your doctor to detect signs of injuries that may cause delayed symptoms and start treatment to relieve your pain and prevent progressive problems.
Prompt treatment also documents your injuries. If you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit, it’s essential to show a connection between the auto accident and your injuries. If you wait too long, you may have a hard time proving your injuries were the direct result of your accident.
Dr. Prabhakar reviews your medical history, performs a complete medical exam, and completes disability and capacity evaluations. He then develops a customized treatment plan that may include a wide range of therapies, such as:
Back Pain:
Back pain is the leading cause of disability around the world. Dr. Prabhakar offers comprehensive
and minimally invasive approaches to back pain. To learn more, call to schedule an appointment or
request one online!
A dull ache, sharp pain, or feeling of a muscle strain are all considered typical symptoms of back pain. Some other back pain symptoms are:
Schedule an appointment with your doctor right away if you experience any rare back pain symptoms, such as urinary incontinence, fever, unexplained weight loss, or fecal incontinence, as these can be signs of an underlying condition or medical emergency.
Dr. Prabhakar offers many back pain treatments including:
Epidural injection (Interlaminar and Transforaminal):
During an epidural injection, the team injects a corticosteroid and a numbing agent into
the epidural space of the spine to reduce pain and inflammation.
Facet joint injections:
A facet joint injection is a minimally invasive procedure that involves injecting a small
amount of anesthetic into the facet joints near the spine to relieve back pain.
Medial branch block:
A medial branch block is an injection of a powerful anesthetic into the medial branch
nerves, which send signals from the facet joints. If these joints become inflamed, a medial
branch block can reduce pain and inflammation.
Radiofrequency ablation/Intracept:
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radio waves to heat
nerve tissue and stop it from sending pain signals to the brain. This can be for the joints in
the neck and back, and also the nerve that send signals to the spinal bones (vertebral body).
Sacroiliac joint injection:
A sacroiliac joint injection relieves lower back pain with an injection of a local
anesthetic and steroid medication into the sacroiliac joint.
To learn more, call the
office or schedule an appointment online.
Platelet Rich Plasma:
Individual results can vary, but within about 2-3 weeks, you can start experiencing an improvement in your symptoms, with optimal results occurring around 8-12 weeks after treatment.
Click on the online scheduler or call the clinic to book your PRP examination at Aviator Pain & Spine today!
Neck Pain
Dr. Prabhakar will conduct appropriate physical examination and order pertinent imaging to help pinpoint the cause of your neck pain. Common neck pain treatments from Aviator Pain & Spine include:
We also recommend customized home exercise regimens, and work closely with our physical therapy colleagues to help ensure the best outcome for you!
Click the online scheduling tool or call the office to book your neck pain evaluation at Aviator Pain & Spine today!
Headache
Many types of headaches develop from a range of causes, and Dr. Prabhakar will use a combination of history and physical examination to diagnose the kind of headache you may have.
Migraine headaches
Migraine headaches cause severe throbbing sensation on one side of your head. Migraines
can cause pain that lasts for a few hours or a few days. In addition to the head pain, your
migraines may also cause sensitivity to light, nausea, or weakness.
Cervicogenic headaches
A cervicogenic headache develops due to an issue related to your neck, such as arthritis
or disc degeneration. With this type of headache, you may feel a throbbing sensation on one
side of your head that lasts for hours or days. You may also experience neck stiffness.
There are other headaches including tension headaches, cluster headaches, and medication
overuse headaches that can be managed as well.
Dr. Prabhakar provide comprehensive care for preventing and treating headaches. Several therapies are available:
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can be dull, sharp, achy, intermittent, or chronic, and can develop from tissues and muscles in the abdominal wall, or stem from organs within the abdominal cavity.
Some of the most common causes of abdominal pain causes include:
Many conditions that cause abdominal pain are managed by a gastroenterologist. However, patients with pain caused by abdominal nerve issues, muscle problems, or cancer often respond better to interventional pain techniques when appropriate.
Aviator Pain & Spine offers the following interventional abdominal pain treatments
Celiac and Superior Hypogastric plexus block
A celiac or superior hypogastric plexus block is an injection of pain medication that
helps relieve abdominal pain that hasn’t responded positively to alternative treatments. These
injections are especially helpful to patients suffering from upper and lower abdominal pain.
Transverse abdominis block/Radiofrequency Ablation
A transverse abdominis block is a peripheral nerve block that reduces pain in the anterior
abdominal wall caused by nerve damage or irritation. These injections can help dramatically
reduce both skin and muscle pain that stems from the abdominal wall. Radiofrequency ablation
can also be used to help calm these nerves down in the longer term.
Joint Pain
Your joint pain may develop after an injury or from degenerative changes that lead to damage to the structures in your joint. Common causes of joint pain include:
Treatment for your joint pain may depend on the joint affected and the underlying cause and includes conservative treatment with oral and topical medications and physical therapy.
Some of the innovative interventional pain procedures utilized for joint pain at Aviator Pain & Spine include:
Steroid injections
With steroid injections, your pain specialist injects a corticosteroid directly into the
joint, where you’re experiencing pain to reduce inflammation and discomfort.
