Pain Management in Midtown Manhattan — same-week appointments
Board-certified, Mount Sinai fellowship-trained pain specialist Dr. Alex Movshis. Neck, back, and shoulder pain, chronic migraine, and cervical dystonia — diagnosed by exam on the first visit, treated with image-guided, non-opioid procedures. Most commercial PPO plans accepted.
What brings you in?
Five problems account for most of our new patients. Each one is sorted by examination on the first visit, and each has a different first procedure.
Neck pain
Pinched nerve, facet joint, dystonia, or muscle — four sources, four procedures. The exam sorts them.
Cervical epidural · medial branch block & RFA · trigger point injectionsBack pain & sciatica
Disc, facet, SI joint, or a trapped nerve — which one decides whether it is an epidural, a block, or an ablation.
Epidural steroid injection · medial branch block & RFA · SI joint injectionShoulder pain
Frozen shoulder, rotator cuff, a trapped nerve, or referred from the neck — sorted with ultrasound in the room.
Ultrasound-guided injections · PRP · suprascapular nerve blockChronic migraine & headache
Fifteen or more headache days a month is the line for Botox. Headaches from the neck get a nerve block instead.
PREEMPT Botox · occipital nerve block · third occipital nerve RFACervical dystonia
The head turns, tilts, or pulls on its own and a touch to the chin eases it. Treated as a stiff neck for years; diagnosed here on the first visit.
EMG/ultrasound-guided Botox, Dysport, or DaxxifyDo I qualify for Botox for migraines?
A two-minute check of the FDA label and the insurance criteria. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Start the eligibility check →Meet Dr. Alex Movshis
Dr. Movshis is a board-certified pain management specialist and anesthesiologist trained at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. With fellowship training in interventional pain medicine, he brings precision-guided expertise to every patient interaction.
His approach combines advanced diagnostics with minimally invasive procedures, focusing on getting you back to the activities you love — without unnecessary surgery.
Learn More About Dr. Movshis
Why Choose Modal Pain Management?
Mount Sinai Fellowship-Trained
Board-certified with fellowship training in interventional pain medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
In-Office Ultrasound & Fluoroscopy
Image-guided injections performed in-suite — no hospital referral, no waiting weeks for outside imaging.
Same-Site PT, Chiro & IV Therapy
Coordinated non-surgical care under one roof at 369 Lexington Avenue — physical therapy, chiropractic, and IV therapy all on site.
Non-Opioid by Design
Treatment plans built around interventional, regenerative, and rehabilitative care — not pills.
Conditions We Treat
Interventional pain management for a wide range of conditions.
Headaches & Migraines
Treatment for tension headaches, migraines, and other headache disorders.
Learn More About Headaches & Migraines
Back Pain
Effective back pain relief through advanced diagnostic and interventional pain management techniques.
Learn More About Back Pain
Neck Pain
Four neck problems produce the same ache and need four different procedures. The exam separates them on the first visit.
Learn More About Neck Pain
Cervical Dystonia (Spasmodic Torticollis)
Diagnosis and EMG/ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin treatment for cervical dystonia — the head pull, tilt, tremor, and neck pain that get treated as a stiff neck for years.
Learn More About Cervical Dystonia (Spasmodic Torticollis)
Sciatica
Advanced treatment for sciatic nerve pain and lower extremity radiculopathy.
Learn More About Sciatica
Shoulder Pain
Five shoulder problems look identical from the outside and need five different procedures. The exam and an ultrasound in the room separate them on the first visit.
Learn More About Shoulder PainPain that persists after surgery?
Take Dr. Movshis's free 4-minute self-assessment. Eleven questions, including the validated DN4 nerve-pain screener, map your symptom pattern to the peripheral nerve most likely responsible after hernia repair, C-section, hysterectomy, mastectomy, or other abdominal or pelvic surgery. Educational, not a diagnosis — your answers stay on your device.
Insurance
We accept most commercial PPO plans. We verify your coverage before your visit and let you know if your plan isn't one we accept.
What Our Patients Say
Based on 81 Google Reviews
Treatment Options
Advanced, evidence-based treatments tailored to your condition.
Headache & Migraine Injections
Headache and migraine injection therapy — PREEMPT Botox™, occipital and sphenopalatine nerve blocks, and trigger point injections, chosen by headache type.
Botox™ & Neuromodulator Therapy
Botox™, Dysport™, and Daxxify™ for cervical dystonia and muscle spasm, PREEMPT Botox™ for chronic migraine, and off-label masseter injections for TMJ-related jaw pain.
