Dr. Mark Matsunaga, MD
Pain Management Specialist | Pain Medicine
10710 Charter Dr Columbia Maryland, 21044About
Dr. Mark Matsunaga is an anesthesiologist practicing in Columbia, Maryland. Dr. Matsunaga ensures the safety of patients who are about to undergo surgery. Anesthesiologists specialize in general anesthesia, which will (put the patient to sleep), sedation, which will calm the patient or make him or her unaware of the situation, and regional anesthesia, which just numbs a specific part of the body. As an anesthesiologist, Dr. Matsunaga also might help manage pain after an operation.
Board Certification
AnesthesiologyAmerican Board of AnesthesiologyABA- Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Provider Details
Dr. Mark Matsunaga, MD's Expert Contributions
Can knee arthritis pain be treated?
The treatment for arthritis, no matter what joint you are having pain in, should be the same.... Manage the symptoms. Arthritis is usually a progressive disease and NO CURE has been proven. Managing instead of dealing with the symptoms is the goal. There are interventions available, to assist in the pain, Range of motion and strength of the joint. Preventing progression of the disease is the long term goal. Arthritis is not a disease to just "deal" with but must be managed for optimal quality of life and daily function. Tools to utilize vary from meds, to physical therapy, to bracing, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, topicals, Heat/ice, injections (steroids, gels, regenerative products), etc. Lots of tools in the toolbox. READ MORE
What helps with pain after hand surgery?
There are lots of options from medication options- NSAIDS, tramadol, opioids, anticonvulsants, local anesthetics, or muscle relaxants. Can also try electircal stimulation, cold laser therapy, Ice/heat, Topicals, bracing, Occupational or Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, meditation, etc. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional, because pain is treatable. READ MORE
Can you fix lower back pain?
Many causes of back pain, so much more detailed info would be necessary to help guide you through the treatment or management options. Several basic details of how it started, where it is, when it comes, what makes it better or worse, constant, intermittent, radiating down the butt or leg, how far down the leg, numbness or tingling, bowel or bladder or weakness in legs, prior interventions like surgery, medications, PT, chiro, acu, or injections, or disabling or bothersome, quality of life, etc etc etc.. READ MORE
Do I need to go to the hospital
Going to the hosp ER is not unreasonable if the pains are new and unexpected. Going to the Urgent care, ER would also be reasonable with any fever/Chills, or associated with new onset of nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. If just pain, could just wait and see if pain subsides without going and getting examined, bld work, and may be MRI's and a general surgical evaluation. READ MORE
Leg swollen in back by calves
One sided swelling and pain needs to be worked up to rule out a deep vein thrombosis. If any chest pain or shortness of breath, is a trip to the ER. Otherwise need to get a doppler study or ultrasound of your venous system to make sure you don't need any urgent treatment. READ MORE
Pain
The numbness and tingling in the upper thigh is most likely coming from either your spine or a pinched nerve in your groin. A pinched nerve in the spine, herniated disc, foraminal stenosis, sciatica, can cause symptoms in the thigh, usually also associated with pain. The other potential cause is a pinched nerve as it travels through your groin under your inguinal ligament. Often getting pinched with weight changes. Work ups and treatments vary a bit, but try not to let it persist, as it can become permanent. READ MORE
Chronic pain since 1997. I need a doctor that will help me.
Your in a tough position. You need to find a clinician who will review your records, do an exam, and prescribe pain medications. Most clinicians hesitate to prescribe opiates secondary to all the recent reglations set by the DEA And state. If you need a second opinion, look at my web page. www.ComprehensivePainCenter.net READ MORE
Can a psychiatrist treat chronic pain?
A trained psychiatrist should be able to provide, distraction techniques, behavior modification, hypnosis, and coping stratagies, all which can help manage painful issues. READ MORE
I have pain in my back and legs?
