Southwest Pain Management: Services, Insurance and First Visits

What is Southwest Pain Management?

Southwest Pain Management is a private outpatient pain practice that serves, in its words, "Los Angeles through Ventura County." It is a physician-led team: one pain management physician and three family nurse practitioners, seeing patients at three offices. Its stated mission is "to empower you to restore function, decrease pain, and live your life to its fullest," and its tagline is "Reducing pain, improving lives."

The practice groups its work into three kinds of care:

• Interventional procedures: image-guided injections, including epidural steroid injections (cervical, lumbar and thoracic), facet joint injections, sacroiliac (SI) joint injections, trigger point injections, joint injections and peripheral nerve blocks.
• Medical management: medication management, opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, surgical pain management (pain care around an operation, not surgery itself) and non-surgical pain treatment planning.
• Restorative therapies: regenerative medicine (such as PRP), acupuncture and physical therapy.

The site says its first visit is "a conversation and an evaluation, not a procedure," that treatment usually starts with conservative options before injections, and that it does not perform surgery. Its logo is a roadrunner, which the practice says stands for "resilience, good luck, motivation, strength and stamina."

Many of the site's service pages carry the line "Medically reviewed by Philip J. Morgan, MD," and the site also runs a blog of about 50 patient articles on topics such as epidural timelines, facet injections, sciatica and insurance.

Who owns and runs it?

The site names Philip J. Morgan, MD as founder and medical director. It says he founded the practice in 1990 after finishing his pain management fellowship, and that he has more than 30 years of experience in pain management. The site does not publish details of the legal entity or any other owners, so if ownership matters to you (for example, for a records request), ask the front desk.

According to his bio page, Dr. Morgan:

• completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, San Diego;
• earned his medical degree from the USC School of Medicine;
• completed a surgical internship and a fellowship in orthopedic rehabilitation at Rancho Los Amigos hospital in Los Angeles, working with teams that managed chronic pain, stroke, head trauma and spinal cord injury;
• completed an anesthesiology residency at UCLA, then a pain management fellowship, also at UCLA.

The practice says its early multidisciplinary rehabilitation work is why it combines injections, medication, therapy and other care into one plan rather than relying on a single treatment.

Is Southwest Pain Management legit?

People usually ask this before booking a procedure or switching pain doctors. Here is what can be checked:

• A public provider record for the physician. The federal NPI registry (NPPES) shows an active record for Philip Morgan, M.D., listing California license G56468 and a mailing address at 3442 Loma Vista Rd., Suite B, Ventura, the practice's Ventura office.
• A public record for a nurse practitioner. The same registry shows an active record for Bridgett Lerma (MSN, APRN, FNP-C), listed as a family nurse practitioner with a California license and the Ventura office address.
• Named providers with bios. Each of the four providers has a bio page listing education and credentials (details below).
• Street addresses, phone and fax numbers for each office, published on every page, plus a stated history going back to 1990.
• Written policies for patients. The site publishes a new patient packet, an epidural steroid injection guide and an opioid treatment agreement process, and says it follows CDC prescribing guidelines.
• Patient testimonials. The site shows 18 short testimonials dated 2019 to 2025. These are chosen and displayed by the practice itself.

You can check a California physician's or nurse practitioner's license yourself on the state's Department of Consumer Affairs license search, and any provider's NPI record on the NPI registry.

The providers

The site names four providers. Credentials below are as the site states them.

The site describes the nurse practitioners as working "alongside Dr. Morgan" in a physician-led team. Their bio pages say they evaluate pain, order and review tests, prescribe and adjust medications and coordinate treatments such as injections and physical therapy referrals. All three bios say they are accepting new patients. The site does not publish which provider works at which office on which days, so ask when you book if you want a specific provider.

What conditions does it treat?

The conditions page lists 24 conditions in four groups, and says spine-related pain is a particular focus.

The site adds that providers also evaluate ankle, elbow, wrist, foot, hand and leg pain, and that if a problem is outside its scope, staff will "help you find the right specialist." You don't need to know your diagnosis before calling: the practice says working that out is the point of the first visit.

Injections and nerve blocks, one by one

These are the procedures that most people search for. The details below (how long it takes, guidance, recovery) are what the practice's own service pages describe. Whether any of them suits you is a decision for you and a clinician after an exam.

What's injected. For epidural, facet, SI joint and joint injections, the site says the medication is a corticosteroid plus a local anesthetic. Trigger point injections use a local anesthetic, a corticosteroid, or sometimes "dry needling" with no medication. Nerve blocks use a local anesthetic, sometimes with an anti-inflammatory.

Treatment and diagnosis. Several pages say an injection also helps confirm where pain comes from: if numbing one joint or nerve changes your pain, that points to it as the source. The facet page says a positive response can lead to a discussion of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a longer-acting procedure on the small nerves to the facet joints.