Joint & Soft Tissue Injections
Minimally invasive joint and soft tissue injections including corticosteroid, PRP, and viscosupplementation therapy.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Targeted spinal pain relief through epidural steroid injection therapy.
Medial Branch Block
Diagnostic nerve block that confirms facet joint pain and qualifies you for radiofrequency ablation.
Nerve Blocks
Precision nerve blocks to interrupt pain signals and provide lasting relief.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Advanced radiofrequency treatment for sustained pain relief lasting months to years.
Genicular Nerve Block & Radiofrequency Ablation
Image-guided diagnostic block and therapeutic radiofrequency ablation of the genicular nerves — a non-surgical alternative to and bridge before total knee replacement, with 6–12+ months of relief in 60–80% of correctly selected patients.
SI Joint Radiofrequency Ablation
Image-guided lateral branch radiofrequency ablation of the L5 dorsal ramus and S1–S3 lateral branches — the durable, repeatable option for confirmed sacroiliac joint pain, with 6–12+ months of relief per cycle and no repeat steroid exposure.
Trigger Point Injections
Direct treatment of trigger points to relieve muscle pain and restore normal function.
Muscle Tear & Soft Tissue Repair
Precision diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of partial and complete muscle tears — PRP, ultrasound-guided injections, and structured return-to-activity care.
Physical Therapy
Evidence-based physical therapy to accelerate recovery and prevent future injury.
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections
Image-guided sacroiliac joint injections — the diagnostic gold standard and first-line therapeutic option for SI joint dysfunction, responsible for 15–30% of chronic low back pain.
Hip Joint Injections
Image-guided intra-articular hip injections — diagnostic and therapeutic — for hip osteoarthritis, labral tears, and femoroacetabular impingement, performed under live fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance.
Occipital Nerve Block
An occipital nerve block is a targeted injection of local anesthetic (with or without steroid) around the greater, lesser, or third occipital nerves to diagnose and treat occipital neuralgia, chronic migraine, cluster headache, and cervicogenic headache.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP), drawn from your own blood and concentrated in office, delivers growth factors directly into damaged tendons, ligaments, and joints — with strongest evidence in tendinopathy and mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis.
Stellate Ganglion Block
A stellate ganglion block injects local anesthetic around the cervical sympathetic chain to quiet sympathetic 'fight-or-flight' signaling — used for covered conditions like CRPS and shingles pain, and off-label for PTSD and long COVID.
Latest from Our Blog
Pain management insights, treatment guides, and expert tips.
Does Insurance Cover Botox for Migraines? What Plans Require, and What It Costs If They Don't
Most commercial plans cover Botox for chronic migraine with prior authorization: 15+ headache days, 8+ migraine days, 2 preventives tried. Cost and steps.
Pinched Nerve in the Neck: How to Tell It From a Muscle or Joint Problem — and What Actually Fixes It
A true pinched nerve in the neck sends pain, tingling, or weakness down the arm. Cervical radiculopathy: diagnosis, what heals alone, and when injections help.
CRPS After a Fracture or Cast: The Early Warning Signs That Get Missed
Burning pain worse than your healed fracture explains? The early signs of CRPS, the Budapest criteria, and why the first months matter most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of our new patients come in with one of five problems: neck pain (a pinched nerve, a facet joint, cervical dystonia, or muscle), back pain and sciatica, shoulder pain, chronic migraine and headache, and cervical dystonia. We also treat neuropathic and post-surgical nerve pain, joint and tendon problems, and the headaches that come from the neck. Each plan begins with an examination that names the source and a procedure matched to it, and you leave the first visit knowing the diagnosis, the plan, and the timeline.
Yes. Most patients improve with injections, regenerative techniques, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes. We reserve surgery discussions for cases that truly need it, and we coordinate referrals when a surgical opinion is appropriate.
Some patients notice improvement within days of targeted treatment, while complex or chronic cases progress over several weeks. We set checkpoints to measure function, pain levels, and activity tolerance.
We accept most commercial PPO plans. See the full list on our insurance page. We verify your coverage before your visit and notify you upfront if your plan isn't accepted. We do not accept Medicare, Medicaid, HMO plans, or workers' compensation.
Durability improves when treatment combines interventions with strength, mobility, and habit changes. Follow-ups refine your plan as needs evolve, and early outreach for flare-ups helps prevent setbacks.