Villanueva Institute of Pain and Spine
Personal Injury Pain Management in Burbank, CA
An accident can lead to pain that continues well beyond the initial injury, particularly when the spine, joints, muscles, or nerves are involved. Neck pain after a collision may begin to radiate into the shoulders or arms or contribute to headaches, while an injury to the lower back can produce symptoms that extend into the hips or legs. Even when there is no fracture or immediately obvious structural damage, persistent pain can still affect sleep, work, exercise, mobility, and the ability to move through daily life comfortably.
I’m Dr. John Villanueva, and at my practice, the Villanueva Institute of Pain and Spine (VIPS), I evaluate and treat patients who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, falls, and other personal injury incidents. As a physician double board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, or PM&R, and Pain Medicine, I look at both the source of your pain and the effect the injury is having on your function.
I also hold a Certificate in Life Care Planning, which provides additional perspective when considering how a significant injury may affect future function, ongoing medical needs, and quality of life.
You can learn more about my background and training. For questions about a personal injury referral, call our Burbank office at (818) 669-8895 or contact us online. We are located in Burbank and see patients from Glendale, Pasadena, Van Nuys, Toluca Lake, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Sun Valley, La Cañada, La Crescenta, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and communities throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area.
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Pain After an Accident
After an accident, you may feel pain immediately, or certain symptoms may become more noticeable as inflammation, muscle guarding, or nerve irritation develops. An injury to one part of the body may also cause symptoms somewhere else. A cervical spine problem, for example, may contribute to shoulder or arm symptoms, while an injury involving the lower back can produce pain, numbness, or tingling into the leg.
My role is to determine what may be contributing to those symptoms and what treatment is medically appropriate.
I review the history of the accident, previous treatment, available medical records, and imaging. I also perform a physical and neurological examination so that we can connect what you are feeling with the clinical findings.
Conditions I Evaluate
Personal injury referrals may involve:
- Neck pain and whiplash related symptoms
- Chronic back pain
- Herniated discs
- Sciatica and radicular pain
- Nerve pain
- Headaches
- Shoulder and knee pain
- Muscle and myofascial pain
- Joint pain
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS
- Persistent pain following an injury or surgery
When symptoms suggest possible nerve or muscle involvement, I can also perform EMG and nerve conduction studies when appropriate.
A Thorough Injury Evaluation
I want to understand more than the location of your pain. A thorough injury evaluation also considers how your symptoms have changed the way you move through daily life, whether that means difficulty sitting or driving, returning to work, sleeping comfortably, lifting, exercising, or participating fully in physical therapy.
When imaging is available, I personally review the MRI, CT scan, or X-ray images whenever possible rather than relying on the radiology report alone. I then consider those findings alongside your symptoms and physical examination because an abnormality on imaging does not always explain the pain a patient is experiencing.
By bringing these pieces together, I can develop a clearer picture of the injury, its functional impact, and the treatment options most likely to support your recovery.
Personalized Pain Treatment
A personal injury consultation at VIPS begins with understanding the nature of the injury, the severity and pattern of your symptoms, the treatment you have already received, and the extent to which pain is affecting your daily function. From there, I can determine which next steps are medically appropriate and most likely to support meaningful recovery. Not every patient benefits from an intervention, and I believe that distinction matters. If I do not think a procedure is likely to improve your condition, I will be clear about that and recommend a more appropriate path, whether that means continued conservative care, further evaluation, or consultation with another specialist.
Depending on the findings from your evaluation, your treatment plan may include one or more of the following:
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy to support mobility, strength, and functional recovery
- Additional diagnostic testing to clarify the source of persistent or evolving symptoms
- Epidural steroid injections for certain forms of spine-related and radiating pain
- Medial branch blocks to help identify pain arising from the spinal facet joints
- Radiofrequency ablation for appropriately selected patients with facet-related pain
- Nerve blocks to target specific sources of nerve-related pain
- Joint injections for painful or inflamed joints
- Trigger point injections for myofascial pain and persistent muscle tightness
- Medication management when appropriate for symptom control
- Other image-guided interventional treatments selected according to the diagnosis and clinical findings
Certificate in Life Care Planning
My Certificate in Life Care Planning complements my training in PM&R and Pain Medicine by adding another dimension to the way I evaluate serious and potentially lasting injuries. It encourages a broader assessment of how an injury may affect not only a patient’s current symptoms, but also future function, independence, and medical needs. This perspective aligns closely with the way I already approach pain medicine. Rather than viewing an injury only in terms of today’s pain level, I consider how it may influence the patient’s function over time and what care may be necessary to support the highest possible level of independence and quality of life.
Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, life care planning may take into account considerations such as:
- Ongoing medical treatment and specialist care
- Physical rehabilitation and therapy needs
- Medications, medical equipment, or assistive devices
- Mobility and the ability to perform daily activities independently
- Home, transportation, or accessibility needs
- The potential need for personal assistance or supportive care
- Long-term effects on work, recreation, and overall quality of life
Communication With Your Care Team
Personal injury care can involve several people and offices, which makes clear communication especially important.
With appropriate authorization, our team communicates with referring physicians, attorneys, therapists, and other authorized professionals involved in your case. I carefully document my evaluation, clinical findings, treatment recommendations, and response to care so that the people involved have an accurate understanding of your treatment.
Good communication helps keep care organized and reduces the chance that important information gets lost as you move between providers.
Personal Injury Referrals to VIPS
If you have been injured in an accident and continue to experience neck, back, joint, muscle, or nerve pain, I can provide a thorough evaluation and help determine what treatment may be appropriate.
VIPS welcomes appropriate personal injury referrals from Burbank and throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Call (818) 669-8895 or contact VIPS for more information about scheduling a personal injury consultation.
Personal Injury FAQs
Here are answers to common questions about personal injury pain management at VIPS. If you have questions about a referral, call (818) 669-8895 or contact us online.
When should I see a pain management doctor after an accident?
If pain continues despite initial treatment, begins interfering with normal activity, or includes symptoms such as radiating pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness, a pain management evaluation may be appropriate. You may also be referred when your physician wants a more detailed evaluation or additional treatment options.
What should I bring to my personal injury appointment?
Bring any relevant medical records, imaging reports, prior treatment information, and referral documents you have. If possible, bring the actual MRI, CT scan, or X-ray images so I can review them personally.
Can pain from a car accident appear days later?
Yes. Some symptoms become more noticeable after the initial accident, particularly as inflammation, muscle tension, and movement patterns change. If new or worsening symptoms develop, they should be medically evaluated.
Can I continue physical therapy while receiving pain management care?
Often, yes. Pain management and rehabilitation frequently complement one another. In some cases, improving pain control can make it easier to participate effectively in physical therapy.
Will I need an injection for my injury?
Not necessarily. An injection is only one possible treatment. I first evaluate the injury and determine whether a procedure is appropriate. Continued rehabilitation, diagnostic testing, medication management, or another specialist may make more sense depending on the findings.
Does VIPS communicate with my attorney or referring physician?
When appropriate and authorized, yes. Our office can communicate with the professionals involved in your care and provide relevant medical documentation so that your evaluation and treatment plan are clearly understood.
Can pain from an accident become chronic?
Yes. Some injuries improve within a predictable recovery period, while others lead to symptoms that persist for months or longer. Ongoing pain may be related to nerve irritation, joint or disc injury, altered movement patterns, or other factors that deserve a closer evaluation.
What if my MRI looks normal but I still have pain?
A normal or relatively unremarkable MRI does not mean your symptoms are not real. Imaging is only one part of the evaluation. I also consider your physical and neurological examination, the pattern of your symptoms, how the injury occurred, and how your function has changed.
Can a personal injury evaluation include nerve testing?
Yes, when your symptoms suggest possible nerve or muscle involvement. EMG and nerve conduction studies may be useful for evaluating symptoms such as numbness, tingling, weakness, or radiating pain when additional diagnostic information is needed.
How does pain management fit into a larger personal injury case?
Pain management can serve as one part of a broader care plan that may also involve primary care, orthopedics, neurology, physical therapy, surgery, or other specialties. My role is to evaluate the pain-related aspects of the injury, recommend appropriate treatment, and communicate clearly with the other authorized professionals involved in your care.
Why is documentation important after a personal injury?
Clear medical documentation helps create an accurate record of your symptoms, examination findings, imaging, treatment recommendations, and response to care over time. It also helps the professionals involved in your treatment understand how the injury has affected your function and what additional care may be appropriate.