OGDENSBURG -- Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center recently welcomed Dr. Aathi Thiyaga (Aathirayen Thiyagarajah), a board-certified physician in pain management, and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

He practices at their Pain Management Practice, 305 Main St., Suite 200-300, Ogdensburg.

Thiyaga began his pre-medical studies at Royal College in Colombo, Sri Lanka and went on to complete his medical studies at the North Colombo Medical College in Sri Lanka. After obtaining his medical degree, he pursued postgraduate training in the United States in general surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and completed a fellowship in pain management at Harvard Medical School.

Thiyaga is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, with subspecialty certifications in pain medicine and spinal cord injury medicine. He has won several awards and honors and has also published research, CHMC said.

“Thiyaga brings a new approach to pain management at Claxton-Hepburn,” the hospital said in a news release. “He is working closely with primary care providers and the community, to ensure that patients suffering from chronic pain will be referred for pain management services at the onset of their chronic pain, not as a last treatment effort.”

“I want providers and the community to know that we offer many pain treatment options that can be an alternative to medications and surgery, or delay surgical treatment and long term narcotic use, as these treatment modalities may not always be the best course of treatment for patients,” the doctor said in a prepared statement from CHMC. “Many times I can help people with spine pain to avoid surgery. I can treat people who have failed spine surgery for pain too.

“Pain management services should be consulted at the beginning of a patient’s pain process, not at the end when all other traditional treatment methods have failed.”

Thiyaga focuses with the person suffering from chronic pain and uses a variety of measurements, interventions, and self-management strategies, designed to offer a complete pain management program, that includes assessment, treatment, communication, education, and follow up, CHMC said.

Additionally, heoffers electrodiagnosis and “minimally invasive pain relieving procedures” as part of comprehensive pain management, CHMC said.

Thiyaga is accepting new referrals through a primary care provider. People who want to know more can call 315-394-6470 for more information.

In his free time, he enjoys playing cricket and traveling.

Thiyaga has a page on CHMC’s website at providers.claxtonhepburn.org/thiyaga