Gel or viscosupplementation treatments
Gel or viscosupplementation treatments are often recommended to those suffering from
osteoarthritis, which is a form of arthritis that develops from the wearing away of cartilage
between joints. The injection is comprised of hyaluronic acid, which is a thick gel that
improves joint lubrication and cushioning to ease your pain.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
PRP is a form of regenerative medicine that contains a high concentration of platelets,
growth factors, and specialized protein, which are the healing properties found in your blood.
When injected into your joint, the healing properties may reduce inflammation and help heal
your diseased or damaged tissue.
Fibromyalgia
A dull, aching widespread pain that lasts for three or more months is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia. Sleep and concentration can be affected.
We take a comprehensive approach to fibromyalgia. The medications most often used for the management of fibromyalgia include over-the-counter pain medications, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications.
Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and targeted intervention may also be used.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy symptoms tend to flare up when your blood sugar is too high and gradually subside when it’s under control.
The best way to manage your diabetic neuropathy at home is by consistently keeping your blood sugar levels within target ranges, in concert with your primary care physician or endocrinologist. To relieve pain and alleviate many other diabetic neuropathy symptoms, Dr. Prabhakar offers the following treatments:
Medication management
Some of the most common diabetic neuropathy medications are antidepressants and
antiseizure medications, aside from normal blood glucose controlling medications.
Spinal cord stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation is a type of neuromodulation that can help treat neuropathic pain
by blocking signals for damaged nerves. It is often used to reduce neuropathic pain caused by
diabetic neuropathy, and involves a trial, followed by permanent implant if the trial provides
exceptional benefit.
Call our office to schedule an appointment today with Dr. Prabhakar to help manage painful diabetic neuropathy!
Carpal/Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
The most common carpal/cubital tunnel symptoms are:
Carpal/cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the carpal or cubital tunnel passageway becomes inflamed and narrows. This can happen due to:
Early intervention can help prevent long term complications.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy hand exercises are an excellent way to retain your muscle strength and prevent carpal/cubital tunnel symptoms from worsening.
Splinting
Wearing a splint at night can help relieve carpal tunnel symptoms like pain, numbness, and tingling.
Corticosteroid injections
If alternative therapies like hand exercises and splinting aren’t effective, the team can inject your carpal/cubital tunnel with a corticosteroid to relieve pain. These powerful pain relievers also decrease inflammation and alleviate pressure on the median and ulnar nerves.
Lifestyle changes
Avoiding activities that spark carpal tunnel syndrome flare-ups can help dramatically reduce your symptoms. It’s also important to take breaks and rest your hands whenever possible.
Dr. Prabhakar at Aviator Pain & Spine has many nonsurgical carpal and cubital tunnel treatments to keep your hands strong and functional. To schedule an appointment with the team, call the office or book online.
Sacroiliitis
The sacroiliac joints connect your lower spine to each hip bone. Sacroiliitis occurs when one or both joints are inflamed.
The inflammation may appear following a traumatic injury or develop gradually due to joint degeneration and arthritis. During pregnancy, the sacroiliac joint loosens and stretches, placing extra stress on the joint that may cause inflammation.
Sacroiliitis typically causes lower back pain. You may also feel pain in your buttocks, thighs, and legs, as well as your hips. Some patients describe the pain as sharp or stabbing, while others experience dull, achy pain. The pain can become aggravated by certain activities, such as prolonged standing, climbing stairs, and running.
Your initial treatment may include medications that target a specific symptom. Medications are also available to relieve sacroiliitis when it’s caused by ankylosing spondylitis, a type of arthritis that affects the spine. Physical therapy is an important part of sacroiliitis treatment, but pain often prevents patients from engaging in beneficial exercises.
The team at Aviator Pain & Spine offer specialized interventional therapies that stop nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. Your treatment plan may include:
Sacroiliac joint injections
During a sacroiliac joint injection, your Aviator Pain & Spine provider uses a very small
needle to inject a local anesthetic and cortisone into the joint. The joint is confirmed as
the source of your pain if the anesthetic provides immediate pain relief.
The cortisone produces longer-lasting pain relief by reducing inflammation. The goal is to provide enough pain relief that you can participate in physical therapy or chiropractic care.
Nerve blocks
A nerve block is an injection containing an anesthetic and cortisone. Your provider
injects the medications around the nerves sending pain signals from the sacroiliac joint to
your brain. The anesthetic blocks the signal, so your brain doesn’t perceive the pain, while
the cortisone reduces inflammation.
Radiofrequency ablation
Like a nerve block, radiofrequency (RF) ablation targets the nerves transmitting pain
messages. Using X-ray imaging to guide the placement of a needle probe, your Aviator Pain &
Spine provider places the probe at the nerve, then releases RF energy that precisely heats an
area on the nerve. The resulting wound, or lesion, blocks pain signals. Your pain relief
following RF ablation may last nine months to more than two years.
Minimally invasive sacroiliac joint fusion
Through a single implant in the SI joint, the LinQ system works to stabilize the joint, promoting long-term relief and improving joint stability. The entire procedure requires just a small incision, allowing for a quicker recovery period compared to traditional surgeries.
