St. Charles and the Tri-Cities sit farther out, but I see a steady stream of patients who make the drive — about 35 to 40 minutes via Randall Road and I-90 — for interventional pain care that targets the source of the problem.
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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles patients tend to fall into a few groups:
- Active Fox River residents near downtown St. Charles and the riverfront who want to stay active.
- Equestrians and outdoor-property owners across western Kane County managing years of wear on the spine and joints.
- Older residents managing spinal stenosis, compression fractures, and arthritis.
- Patients whose earlier injections did not hold and who want a fresh, methodical diagnostic look.
The procedures my St. Charles 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 St. Charles 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 St. Charles
From St. Charles, Randall Road north to I-90 east toward Hoffman Estates — about 35 to 40 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 St. Charles-area primary care doctor on every note.
Call: (847) 981-3630 Online: Request an appointment
Frequently asked questions from St. Charles patients
How long is the drive from St. Charles?
About 35 to 40 minutes via Randall Road and I-90.
Will you coordinate with my St. Charles or Tri-Cities primary care doctor?
Yes. I copy your primary care physician and any referring specialist on every note.
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.