John J. Braswell, MD
Interventional Pain Management Physician
As a child, I would reenact rescue scenes from the 1970s show “Emergency!”. By 22 years old, I was a flight paramedic. At 3 AM in freezing temperatures we landed on the interstate responding to a motor vehicle accident and I realized I wanted to do even more for patients.
I entered medical school in 1995, later to be the chief resident in anesthesia, followed by a fellowship in pain management. I am a double board-certified, fellowship trained pain specialist. My exposure providing obstetric anesthesia inspired me to pursue pain management. I was gratified to relieve a patient’s excruciating pain with an epidural procedure, providing a more comfortable birth. Colleagues and fellow students or nurses requesting me specifically was encouraging. This experience gave me motivation to seek a career in the relief of pain and suffering.
I strive to be the most advanced in my field. I’m expert in new neuro-ablative techniques for the sacroiliac joint. I am one of the first 400 United States physicians trained in both trial and implantation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation. This newly FDA-approved technique provides superior pain relief for conditions previously very difficult and resistant to treatment. Spinal cord stimulation originated in 1967. Advances in technology, (specifically burst stimulation FDA-approved October 2016), have rendered earlier systems virtually obsolete. Patients no longer need to adjust or charge their stimulators and are no longer aware of the tingling vibration of older stimulators.
In keeping with the desire to be at the cutting edge of pain management, I am newly affiliated with the Louisiana Regenerative Medicine Center. This is the only center in Louisiana offering stem cells (harvested from your own fat) injected for degenerative spinal conditions.
This is the future.
My philosophy is that I want to help patients understand why they are in pain and what can be done about it. Pain is a very uncomfortable physical and emotional experience. I feel amazing gratification when I alleviate suffering and return a patient to as normal of a life as possible.
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.