If you suffer from ongoing lower back or hip pain, call Aviator Pain & Spine or schedule an appointment online.
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain can come from many sources, including the bowels, bladder, ovaries, uterus, and other structures in the area. Common causes include
Dr. Prabhakar at Aviator Pain & Spine specializes in diagnosing and treating pelvic pain using multiple modalities, after performing a comprehensive evaluation and obtaining pertinent imaging, if necessary.
Your pelvic pain treatment plan by Dr. Prabhakar may involve the following:
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
CRPS, or complex regional pain syndrome, is a chronic pain condition that typically affects one specific limb — an arm, hand, leg, foot — after an injury to a specific area or to a specific nerve. Injuries can be caused by burns, surgery, trauma, strain,
Some other common CRPS symptoms to watch out for include:
Once diagnosed, Dr. Prabhakar at Aviator Pain & Spine can treat your CRPS using some of the of the following techniques:
Sympathetic nerve block
A sympathetic nerve block is an injection of an anesthetic into the sympathetic nerves in
your spine. Depending on the location of your pain, the team may inject the block into the
sympathetic nerves toward your neck or lower spine. These blocks often provide weeks, if not
months, of lasting pain relief.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy exercises can help improve strength and muscle movement in your affected
limb to increase mobility. Other physical therapy treatments include transcutaneous electrical
nerve stimulation (TENS), aquatic therapy, desensitization, and more.
Aviator Pain & Spine works with you to design the most effective CRPS treatment plan possible. To schedule an appointment, call or book online.
Workers Compensation
Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that pays to treat any injury or illness that occurs while you’re engaged in assigned duties during work hours. You’re not covered, however, if your injury was the result of alcohol or drug abuse, or misconduct, such as fighting on the job.
Under Georgia law, every employer who has three or more employees is required to provide workers’ compensation. Additionally, you’re automatically covered from your first day on the job.
Workers’ compensation pays for all authorized doctor and hospital bills, physical therapy, and prescriptions. The insurance covers medical or vocational rehabilitation if needed for you to return to work. You’re also entitled to weekly compensation benefits if you can’t work for more than seven days.
The first step is to immediately report the injury to your employer. If you wait longer than 30 days, you may forfeit your right to benefits.
The next critical step is to get medical care as soon as possible. You’ll need to choose an approved doctor, which includes the team at Aviator Pain & Spine.
The doctors at Aviator Pain & Spine provide the support you need to ensure you receive your workers’ compensation benefits, including:
The doctors at Aviator Pain & Spine have extensive experience diagnosing and treating virtually every work-related injury resulting in neck, back, arm, leg, joint, and abdominal pain. These are a few examples of work-related injuries they frequently treat:
Your doctor creates a customized treatment that draws from interventional pain management, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and the judicious use of medication.
Whether you’re injured due to lifting, carrying, falling, repetitive motion, or an accident involving tools or vehicles, the care you need is available at Aviator Pain & Spine. To schedule an appointment, call the office or use the online booking feature.
Chest Pain
Intercostal neuralgia is a painful condition that develops because of compression or damage to your intercostal nerve. This nerve is part of your somatic nervous system and is responsible for muscle activity and sensory information in the muscles around your ribcage as well as your chest cavity.
Damage to the nerve may develop from many causes, including:
In some cases, there’s no apparent cause of the nerve pain.
Intercostal neuralgia generally causes stabbing or burning pain in your upper chest, around your ribs, or your upper back. You may also feel a squeezing sensation around your chest and back, tingling, or numbness.
Your pain may be triggered by the lightest of activities, such as breathing, sneezing, or laughing, which can have a significant effect on your quality of life.
In severe cases, intercostal neuralgia may cause muscle twitching, paralysis, or muscle atrophy.
No single test can diagnose intercostal neuralgia. Your physician at Aviator Pain & Spine may need to perform diagnostic tests to rule out other causes of your pain before they make a formal diagnosis.
During an evaluation, your doctor reviews your symptoms and your medical history. Your provider then performs a physical exam that may include an assessment of your intercostal nerve. To rule out other causes, your doctor may perform a neurological exam, X-rays, MRI, or lab work.
The pain specialists at Aviator Pain & Spine develop individualized treatment plans for the management of intercostal neuralgia. Initially, the team may take a conservative approach to alleviate your pain with medication management. This approach may include antidepressants or anti-seizure medication, as well as physical therapy.
If your pain fails to improve with medication management, the team may suggest interventional pain management treatments, such as a nerve block or a thoracic epidural.
For chronic intercostal neuralgia, the team may suggest placement of a peripheral nerve stimulator, which is a device that delivers a mild electrical pulse to the nerve to alter the signal and reduce your pain.
For expert care of your intercostal neuralgia, call Aviator Pain & Spine, or request an appointment online today.
At Aviator Pain & Spine, we welcome a wide variety of insurances, some of which are below. Please note that this list is not comprehensive. Please give us a call at 706-222-4559 in case you carry an insurance that is not listed below. We are happy to verify coverage and discuss alternative options if needed!
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