Before a procedure. The pages say to tell the practice about blood thinners (some may need a short pause), and the epidural guide says to take heart, blood pressure and diabetes medications on the morning of the procedure and to wear loose clothing that gives access to your back. Sedation is described as available for facet and thoracic injections if you are anxious. If sedation is planned, you may need to fast.

Getting home. For epidurals, the site says you need someone to drive you home. For joint injections it recommends a driver in every case, and for nerve blocks it says you need one if the block affects an arm or leg or you have sedation. The practice will tell you ahead of time.

After. The pages describe a short observation period, going home the same day, and a return to normal or light activities within about 24 to 48 hours for most epidural, facet, SI and joint injections, and the same day for trigger point injections. The site lists common side effects as temporary soreness at the injection site, a brief headache, and a short rise in blood sugar for people with diabetes, and says it reviews risks and alternatives at the consultation. It also states plainly that results vary and that it will not guarantee an outcome.

How often. The site's pages give guideline limits on how many steroid injections one region or joint can have in a period, and say spacing protects tissue. The exact limit is set by your provider.

Medication management and opioids

The practice describes medication management as an ongoing process of reviewing, prescribing, monitoring and adjusting pain medicines, led by Dr. Morgan with nurse practitioner follow-up. According to its page, it involves:

• A full medication review of every prescription, over-the-counter drug and supplement, to catch interactions when several doctors prescribe.
• Non-opioid options first. The site lists NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants (gabapentin, pregabalin), antidepressants used for pain (duloxetine, amitriptyline), topical medicines and corticosteroids.
• Structured safeguards when opioids are prescribed: screening, the lowest effective dose, urine drug testing, checks of the state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), and tapering support.
• Follow-up visits every one to three months for most patients on chronic pain medication, and possibly monthly for patients on opioid therapy.
• Coordination with your primary care doctor and other specialists.

Will they prescribe opioids? The practice's article on the topic says pain doctors can, that "most of our patients are managed with combinations of interventional procedures and non-opioid medications," and that opioids are not typically prescribed at a first visit. If you already take opioids, it says your current medication will be reviewed rather than changed abruptly. Patients whose care may involve opioids review and sign an Opioid Treatment Agreement & Informed Consent with their provider in the office.

Opioid use disorder treatment

Southwest Pain Management also offers treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), which it describes as "confidential," "non-judgmental" and medically supervised. According to its page, the program includes:

• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT): buprenorphine (Suboxone), prescribed in the office so there are no daily clinic visits, and naltrexone (a daily tablet or a monthly injection, Vivitrol), which the site says is generally for patients who have completed detox.
• Counseling and behavioral support: cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention planning, individual counseling and referrals to group therapy.
• Ongoing support: regular follow-up, urine drug screening, coordination with mental health providers and tapering guidance when appropriate.

The practice points out that it is a pain practice first, so patients who developed dependence while treating a real pain condition can have their pain treated alongside recovery. It also says OUD treatment records are covered by the federal confidentiality rule 42 CFR Part 2, which is stricter than standard HIPAA. Whether medication is right for you, and for how long, is decided with your provider.

Pain care before and after surgery

The site is clear on one point: "we do not perform surgery at Southwest Pain Management." Its surgical pain management service is pain care around an operation, coordinated with your surgical team, at three stages:

1. Before surgery: a pain assessment and a plan, particularly for people who already live with chronic pain or opioid tolerance.
2. After surgery: a combination of approaches the site lists as nerve blocks, epidural techniques for major procedures, non-opioid medicines with short-term opioids only when necessary, and early physical therapy.
3. Long after surgery: care for pain that never settled, including failed back surgery syndrome. The page names spinal cord stimulation (a small implanted device, with a temporary trial first) and intrathecal drug delivery (a "pain pump") as advanced options. The site has no separate page for these, so ask whether they are done by the practice or arranged through a referral.

Regenerative medicine, acupuncture and physical therapy

Regenerative medicine. The practice offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, prolotherapy and stem cell therapy, mainly for knee, hip and shoulder problems, tendon problems (tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, plantar fasciitis), ligament laxity and SI joint dysfunction. Its own page opens with "an honest word up front": research on these treatments is "still emerging," they "are not a cure," and results vary. Practical details it gives: a PRP session takes about an hour (blood draw, processing in a centrifuge, injection), many patients have one to three sessions several weeks apart, prolotherapy is usually a series of three to six treatments two to four weeks apart, and stem cell injections use cells from your own bone marrow or fat under local anesthetic. The practice says insurers usually treat PRP and stem cell therapy as investigational, so these are often paid out of pocket.

