Media & Community Education
Dr. Tochi Umunakwe Discusses Chronic Pain Treatment on KRWG Public Media
Dr. Tochi Umunakwe joined KC Counts of KRWG Public Media to discuss chronic pain, individualized treatment and options beyond a single approach.
Listen to the Interview on KRWG
Dr. Tochi Umunakwe Joins KC Counts to Discuss Chronic Pain
Dr. Tochi Umunakwe, Founder and Medical Director of Medway Pain Center in El Paso, recently joined KC Counts of KRWG Public Media for a conversation about chronic pain and the range of treatment options available to people living with persistent pain.
The interview, Health news: treating chronic pain, aired on KRWG on September 29, 2026.
During the conversation, Dr. Umunakwe discussed an important message for people living with chronic pain: treatment is rarely one-size-fits-all. Modern pain management may involve several approaches depending on the cause of pain, a patient's medical history, previous treatment and individual goals.
Chronic Pain Treatment Goes Beyond a Single Approach
During the interview, Dr. Umunakwe explained that opioid medications can have an appropriate role for selected patients, but they represent only one part of chronic pain management.
Depending on the patient's condition, treatment may include non-opioid medications, physical therapy and rehabilitation, image-guided injections, epidural steroid injections, joint injections and advanced therapies such as spinal cord stimulation.
At Medway Pain Center, treatment recommendations begin with understanding the patient's symptoms and identifying the likely source of pain. The goal is to develop an individualized plan that considers both pain relief and the patient's ability to function in everyday life.
Why Individualized Pain Management Matters
One of the central themes of Dr. Umunakwe's conversation with KC Counts was that patients experiencing chronic pain should not automatically receive the same treatment.
Two people with similar symptoms or imaging findings may have very different medical histories, previous treatments, functional limitations and goals.
- The location and characteristics of pain
- The duration of symptoms
- Previous injuries, surgeries, medications, therapy or procedures
- Imaging and other clinical findings when appropriate
- Effects on sleep, movement, work and daily activities
- The patient's treatment goals
This individualized approach is central to how Dr. Umunakwe and the Medway Pain Center team evaluate patients with chronic and complex pain conditions.
Pain Management for Veterans and the El Paso Military Community
The interview also addressed chronic pain among veterans and active-duty service members, an especially relevant subject in the El Paso and Fort Bliss community.
Years of physically demanding work, previous injuries and surgery can contribute to persistent musculoskeletal and nerve-related pain. During the KRWG conversation, Dr. Umunakwe discussed Medway Pain Center's experience caring for veterans and active-duty patients with chronic pain.
Medway Pain Center serves veterans, active-duty military members, retirees, military families and other patients throughout the El Paso region. Treatment recommendations depend on each patient's diagnosis, medical history, authorization or insurance requirements, and individual clinical needs.
Helping El Paso Understand Chronic Pain
Toward the end of the interview, KC Counts highlighted the educational information available through Medway Pain Center's website.
Patient education is an important part of pain management. Understanding why pain may be occurring, what treatment options exist and what to expect from an evaluation can help patients have more informed conversations with their healthcare providers.
Medway Pain Center continues to develop educational resources covering pain conditions and treatment options, including back pain, neck pain, sciatica, nerve pain, spinal conditions, minimally invasive procedures and spinal cord stimulation.
About Dr. Tochi Umunakwe
Dr. Tochi Umunakwe is a fellowship-trained interventional pain management physician and Founder and Medical Director of Medway Pain Center in El Paso, Texas. She is double board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and has more than 13 years of medical experience. Her approach emphasizes careful evaluation, individualized treatment planning and minimally invasive treatment options when clinically appropriate.
Listen to the Full KRWG Interview
Listen to Dr. Tochi Umunakwe's complete conversation with KC Counts and read KRWG's transcript: Health news: treating chronic pain from KRWG Public Media.
Listen on KRWGPain Management in El Paso
Medway Pain Center provides interventional pain management at two El Paso locations. Treatment recommendations are individualized and may include conservative care, medication management when appropriate, image-guided procedures and advanced minimally invasive treatments.