Pain Management, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic & ENT Doctors in San Diego, CA

San Diego County’s pain care is shaped by three large regional systems, UC San Diego Health, Scripps Health, and Sharp HealthCare, along with Kaiser Permanente, a large military medical presence, and independent pain practices from La Jolla to Chula Vista and Carlsbad.

This San Diego hub lists the pain management providers currently in our directory for the region and explains how Medi-Cal, Kaiser, TRICARE, and California workers’ comp rules affect access to care.

The San Diego hub now also lists dermatology, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) practices, each with a profile for its lead physician; see the specialty sections below.

Featured Providers in the San Diego Area

These practices are currently listed for the San Diego area. Select a listing to see its address, phone number, and services.

• California Pain Consultants – Your journey to pain-free living starts here because you deserve to live without pain.
• Synergy Orthopedics – Mission Valley
• Gavin Kolodge, DO
• PainCare of San Diego
• Michael Moon, MD
• United Medical Doctors – Kearny Mesa
• Nicole Ortiz, MD

Pain Management and Regenerative Treatments in San Diego

Not sure where to start? These are the treatment categories you can explore for San Diego:

• Pain Treatment – Interventional pain physicians who diagnose and treat back, neck, joint, and nerve pain with image-guided injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and neuromodulation.
• Regenerative Medicine – Practices offering orthobiologic treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Many of these treatments are self-pay, so ask for written pricing.
• Recovery & Rehab – Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and recovery-focused care that helps restore function after injury or surgery.
• Longevity & Wellness – Wellness-oriented and preventive practices that may complement medical pain care.
• Med Spa & Aesthetics – Medical aesthetics and med spa providers listed in the directory.

Dermatologists in San Diego

These San Diego-area dermatology practices are listed in our directory. Select a listing for its address, phone number, and lead physician profile. Browse all Dermatology listings.

• Cosmetic Laser Dermatology – lead physician Mitchel P. Goldman, MD (9339 Genesee Ave #300, San Diego, CA 92121)

Plastic Surgeons in San Diego

These San Diego-area plastic surgery practices are listed in our directory. Select a listing for its address, phone number, and lead physician profile. Browse all Plastic Surgery listings.

• Miller Cosmetic Surgery – lead physician Scott R. Miller, MD (9834 Genesee Avenue Suite 210, San Diego, CA 92037)

Orthopedic Surgeons in San Diego

These San Diego-area orthopedic surgery practices are listed in our directory. Select a listing for its address, phone number, and lead physician profile. Browse all Orthopedic Surgery listings.

• Synergy Specialists Medical Group – lead physician Tal S. David, MD (4910 Directors Place Suite 350, San Diego, CA 92121)

ENT Doctors in San Diego

These San Diego-area ENT (ear, nose, and throat) practices are listed in our directory. Select a listing for its address, phone number, and lead physician profile. Browse all ENT listings.

• SENTA Clinic – lead physician Perry T. Mansfield, MD (3590 Camino Del Rio N Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92108)

How to Choose a Pain Specialist in San Diego

Active-duty service members, retirees, and families in San Diego often use TRICARE, which has its own referral and network rules, so confirm network status first. Civilian patients should check whether their plan routes specialist care through Scripps, Sharp, UC San Diego Health, or Kaiser, then verify the physician’s license with the Medical Board of California.

• State license. Confirm an active license with the Medical Board of California (MDs) or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California (DOs), or search nationally at DocInfo.org (FSMB).
• Board certification. Look for certification in pain medicine, anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or a related specialty. You can check it for free at CertificationMatters.org (ABMS).
• Treatment approach. Ask whether the practice uses image guidance (fluoroscopy or ultrasound) for injections and how it combines procedures with physical therapy and non-opioid options.
• Coverage and cost. Confirm network status with your insurer, and get written pricing for anything that may be self-pay.

Local Health Care Context: San Diego, CA

The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area has an estimated population of 3,282,248 (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates). Major hospitals and medical centers in the region include:

• UC San Diego Health – Jacobs Medical Center – UC San Diego’s academic hospital in La Jolla, with a second campus in Hillcrest.
• Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla – Scripps Health hospital on the La Jolla medical corridor.
• Sharp Memorial Hospital – Sharp HealthCare’s flagship hospital in Kearny Mesa.
• Naval Medical Center San Diego – Military medical center in Balboa Park serving service members and families.
• VA San Diego Healthcare System – Veterans Affairs medical center in La Jolla.
• Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center – Kaiser Permanente hospital in Kearny Mesa.

Hospital names are provided for local orientation only. These institutions are not affiliated with Physician Care Near Me, and their inclusion does not mean a listed practice is affiliated with them.

Insurance and coverage notes for San Diego

• California Medicaid program: Medi-Cal.
• California workers’ compensation care follows the state’s Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), which shapes which pain treatments are authorized for work injuries.
• Kaiser Permanente members generally need to use Kaiser physicians and facilities unless Kaiser authorizes an outside referral.
• North County residents are also served by Palomar Health (Escondido) and Tri-City Medical Center (Oceanside).

Nearby Cities Served

Providers near San Diego may also serve these communities. Linked cities already have listings in our directory.

• Chula Vista
• Carlsbad
• Oceanside
• Escondido
• La Jolla
• El Cajon
• Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions

Does TRICARE cover pain management in San Diego?

TRICARE covers medically necessary specialist care, but TRICARE Prime members usually need a referral from their primary care manager. TRICARE Select members can see network providers without one. Confirm the practice accepts TRICARE.

Will California workers’ comp pay for injections?

California workers’ comp follows the state Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule (MTUS), and most interventional procedures need utilization review approval. Ask the practice whether it handles workers’ comp requests.

How can I check a pain doctor’s license in California?

Search the Medical Board of California (MDs) or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California (DOs) license lookup, or use the national DocInfo.org database from the Federation of State Medical Boards. Board certification can be checked at CertificationMatters.org.

Does California Medicaid cover pain management?

Medi-Cal covers medically necessary specialist care, but networks and prior-authorization rules for injections and procedures vary by plan. Call your plan to find in-network pain specialists.

What conditions do pain management doctors in San Diego treat?

Pain specialists commonly evaluate and treat chronic back and neck pain, sciatica, arthritis and joint pain, nerve pain such as neuropathy, headaches, and pain after injury or surgery. Each practice’s listing shows the services it reports offering.

How can I check a dermatologist’s or plastic surgeon’s credentials in San Diego?

Confirm an active license with the Medical Board of California (MDs) or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California (DOs), or search nationally at DocInfo.org. Board certification in dermatology can be checked with the American Board of Dermatology (or the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology for DOs), and in plastic surgery with the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Does insurance cover dermatology or plastic surgery in San Diego?

Medically necessary care, such as evaluating a suspicious mole or some reconstructive surgery, is often covered, while cosmetic procedures usually are not. Coverage and referral rules vary by plan, so check with your insurer and ask the practice for written pricing for anything that may be self-pay.

How can I check an orthopedic surgeon’s or ENT doctor’s credentials in San Diego?

Confirm an active license with the Medical Board of California (MDs) or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California (DOs), or search nationally at DocInfo.org. Board certification in orthopaedic surgery can be checked with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (or the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery for DOs), and in otolaryngology with the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Do I need a referral to see an orthopedic surgeon or ENT doctor in San Diego?

It depends on your health plan. Some plans let you book a specialist directly, while others, often HMO plans, require a referral from your primary care doctor. Check with your insurer, and ask the practice what it needs before your first visit.