Blake Christensen, DO in Oklahoma City: Interventional Pain Management with Same-Day Procedures

Blake Christensen, DO, operates Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center, an interventional pain practice in Oklahoma City that performs injection-based procedures for chronic pain without requiring opioid prescriptions as a primary treatment path. The practice focuses on spine, joint, and nerve pain conditions and offers both diagnostic and therapeutic injections in-office, distinguishing it from pain management clinics that primarily dispense medication or refer patients to surgery.

What Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center Actually Is

Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center is a single-provider interventional pain practice led by Blake Christensen, DO. The clinic specializes in image-guided injections, including epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, sacroiliac joint injections, and peripheral nerve blocks. Unlike pain clinics that rely on oral medication management or opioid prescriptions, this practice uses procedural intervention as the first-line approach for many patients. The practice is located in Oklahoma City proper and serves patients referred from primary care physicians, specialists, and walk-ins with existing diagnoses. It is not a hospital-based pain department; it operates as an independent outpatient clinic, which typically means faster scheduling and lower overhead costs than hospital-affiliated alternatives.

Services and Pricing

Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center offers epidural steroid injections for sciatica, spinal stenosis, and disc herniation. Facet joint injections address localized back or neck pain stemming from degenerative joint disease. Sacroiliac joint injections treat SI joint dysfunction, which mimics sciatica but originates at the SI joint itself. The practice also performs occipital nerve blocks for migraines and cervical medial branch blocks for neck pain.

Pricing varies by procedure type. Epidural steroid injections typically range from $800 to $1,500 depending on approach (transforaminal, interlaminar, or caudal) and imaging requirements. Facet joint injections cost between $600 and $1,200 per joint level. Most procedures include fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance to improve accuracy and safety. The practice accepts most major insurance plans, though coverage and out-of-pocket costs depend on individual plans and deductible status. Patients should verify coverage with their insurance before scheduling, as prior authorization requirements vary by carrier.

How Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center Compares to Other Oklahoma City Pain Options

Oklahoma City has multiple pain management pathways. OU Medicine's pain management department offers comprehensive services including procedures, medication management, and psychology-based pain rehabilitation, but waits for established patients often reach 4 to 6 weeks, and new-patient intake may take longer. Mercy Health Oklahoma City operates a pain clinic with both procedural and pharmacological approaches; it is hospital-affiliated, which can mean higher facility fees but more integrated care coordination if other specialists are involved in your treatment. Integrative pain clinics, such as those emphasizing physical medicine and rehabilitation, focus on therapy and injection rather than medication, but many do not perform as many advanced interventional procedures.

Blake Christensen's practice advantages center on scheduling. Independent interventional practices typically schedule procedures within 1 to 3 weeks, whereas hospital-based centers may require longer waits. This speed matters for patients in acute exacerbations who cannot wait. The trade-off is that independent practices do not offer the breadth of on-site subspecialties; if a patient requires spinal surgery or complex imaging review, referral back to a larger system may be necessary. Choose Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center if your pain condition responds to injection therapy and you prioritize quick access. Choose OU Medicine or Mercy Health if you need ongoing medication management, psychology support, or integrated surgical consultation in a single system.

Who This Practice Suits and Who It Does Not

Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center serves patients with diagnosed spine, joint, or nerve pain conditions for whom injections are appropriate. This includes people with sciatica, spinal stenosis, facet joint pain, SI joint dysfunction, and migraines caused by cervical nerve irritation. It suits patients who have exhausted conservative care (physical therapy, NSAIDs) or need bridge therapy while pursuing other treatment. It also suits those who wish to avoid or delay opioid therapy or spinal surgery.

The practice is not appropriate for patients seeking primary pain medication management, those with systemic pain conditions like fibromyalgia without a specific structural diagnosis, or those not yet evaluated by another physician. Patients with active infections, severe coagulopathy, or allergies to steroids or anesthetics should disclose this during consultation. Those requiring coordinated multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation (physical therapy, psychology, occupational therapy under one roof) may find hospital-based pain centers a better fit.

What the First Visit Involves

New patients must have an existing diagnosis or imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray) and typically arrive 15 minutes early for paperwork. Blake Christensen reviews imaging and medical history, performs a targeted physical examination, and discusses whether an injection is indicated. He explains the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives, and covers what to expect during recovery (typically no heavy lifting for 24 to 48 hours). If a patient is appropriate for a procedure, many practices schedule the injection at a second visit to allow time for consent and planning. Some practices perform the injection the same day if scheduling permits. Confirm with the clinic whether same-day procedures are available or if scheduling a separate procedure date is standard. Patients should plan to bring insurance information, a photo ID, and a list of current medications.

Hours, Parking, and Logistics

Oklahoma Pain Treatment Center operates standard weekday office hours typical for outpatient clinics; confirm exact hours and whether early morning or late afternoon slots exist by calling the practice directly, as these details change seasonally. Parking is on-site or street-accessible in the Oklahoma City medical district. Patients must arrange transportation after sedated procedures; driving is not permitted for 24 hours following procedures using twilight sedation or regional anesthesia. Most procedures are performed under local anesthesia with fluoroscopic guidance, so full sedation is not always used, but clarify with your provider before the appointment.

Blake Christensen's practice represents a direct-access model to intervention for chronic pain in Oklahoma City, eliminating weeks of scheduling delays common at larger hospital systems and offering transparent procedure-based pricing. For patients with structural pain diagnoses who want faster treatment without opioids, it fills a practical gap in the local pain management landscape.