S. Blake Kelly, MD in Oklahoma City: Interventional Pain Management with Board Certification in Anesthesiology

S. Blake Kelly, MD is an interventional pain management specialist in Oklahoma City who holds dual board certification in anesthesiology and pain management, practices at a dedicated pain clinic rather than a hospital-based setting, and focuses on injection-based and procedural approaches to chronic pain conditions.

What S. Blake Kelly, MD actually is

Dr. Kelly operates within Oklahoma City's pain management landscape as a physician trained in interventional procedures rather than medication-only management. His credentials include board certification from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, a distinction that matters because not all physicians advertising pain management carry both certifications. Interventional pain specialists like Kelly perform epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, nerve blocks, and other image-guided procedures; this differs from primary-care pain management (limited to oral medications and referrals) and from psychiatry-based pain programs (which emphasize behavioral approaches). Oklahoma City has relatively few interventional pain physicians with dual board credentials, making this specific training noteworthy for patients seeking procedure-based care.

Services and cost basis

Interventional pain practices typically charge separately for the consultation, the procedure, and facility fees, though costs vary widely based on insurance and whether the facility is in-network. Initial consultations generally run $200 to $400 out-of-pocket for uninsured patients; procedure costs depend on the specific injection and can range from $800 to $2,500 before insurance, with the patient responsibility varying by plan. Dr. Kelly's practice handles diagnostic injections (to identify the pain source), therapeutic injections (steroid-based for inflammation), and radiofrequency ablation (to deaden specific nerves). Most insurers, including Blue Cross, Aetna, and United, cover these procedures when medically necessary and performed by a board-certified provider, but approval often requires documentation of failed conservative care (physical therapy, medication trials) first. Verification of coverage and out-of-pocket responsibility before scheduling is essential because authorizations and deductibles change quarterly.

How interventional pain management in Oklahoma City compares

Oklahoma City's pain management market divides roughly into four types: primary-care doctors who manage pain with medication alone, pain psychologists who use behavioral and cognitive approaches, interventional pain physicians like Dr. Kelly who perform procedures, and integrated pain centers that combine multiple approaches. Patients with structural pain sources (herniated discs, arthritic joints, pinched nerves) often benefit first from Dr. Kelly's diagnostic injections to confirm the source; a positive response to a diagnostic block predicts success with a longer-lasting treatment like ablation or a repeat therapeutic injection. Patients with widespread pain without a clear structural cause (fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome) may see better results at an integrated program like those offered at Integris or OU Health, where physical therapy, psychology, and medication work together. Choosing between them depends on whether your pain has an identifiable anatomical location: if it does, an interventional specialist is the logical first procedural option; if it doesn't, a multidisciplinary program is more effective.

Who this suits and who it does not

Dr. Kelly's practice fits patients with localized, chronic pain from a structural problem who have completed or exhausted basic conservative care (physical therapy, NSAIDs, muscle relaxers) and want to avoid long-term opioid use or surgery. It also suits patients who have had some pain relief from previous injections and are due for a repeat procedure or escalation to ablation. It does not suit patients with active infections (because injection carries infection risk), untreated bleeding disorders, or acute pain from a fresh injury (which typically improves with physical therapy and time). It also does not suit patients seeking opioid prescriptions; interventional practices do not typically manage chronic opioid therapy, and requesting one may cause the physician to decline to take on your care.

What the first visit involves

A new patient appointment begins with a detailed history of pain onset, location, radiation pattern, and what movements or positions make it worse or better. The physician performs a physical examination to identify tenderness, range-of-motion limits, and neurological deficits (weakness, numbness, reflex changes). Imaging (X-rays, MRI, or CT from prior studies) is reviewed to identify the probable pain generator. The outcome of the first visit is usually a diagnosis and a recommendation: either proceed directly to a therapeutic injection if the source is clear, order additional imaging if needed, or refer back to physical therapy if the condition hasn't been optimized first. Some patients require a diagnostic injection before a therapeutic procedure to confirm the pain source; if you proceed to a procedure, that typically occurs on a separate visit within one to two weeks.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Dr. Kelly's clinic operates Monday through Friday; specific hours should be verified directly because they vary by facility location within Oklahoma City. Most interventional pain practices ask patients to arrange a driver because sedation may be offered during injections. Parking is typically free and available at the clinic or associated facility. Bring insurance cards, a list of current medications, and any relevant imaging on disc or in digital form if your doctor's office hasn't already transferred records.

S. Blake Kelly, MD fills a specific niche in Oklahoma City's pain care: he offers procedure-based treatment backed by dual board certification, suitable for patients whose pain has a clear anatomical source and who want to avoid surgery or long-term medications.