Chronic Pain & Inflammation Care in Tampa
Still dealing with pain despite medications, injections, physical therapy, chiropractic care, rest, or other treatments? Dr. Duke looks beyond the painful area to evaluate the pattern, movement limitations, prior injuries, recovery, sleep, stress, and related factors, then builds an individualized plan that may include acupuncture, dry needling, trigger point therapy, and other appropriate support.
Get Started Today:
Understand the Pain Pattern
Review location, duration, triggers, movement limits, prior injuries, and previous care.
Look Beyond One Pain Point
Consider sleep, stress, activity, posture, nutrition, recovery, and related symptoms.
Use an Integrated Plan
Combine appropriate physical medicine and whole-person support with conventional care.
A More Complete Approach to Chronic Pain and Inflammation
When Pain Continues or Keeps Returning
Chronic pain is generally pain that continues beyond normal healing or lasts for several months. It may be constant or come and go, and its effect on life matters as much as the location. Dr. Duke begins with your history, previous evaluation, and the specific activities pain prevents you from doing.
Pain Timeline
Discuss when pain began, how it changed, and what tends to aggravate it.
Movement & Function
Identify limits involving work, exercise, sleep, or daily activity.
Previous Care
Review imaging, diagnoses, medications, therapy, injections, or procedures.
Common reasons patients schedule:
- Recurring back, neck, or shoulder pain
- Muscle tension or trigger points
- Pain after an old injury
- Joint or movement-related discomfort
- Persistent pain with limited progress
Physical Medicine Within a Whole-Person Plan
Depending on the presentation, Dr. Duke may consider acupuncture, dry needling, or trigger point therapy. These services are not appropriate for every condition, and evidence varies by treatment and pain type. Your plan may also address movement, sleep, stress, nutrition, and other factors that influence recovery and daily function.
Acupuncture
May be considered as part of an individualized pain-management approach.
Dry Needling
Targets selected areas of muscular tension when clinically appropriate.
Trigger Point Therapy
Focuses on tight or irritated muscular patterns that may limit movement.
The broader plan may include:
- Physical medicine services
- Activity and recovery guidance
- Posture or movement considerations
- Sleep and stress support
- Coordination with other providers
Safety, Scope, and Appropriate Referral
New severe pain, major trauma, chest pain, loss of strength or sensation, bowel or bladder changes, fever, unexplained weight loss, or rapidly worsening symptoms require prompt conventional medical evaluation. Dr. Duke reviews whether integrative care is appropriate and refers when imaging, emergency care, or specialist management is needed.
Screen for Concerns
Identify symptoms that require urgent or specialist assessment.
Set Realistic Goals
Focus on function, comfort, movement, and daily participation.
Coordinate Care
Integrative support can work alongside physical therapy, medical, or specialty care.
CARE OPTIONS:
- 60-minute in-person initial appointment with Dr. Duke
- Free 15-minute phone consultation if you would like to talk first
- Telehealth visits available
Pain and Restorative Physical Medicine
Acupuncture may be used as one component of an individualized plan for selected pain concerns. Dr. Duke reviews your medical history, pain pattern, and prior care before determining whether it is appropriate and how it should fit with other treatment.
Individual Assessment
Treatment is based on the specific pain presentation.
Integrated Care
Acupuncture may complement—not replace—necessary medical care.
Progress Review
Response and function are reassessed over time.
Common experiences:
- Back or neck discomfort
- Muscle tension
- Recurring pain patterns
- Stress-related tension
- Support alongside other care
Dry needling targets selected muscular or fascial areas and may be considered for stubborn tension or movement-related pain. Suitability depends on the individual, medical history, location of symptoms, and clinical assessment.
Targeted Approach
Focus on selected muscular areas rather than a generic protocol.
Movement Context
Consider how pain changes with activity, posture, and range of motion.
Appropriate Screening
Review health history and contraindications before treatment.
Common experiences:
- Muscular tightness
- Trigger points
- Restricted movement
- Persistent tension
- Recovery support
Trigger point therapy focuses on tight or irritated muscular areas that may contribute to local or referred discomfort. Dr. Duke may combine it with other physical medicine or whole-person recommendations when appropriate.
Pain Mapping
Identify local and referred pain patterns.
Functional Goals
Connect treatment with the movements or activities you want to restore.
Broader Support
Address recovery, sleep, stress, and activity habits.
Common experiences:
- Localized muscle pain
- Referred discomfort
- Tension after activity
- Recurring tightness
- Movement limitations
Why Choose Dr. Duke for Chronic Pain in Tampa
Physical Medicine With a Whole-Person Perspective
Dr. Duke is a nationally board-certified Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Physician. He combines detailed listening, physical medicine, and individualized natural-care strategies while recognizing the limits of complementary treatment and the need for appropriate referral.
Direct Care With Dr. Duke
Your evaluation and physical medicine plan are handled by the practitioner.
Function-Focused Goals
Track movement, sleep, activity, and daily participation—not only pain scores.
Integrated Perspective
Consider physical, lifestyle, and recovery factors together.
Practice highlights:
- Established Tampa practice since 2016
- Over 2,000 patients treated
- 4.9-star rating from 191+ Google reviews
- Free 15-minute phone consultation
Dr. Duke has been pivotal in helping me manage pain from plantar fasciitis and a calcaneus bone spur. He is both keeping me competitive as an athlete and out of pain. I would recommend him to any athlete with simple to highly complex pain or injuries. So grateful for him.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Persistent pain deserves appropriate assessment. Seek urgent care for major trauma, sudden weakness or numbness, bowel or bladder changes, chest pain, fever, or severe and rapidly worsening symptoms.
Back & Neck
- Low-back pain
- Neck stiffness
- Shoulder tension
- Postural discomfort
Muscle Patterns
- Trigger points
- Recurring tightness
- Activity-related pain
- Restricted movement
Joint & Movement
- Joint discomfort
- Pain with exercise
- Reduced mobility
- Slow recovery
Daily Impact
- Interrupted sleep
- Work limitations
- Reduced exercise
- Avoided activities
Previous Care
- Old injuries
- Prior imaging
- Physical therapy history
- Temporary improvement
Ready to Talk?
The Dr. Duke Approach
Dr. Duke reviews the pain timeline, injuries, imaging, prior treatment, movement limits, sleep, stress, activity, nutrition, and related symptoms. He then determines whether acupuncture, dry needling, trigger point therapy, natural-care support, continued conventional treatment, or referral is most appropriate.
Prepare for Your Visit
Bring details that clarify your pain history:
- Relevant imaging or reports
- Medication and supplement list
- Previous therapy or procedure notes
- Activities and movements that affect pain
Your Integrated Plan
The visit is designed to establish realistic next steps:
- Clarify the pain and movement pattern
- Identify appropriate physical medicine options
- Set function-focused goals
- Coordinate or refer when needed