Acupuncture. Offered alongside conventional care, using sterile single-use needles. The site says a visit usually takes under an hour, there's no downtime, you can drive yourself home, and a series of sessions (often weekly or twice weekly at first) is common. It names fibromyalgia, headaches, myofascial pain and neck, shoulder and back tension as the conditions patients ask about most.

Physical therapy. The site describes programs built from manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, posture and gait training, neuromuscular re-education, heat, cold, electrical stimulation and ultrasound, and aquatic therapy. Sessions run 45 to 60 minutes, one to three times a week, with a home exercise program. It says some plans need a physician referral for therapy, which its providers can supply.

The site does not say where therapy or acupuncture sessions take place or who delivers them, so ask which office offers them and whether they are in-house or referred.

Where are the offices, and what are the hours?

All three offices keep the same hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm. No weekend hours are published, and the site does not mention telehealth visits.

Woodland Hills directions: the site says the office is near the Warner Center area, a short drive from the Topanga Canyon Blvd. exit of the 101 (Ventura Freeway). Parking details are not published for any office, so ask when you book.

Hawthorne patients: the former Hawthorne office on W. 118th Street has closed. The practice says those patients are now seen at the Inglewood office, "a short drive north," with the same team and the same phone number, 310-679-7246.

Can you switch offices? Yes, according to the locations page: "your records and treatment plan travel with you." The site lists the core services (epidural, facet, SI joint and trigger point injections and medication management) as offered across locations, but also says "availability of specific procedures and providers can vary by office," so call ahead to confirm the treatment and provider you want at the office you prefer.

How much does it cost?

Southwest Pain Management does not publish its prices. For self-pay patients, the insurance page says to "contact our front desk for current self-pay pricing and payment options," and that it will "give you clear numbers before you commit to anything." For insured patients, what you pay depends on your plan's copay, coinsurance and deductible.

The practice's FAQ does quote national typical ranges, clearly labelled as national rather than its own: initial consultations of $200 to $500, epidural injections of $800 to $2,500, and physical therapy sessions of $75 to $200, with advanced procedures costing more. Treat those only as a rough sense of scale.

What affects your cost, according to the site:

• Your plan type. High-deductible plans may mean paying the full contracted rate until the deductible is met. Office visits usually carry a specialist copay or go toward the deductible.
• The procedure. Cost-sharing for procedures "varies widely" by plan.
• Where a procedure is done. The practice's insurance article notes that procedures done in a hospital or surgery center can carry a separate facility fee on top of the physician's fee. Ask where yours will be done.
• Whether it is covered at all. Regenerative treatments such as PRP and stem cell therapy are usually out of pocket.

The site does not mention financing or list the payment methods it accepts. The practice's insurance article says patients for whom cost is a barrier should discuss options with the front desk.

Does it take insurance?

Yes. The site says Southwest Pain Management "participates with most major insurance plans," and that most plans, "including Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance," cover pain management when it is medically necessary. Its service pages say Medicare generally covers epidural, facet, SI joint and trigger point injections and medication management visits when medically necessary. The site does not publish a list of accepted plans, so call the office nearest you to check yours.

Points the insurance page makes:

• Referrals: HMO plans typically need a referral from your primary care doctor; PPO plans usually don't.
• Prior authorization: many insurers require it for injections and advanced imaging. The practice says its team submits these requests, that approval can take from a few days to a couple of weeks, and that this is one reason procedures are not done on the day of the first visit.
• Benefit checks: the front desk checks benefits for new patients.
• Denials: the practice says denials can often be appealed and that it can supply extra clinical documentation. You can also choose to pay for a denied service yourself.
• Advance notice: "We will always tell you before any service that may not be covered."

Before you call, the site suggests asking your insurer four things: whether the practice is in network, whether you need a referral, which services need prior authorization, and what your copay, coinsurance and remaining deductible are.

What happens at the first visit

1. Book. Call the office nearest you, or use the appointment request form on the contact page (name, phone, email, preferred office and preferred contact method: call, email or text). The practice says staff will book the visit, verify insurance and tell you what to bring.
2. Do the paperwork. Download the New Patient Packet (written in English and Spanish) from the patient forms page, or arrive about 15 minutes early to fill it in at the office. It asks for your contact and insurance details, medical history, medications, allergies, a description of your pain and treatments already tried, and includes an acknowledgment of the CDC prescribing guidelines the practice follows.
3. Bring: a photo ID and insurance card, imaging reports and discs (MRI, CT, X-ray), records from earlier treatment and physical therapy, a full medication list including supplements, any referral, and a written pain history and goals. No recent imaging? The site says come anyway; the provider can order it.
4. The evaluation. Plan for up to about an hour. You see Dr. Morgan or one of the nurse practitioners, who takes a pain history, does a focused exam (range of motion, strength, reflexes), reviews imaging, explains possible diagnoses "in plain English" and walks through options, usually starting with conservative ones. Time is kept for your questions.
5. No procedure that day. "One thing that will not happen: a same-day procedure." Injections are booked separately, often after prior authorization.
6. Leave with a plan. The site says you leave with a preliminary diagnosis and a proposed next step: a procedure, a medication change, a physical therapy referral, more imaging, or a follow-up.
7. Follow-up. Most patients check in within a few weeks of starting treatment, and the plan is adjusted from there.

