Carol Stream patients make the trip to my Hoffman Estates pain practice in about 28 minutes via Army Trail Road and I-355. Many come for the image-guided spine and joint procedures I focus on.
I am Dr. Keith Schmidt, MD, triple board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology, the American Board of Anesthesiology in Pain Medicine, and the American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians. I focus on the image-guided procedures that treat the source of chronic pain rather than just masking it.
Why Carol Stream patients choose this practice
Interventional pain medicine is a subspecialty, and matching the right procedure to the right pain generator is what makes it work. My Carol Stream patients tend to fall into a few groups:
- Working families and commuters who need durable relief without long downtime.
- Active adults with chronic back, knee, and shoulder pain who want to stay on their feet.
- Older residents managing spinal stenosis, compression fractures, and arthritis.
- Patients whose earlier injections did not hold and who want a fresh diagnostic look.
The procedures my Carol Stream patients come for
These are the treatments patients ask me about most often. Each links to a detailed guide:
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) — lasting relief for facet-mediated back and neck pain and for knee arthritis, after a confirming diagnostic block.
- Basivertebral nerve ablation (Intracept) — a single-procedure treatment for vertebrogenic low back pain from the vertebral endplates.
- Spinal cord and DRG stimulation — for nerve pain, stubborn sciatica, and persistent pain after back surgery.
- Sciatica and radicular pain treatment — epidurals and targeted nerve work for leg pain from a pinched nerve.
- Epidural steroid injections, medial branch blocks, genicular nerve blocks, and kyphoplasty for compression fractures.
Not sure which procedure fits? That is what a consultation is for. I have written plain-English comparison guides on Intracept vs. RFA vs. epidural and RFA vs. medial branch block.
Conditions I treat for Carol Stream patients
- Chronic low back pain, herniated discs, and sciatica
- Neck pain and cervical radiculopathy
- Vertebrogenic (endplate) low back pain with Modic changes on MRI
- Knee, hip, and shoulder pain, including pain after joint replacement
- Spinal stenosis and vertebral compression fractures
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and post-surgical pain
- Chronic migraine and occipital neuralgia
Directions from Carol Stream
From Carol Stream, Army Trail Road east to I-355 north, then I-90 west toward Hoffman Estates — about 28 minutes. My office is at 1555 Barrington Road, DOB 3, Suite 2400, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169.
Insurance and scheduling
Most major plans accepted, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Medicare. We verify benefits before your first visit and coordinate with your Carol Stream-area primary care doctor on every note.
Call: (847) 981-3630 Online: Request an appointment
Frequently asked questions from Carol Stream patients
How long is the drive from Carol Stream?
About 28 minutes via Army Trail Road and I-355.
Can I be seen quickly?
Yes. Most new patients are seen within approximately four weeks, with procedures scheduled shortly after the consultation and any needed diagnostic block.
I have had back surgery and still hurt. Should I come in?
Yes. Persistent pain after spine surgery is one of the strongest indications for spinal cord stimulation, which has excellent long-term data. It is worth a consultation.