You may have caused some irritation or damage to your spine and the nerves that exit the spine and provide sensory and motor function to your legs. If the pains going into the legs are including, besides pain, any numbness or tingling, you may need a work up (neurological symptoms). If you have rested for several days, it may be time to see a MD and get a prescription for some medications and physical therapy and possibly a work up with, besides a physical exam, some imaging (like x-ray or MRI). READ MORE
How long does spinal anesthesia pain last?
The trauma from a spinal needle into the spinal space is usually not an issue. If the approach into the spinal space was not direct, but the needle had to kinda bounce off of bone to find the space, which is sometimes very difficult to find, there could be some, usually temporary, pain. If there are associated symptoms like, headaches, that are positional (worse standing than laying down), the pain could be a dural puncture headache. Either trauma can and usually diminishes on its own. A spinal headache may need futher interventions, like a blood patch, to seal the puncture site into the spinal space by the spinal needle. READ MORE
Does physical therapy help headaches?
There are too many causes of headaches to say that PT helps all of them. For the most part it usually does not make it worse. Cluster headaches, tension headaches, migraines, with or without Aura's, occipital headaches, etc, etc. Each has a different w/u and treatment, some PT is very helpful. READ MORE
Is there physical therapy after hip replacement?
Yes, one should participate in PT after a hip replacement. It can help healing and prevent further loss of function. Manage the pain and follow the recommendations from the surgeon. READ MORE
How long does physical therapy last for vertigo?
Phyisical therapy can be very helpful in the treatment of vertigo. There are some specific treatments that can last various time periods and sometimes repeated treatments can be helpful. READ MORE
Is it bad to take painkillers every day?
It is not ideal, but if needed, pain medications can be used appropriately with minimal risks. Alternatives in treatment should always be explored and a firm diagnosis for the diagnosis of the headaches should be made. Quality of life must be balanced with the risks of the therapy. READ MORE
Dr. Mark Matsunaga, MD's Practice location
Columbia, Maryland 21044Get Direction
Dr. Mark Matsunaga, MD's reviews
Write ReviewPatient Experience with Dr. Matsunaga
Recommended Articles
- Scoliosis Pain: Treatment, Management, and Exercises
Scoliosis is a serious condition that often occurs more in females than in males. The condition itself can be hard to diagnose at the start, which is why the healthcare professional will subject the patient to several tests, including asking them to touch their toes as well as to find out if their...
- Is Tramadol a Narcotic?
Most tramadol users are not aware of the drug's specifications. Therefore, there is always confusion as to whether tramadol is a narcotic or not. The truth of the matter is that this medicine works like a narcotic but is not categorized as one. It is only referred to as "narcotic-like".Tramadol is...
- What Is Diclofenac?
What is diclofenac?Diclofenac is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory medicine that belongs to the drug class called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Different types of pain such as dental pain, muscle pain associated with injury or surgery, and migraine can be treated by diclofenac. Redness...
- Tylenol-Codeine Side Effects
OverviewTylenol (acetaminophen) and codeine are used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain. Aside from pain, acetaminophen is also used to reduce fever. Tylenol is not a habit-forming drug. However, when this drug is taken in large dosages, serious liver damage including other negative side...
- What Is Shingles?
What are shingles?Shingles is a painful rash in the skin caused by the chicken pox virus, varicella-zoster. This skin condition usually appears in the form of a band, strip, or a small area in the body. Shingles is sometimes referred to as herpes zoster. ...
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
What is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy?Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is also medically termed as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD). This is a condition which often leads to chronic pain in which high levels of nerve impulses are sent to the affected area. There are studies that...
Nearby Providers
- Dr. Levi Pearson M.D.2101 Medical Park Dr Silver Spring MD 20902
- Dr. Monica L. Wallace MD10810 Connecticut Ave Kensington MD 20895
- Dr. Alina Grigore MD22 S. Greene Street Baltimore MD 21201
- Dr. Haddi Ogunsola M.D.6310 Stevens Forest Road Columbia MD 21046
- Dr. Kumudhini Hendrix MD22 S GREENE ST BALTIMORE MD 21201
- Uma Prabhakar301 Hospital Drive Glen Burnie Maryland 21061