When Dr. Scott Glaser began his medical career, pain management was still a young and evolving specialty. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame and medical school at Indiana University, Dr. Glaser pursued anesthesiology and pain management training at Northwestern University. His early work in St. Joseph, Michigan, combined anesthesia with the development of a new pain management program—an experience that revealed both the challenges and the urgent need for this kind of care.

In 1992, Dr. Glaser returned to the Chicago area to join Hinsdale Hospital, once again tasked with helping to build a pain management group. By the year 2000, the demand for treatment had grown so rapidly that he and several colleagues formed their own independent practice, dedicated exclusively to pain management.

Dr. Glaser describes interventional pain management as being to the spine what interventional cardiology is to the heart: a minimally invasive, highly targeted approach that addresses the root causes of pain and helps patients avoid unnecessary surgery. The most common cases involve chronic back and neck pain, often stemming from cartilage injuries that do not heal naturally. Using procedures designed to reduce inflammation, patients often find meaningful, long-lasting relief that restores quality of life.

The need for such alternatives is profound. Many patients are referred after major surgery has failed or worsened their condition, or after long-term opioid prescriptions have left them dependent without solving the underlying problem. Dr. Glaser’s practice offers them a path forward, rooted in innovation, patient safety, and compassion.

Today, interventional pain management continues to expand in scope and recognition. Yet Dr. Glaser remains motivated by the same principle that guided him from the start: doing everything possible to treat pain safely, effectively, and without unnecessary risk. For him, every patient is a reminder of why this field exists—and why his mission is as urgent as ever.

Pain Specialists of Greater Chicago
7055 High Grove Blvd, Burr Ridge, Illinois
(630) 371-9980 | painchicago.com