SUMMARY
Tim J. Lamer, M.D., studies the effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive pain-relieving procedures and surgeries. These procedures and surgeries help treat people with a wide variety of chronic pain conditions, including back pain, neck pain and cancer-related pain.
Focus areas
- Radiofrequency ablation to treat painful spine conditions. Dr. Lamer collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to study and identify the safest and most effective applications for radiofrequency ablation therapies to treat painful spinal conditions.
- Spinal cord stimulation and neuromodulation to treat painful spine and limb conditions. He collaborates within Mayo Clinic and with national and international spine and pain experts. This collaborative group studies and identifies the safest and most effective applications for spinal cord stimulation and other neuromodulation therapies to treat painful spine and limb conditions.
- Evidence-based spine and pain care. Dr. Lamer works with national and international spine and pain management experts to create evidence-based guidelines for the safe, effective use of minimally invasive pain-relieving procedures and surgeries. These guidelines are used to help treat individuals with a variety of chronic painful conditions.
Significance to patient care
A recent study from the National Institutes of Health demonstrated that new cases of chronic pain occur more commonly than diabetes and hypertension. Chronic pain is a frequent cause of distress, decreased quality of life, reduced productivity and loss of wages.
The medical specialty of pain medicine is a relatively new field. And like all of medicine, advances are occurring at a rapid pace. This is excellent news for both medical professionals and people who have pain. As the field of pain medicine advances with new and improved techniques and procedures, hopefully these techniques and procedures will be applied safely and effectively.
Professional highlights
- Member, Therapy Consensus Committee, International Neuromodulation Society, 2016-present.
- Member, Clinical Practice Guideline Committee, North American Spine Society, 2007-2024.
- Pain Medicine:
- Editor, Neuromodulation Section, 1999-2022.
- Member, editorial board, 1999-2022.
- Member, editorial board, Clinical Journal of Pain, 1995-2020.
- Member, Research and Education Committee, North American Neuromodulation Society, 2012-2020.
- American Academy of Pain Medicine:
- Chair, Scientific Review and Guidelines Committee, 2011-2016.
- Member, board of directors, 2011-2016.
- President, 2011-2016.
- Member, editorial board, Pain Physician, 2007-2014.
- Chair, Department of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, 2004-2007.
- Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic in Florida, 1997-2001.