Midwest Anesthesia & Pain Specialists

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Des Plaines, IL
Midwest Anesthesia & Pain Specialists

The largest and most innovative interventional pain management practice in the Chicago area.
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Midwest Anesthesia and Pain Specialists (MAPS) is a Chicago based medical practice specializing in the fields of both anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine. Founders Darrel Saldanha MD, Thomas Pontinen MD, and Andrei Rakic MD are all double board certified in the fields of both anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine. Now with seven locations, MAPS is the largest and most innovative interventional pain practice in the Chicagoland area.

03/08/2026

Happy International Women's Day! 🌸

Anne Frank once said: "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

For us, improving the world looks like making sure women no longer have to wait for answers, for relief, or for someone to take their pain seriously.

To every woman managing chronic pain: your strength is seen, and the MAPS team is here for you!

03/06/2026

Celebrating all MAPS physicians, practitioners, and staff on this National Employee Appreciation Day! 💙

Sending gratitude to our MAPS team across all eight Chicagoland locations. Your expertise, compassion, and dedication touch patients’ lives every day, creating a supportive experience that reflects the heart of our practice. Thank you for everything you do to make a difference.

03/05/2026

Understanding Neck Pain: Causes You Shouldn't Ignore 🚨

Neck pain isn't always just tension; it can signal something that deserves a closer look.

Common Triggers of Neck Pain:

🔹 Muscle strain from poor posture, stress, or prolonged sitting

🔹 Structural issues like disc degeneration, herniated discs, or nerve compression

🔹 Trauma or injury from accidents, sports, or sudden movement

Identifying the root cause, whether muscular, structural, or neurological, is what shapes an effective treatment plan.

At MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago, our specialists assess all three to build a personalized approach that relieves pain and prevents long-term complications.

👉 Read the full blog to learn more about effective, non-surgical treatment for your neck pain:

https://www.mwpain.com/what-causes-neck-pain-common-triggers/

03/04/2026

March is National Nutrition Month 🥗

This month is a reminder to prioritize healthy habits that fuel your body and support overall well-being, including managing chronic pain. Simple, mindful choices can make a big difference.

🥬 Eat nutrient-rich foods: such as leafy greens, berries, fatty fish, nuts, and whole grains.

💧Stay hydrated: aim for 8-10 cups of water daily

🍠 Balance your diet: include protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to support energy and reduce inflammation

Making healthy choices for your body is a simple way to support long-term wellness.

Fuel your body, and feel your best. 💪

03/03/2026

Struggling with Neck Pain?

At MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago, we specialize in non-surgical neck pain treatments that target the root cause, whether it’s muscle strain, posture, disc problems, or nerve compression. Our goal is to help you regain mobility, reduce discomfort, and prevent pain from becoming chronic.

Common neck symptoms we treat:

• Stiffness
• Headaches
• Numbness, or weakness.

Our blog includes:

✔️ A comprehensive evaluation to pinpoint the cause
✔️ Evidence-based, non-surgical treatment options
✔️ Strategies to improve posture, strengthen muscles, and enhance daily function
✔️ Long-term relief that helps you stay active and productive

Read the full blog to learn how MAPS Centers for Pain Control can help you find neck pain relief.

https://www.mwpain.com/neck-pain-relief-in-chicago-causes-symptoms-and-non-surgical-treatment-options/

02/28/2026

Still living with chronic knee pain after trying everything? There may be one more option worth knowing about. 🦵

A peripheral nerve stimulator is a small implanted device, roughly the size of a pinky tip, with two thin leads that sit on either side of the thigh bone above the knee. It works by using a gentle electrical current to block pain signals from traveling from the knee joint to the brain. The result? Permanent relief, for as long as the stimulator is in place.

At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, our team specializes in advanced solutions for complex, lasting pain.

Watch the full video and visit our website to learn more: https://www.mwpain.com/knee-pain/

02/26/2026

Are you struggling with lower back and leg pain? Understand and Target sciatic pain. 🎯

Sciatica is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body, which runs from the lower back down one or both legs. Symptoms often affect one side or worsen with movement.

Symptoms Include:

• Radiating Pain
• Numbness or tingling
• Muscle weakness

Key causes of sciatica:

• Herniated discs
• Trauma or injury
• Bone spurs or spinal stenosis
• Sedentary lifestyle

MAPS in Chicago offers personalized, minimally invasive treatments for sciatica that target pain at its source, rather than just masking symptoms. Our team specializes in a spectrum of interventional pain management solutions to relieve chronic pain without the need for invasive surgery.

Take the first step toward finding pain relief at MAPS. Schedule a consultation and learn how MAPS can address your sciatic pain. https://www.mwpain.com/contact-us/

02/21/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about neuromodulation? That it's permanent and irreversible.

The reality: spinal cord stimulators are removable, adaptable, and can even be updated with improved technology over time, without requiring a full device exchange. It's a long-term solution to chronic pain that doesn't lock patients in.

At MAPS Centers for Pain Control, our team is committed to making sure patients have the information they need to feel confident in their care decisions.

Learn more online: https://www.mwpain.com/neuromodulation/

02/19/2026

“Dr. Pontinen is a great physician who takes time to provide the best individual care for his patients. The front staff is friendly and efficient. Greatly recommend MAPS for anyone in need of pain relief.”

- Glenn P.

At MAPS, our goal is always to deliver personalized, compassionate care to every patient. Thank you, Glen, for sharing your positive experience with your provider, Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C, and our team.

02/17/2026

Sciatic Dianosing: What to Expect: 🦵

Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The cause can vary from disc issues to joint dysfunction or nerve sensitization. Imaging findings do not always correlate with symptoms.

Understanding the source of irritation helps guide the right non-surgical care for long-term relief.

🔍Key steps in Diagnosis:

- Review symptom patterns, where the pain starts, where it radiates, and what makes it feel better or worse
- Physical and neurological exam to check reflexes, strength, sensation, and nerve function
- Imaging, such as MRI for discs and nerves or X-rays for alignment
- Diagnostic injections to confirm pain source

Read the full blog to learn how sciatica is diagnosed and what to expect: https://www.mwpain.com/how-sciatica-is-diagnosed-imaging-exams-and-what-to-expect/

02/14/2026

This Valentine’s Day, give yourself the gift of pain relief. 💌

By choosing MAPS for better health and comfort, you’re showing your body the love and care it deserves. The MAPS team of pain management experts, including Double Board-Certified physicians at eight Chicagoland locations, is dedicated to helping you move, feel, and live better every day.

Wishing you a love-filled and pain-free holiday!

02/12/2026

Chronic knee pain holding you back? ❄️ Freeze pain in its tracks with Cryoneurolysis.

Chronic knee pain doesn’t have to hold you back. Cryoneurolysis is a minimally invasive treatment that targets the nerves sending pain signals from your knee, with no surgery required. The result? Pain relief, improved joint function, and a faster return to the activities you love.

🦵 How it works:

• Quick, minimally invasive procedure
• Relief can start immediately or within a few weeks
• Lasts around 3 months and reduces reliance on medications

✅ Ideal if you:

• Need fast relief
• Want to avoid surgery
• Haven’t found success with other treatments

Get back to moving freely with help from MAPS’ knee pain specialists in Chicago.

👉 Schedule your knee pain consultation at MAPS today: https://www.mwpain.com/knee-pain/

Address

9680 Golf Road
Des Plaines, IL
60016

Website

http://www.mwpain.com/

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