Daniel E. Nelson, MD

Daniel Nelson, MD, is board-certified in anesthesiology, with special certification in interventional pain medicine. He has a special interest in chronic neck and low back pain, joint pain, chronic post-surgical pain, occipital and cervicogenic headache, cancer pain, refractory arthritis pain and regenerative medicine including the treatment of arthritis with stem cell and platelet rich plasma injection therapy.

Dr. Nelson is committed to a compassionate approach towards alleviating pain, restoring health, and improving the quality of life for his patients. He employs a rational evidence-based approach to chronic pain using a comprehensive interventional approach which starts with a consultation and ordering medically necessary testing, referrals to specialists, and coordinating physical and manual therapy as well as psychological testing or counseling, if needed. If appropriate, he will initiate an interventional plan that will employ image-guided nerve blocks or injections for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. In some cases, he may recommend procedures and technologies such as radiofrequency ablation of pain generators or an implantable device, but only after noninvasive options have been exhausted. Other issues may need to be addressed including weight loss or gain, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

Dr. Nelson is a founding member and Director-at-Large of the Washington Society of Interventional Pain Physicians. He is on the forefront of the latest innovations in spine therapy and is the first and leading physician in Washington State to implant the Boston Scientific Vertiflex procedure for spinal stenosis.

On multiple occasions, Dr. Nelson has been invited to be a guest lecturer at the University of Washington Pain Medicine Fellowship program and has been actively involved in the teaching of pain fellows, medical students, and physician assistants. He has also served as a consultant and speaker to a variety of organizations.

In his off time, he enjoys hiking, biking, golfing, skiing, and mountain climbing. He is active in Climb for Captives and Rescue Freedom International, an organization working on behalf of victims of human trafficking.