Other forms. The Epidural Steroid Injection Guide covers preparation and aftercare and can be downloaded. The Opioid Treatment Agreement is reviewed and signed in the office, so there is nothing to print.

The contact form says it is "not for medical emergencies"; call 911 in an emergency.

How it compares with other options

A rough guide to where a practice like this sits next to other ways people get pain care. These are general categories, not specific businesses.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Questions to ask before you book

• Are you in network with my exact plan, and do I need a referral?
• Which provider will I see, and at which office?
• Is the treatment I'm interested in offered at the office closest to me?
• For a procedure: where is it performed, and will there be a separate facility fee?
• Do you handle the prior authorization, and how long does it usually take with my insurer?
• If I'm paying myself, what is the self-pay price for the visit and the procedure?
• Do I need a driver, and should I pause any medications beforehand?
• Are physical therapy and acupuncture done in your office or by referral?
• For spinal cord stimulation or radiofrequency ablation: do you perform it, or refer out?
• Is there parking at the office, and which entrance do I use?

How to get started

1. Pick the nearest office: Ventura (805-664-1955), Woodland Hills (818-788-0910) or Inglewood (310-679-7246).
2. Call your insurer with the questions above, then call the practice, or send the appointment request form.
3. Download the New Patient Packet and fill it in at home.
4. Read the what to expect page and gather your imaging, records and medication list.
5. Email questions to Southwestpain.mgt@gmail.com, or call during weekday office hours.

Visit Southwest Pain Management

Terms you'll see on the site

• Epidural steroid injection (ESI): an injection of a corticosteroid and local anesthetic into the epidural space around the spinal nerves.
• Cervical, thoracic, lumbar: the neck, mid-back and lower back regions of the spine.
• Facet joints: small paired joints along the back of the spine at each level.
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint: the joint where the base of the spine (sacrum) meets the pelvis.
• Trigger point: a tight, tender knot in a muscle that can refer pain elsewhere.
• Peripheral nerve block: medication placed around a specific nerve outside the spinal canal.
• Fluoroscopy: live X-ray used to guide a needle; contrast dye confirms placement.
• Radiculopathy: a pinched spinal nerve root sending pain, numbness or weakness into an arm or leg.
• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): using heat from radio waves on small nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints.
• PRP: platelet-rich plasma, a concentrate of your own blood platelets injected into a joint or tendon.
• MAT: medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, combining FDA-approved medication with counseling.
• PDMP: the state prescription drug monitoring program, a database prescribers check before prescribing controlled drugs.
• Prior authorization: your insurer's approval of a service before it is done.
• NP-C / FNP-C: a nurse practitioner certification credential; FNP stands for family nurse practitioner.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

All pages checked on 19 October 2026.

1. Home page: southwestpainmgt.com
2. About us: southwestpainmgt.com/about
3. Provider bios: Philip J. Morgan, MD, Bridgett Lerma, NP, Rachel Daling, NP, Anh Thu Le Pham, NP
4. Conditions we treat: southwestpainmgt.com/conditions
5. Services overview: southwestpainmgt.com/services
6. Injection pages: Epidural injections, Cervical epidural, Lumbar epidural, Thoracic epidural, Facet joint, Sacroiliac joint, Trigger point, Joint injections, Peripheral nerve blocks
7. Medical management pages: Medication management, Opioid use disorder treatment, Surgical pain management, Non-surgical pain treatment
8. Restorative pages: Regenerative medicine, Acupuncture, Physical therapy
9. Locations: All locations, Ventura, Woodland Hills, Inglewood
10. Patient pages: What to expect, Insurance & billing, FAQ
11. Patient forms: Forms overview, New patient packet, Epidural steroid injection guide, Opioid treatment agreement
12. Testimonials: southwestpainmgt.com/testimonials
13. Contact and appointment request: southwestpainmgt.com/contact
14. Blog articles: Pain management insurance and costs, Can pain management doctors prescribe opioids?
15. NPI registry (NPPES), Philip Morgan, M.D.: NPI 1548211931
16. NPI registry (NPPES), Bridgett Lerma: NPI 1982279634
17. California Department of Consumer Affairs license search: search.dca.ca.gov