Dr. Shanbhag joined National Spine & Pain Centers in 2012 after several years in private practice in South Carolina.
Experienced and expertly trained, Dr. Shanbhag earned his medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina – College Of Medicine. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Minnesota, followed by advanced fellowship training in Interventional Pain Management and in Electrodiagnostic Medicine. Dr. Shanbhag then went on to complete clinical postgraduate training in Endoscopic & Percutaneous Spine Surgery at Synergy Spine Center. He is one of few physiatrists both nationally and internationally to have completed advanced training in minimally invasive spine surgery.
Board certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine, Dr. Shanbhag treats the spectrum of spine, joint, nerve, muscle, and soft tissue pain, with an emphasis on the therapeutic treatment of spinal disease. He has a particular interest in endoscopic transforaminal (“keyhole”) treatments for spinal stenosis and herniated discs, as well as percutaneous discectomy. His expertise also includes image-guided procedures such as epidural injections, facet blocks, radiofrequency neuroablation, provocation discography, spinal cord stimulators, nerve blocks, joint injections, and soft tissue injections.
He is also engaged in the medico-legal arena for patient healthcare related matters including IME’s, second opinions, worker’s comp, and personal injury.
Dr. Shanbhag approaches every patient with an open and interested mind set and a singular purpose: to quickly identify, locate, and treat their individual and unique source of pain. He provides compassionate care and treatment for each patient as he would for his own family.
Dr. Shanbhag maintains active memberships in numerous spine and pain organizations including the North American Spine Society, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, International Spine Interventional Society, and the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
Patient Success Story
For the better part of 40 years, Jack Inge lived in fear of knowing that the simple act of stepping off a curb might trigger back pain that could leave him flat on his back, nursing pain that was so severe he couldn’t even go to work.
So when Inge walked out of the National Spine & Pain Centers office in Woodbridge, Virginia almost pain free shortly after Ashish G. Shanbhag, M.D., performed radiofrequency neurotomy to the nerves in his lower back (technically known as the lumbar facet medial branches), he couldn’t wait to spread the good news about his procedure.
For Inge, “It was like a miracle.” The treatment has now allowed Inge to play golf three times a week without debilitating pain. “Dr. Shanbhag is a golfer himself so when I told him how my pain was really starting to interfere with my golf game, he knew where I was coming from.”
“I walked out of there 70 to 90 percent pain free,” Inge said. “Dr. Shanbhag hit right on the nerves that were causing my pain. Since then, my pain level has dropped to half of what it was!” – Jack (view full story)
